Follow this step by step guide and reset the password on Swann DVR or Swann NVR. The method demonstrated here works for these models: DVR4-1580, DVR8-1580, DVR16-1580; DVR4-3250, DVR8-3250, DVR16-3250; DVR4-3425, DVR8-3425, DVR16-3425; DVR4-4100, DVR8-4100, DVR16-4100; DVR4-4400, DVR8-4400, DVR16-4400; DVR4-4550, DVR8-4550, DVR16-4550; DVR4-4750, DVR8-4750, DVR16-4750; DVR4-4600, DVR8-4600, DVR16-4600; DVR4-5000, DVR8-5000, DVR16-5000; NVR4-7085, NVR8-7085, NVR16-7085; NVR4-7285, NVR8-7285, NVR16-7285; NVR4-7300, NVR8-7300, NVR16-7300; NVR4-7400, NVR8-7400, NVR16-7400. Your recorder must be updated to the new Swann firmware, otherwise the method may not work and you need to call the Swann tech support team.
For other Swann models and other password reset techniques, you may consult these articles as well:
1) Reset password for Swann DVR – series 4350 4500 4900 8050 8075
2) Swann DVR/NVR password reset using HomeSafe View method
3) Swann DVR/NVR password reset using SwannView Plus software
4) Reset password on H.264 DVR
Swann DVR/NVR password reset using SwannView Link software
The reset on Swann recorders is done by retrieving the device’s MAC address and using it as a reset code. This reset code can be acquired by using software on your Windows PC or Mac computer.
Other methods exist, but they usually require a level of networking knowledge that not all people possess. We recommend following this method and get it done quickly and easily.
What is this reset code? The reset code itself is a unique 12 character string that is generated by the unique hardware identifier of the network interface of the device, known as the MAC address. The reset code on new recorders is acquired primarily by using the relevant client software on a Windows PC or Mac computer.
Other methods exist, but they usually require a level of networking knowledge over what we expect customers need to operate their system. To find your recorder’s reset code, connect the recorder to your router (if you have not yet done so) and install and run the software on your computer.
Installing and using the software (to acquire the reset code)
We need to install the software in order to acquire the reset code and use that code to reset the password on your Swann DVR or NVR. The first step is to download the necessary software to your computer. The link to download the software: SwannView Link for Windows or SwannView Link for Mac .
The first time you run SwannView Link, you will see this screen.
The software opens to the main menu with various information displayed. Click on Add Device. You should see the screen below:
Copy down any MAC address (circled in red) starting with the characters ‘EC71DB’ first, then any others. Ignore the colons as they are not necessary and relevant in this procedure.
Entering the reset code
In this step, you’ll use the code that you wrote down in the previous step to initiate a password reset on the recorder. On the System Login, click Forgot Password.
The reset code needs to be entered after clicking Forgot Password. Enter it in the Super Password field. Letters are in UPPERCASE without the colons (for example EC71DB5C4AF5).
If the window you see looks similar to the image below, you are in wizard mode. The reset code cannot be entered in this area. Make sure to create your new password and click Next. You can cancel the rest of the Setup Wizard if you want.
After canceling the wizard then open the right-click menu and select Main Menu (home button) to access the login window. Enter your “admin” username and reset code (not the password you newly created!), the recorder will reboot.
That indicates that the reset is successful and you will be presented with the window to enter a starting password after the recorder has finished rebooting.
Note: You’ll need to re-enter a new password every time you reset the password. The reset code cannot be used to log in to the recorder nor can it be used for remote access. It’s just a temporary code to reset your password on your Swann DVR/NVR.
