Connect a camera

Connect an IP camera to Watch using network discovery or a manually entered RTSP address. Verify live video from one camera before adding more.

RTSP connection addresses

RTSP is a protocol for live video streaming. Watch connects using the camera’s RTSP address, such as rtsp://username:password@<camera-ip>:554/<path>. The path depends on the camera model and configuration.

Discover cameras on your network

1. Make sure your camera and this computer are on the same network (same router / Wi-Fi).
2. In Watch, click Add Camera → Scan my network.
3. Watch searches for cameras and recorders that respond to ONVIF discovery. You can try manual entry for a device that does not appear.
4. Pick your camera from the list, type its username and password (the camera's own login — not your Watch/app account), and Watch automatically builds the correct RTSP URL for you.
5. Watch picks the camera's sub-stream (lower resolution) by default — that's intentional, it keeps things fast when many cameras run at once. You can switch to the main stream if you want higher quality.
6. Select Test to verify the video stream, then Add.

Finding your camera's IP address

• Check your router's admin page → "connected devices" / "DHCP clients"; look for the camera's brand name or MAC.
• Use the camera's own phone app (Hik-Connect, DMSS, Reolink, Tapo, etc.) — it usually shows the device IP under settings/info.
• Ask your network administrator, or use an organization-approved network discovery tool.

Enabling RTSP / ONVIF (if the scan can't see your camera)

Many cameras ship with ONVIF or RTSP turned off. Enable it in the camera's app or web page:

• Hikvision: Web UI → Configuration → Network → Advanced → Integration Protocol → enable ONVIF (add an ONVIF user); RTSP is on by default on port 554.
• Dahua/Amcrest: Web UI → Setting → Network → ONVIF → enable; create an ONVIF account.
• Reolink: App → camera → Settings → Network → Advanced → RTSP/ONVIF → enable.
• TP-Link Tapo: App → camera → Advanced Settings → Camera Account — create a local account; RTSP uses that account.
• TP-Link VIGI: VIGI app/NVR → camera settings → enable RTSP/ONVIF.
• Ubiquiti UniFi Protect: Protect app → camera → Settings → Advanced → RTSP → enable a resolution (gives you an rtsps:// URL).

RTSP address examples by brand

Replace USER, PASS, and IP with your camera's login and IP address. 554 is the default RTSP port. Main = full quality (heavier); Sub = lower resolution (recommended for multi-camera monitoring).

Connection checks

• For a multi-channel NVR, change the channel number: Hikvision …/Channels/201 (channel 2 main), …/Channels/202 (sub); Dahua …?channel=2&subtype=0.
• If your password contains @, :, /, or #, URL-encode it (e.g. @ → %40) or it will break the URL.
• Modern firmware often forces a custom password on first setup — admin/admin and admin/(blank) usually won't work.
• UniFi Protect must have RTSP explicitly enabled per camera, and uses secure rtsps://, not plain rtsp://.
• Enter the address in Watch’s connection test and verify video before saving the camera.