Quick Guide to Connecting Dahua Cameras via RTSP

Good old RTSP has been working for decades and will outlive more than one “smart” protocol. Let’s get to it.

RTSP URL Format

rtsp://<username>:<password>@<ip>:<port>/cam/realmonitor?channel=<ChannelNo>&subtype=<typeNo>

Parameters

  • username – camera username
  • password – user password
  • ip – camera IP address
  • port – RTSP port (default: 554)
  • ChannelNo – channel number (starts from 1)
  • typeNo – stream type
  • 0 – main stream
  • 1 – sub stream

Example

Get the main stream from channel 1:
rtsp://admin:admin@10.7.6.67:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0

Important (and this is not a joke)

❗ If the password contains the # character, RTSP will not work.
Either change the password or URL-encode it. RTSP is old school and does not like surprises.

Useful Tip

If it does not connect:
  • check port 554
  • make sure RTSP is enabled in the camera settings
  • verify that the stream actually exists (subtype 0 or 1)
RTSP is like a hammer: simple, reliable, and it always works if you do not get in the way.

How to Reset a Forgotten Password on Dahua

In Short: What You Need in Advance

  • Download and install ConfigTool (latest version).
  • The PC with ConfigTool and the device (camera or recorder) must be on the same subnet (same local network).
In ConfigTool, search for the device:
  • set the IP range in Search Setting
  • enter login and password if known
Once the device is found, proceed to reset.

Method 1: Reset via QR Code and Email

Fast, if an email was set during initialization.
Suitable if an email address was specified during initial setup and you have access to it.
  1. In ConfigTool, open the Password Reset tab and select the device.
  2. Choose QR code reset mode. ConfigTool will display a QR code.
  3. Install DMSS on your phone (Android or iOS).
  4. In DMSS, open: Me → Tool Manager → Password Reset and scan the QR code shown in ConfigTool.
  5. After scanning, a reset code (Security Code) will be sent to the email linked to the device.
  6. Return to ConfigTool, enter the Security Code, set a new password twice, and click OK.
Note: You do not need a DMSS account to scan the QR code. What matters is that the device has an email linked to it.

Method 2: Reset via XML File

If no email was set or you do not have access to it.
Suitable if:
  • no email was specified during initialization, or
  • an email was set but you no longer have access.
  1. In ConfigTool, under Password Reset, select the XML method.
  2. Choose a location and export the file ExportFile.xml.
  3. Send ExportFile.xml to Dahua technical support at cis_support (at) dahuatech.com.
  4. Usually they ask for the model, serial number, and a short description of the situation.
  5. You will receive a file named result.xml.
  6. In ConfigTool, import result.xml.
  7. Set and confirm the new password.

Method 3: Reset via DoLynk Care

When the “fastest way” is through an app and a photo of the label.
This option is often used for devices that live inside the DoLynk ecosystem.
  1. Install DoLynk Care on your phone.
  2. Log in to your account if required.
  3. Connect to the same Wi-Fi network as the device.
  4. Open the Tools tab. The app will show devices on the local network.
  5. Select the device → Reset Password → Forgot Password.
  6. If no email is configured on the device, choose Email not configured.
  7. Upload a photo of the device label as requested.
  8. Tap Submit, then set a new password.

What Most Often Breaks the Process (Based on Support Chats)

  • The device and the PC are not on the same subnet. This is the most common reason for “I cannot see the device”.
  • The device is on a different network (Wi-Fi, router, switch) and you are scanning the wrong IP range.
  • No email was specified during initialization. The QR code exists, but in reality you must use XML or DoLynk.
  • Confusing the Wi-Fi or DMSS password with the device or web interface password.
If you want, I can prepare a short email template for Dahua support for the XML method, including what to write in the subject and what data to attach, so you do not get replies like “please clarify everything in the universe except what you already clarified”.

Camera Feature Checklist Before Purchase

Everything You Should Know in Advance
Before buying a camera, it is worth stopping for a minute and checking its real capabilities. Not the brochure, not the marketing description, but the actual features and limitations of the model.
Otherwise, unpleasant surprises may appear after installation: no web interface, no ability to set a static IP address, no secondary stream settings, or control available only via a mobile app and nothing else.
The table below is a simple way to understand in advance what you are actually buying, instead of guessing after payment and installation. It helps distinguish a camera with full professional functionality from a device that “can record video but cannot be properly configured”. In short, it is better to spend five minutes checking than to later explain to yourself and to the client why “this is not possible”.