Find a Hikvision camera's default IP address
Where to look for a Hikvision camera's factory IP address, why many newer units don't use a fixed one, and how to locate the address your camera is actually using.
The short answer
Many older Hikvision IP cameras came from the factory with a fixed address of 192.0.0.64. Many newer models and firmware versions request an address automatically from your router through DHCP, which is the router's system for handing out addresses to connected devices. On those cameras, the address depends on your network, not on a factory setting.
Which behavior your camera follows depends on its model and firmware version. The material available for this guide does not list which models or firmware versions use each behavior. Treat the fixed address as a possible starting point only. Confirm it against the label on the camera, its packaging or its datasheet.
In practice, the most reliable approach is to search your network for the camera rather than assume an address. The sections below explain how to do that.
Why the default address might not reach your camera
- The camera has DHCP turned on, so your router assigned it a different address.
- Someone already changed the address during an earlier setup.
- Your computer is on a different address range from the camera. For example, a camera at a fixed factory address is not directly reachable from a typical home network range unless you temporarily change your computer's network settings to match.
- The camera is not getting power, or its network cable is not connected. Check the link lights on the camera's network port or on the switch it plugs into.
How to find the address your camera is actually using
Try these checks in order. Each one needs the camera powered on and connected to the same local network as the device you are searching from.
1. Use Hikvision's SADP tool
SADP stands for Search Active Devices Protocol. It is Hikvision's free utility for finding its cameras and recorders on a local network. When you run it on a computer, it lists the Hikvision devices it detects. For each device, it shows details such as the model, the current IPv4 address, the device status and whether the device has been activated.
SADP finds the camera even when its address is in a different range from your computer. It also lets you change the camera's network settings. Column and button names can vary between SADP versions, so match them to the version you have installed.
2. Check your router's list of connected devices
If the camera uses DHCP, your router knows its address. Sign in to your router's admin page or app and look for a section listing connected or attached devices. On some routers this section is called the DHCP client list. The name differs between router brands. Look for an entry that shows a Hikvision name or the camera's model.
If no name appears, compare the hardware (MAC) addresses in the list with the MAC address printed on the camera's label.
3. Look at the recorder, if the camera is connected to one
Cameras connected to a Hikvision network video recorder (NVR) are often managed by it. The recorder's camera management screen usually shows each connected camera's address. Some NVRs give cameras on their built-in network ports a private address of their own. In that case, the camera may only be reachable through the recorder.
4. Check the label and the documentation
The sticker on the camera or its box may show a default address, a serial number and a MAC address. The datasheet or quick start guide for your exact model is the best source for the factory network settings. If the label and the documentation disagree with what SADP finds, trust SADP. It shows the camera's current address.
If you still can't find it
If none of the checks above find the camera, and you are authorized to reconfigure it, you can restore factory defaults with the reset button. Resetting erases the camera's settings, including its password and any custom network configuration.
The location of the reset button and how long to hold it vary by model. This guide does not have model-specific instructions, so check your camera's manual before resetting. After a reset, the camera returns to the factory network behavior for its firmware: either the fixed default address or DHCP.
What to expect after you find the address
Many current Hikvision cameras ship without a usable default password. They must be "activated" before first use, which means setting a password. SADP reports whether a camera is inactive and lets you activate it. Older units may still use the original factory login listed in their documentation.
Finding the address only confirms that the camera is on your network. Viewing its video is a separate step, done through the camera's web interface or Hikvision's apps. Using the camera as a video source on a computer is also separate: it requires software that can receive network video, and the operating system does not treat it as a built-in webcam. Audio depends on the model, since only some Hikvision cameras include a microphone or an audio input.