How an RTSP address is put together
Every RTSP address has the same five parts. Once you can read them, most connection problems explain themselves.
| Part | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Scheme | rtsp:// | Real Time Streaming Protocol. IP Camera Viewer plays rtsp:// addresses; encrypted rtsps:// ones need converting first (see the UniFi guide). |
| Login | admin:password@ | Optional inside the address. In the app you type the username and password in their own fields; if you paste an address that contains them, the app moves them into those fields and keeps them in the iOS Keychain. |
| Host | 192.168.1.64 | The camera's address on your network. Reserve it in your router so it does not change after a power cut. |
| Port | :554 | 554 is the RTSP default. Exceptions: UniFi Protect uses 7447, many VStarcam models 10554, some Tuya-based cameras 8554. |
| Path | /Streaming/Channels/101 | Chosen by the manufacturer. It picks the stream, and on recorders the channel. This is the part people most often get wrong. |
Dahua-family cameras add a query string, ?channel=1&subtype=0, to the path. Keep the & exactly as written; it is part of the address.
Stream paths for common brands
These are the paths that work on current firmware. Each brand guide covers the settings that have to be switched on first and the exceptions for older models.
| Brand | Main stream | Sub-stream |
|---|---|---|
| Hikvision, Annke, Anpviz | /Streaming/Channels/101 | /Streaming/Channels/102 |
| Dahua, Amcrest, Lorex | /cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 | …&subtype=1 |
| Reolink | /h264Preview_01_main | /h264Preview_01_sub |
| TP-Link Tapo and VIGI | /stream1 | /stream2 |
| Axis | /axis-media/media.amp | …?resolution=640x480 |
| Foscam | /videoMain | /videoSub |
| Uniview | /media/video1 | /media/video2 |
| UniFi Protect | rtsp://console-ip:7447/stream-id, one ID per quality level | |
| Wyze (RTSP firmware) | /live | none |
| Eufy | /live0 | none |
Not sure which path your camera uses? Add it in IP Camera Viewer by IP address and tap Find Stream Path: the app tries the common paths for you, including recorder channels. Cameras that support ONVIF need no path at all, because the app asks the camera for it.
Main stream or sub-stream
Most cameras serve the same picture twice. The main stream is full resolution, often 4 or 8 megapixels in H.265, at several megabits per second. The sub-stream is a small copy, typically 640×360 to 720p, at a fraction of the bitrate.
- On a phone screen the sub-stream looks almost as good and starts faster.
- Over a VPN on mobile data, the main stream can use 1–4 GB an hour; the sub-stream a tenth of that.
- In a grid of four or nine cameras, sub-streams keep every tile moving; nine 4K main streams are heavy work even for a recent iPad.
IP Camera Viewer decodes both H.264 and H.265 in hardware. For cameras added by ONVIF scan you can switch between the streams from the camera's Streams menu; for cameras added by address, the app plays the path you entered, so add the sub-stream path if that is what you want in a grid. If the main stream fails to reconnect twice in a row, the app falls back to the sub-stream on its own. MJPEG-only cameras are not supported.
Test the address before blaming the app
When a stream will not play, find out whether the address or the phone is the problem. On a computer on the same network, open VLC, choose Media → Open Network Stream and paste the full address with the username and password in it. If VLC cannot play it either, the camera, the path or the login is wrong. If VLC plays it and the phone does not, look at the phone's network:
- The iPhone must be on the same network as the camera, not the guest Wi-Fi. Guest networks and some mesh systems isolate devices from each other.
- iOS has to allow the app to use the local network: Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network → IP Camera Viewer. If you tapped Don't Allow when it asked, nothing on your network is reachable.
- Cameras on their own VLAN need a firewall rule that lets the phone reach port 554 (and the ONVIF port, for scanning).
What the connection errors mean
| The app says | Usually means | Try |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Failed | The camera answered but rejected the login (RTSP 401 or 403). | Check the username and password on the camera itself, not your cloud account. Hikvision and Dahua lock an address out after repeated failures; wait before retrying. |
| Stream Not Found | The camera is there but has nothing at that path. | Check the path and channel number, or use Find Stream Path. |
| Camera Unreachable | Nothing answered at that address and port. | Check the IP, the port, Local Network access, and that a battery camera is not asleep. |
| Waiting for Home Wi-Fi | You are on mobile data and the camera has a private home address. | Connect to your home network with a VPN, then choose "I'm on VPN – Try Anyway". |
A password containing symbols such as @, : or # breaks addresses typed with the login inside them. Typing the login in the app's separate fields avoids that; if a login with symbols is still refused, change it to letters and digits once to rule this out.
Cameras that need different firmware
Wyze offers a separate RTSP firmware for a few older models; the standard firmware has no stream.
YI and Kami
YI Home and Kami cameras have no RTSP on their standard firmware. Community firmware projects for some older YI models add a stream at paths such as /ch0_0.h264, without a login. They are unofficial, they replace the manufacturer's firmware, and a failed flash can leave the camera unusable, so treat them as a hobby project rather than a setup step.
Cameras with no RTSP at all
Some popular cameras only send video to their manufacturer's servers. No local stream exists for any app to open, so the manufacturer's app is the only way to watch them.
Ring
Ring doorbells and cameras stream through Ring's cloud to the Ring app. There is no RTSP or ONVIF option on any model.
Arlo
Arlo cameras stream through Arlo's service and its SmartHub or base station. The consumer range offers no RTSP address.
Blink
Blink cameras wake, record a clip and upload it. Live view runs through the Blink app only.
Google Nest
Nest cameras are viewed in the Google Home app. Google's developer programme can issue short-lived streams to registered developers, but that is not something a viewer app can use with an ordinary sign-in.
If you want one app for every camera, choose models that list RTSP or ONVIF in their specifications. That is also what keeps them working if a manufacturer changes its cloud service.
Frequently asked questions
What is the default RTSP port?
554. Most cameras use it unless you changed it. UniFi Protect re-serves streams on 7447, many VStarcam models use 10554 and some Tuya-based cameras 8554. The port is shown in the camera's network settings, usually next to the HTTP port.
Can I put the username and password in the RTSP URL?
Yes: rtsp://user:password@192.168.1.64:554/path. Symbols in the password then have to be percent-encoded (@ becomes %40), which is easy to get wrong. In IP Camera Viewer, type the login in the separate fields; pasted credentials are moved there and stored in the Keychain.
Does RTSP work over the internet?
It can, but forwarding port 554 on your router exposes the camera to anyone who finds it, and camera firmware is a common target. The safer route is a VPN to your home network; the app then connects to the camera exactly as it does at home. It has no cloud relay of its own.
Why is the live picture a second or two behind?
Cameras send a full frame only every few seconds, and players buffer a little to ride out Wi-Fi hiccups. High-bitrate main streams and weak Wi-Fi add to the delay. The sub-stream usually starts faster and stays closer to real time.
Is RTSP the same as ONVIF?
No. RTSP carries the video. ONVIF is how an app discovers the camera, asks it for its RTSP addresses and sends pan, tilt and zoom commands. Most cameras that support ONVIF also serve RTSP, but plenty of RTSP cameras do not support ONVIF.
Download the app and test it with your camera
Scan the QR code or open the App Store link to try IP Camera Viewer & Monitor with your RTSP or ONVIF camera.