Dahua Camera Speaker Not Working? Troubleshooting Audio Issues
Many Dahua security cameras come equipped with a built-in speaker, enabling features like two-way audio communication and audible alarms or sirens. When this speaker fails to work, you lose a valuable layer of interactive security. Whether you can't be heard through the camera or the siren won't sound, the problem can usually be traced to a setting or a simple operational error.
This guide will help you diagnose and resolve common speaker and two-way audio problems with your Dahua camera using the DMSS mobile app.
Common Symptoms of Speaker Problems
- You initiate two-way talk, but no sound comes out of the camera's speaker.
- The person near the camera cannot hear you speaking.
- The speaker volume is extremely low, distorted, or garbled.
- Activating the camera's siren feature does not produce any audible sound.
- You hear a loud screeching or feedback noise when attempting to use two-way audio.
How to Fix Your Dahua Camera's Speaker
Follow these troubleshooting steps to get your camera's audio working again.
1. Check if Your Camera Model Has a Speaker
First, confirm that your camera model actually includes a speaker. While many do, a significant number of Dahua cameras are video-only or have only a microphone for listening in. Check the product's datasheet or manual on the official Dahua website to verify its specifications.
2. Check App Permissions and Settings
The most frequent cause of speaker issues lies within the mobile app settings.
- Microphone Permissions: Your smartphone's operating system requires you to grant the DMSS app permission to use the microphone. If you denied this during setup, the app can't capture your voice. Go to your phone's settings, find the App Permissions for DMSS, and ensure Microphone access is allowed.
- In-App Controls: When viewing the live feed of your camera in the DMSS app, you will see several icons.
- Tap the speaker icon to ensure you can hear audio from the camera's microphone. If it's muted, you might not be able to initiate two-way talk.
- To speak, you must press and hold the microphone icon. It is not a toggle switch; it only transmits your voice while you are holding it down.
3. Resolve Audio Feedback (Screeching Noise)
If you hear a loud, high-pitched squeal the moment you activate two-way talk, this is normal audio feedback. It occurs because the camera's speaker is playing the sound from your phone, and your phone's microphone is picking up that sound and sending it back to the camera in a continuous loop.
The solution is simple: move further away from the camera. When your phone and the camera are in separate rooms or you are at least 15-20 feet away, the feedback loop will be broken.
4. Check Device Audio Settings
You may need to delve into the camera's main configuration settings to ensure the audio output is enabled and the volume is up.
- From the DMSS home screen, tap the ... next to your camera and select Device Details.
- Look for an option like Audio Config or similar.
- Inside this menu, ensure that the Speaker or Audio Output is enabled and that the Speaker Volume is set to a high level.
5. Reboot the Camera
A classic troubleshooting step, rebooting the camera can resolve many temporary software glitches that might be affecting the audio processing.
- Disconnect the camera from its power source (unplug the power adapter or disconnect the Ethernet cable if using PoE).
- Wait for at least 30 seconds.
- Reconnect the power and allow the camera a few minutes to boot up fully before testing the speaker again.
If you have followed all these steps and still get no sound from the speaker, and you are 100% certain the model has a speaker, you may have a hardware failure. In this case, you should contact the vendor who sold you the camera to inquire about warranty service.