Hikvision Camera Reset: How to Restore Access or Factory Settings

The short answer

There are two main ways to reset a Hikvision network camera. If the model has a physical reset button, you can use it to restore factory settings. If you only need to regain access, you can use Hikvision's official password reset process, usually through its SADP discovery tool. A full factory reset erases your configuration, including network settings, users, recording schedules and image settings. Afterward, you set the camera up again as if it were new.

First, decide which kind of reset you need, because the right method depends on your goal and on who manages the camera.

Clarify what "reset" means for you

• Reboot: restarts the camera and keeps all settings. Try this first if the camera has frozen, dropped off the network or stopped streaming. You can reboot from the camera's web interface or by briefly disconnecting power.
• Password reset: restores access when the admin password is lost. Depending on the model and firmware, some or all of the other settings may be kept.
• Factory reset: returns the camera to its out-of-the-box state and removes everything you configured. Use it when you are handing the camera to someone else, fixing a badly broken configuration, or when no other recovery path works.

There is also a device-type ambiguity. Hikvision makes network (IP) security cameras and USB webcams for computers. The steps in this guide apply to network cameras. A USB webcam is normally controlled by your computer, so a webcam that is not working in a call is usually a problem with operating-system or browser camera permissions, the selected camera in the app, or another program holding the camera. Check those settings rather than looking for a reset procedure.

Before you reset: work, school or managed cameras

If the camera belongs to an employer, school, landlord, building manager or security contractor, do not reset it yourself. Contact the administrator instead. In managed environments, cameras are often tied to a network video recorder (NVR), a central video management system or network security rules. A factory reset can break recording, remove access controls, create a gap in required footage and may violate organizational policy. The administrator can usually restore access without wiping the device.

Two other limits apply to any camera:

• Ownership: Hikvision's password recovery is designed for the legitimate owner. If you contact support for help, they may ask for proof of purchase or the device serial number.
• Recordings: footage stored on the camera's memory card or on an NVR is separate from the camera's settings. Back up anything you need before you start, because the reset process and the setup that follows can make stored footage harder to access.

Method 1: Factory reset with the reset button

Many Hikvision network cameras have a small reset button. Depending on the model, it may be on the circuit board inside the housing, behind a removable cover, or on the cable pigtail. The exact location and how long to hold the button vary by model, and the supplied information does not include model-specific details. Check the quick start guide or user manual for your model number before you begin.

• 1. Write down the model number and serial number from the label on the camera.
• 2. Make sure the camera is powered, either through its power adapter or a PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch or injector, which supplies power over the network cable.
• 3. Locate the reset button using your model's documentation. If the button is inside the housing, open it carefully and avoid damaging the weather seal.
• 4. Press and hold the button for the time stated in the manual. Use a non-metallic tool if the button is recessed.
• 5. Release the button and wait for the camera to restart fully before you try to connect to it.
• 6. Close the housing and check that any seals are seated properly, especially on outdoor cameras.

Method 2: Password reset with SADP

SADP is Hikvision's free tool for finding Hikvision devices on your local network. It shows each camera's IP address, activation status and firmware version, and it offers a password reset option. Use it when you can't reach the reset button, such as on a camera mounted high up, or when you want to keep your other settings.

• 1. Install SADP from Hikvision's official website on a computer connected to the same local network as the camera.
• 2. Open SADP and find your camera in the device list.
• 3. Select the camera and choose the forgot-password option.
• 4. Follow the recovery method SADP offers for your model and firmware. Depending on the device, this may involve exporting a file and sending it to Hikvision support, answering security questions, or verifying through an email address registered during setup.
• 5. Create a new, strong admin password when prompted.

The recovery options available depend on the camera's firmware and on what was set up when it was first activated. If no recovery method was registered, you may need Hikvision support or a reseller to assist, or a factory reset with the button may be the only remaining option.

If the camera is connected to an NVR

When a camera is connected to a Hikvision NVR, the recorder may manage the camera's password and network settings. On some setups, the NVR can reset the passwords of connected cameras or automatically re-add a camera after a reset. If you own the NVR, check its camera management menu first, since that is often simpler than resetting each camera. If someone else administers the NVR, ask them before changing anything.

After the reset: set up the camera again

• Activate the camera: after a factory reset, current Hikvision cameras typically appear as inactive in SADP and require a new strong password before you can use them.
• Set network settings: assign an IP address that fits your network, either manually in SADP or automatically through DHCP if the camera supports it.
• Set up recovery options: register security questions or an email address during activation so a future password reset is easier.
• Restore your configuration: re-enter the time zone, recording schedule, motion detection, image settings and any user accounts.
• Reconnect services: add the camera back to your NVR, video management software or Hikvision's mobile app if you used them before.

How to confirm the reset worked

Check each stage separately, because one working step does not guarantee the next:

• Discovery: the camera appears in SADP. After a factory reset, it should show as inactive until you activate it.
• Access: you can log in to the camera's web interface with the new password.
• Video: a live view loads and shows a current image, not a frozen frame.
• Recording: if the camera feeds an NVR or a memory card, a short test clip is actually saved and can be played back.
• Remote viewing: if you use the mobile app, the stream loads there as well. A local live view working does not prove remote access is set up.

Gaps in this guide

No model-specific evidence was available for this guide. That means it does not cover reset button locations or hold times for particular models, the exact recovery options on each firmware version, or current support contact details. Use your model's manual and Hikvision's official support channels for those details.