How to Set Up Axis Camera RTSP Streams with SmartRTSP

Published April 28, 2026

Complete Setup Guide: This guide covers Axis Companion, Axis Companion Pro, and Axis VAPIX API for all modern Axis IP cameras.

Step 1: Access Your Axis Camera's Web Interface

Open a web browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox)
Enter your camera's IP address: http://192.168.1.100:80 (replace with your camera's IP)
Log in with default credentials (usually root / pass for Axis cameras)
If you changed the password, use your custom credentials

Axis RTSP URL Formats

H.264 Main Stream

rtsp://username:password@camera_ip:554/axis-media/media.amp

H.265 Main Stream (if supported)

rtsp://username:password@camera_ip:554/axis-media/media.amp?videocodec=h265

Sub-stream (Lower Bandwidth)

rtsp://username:password@camera_ip:554/axis-media/media.amp?resolution=640x480

Axis RTSP Stream Profiles

Axis cameras use configurable stream profiles that control resolution, frame rate, compression, and codec. You can reference profiles directly in your RTSP stream URL.

Main Stream Profile (profileName=Quality)

rtsp://username:password@camera_ip:554/axis-media/media.amp?streamprofile=Quality

Mobile Stream Profile (lower bandwidth)

rtsp://username:password@camera_ip:554/axis-media/media.amp?streamprofile=Mobile

Tip: You can create custom stream profiles in the camera web interface under Video → Stream Profiles.

Using VAPIX Query Parameters

Axis cameras support advanced RTSP parameters:

Parameter	Example	Effect
`videocodec`	`h264` or `h265`	Select video codec
`resolution`	`1920x1080` or `1280x720`	Set video resolution
`fps`	`30` or `15`	Limit frame rate
`compression`	`50` (1-100)	Control JPEG quality

Complete Example URLs

Axis Q1635-E (Main stream, H.264)

rtsp://admin:12345@192.168.1.100:554/axis-media/media.amp

Axis M3044-WV (Sub-stream, 640x480, 15fps)

rtsp://admin:12345@192.168.1.100:554/axis-media/media.amp?resolution=640x480&fps=15

Axis P3367-VE (H.265, high quality)

rtsp://admin:12345@192.168.1.100:554/axis-media/media.amp?videocodec=h265

Adding to SmartRTSP

Open SmartRTSP on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
Tap the + button to add a new camera
Select Manual Setup (or try ONVIF auto-discovery first)
Paste the RTSP URL above into the URL field
Give your camera a friendly name (e.g., "Front Door")
Tap Save

Troubleshooting

Authentication Failed

Verify username and password are correct
Axis cameras often have root as default username
Try resetting the camera to factory defaults

ONVIF Discovery Not Working

Make sure camera and iPhone/Mac are on the same network
Check if ONVIF is enabled in camera settings
Try using the manual RTSP URL instead

Testing URL in VLC

To verify your RTSP URL works before adding to SmartRTSP:

Open VLC media player on your Mac
Go to File → Open Network Stream
Paste your RTSP URL and click Open
If video plays, the URL is correct

Pro Tips

✅ Use H.264 for best compatibility across devices
✅ Use H.265 for lower bandwidth requirements (better for remote viewing)
✅ Set a static IP for your camera to avoid connection issues
✅ Test URL in VLC first before adding to SmartRTSP
✅ Use sub-streams for network-constrained environments

Ready to set up your Axis camera?

Download SmartRTSP and start monitoring your Axis cameras today with one-tap RTSP setup.

Download SmartRTSP