Getting started

This guide takes you from a fresh install to your first camera. It assumes the camera.ui server is already running. If not, start with Installation.

1. Open camera.ui

camera.ui runs over HTTPS. How you open it depends on how you installed it:

• Desktop app. It opens automatically when you launch it (in Server mode it starts the server for you).
• Server (Docker, Proxmox, bare-metal). Open https://<server-ip>:3443 in your browser, or https://localhost:3443 on the same machine.

First-visit certificate warning

camera.ui secures the connection with a self-signed certificate, so your browser shows a "your connection is not private" warning the first time. This is expected on your local network. Choose Advanced → Proceed to continue. You can remove the warning later by installing the certificate from Settings → System → Certificate.

2. Sign in

The first time, sign in with the default account:

• Username: admin
• Password: admin

You'll replace these in the next step.

3. First-run setup

On first sign-in, camera.ui walks you through a short setup wizard:

Welcome → Appearance → Account → Finish

Welcome

Choose how to start:

• New Installation. Set up a fresh server. This is what most people pick.
• Restore from Backup. Moving from another camera.ui install? Upload your backup archive, and camera.ui restores your settings and restarts.

Appearance

Pick your theme (light, dark, or follow the system) and your language. You can change both anytime later.

Account

Set up your own account. This replaces the default admin / admin:

• A username
• A password (entered twice)
• Optionally, an avatar

Choose a strong password

This is an administrator account. Use a strong, unique password, especially if you ever plan to reach camera.ui from outside your local network.

Finish

Select Enjoy! to save. camera.ui signs you out so the new account takes effect, then sign back in with the username and password you just set.

4. Add your first camera

After signing in you land on the Home screen. Select Get started, or open Cameras.

The Cameras page scans your network and lists the cameras it finds under Discovered. Select one, enter its username and password, and it's added. If your camera isn't found, use Add camera to enter its stream details by hand.

For the full walkthrough, see Adding a camera.

Getting around

The sidebar on the left is grouped by purpose. Your daily pages sit at the top. A Manage group holds cameras, sensors, faces, automations, plugins and instances. A System group keeps the diagnostic pages and starts collapsed. On a phone the same groups show up in the menu.

The order is yours to change. Select the pencil at the top of the sidebar to start editing: drag a page to another spot or into another group, use the eye to hide a settings page you don't need, then select the check when you're done. Reset to defaults brings back the original layout. In a long list, dragging an entry towards the top or bottom scrolls the list along. Your layout is saved to your account, so it follows you to every browser and device.

In Settings → Appearance you can also add the settings pages to the sidebar as their own group, and choose which groups can collapse.

Next steps

Once your camera is connected:

• Live view — watch your cameras live
• Recording (NVR) — turn on 24/7 or event recording
• Detection & AI — add motion and object detection
• Remote access and the mobile apps — reach your cameras from anywhere