How do I reset my Hikvision device to factory settings, In some cases, you’ll need to reset your Hikvision device to its inactive factory state. This could be if you’re passing the system on to somebody else; if you’ve forgotten your password; or simply if something has gone wrong during the configuration, meaning you need to start afresh.
There are a couple of ways of doing this, the method you’ll use depends on whether you have a password to log into the device.
Please see the simple steps for doing each below:
How do I reset my Hikvision device to factory settings
Via the device’s backend in a web browser or iVMS-4200:
If you are able to log into your device’s configuration menu in iVMS-4200 or the web browser interface, then the easiest way to reset it is on the Upgrade & Maintenance page here. The steps below show you how to find this page in both interfaces.
Step 1:
iVMS-4200:
Open iVMS-4200 and find your device in the device list on the Maintenance and Management page by going to:
Maintenance and Management > Device Management > Device
Then, looking to the Operation column, open up the Basic settings menu by clicking on the small configuration cog icon for your device.
Go to step 2 below.
In a web browser:
Browse for the device’s IP in the address bar, and then log in to the device using the username and password you gave when first setting it up.
Once logged in, click on the Configuration tab at the top of the page.
Step 2:
In both iVMS-4200 and a web browser:
When on the device’s Configuration page, go to:
System > Maintenance > Upgrade & Maintenance
Click the Default option to reset the device back to its inactive factory state.
There are a couple of other useful options here:
Reboot – allows you to remotely force the device to power cycle.
Restore – will wipe any settings and information on the device, excluding the network settings. This is a less comprehensive reset than the Default option.
You will see a popup window asking you to confirm that you want to reset the device. Wait while it resets and reboots, the popup will disappear when this is done.
That’s it! If you want to check that the reset was successful, then open the SADP tool and check that it shows the Status of your device as Inactive.
Factory reset by using the device’s pushbutton:
On the majority of Hikvision’s newer camera models, there will be a pushbutton on the camera which will allow to carry out a hard reset without needing to log into it. This is most useful when you have forgotten your password, as it allows you to set a new password on the camera while avoiding much of the faff involved in doing this through the SADP tool.
Step 1:
Find the pushbutton, which is usually found beside the microSD card slot, so you’ll need to remove the microSD card cover by using a Torx screwdriver. The button is normally grey and rectangular, like the one circled below:
Step 2:
Now that you’ve located the reset button, you’ll need to follow the steps below carefully:
You should hear the camera’s IR cut filter click and the red IR LEDs illuminate briefly when the camera powers up again after resetting.
If the camera is connected to your local network, you can check that its status is showing as Inactive in the tool to check that the reset was successful.
How do I add a Hikvision device to my NVR?
There are a couple of methods for getting your IP camera connected and recording to your NVR:
Plug and Play – This is the most popular and simplest method for smaller setups, as all you need to do is plug your camera straight into the PoE ports in a Hikvision NVR. The NVR will then do the rest of the work. Please note that for Plug and Play to work, the device will need to be inactive or activated with the same password as the NVR.
Remote connection via IP – If you can’t have a wired connection to the NVR, you can instead remotely add a camera on the same network as your NVR to it using the camera’s IP address. For this to work, you will need to make sure to do two things:
1. Replace the power supply that would normally come from the NVR’S PoE ports. Using a PoE switch or injector is usually the best way, as it means you can still add power to the device over the same ethernet cable used for everything else. If not, most will let you connect to a separate PSU.
2. You have connected the camera and NVR to the same LAN and that its network settings are correct for the LAN’s range.
The following steps will guide you through adding new devices using both of these methods. Part 1 covers doing this on the NVR’s local interface (GUI) and part 2 covers how to do this remotely using a web browser.
Method 1 – Via the NVR’s GUI:
Step 1:
On the NVR 4.0 menu at the top of the screen, go to:
Camera → Hover over the desired channel → Click on ‘Edit’ (small icon in the bottom-left corner of channel thumbnail)
Step 2:
An edit window should appear, fill out the fields to add your camera as follows:
Option 1 – Using “Plug and Play”
Connect the camera to the corresponding PoE port number on the NVR (I.e. D1 corresponds to port 1). Then, just select “Plug-and-Play” from the “Adding Method” dropdown, and then click OK to add the camera to that channel – the camera feed should appear after a few seconds to confirm that it’s been picked up.
Note – If you haven’t activated and set a password on the device in SADP, then the IP address should automatically work. The password will be the Activation Password set on your NVR in the initial setup.
Option 2 – Adding manually via IP
Change the “Adding Method” to “Manual”, which will let you alter the other fields.
Now edit the other fields to point your NVR to the camera’s location on the network, like below:
Adding Method – Select “Manual”.
IP Camera Address – Enter your camera’s IP address here (as explained in the introduction, this will need to match the range of your LAN).
Protocol – Select the device’s manufacturer if it is on the list, or “ONVIF” if it is an ONVIF conformant product.
Management Port – “8000” by default will work fine, or whatever you’ve set the device’s Server Port to if it’s been changed.
Channel Port – This refers to the channel that you want to add the camera to, so leave this as the corresponding number for the channel that you would like to edit.
Transfer Protocol – Set this to “Auto”.
Username – The username you set up when activating the device, usually “admin”.
Password – The camera’s password, which you will have set when it was first activated.
Use Channel Default Password – If you have assigned the NVR and camera the same password during their activation, then you tick this box. This will use the NVR’s password to add the camera and will save you from entering it again in the future.
Enable IP Camera Time Sync – Tick this, as it means the camera will synchronise with the time set on the NVR.
Use Default Port – You can leave this unticked, as you have specified the management port already.
Verify Certificate – Leave this box unticked too.
Click OK to save your changes, the NVR should pick the camera up after a few seconds and show the feed on that channel’s thumbnail to confirm this.
Step 3:
To rename the camera, go to:
Camera → Display
Then, select the camera’s channel from the dropdown, and use the field below to set a new name.
Click “Apply” to save your changes.
Step 4:
You may want to rearrange the Live View screen to show the new camera on a particular tile. To do this, first, go to:
System → Live View → View
Then, select the output port for your connected display that you would like to show the camera on, click on the selected tile and then double-click on the new camera to add it to that tile.
You can select different layout options, or create a customised layout using the toolbar at the bottom of the page.
Click “Apply” to save the new layout.
To check the new layout, launch “Live View” using the NVR’s main menu, and then select that layout using the toolbar in the bottom right-hand corner.
Method 2 – In a web browser:
Step 1:
Browse for NVR’s IP address in a web browser, and log in with your username and password for it.
Step 2:
Now, navigate to:
Configuration → System → Camera Management → IP Camera
You’ll be shown a table of all the NVR’s channels, showing which are occupied by cameras, and which aren’t.
These channels normally correspond to the same-numbered PoE ports on the back of the NVR.
Click on the channel that you want to add your device to, and then the “modify” button above the table.
Step 3:
A window titled “IP Camera” should appear allowing you to change the “Adding Method” and “IP Camera Address” set for that channel.
If you haven’t already, you will need to make sure that the camera has a valid IP address and correct network settings for your LAN’s range.
Option 1 – using “Plug and Play”:
You just need to make sure that:
Note – If you haven’t activated and set a password on the device in SADP prior to connecting it to the NVR, then the IP address should automatically work and the password will be the “Channel Default Password” set on your NVR in the initial setup (see step 7 here)
Option 2 – Adding manually via IP:
Change the Adding Method to Manual, which should let you alter the other fields.
Now alter the other fields to point your NVR to the camera’s location on the LAN, like below:
IP Camera Address – Insert the camera’s IP address
Protocol – Select the brand of your camera here, or ONVIF if it is ONVIF conformant and the manufacturer doesn’t appear in this list.
Management Port – This is the camera’s network port, which is usually 8000 by default.
Username – The username that you set for the camera, which is usually “admin”.
Password – The password assigned to the camera upon activation in SADP. If you have automatically activated the camera by plugging it into your NVR’s PoE ports, this will the the “Channel Default Password” set during the NVR setup.
Confirm: Retype this password.
Transfer Protocol: This is fine for you to leave as “Auto”.
Green ticks should appear beside each field to indicate that what’s inside is valid. Once completed, you can click “OK”:
The “Security” column should be “Strong” and “Status” should change to “Online” on the “IP Camera” page – If they do, then you’re finished, just return to the Live View page to check that the camera’s feed is now visible.
Note – Clicking the “Start All Live View” button in the toolbar at the bottom of this page will show all of your working cameras feeds at the same time.
How do I view my Hikvision IP camera on a mobile device or tablet using the Hik-Connect app?
One of the biggest draws to Hikvision is the convenience of the free Hik-Connect app, which will allow you to view your devices remotely on a mobile phone or tablet wherever you are, without the complicated setups needed for a static IP, DDNS, or port forwarding.
Hik-Connect is designed with the primary focus of viewing your cameras. You do not get the same level of access to settings that you get connecting to your device in a web browser or in iVMS-4200, which we have found to be a common misconception amongst customers. It will, however, allow you to view and download recordings, manage notifications, remotely adjust PTZ and varifocal cameras, and operate any of the Hikvision video intercom modules that are connected to it, and use the audio features on those cameras that support it.
To get set up with the app, please follow the steps below:
Step 1:
Enable Hik-Connect in your device’s network settings:
On an NVR’s Local GUI:
If you are adding an NVR to Hik-Connect, you are able to do this first step by accessing the NVR’s local view on a directly connected monitor. First, go to:
System (Cog Icon) → Network → Advanced → Platform Access
Select Hik-Connect from the Access Type dropdown
Tick Enable
A popup should appear reminding you to read the service terms and privacy statement for using Hik-Connect. Once done, tick the box to indicate you have done so and then click OK.
If you would like to set an encrypt/lock the live view of any camera connected to the NVR to new devices, then tick the Enable Stream Encryption box.
Now, enter a 6-12 character verification code of your choice in the ‘Verification Code/Encr…’ field. We recommend using a combination of upper case letters, lower case letters, and numbers to keep this as secure as possible. Do not forget this code, as you will need to enter it in the app later on. If you have ticked the Enable Stream Encryption box, then this verification code is also the encryption key that you will need to unlock/be granted access to the cameras’ footage.
Now, just click Apply.
The Status should change to offline.
Hik-Connect Account Status should remain unchanged, as you are yet to add this to your Hik-Connect account, which will be covered in the next steps.
In a web browser:
Use the device’s local IP and admin credenials combination to log in to it in a web browser.
Then, go to:
Configuration → Network → Advanced Settings → Platform Access
On this page, select Hik-Connect from the Platform Access Mode dropdown and tick Enable.
Don’t worry too much about the Server Address field, the default entry here is usually fine.
You’ll see this popup telling you that you’ll need to set a verification code, just click OK:
Now, enter a 6-12 character verification code of your choice in the Stream Encryption/Encry… field. We recommend using a combination of upper case letters, lower case letters, and numbers to keep this as secure as possible. Do not forget this code, as you will need to enter it when adding the device to your Hik-Connect account later on.
Now, click Save. The Register Status should change to Online – you may need to refresh the page before you see this.
Step 2:
Now, navigate to the online Hik-Connect Portal in a web browser.
You should come to this page, you’ll need to create an account using the Register button if you don’t already have one, or log in with your Hik-Connect credentials if you do:
NB – These credentials are only used for logging in to your Hik-Connect account and are different to those you use to connect to and configure your device in a web browser or SADP (usually with the username “admin”).
Step 3:
On this page, click on Add in the top-right hand corner:
Step 4:
You’ll be asked to enter the device’s serial number. This is a 9 digit number, usually starting with a letter, which can be found on the white label with a QR code on the device’s box, or on the device itself.
If you don’t have access to either of these, then you can find the shorter nine-digit serial number in SADP, by taking the last 9 digits from the long serial number shown in the tool for the device. This serial number will usually start with a letter with 8 numbers after it.
Click Search, which, provided your device is online, should find it and add it to your device list on the Device Management page.
Step 5:
Now, you need to install the Hik-Connect app on your phone or tablet.
If you’re an iOS user, then you can download the latest version of the app straight from Apple’s App Store.
If you’re an Android user, you’ll need to go to Hikivision’s App Store for this. The below guide covers how to download the app from here:
How-to: How to update the Hik-Connect App on your Android phone using Hikvision’s App Store
Once downloaded, launch the app and log in using the same Hik-Connect credentials that you used to log into the portal. Your device should be visible on the home page and will be accessible from here when your phone or tablet is connected to any network.
How to update the Hik-Connect App on your Android phone using Hikvision’s App Store
The method for updating the Hik-Connect App on Android devices has recently changed to mean that users can no longer update via Google’s Play Store. To use Version 4.1.0 of the app Android users now need to access Hikvision’s own App Store and update via the .apk file which is downloadable from there. The reasons for this change have been discussed in this post, as well as our thoughts on the situation.
This simple tutorial has been put together to walk you through this new method for updating in 5 easy steps, so that you can ensure you install the latest version of the Hik-Connect app is installed properly on your Android device.
Step 1:
Open Hik-Connect if you have it already installed, and press the Upgrade Now button in the popup. If you don’t have the app installed or do not get this popup upon opening the act, this link to the Hikvision App Store will take you to the update file. You need to make sure you open this page on the Android device that you wish to install the updated software on, as this will be the device that the update file is saved to! In the App store, make sure Android is selected in the top-left hand corner and then select Download beneath Hik-Connect to get the .apk update file.
Step 2:
Press Download when the prompt to do so appears at the bottom of your screen. Don’t worry, this is a safe and secure link!
Step 3
Select Install when the prompt to do so appears at the bottom of the screen.
Step 4
The installation will begin, wait for the progress bar to complete… Go and put the kettle on!
Step 5
If you get the same screen as the one below, then you’re all done. You should now have the latest version (V4) of Hik-Connect installed on your device. You can either press Open to launch the app, or Done to return back to whatever you were previously doing. If your screen doesn’t say App installed with a tick above, then you’ll need to repeat steps 1-4 again!
