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Security & Surveillance

How to Add a Camera to a Hikvision NVR (Step-by-Step)

PoE
Plug & Play
LAN
Network Add
1·2·3
6 Steps
SADP
Find IP
ONVIF
Third-Party
4K
Live View

To add a camera to a Hikvision NVR, plug an IP camera into one of the NVR's built-in PoE ports and it is detected and added automatically. For LAN or third-party cameras, open Menu → Camera → Camera Management, search the network, activate the camera with a password and confirm live view. ARC IP Networks is an authorised Hikvision reseller in Australia.

Easiest way: NVR PoE port
Menu path: Camera Management
Find LAN IP: SADP tool
Third-party: ONVIF
Steps: 6

In this guide

  1. Step 1: Connect the camera (PoE port or LAN)
  2. Step 2: Open Camera Management on the NVR
  3. Step 3: Auto-add or search for the camera
  4. Step 4: Activate the camera & set a password
  5. Step 5: Confirm live view
  6. Step 6: Add a third-party camera via ONVIF
  7. A great starting point: NVR + cameras
  8. Buy Hikvision from ARC IP Networks
  9. FAQs

Step 1: Connect the camera (PoE port or LAN)

How you connect the camera decides how you add it. A Hikvision PoE NVR has a bank of built-in PoE ports on the rear — run a single Cat5e/Cat6 cable from the camera straight into one of those ports and it carries both power and data. This is the plug-and-play path and needs no switch or separate power supply. See our guide to what a PoE NVR is for why this makes installation so simple.

If the camera lives elsewhere on your LAN — wired to a separate PoE switch or a different part of the building — connect it to your network instead, so it sits on the same subnet the NVR can reach. Give the camera a minute to power up before moving to the next step.

Step 2: Open Camera Management on the NVR

At the NVR, log in with your admin account and go to Menu → Camera → Camera Management (on some firmware this is simply the Camera tab). This screen lists the channels already in use and shows any cameras the recorder has discovered on the network. It is the hub for every add method that follows — PoE auto-add, network search and ONVIF.

If this is a brand-new recorder, run through the setup wizard first so the NVR has its own network settings, date and time in place before you start adding devices.

Step 3: Auto-add or search for the camera

On a PoE port: a camera plugged into the NVR's own PoE port is usually detected and added to the matching channel automatically — live video appears within a minute and there is nothing more to configure. This is the true plug-and-play experience.

On the LAN: in Camera Management choose Search (or the Online Device / Custom Add option). The NVR scans the network and lists cameras it finds by IP address. Tick the camera you want and select Add. If you need to confirm a LAN camera's IP address first, Hikvision's free SADP tool lists every Hikvision device on the network and the IP it is using.

Step 4: Activate the camera & set a password

A new Hikvision camera ships inactive, which simply means it has no password set yet. When you add it, the NVR will prompt you to activate it — either enter a password of your choice, or apply the NVR's own admin password to keep every device consistent. Choose a strong password and keep a record of it.

Once activated, the camera is bound to that channel. If a camera you have used before is still asking to be activated or shows an authentication error, it may need to be reset first — our Hikvision password reset guide walks through the options.

Step 5: Confirm live view

Back out to the main Live View screen. The channel you added should now show a live image. A green status indicator in Camera Management means the camera is connected and streaming; a red one means the NVR cannot reach it yet.

If the channel stays blank: check the network cable and PoE port, confirm the camera and NVR are on the same IP range, and make sure the password entered at activation matches. Re-searching in Camera Management will pick the camera up again once it is reachable.

With live view confirmed, set up recording and, if you want to watch remotely, follow our Hik-Connect remote viewing guide.

Step 6: Add a third-party camera via ONVIF

Hikvision NVRs can also record many non-Hikvision cameras using the open ONVIF protocol. In Camera Management choose Custom Add, enter the camera's IP address and port, set the protocol to ONVIF, and supply that camera's own username and password. The NVR then pulls the stream the same way it does for a native camera.

ONVIF support and available features vary by camera and firmware, so a third-party device may not expose every setting a genuine Hikvision camera does. For the smoothest plug-and-play result and full feature access, pairing Hikvision cameras with a Hikvision NVR is the most reliable combination.

A great starting point: NVR + cameras

Hikvision DS-7608NI-M2/8P 8-Ch PoE 8K NVR
DS-7608NI-M2/8P(STD)/AU/PLUG

Hikvision DS-7608NI-M2/8P 8-Ch PoE 8K NVR

8-channel NVR with eight built-in PoE ports — plug cameras straight in for true plug-and-play adding, with 8K output.

View product →
Hikvision DS-2CD2067G3 6MP 2.8mm ColorVu Bullet Camera
DS-2CD2067G3-LI2UY/SL(2.8mm)

Hikvision DS-2CD2067G3 6MP 2.8mm ColorVu Bullet Camera

6MP ColorVu bullet that delivers full-colour images around the clock — connects straight to a PoE NVR port.

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Hikvision DS-2CD2366G2H 6MP 2.8mm Turret IP Camera w/ Mic
DS-2CD2366G2H-IU(2.8mm)(eF)

Hikvision DS-2CD2366G2H 6MP 2.8mm Turret IP Camera w/ Mic

6MP turret camera with built-in mic — a discreet, easy-to-add option for entries and interiors.

View product →

Buy Hikvision from ARC IP Networks

ARC IP Networks is an authorised Hikvision reseller in Australia — genuine Australian stock, Australian warranty, fast nationwide shipping and expert local advice.

Shop Hikvision →ColorVu camerasAcuSense camerasNVR recordersTalk to our team

Related Hikvision guides

Frequently asked questions

Plug the IP camera into one of the NVR's built-in PoE ports with a single network cable. The NVR powers the camera and adds it to the matching channel automatically, usually within a minute.

A new Hikvision camera has no password set until it is activated. When you add it, the NVR prompts you to set a password or apply its own admin password. After that the camera goes online.

Open Camera Management, choose Search or Custom Add, and the NVR scans the network for cameras. Tick the camera by its IP address and select Add. Both devices must be on the same IP range.

Use Hikvision's free SADP tool, which lists every Hikvision device on the network and the IP it is using. See our SADP guide for a walkthrough.

Yes, many third-party cameras can be added over the ONVIF protocol using Custom Add. Enter the camera's IP, port, the ONVIF protocol and the camera's own login. Available features vary by camera and firmware.

Check the network cable and PoE port, confirm the camera and NVR share the same IP range, and make sure the activation password matches. Re-searching in Camera Management picks the camera up once it is reachable.

Not on a PoE NVR. The NVR's built-in PoE ports deliver power and data over one cable, so no separate power supply or switch is needed for cameras connected directly.

It depends on the NVR's channel count and number of PoE ports — for example an 8-channel model. See our NVR channels and storage guide to choose the right size.

Last updated: 2026-07-14 · Written by the ARC IP Networks team, an authorised Hikvision reseller in Australia.

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