It’s a common issue, you run the Hikvision SADP tool on your computer and you can don’t see any IP cameras or NVR/DVR listed on the software.
In some cases, you may see some of the cameras but the rest of them are missing, or you can see the NVR but you can’t see the cameras. There are various reasons why the cameras/devices don’t show up on the SADP tool and we will offer a few solutions/explanations in this article.
What is the SADP tool?
The SADP tool (Search Active Device Protocol) detects Hikvision devices (DVR, NVR, IP camera) on the local area network and facilitates device activation and basic network settings modification of one or more devices at once.
So, basically, SADP is software that scans your local network and will list all the Hikvision devices that it finds on the network. It doesn’t matter what’s the IP addresses of your IP cameras or recorders, as long as they’re on the same network, the SADP tool will list them. The software locates devices by scanning the mac addresses (and not directly the IP addresses).
Using this tool is very important when setting up a Hikvision CCTV system. You can locate the cameras, change their IP addresses, and gateways, modify ports and subnet masks, etc. It comes in handy when you’re creating your own CCTV network.
Why SADP tool doesn’t detect any cameras
Make sure you have installed the latest version of the SADP tool. It’s recommended to uninstall the software and reinstall it again from scratch. Then run it again and see if you see your cameras online.
Temporarily disable any anti-virus software you may have running on your computer. In a few cases, the antivirus piece won’t allow the SADP tool to run properly and scan correctly your local network. When done, you can re-enable your virus defender software.
SADP tool has compatibility issues with Windows 8. Sometimes the winpcap doesn’t get installed properly and the SADP tool won’t show any of the cameras. If you’re using Windows 8, try to run the SADP install file in Windows 7 compatibility mode.
Reboot the computer and try again. You can try another computer as well, just to ensure that there’s nothing wrong with your current computer.
Make sure you’re connected on the same network as the cameras or NVR. If you’re on a different network, the tool can’t scan anything. Connect the computer to the same router/switch as the cameras or to the same Wi-Fi as the local network.
Make sure that the cable you’re using to connect the computer to the internet is working properly.
If you have a Hikvision NVR with a built-in PoE switch, the SADP tool will see only the NVR and not the cameras. That’s because the cameras are connected to the switch at the back of the NVR and are considered a separate network. The tool can’t scan those cameras and will list the NVR only. Try to access the cameras via the Virtual Host: How to access an IP camera connected to a Hikvision PoE NVR.
Make sure your cameras are Hikvision cameras or Hikvision OEM (re-branded) products. SADP tool works for Hikvision devices only.
Sometimes the cameras won’t show up on the SADP tool because they’re not powered up, or dead. Make sure your camera works fine in the first place. Check the cabling.
If your Hikvision cameras are way too old, use an older version of the SADP tool. The old cameras may not show up on the latest SADP tool.
