---
url: /cameras/add-camera.md
---
# Adding a camera

There are two ways to add a camera: let camera.ui **discover** it, or **add it manually** with its stream URL. Both start from the **Cameras** page.

## Before you start

* The camera is on the same network as your server.
* For network discovery, enable **ONVIF** in the camera's own settings.
* Have the camera's **username and password** ready. For a manual add, also have its **RTSP URL** (from the camera's manual or app).

## Discover a camera

The Cameras page lists devices that have been **discovered**, ready for you to add. A camera shows up here when camera.ui's built-in discovery finds it on your network (ONVIF and other protocols), or when a [plugin](/plugins/) that manages cameras reports one. Cameras you have already added appear under **Adopted cameras**. Discovery and adding are for admins; other users open the same **Cameras** page as a plain list and tap through to any camera.

1. Open **Cameras**. Discovery runs automatically. If a camera doesn't appear, select **Rescan**.
2. Select a camera under **Discovered**. If asked, enter **username** and **password** (a few cameras use a PIN) and select **Connect**.
3. **Confirm camera** shows the **Name**, **Room** and **Sources** camera.ui read from the camera. Adjust them if needed.
4. Select **Add camera**. The camera moves to **Adopted cameras**.

The eye icon hides a device; **Show hidden devices** brings it back.

## Add a camera manually

For cameras that aren't discovered, or to set up streams yourself, select **Add camera** on the Cameras page.

1. Give the camera a **Name**, and optionally assign it to a **Room**.
2. Under **Sources**, set up at least one stream:
   * Enter a **Source name**.
   * Pick a **Source role**: **High Resolution**, **Mid Resolution**, or **Low Resolution** for streaming, or **Snapshot** for stills. At least one streaming role is required.
   * Paste the full stream **URL** including the protocol, for example `rtsp://user:pass@192.168.1.50:554/stream`. camera.ui detects the protocol from the URL and shows **Detected protocol** under the field. Use the **(i)** button next to the field for protocol-specific help, or **Test camera source** to preview a frame.
3. Select **Add source** to add another URL to the same source. To add a second source with another role, for example a low-resolution stream for fast scrubbing, use the plus button below the Sources card.

::: tip
The **NVR** plugin, if installed and enabled, is activated for every new camera automatically, whether you added it manually or adopted it from **Discovered**. Recording then starts on its own as long as your subscription has a free camera slot. You can change the mode or turn recording off per camera, see [Recording](/recording/).
:::

### Sources and roles

A camera can have several **sources**, each with a **role**:

* **High / Mid / Low Resolution** are streaming tiers. camera.ui uses the one that fits the situation, such as a low-resolution stream in a multi-camera grid and a high-resolution one at full screen.
* **Snapshot** provides still images.

One source is enough; a lower-resolution stream makes grids and playback lighter. Each source needs its own name within the camera; a name already in use is rejected with a note under the field. Once a source is saved its name is fixed.

### Source options

* **Hot mode.** Keeps the connection to the camera always active, so there's no reconnect delay when a stream is opened.
* **Preload.** Preloads the stream so the camera view opens with minimal delay.
* **Mute audio.** Removes the audio track from this source. Off by default.
* **Disable two-way audio.** Removes the talk channel from this source, camera.ui no longer requests it from the camera. Off by default.
* **Stream timeout.** Seconds without video before the stream is reconnected. Left empty it is 5 seconds for a camera you entered yourself and 60 for a source a plugin provides, since the plugin already watches its camera.
* **Connection timeout.** Seconds the camera gets for each step of connecting. Raise it for cameras that wake up slowly, a battery model for example. Empty means 5.

With hot mode and preload on, opening a stream is near-instant, whether the camera uses H.264 or H.265.

## Connection protocols

**RTSP** works with almost any IP camera and is the usual choice, while **ONVIF** powers discovery. The protocol list also covers specific brands and systems, some of which connect directly and others through a [plugin](/plugins/). See [Connection protocols](/cameras/protocols) for the full list.\[^cloud]

\[^cloud]: Cameras that depend on a vendor cloud (such as Ring or Nest) can be connected, either directly or through a plugin, but they are **not recommended** and **not covered by support**. Use local RTSP / ONVIF cameras for a reliable experience.