Solving Common Problems with Ezviz and Home Assistant Integration
Integrating your Ezviz cameras into Home Assistant opens up a world of powerful automation possibilities. However, getting the two systems to communicate effectively can sometimes be a challenge. Issues like cameras appearing as "unavailable," failed authentication, or streams not loading are common hurdles.
This guide is designed to help you troubleshoot and resolve the most frequent problems encountered when connecting Ezviz devices with Home Assistant.
## Method 1: Troubleshooting the Official or HACS Integration
This method applies if you are using an integration that connects to the Ezviz cloud API.
### 1. Authentication and Login Issues
Authentication failures are the number one cause of problems. The integration needs to log in to your Ezviz account to access your devices.
- Double-Check Credentials: Carefully re-enter your Ezviz username (email or phone number) and password into the integration's configuration. A simple typo is a very common mistake.
- App-Specific Passwords: Some accounts may require an app-specific password. Check the integration's documentation for any special instructions.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): If you have 2FA enabled on your Ezviz account, it may interfere with the integration's ability to log in. You might need to temporarily disable it, log in, and then re-enable it, or check if the integration supports 2FA.
- API Rate Limiting: Ezviz limits how many times the integration can request information. If you restart Home Assistant too many times or have too many devices, you might get temporarily locked out. Check your Home Assistant logs for errors mentioning "rate limiting" or "API."
### 2. Camera or Sensor is 'Unavailable'
If the integration authenticates but your devices are unavailable, the issue often lies with communication.
- Check Home Assistant's Internet Access: Ensure the machine running Home Assistant has a stable internet connection and that its firewall is not blocking outbound traffic. The integration needs to reach the Ezviz servers.
- Re-load the Integration: In Home Assistant, go to
Settings > Devices & Services. Find your Ezviz integration, click the three dots, and select "Reload." This can often re-establish a lost connection without a full restart. - Review the Logs: The most powerful diagnostic tool is the Home Assistant log. Go to
Settings > System > Logsand look for any error messages related to "Ezviz," "PyEzviz," or the specific IP address of your camera. These messages will often tell you exactly what is wrong.
## Method 2: Troubleshooting the RTSP Stream
This method applies if you are using the camera's local RTSP stream with the generic camera or FFmpeg integration. This provides a local connection that does not rely on the cloud.
### 1. Enable RTSP and Image Encryption
For the RTSP stream to work, it must be enabled on the camera, and a crucial security feature must be disabled.
- Open the Ezviz mobile app.
- Select the camera you want to integrate.
- Go to the camera's Settings (gear icon).
- Find an option for "Local Service Settings" or similar.
- Ensure "RTSP" is toggled ON.
- Go back to the main settings page and find "Image Encryption." You must disable this feature for third-party viewers like Home Assistant or VLC to access the stream. A verification code will be required to do this.
### 2. Verify the RTSP URL
The format of your RTSP URL has to be perfect.
- Correct Format: The standard URL is:
rtsp://admin:<verification_code>@<camera_ip_address>:554/H.264 - Verification Code: This is the 6-character code found on the sticker on your camera.
- Camera IP Address: Ensure you are using the correct local IP address for your camera. You can find this in your router's device list. It is highly recommended to assign a static IP address or DHCP reservation to your camera so its address does not change.
- Test with VLC: Before trying to add the stream to Home Assistant, test it on a computer using the VLC media player. Go to
Media > Open Network Streamand paste the RTSP URL. If it does not play in VLC, it will not work in Home Assistant. This is the best way to confirm your URL and network path are correct.