Need to manually start your camera before using it? This guide will cover Dahua IP camera initialization.
The instructions you will find below apply to the Dahua logo and OEM version of the devices. Check out the Dahua OEM list article on our website to find out if your camera applies.
Dahua IP camera initialization– What is it?
Well, before you start the process, let’s better understand what camera initialization entails. When you configure a camera for the first time or after a reset, you must go through an initialization process before the camera can be activated.
In short, you set up the camera by connecting it to WiFi, setting up your password, etc. This step enhances security as there is no longer a default password.
Now you must set up your admin password during the initialization process. These cameras were easily accessible to hackers due to the default password “123456.” Since it was common knowledge, people could let themselves into your security system.
This happened when users did not bother adding their own password and continued to keep the default password. The default password is long gone; thus, you must go through the Dahua IP camera initialization.
The process can be performed through the Dahua recorder‘s local interface. Note that on recorders that have PoE ports, the admin password is automatically copied and used for the cameras. Thus, the password for the cameras and recorders is the same.
More outdated recorders, 2018 or older, will require an initialization prior to working, and it must be manual, which can be done using a computer.
If you plan to install various cameras that connect to an external PoE, they must be configured and initialized through the “Config Tool,” which we will talk about further in the article.
Dahua IP camera initialization
There are a couple of different ways you can initialize the Dahua cameras; below, we will cover different methods you can use.
Config Tool
The latest version of Dahua’s Config Tool can be used to perform the initialization process. This software can detect cameras on the same network and then modify their settings accordingly.
Using this tool allows you to initialize various cameras in one go, thus, speeding up the process heavily. Follow the instructions below to use the Config Tool.
Instructions
First, download and install the Config Tool (add the link but make your own google drive: https://securitycamcenter.com/download-configtool-dahua/). Once you have it, launch the tool and await as it locates all your cameras. Note that the cameras must be in the same local network to be found.
Select the tick boxes to the cameras you want to initialize, then click on the “Initialize” button.
You will then be presented with a pop-up box with the list of cameras you wish to initialize; if it is correct, click on the “Initialize” button on the bottom right corner, as shown below.
Create an eight-character password, including both letters and numbers. And add a valid email address to reset the password if needed. If you use an invalid one, then you will have trouble resetting it! Once done, click “Next.”
Depending on the needed requirements for the Dahua IP camera initialization, you can select or unselect the “Easy4IP” and “Auto-Check” options. Then select “OK.”
At times an error might appear as an icon. Clicking on it will show you the error, but do not worry about it, and skip it.
If the camera status is “Initialized,” then the process was done correctly, and the camera can now be connected to your system and has a set password.
By using the Config Tool software, you are able to initialize various cameras at once. However, it is not the only method for a successful Dahua IP camera initialization.
Web Interface
The web interface method does not use the Config Tool and instead is used when you are setting up one IP camera. You might use this if you cannot download the software.
Start by typing your camera’s IP address on the search bar of a web browser, preferably Internet Explorer. If you need the default IP address, it is “192.168.1.108.” Any plugins that pop up, you can install them now.
As pictured, you will need to set a strong password, then Dahua IP camera initialization will be started. Then after the initiation is complete, you can modify other settings, such as the IP address, among other things.
Keep in mind that if you have two IP cameras utilizing the same IP address on your network, they can kick each other off and cause issues. So only utilize one camera per IP address.
Adding to Recorder
After you have completed your Dahua IP camera initialization, you have to add the camera to your local recorder. If you are plugging it into your recorder’s PoE port, this will be automatically added and detected.
Nevertheless, if the camera displays “Invalid Username or Password” when you try accessing it, you will need to follow the steps below.
Open up the “Main Menu,” then “Camera,” and lastly, “Camera List.” Now you will have access to the Camera Registration.
Find and select the modifying pencil icon next to the camera giving you the error. Its status will probably be marked with a red dot, as indicated in the picture.
On the “Modify” tab, you will type in your camera’s password that you previously set during the Dahua IP camera initialization and select “Connect” followed by “OK.”
If an “Account Locked” error message appears as you try to see the camera’s live view, you might need to reboot your camera. To do so, unplug it, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in.
If your camera does not show the picture, you will have to type in your new password for the camera. Then the recorder should be able to receive data from the camera and display it.
Final Thoughts
Now you are aware of how to perform a Dahua IP camera initialization. If you are only initializing one, use the web browser, but if you have multiple cameras, the Config Tool will save you a ton of time.
The best part is that by using the software, all the cameras will have the same password making it easy for you to access all of them at once.