Getting Reolink Cameras to Work with Third-Party Applications
Reolink cameras are known for their high quality and robust features within their own ecosystem. However, many users want to integrate them with third-party software like Blue Iris, Synology Surveillance Station, or even simple media players like VLC. This is usually achieved using network protocols like RTSP and ONVIF.
If you're struggling to get your Reolink camera to appear in another application, this guide will walk you through the common causes and solutions to get your stream working correctly.
## First Steps: Check for Compatibility
Before you begin troubleshooting, it's essential to understand that not all Reolink cameras support third-party integration.
- PoE and Wi-Fi Cameras: Most wired PoE (Power over Ethernet) and plug-in Wi-Fi cameras from Reolink fully support ONVIF and RTSP protocols.
- Battery-Powered Cameras: Reolink's battery-powered cameras (like the Argus series) generally do not support RTSP or ONVIF. This is a deliberate design choice to conserve battery life, as maintaining a constant stream is very power-intensive.
Always verify your specific model's capabilities on the Reolink support website before attempting to connect it to third-party software.
## Common Symptoms of Integration Problems
When a connection fails, you will typically see one of the following issues:
- The third-party application cannot find your Reolink camera on the network scan.
- You see a black screen or a 'Cannot connect to camera' error message.
- The application finds the camera, but rejects the username and password.
- The video stream is very choppy, freezes, or constantly buffers.
- You can see the video, but features like PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) controls do not work.
## Troubleshooting Guide for Third-Party App Issues
Follow these steps in order to resolve the most common connection problems.
### 1. Enable Necessary Ports and Protocols
For security reasons, the required protocols are often disabled by default in the camera's settings. You must enable them manually.
- Open the Reolink App on your phone or computer.
- Go to Device Settings for the specific camera you want to connect.
- Navigate to Network Settings -> Advanced.
- Find the Port Settings or a similar menu.
- Enable the toggles for RTSP and ONVIF. Make sure to save the changes.
### 2. Find the Correct IP Address
Your third-party software needs the camera's local IP address to connect.
- In the Reolink app, go to Device Settings -> Network Settings. The IP address will be listed there (e.g., 192.168.1.105).
- Alternatively, you can log in to your router's admin panel and find the camera in the list of connected devices.
### 3. Use the Correct URL, Username, and Password
When adding the camera to your software (like Blue Iris or VLC), you'll need three key pieces of information:
- Username: By default, this is
admin. - Password: This is the password you created when you first set up the camera.
- RTSP URL: The URL for the stream. Reolink cameras use a specific format. You need to choose between the clear (high quality) and fluent (low quality) stream.
- High-Quality (Main) Stream:
rtsp://admin:YourPassword@YourIPAddress:554/h264Preview_01_main - Low-Quality (Sub) Stream:
rtsp://admin:YourPassword@YourIPAddress:554/h264Preview_01_sub
- High-Quality (Main) Stream:
Replace YourPassword and YourIPAddress with your actual camera's password and IP address.
### 4. Check for Network and Firewall Issues
If the settings are correct but the connection still fails, your network might be blocking it.
- Same Network: Ensure the computer running the third-party software is on the exact same local network as the Reolink camera.
- Firewall: Temporarily disable the firewall on your computer (e.g., Windows Defender Firewall) to see if it is blocking the connection. If it works, you will need to add an exception rule to your firewall to allow the software to access the network.
- Guest Networks: Do not connect your camera to a 'Guest' Wi-Fi network, as these often have client isolation features that prevent devices from communicating with each other.
By ensuring your camera is compatible, enabling the correct protocols, and using the right credentials, you can successfully integrate your Reolink cameras with a wide range of powerful third-party applications.