Troubleshooting Guide

Find Your Camera's IP Address — 5 Easy Methods

To build an RTSP URL you need your camera's local IP address. This guide walks through five reliable methods to find it — from the simplest (SmartRTSP's ONVIF scan) to more advanced approaches for tricky setups.

RTSP URL format: rtsp://username:password@192.168.1.x:554/stream-path

The highlighted portion is the camera's local IP — this is what you need to find.

Method 1: Router Admin Page (DHCP List)

The router's DHCP client list is the most reliable source — it shows every device on your network with its current IP address and often the manufacturer name.

1

Log into your router

Open a browser and navigate to 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 (the exact address is printed on the router label). Log in with your router's admin credentials.

2

Find the DHCP client list

Look for a section called DHCP, Connected Devices, Client List, or LAN. On TP-Link routers: Advanced → Network → DHCP Server. On ASUS routers: Network Map. On Netgear: Attached Devices.

3

Identify your camera

Look for a device entry matching your camera's manufacturer name (e.g., "Hikvision", "Reolink", "Dahua", "Amcrest"). If names are not shown, power cycle the camera and compare the DHCP list before and after — the new entry is your camera.

Method 2: SmartRTSP ONVIF Auto-Discovery (Easiest)

SmartRTSP's built-in ONVIF scan is the fastest and easiest method. The app sends a WS-Discovery broadcast to your local network; any ONVIF-compatible camera responds with its IP address and stream capabilities — no manual IP lookup needed.

  1. 1. Ensure your iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi as the cameras
  2. 2. Open SmartRTSP and tap the scan / + icon
  3. 3. Select ONVIF Scan — cameras are discovered within seconds
  4. 4. Tap a camera to add it — the IP address and stream path are filled in automatically

Works with Hikvision, Dahua, Reolink, Amcrest, Annke, Lorex, Axis, Bosch, and most professional IP cameras. Tapo and Eufy have limited ONVIF support.

Method 3: Manufacturer Discovery Tools

Most major camera brands provide a free desktop utility that scans the local network and finds cameras even when their IP is unknown. Run these on a computer connected to the same network.

Brand Tool Name Platform
Hikvision SADP Tool Windows / macOS (free)
Dahua / Amcrest ConfigTool Windows / macOS (free)
Reolink Reolink App / Client iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
Axis AXIS IP Utility Windows (free)
Uniview Uniview EZTools Windows (free)
Any brand Angry IP Scanner Windows / macOS / Linux (free)

Method 4: Network Scanner App on iPhone

1

Install a network scanner app

Download a free network scanner from the App Store (search "network scanner" or "IP scanner"). These apps scan your local subnet and list all connected devices with their IP addresses and open ports.

2

Scan your local network

Run a full subnet scan. The app probes each address in your subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.1 through 192.168.1.254) and lists all responding devices.

3

Look for devices with port 554 open

RTSP cameras listen on port 554. Filter the scan results for devices with port 554 open — these are almost certainly your cameras. Note the IP addresses and enter them in SmartRTSP.

Method 5: Camera App or Status Display

Some cameras and NVRs display their IP address directly without needing a separate tool:

  • •
    NVR/DVR systems: Many NVRs have an LCD screen or OSD menu that shows network settings including the current IP address.
  • •
    Reolink cameras: The Reolink app automatically discovers cameras on your local network and displays their IP in the device settings screen.
  • •
    Tapo cameras: Open the Tapo app, select the camera, and check Settings → Device Info for the current IP address.
  • •
    Camera web UI: If you can already access the camera's web interface, the current IP is displayed in Network settings.

Keep the IP Stable with DHCP Reservation

Once you find your camera's IP, prevent it from changing by setting a DHCP reservation (also called a static lease) in your router. This tells the router to always assign the same IP to that device based on its MAC address.

1.

In the router's DHCP client list, find your camera's MAC address — a 12-digit hex code like AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF.

2.

Go to the router's DHCP reservation or static lease settings. Create a new entry with the camera's MAC address and the IP address you want to assign permanently.

3.

Save the reservation. The router will now always assign that IP to the camera — the RTSP URL in SmartRTSP remains valid permanently with no further updates needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

My camera IP changed after a router reboot — how do I prevent this?
Set a DHCP reservation in your router's admin page. Find your camera's MAC address in the DHCP client list, then create a reservation that always assigns the same IP to that MAC address. The camera's IP will never change again, even after router or camera reboots.
What subnet is my camera on?
Most home routers use 192.168.1.x or 192.168.0.x. Your camera will be on the same subnet as your phone. On iPhone: Settings → Wi-Fi → tap your network name → note the Router IP. Your camera is on the same subnet (same first three octets, e.g., 192.168.1.x).
Camera not appearing in the DHCP list — why?
The camera may have a static IP assigned directly on the device rather than using DHCP — the router never allocated that address and won't list it. Use Angry IP Scanner to scan your full subnet and find devices with port 554 open. Also confirm the camera is powered on and physically connected to the network.
My camera is on a different subnet than my iPhone — how do I fix it?
Connect your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network as the cameras. If cameras are on a dedicated VLAN or connected to a separate router, you will need to either join that network from your iPhone or configure inter-VLAN routing on your network equipment to allow traffic on port 554 between subnets.