How to Find a Wi-Fi Camera's IP Address: All Methods for Different Devices

Finding a Wi-Fi camera's IP address is a key step for setting up remote access, integrating with smart home systems, or troubleshooting connection issues. Without this address, you won't be able to access the device's web interface, update firmware, or change network settings. However, many users encounter difficulties: manufacturers rarely specify the IP address in documentation, and standard methods like ipconfig or ifconfig They don't work here.

In this article we will look at 5 reliable ways Finding a camera's IP address involves everything from viewing the list of devices in your router to using specialized utilities. We'll pay special attention to the nuances for popular brands: Xiaomi, TP-Link Tapo, Hikvision, Dahua and others. You'll also learn how to avoid common network scanning errors and what to do if your camera isn't showing up in the list of connected devices.

1. Checking IP via the router's web interface

The most universal method is to view the list of connected devices in the router's admin panel. This method works regardless of the camera model, as long as it's connected to your Wi-Fi network.

Instructions:

• 🌐 Open your browser and enter your router's IP address (usually 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.8.1). The exact address is indicated on the device sticker.
• 🔑 Enter your login and password (by default it is often admin/admin or admin/empty).
• 📋 Go to the device list section. Depending on your firmware version, it may be called:
  • DHCP Clients List (English version)
  • Client list or Connected devices (Russian version)
  • LAN → DHCP (in routers ASUS)
• 🔍 Find your camera in the list. It will usually be displayed under its original name (e.g. Tapo C200) or MAC address. The IP address will be listed in the corresponding column.

⚠️ Attention: If the camera is connected via cable (PoE), look for it in the section LAN, and not Wi-FiSome routers separate wired and wireless devices.

Example of display in a router TP-Link:

If there are several unknown devices in the list, please focus on MAC address — it can be found on the camera body or in the documentation. Power cycling the camera will also help: the device should disappear and reappear in the list.

2. Using a mobile camera app

Smart camera manufacturers (eg Xiaomi, TP-Link Tapo, Ezviz) often provide official apps that display the device's IP address. This method is suitable if the camera is already linked to your account.

Where to find IP addresses in popular apps:

• 📱 Mi Home (Xiaomi):
  1. Open the app and select your camera.
  2. Go to Settings → General → Network Information.
  3. The IP address will be listed next to Local IP.
• 📱 Tapo (TP-Link):
  1. Click on the camera icon → ⚙️ Settings.
  2. Select Advanced settings → Network settings.

📱 Ezviz (Hikvision):

1. Press and hold your finger on the camera preview → Device → Network Settings.

⚠️ Attention: In some applications (eg. YooSee) The IP address is hidden in the "advanced" settings. If you don't find this setting, check the section About the program or Diagnostics.

If the camera is connected via the cloud (P2P), the local IP may not be displayed. In this case, use the other methods in this article.

Make sure the camera is turned on and connected to Wi-Fi|

Update the app to the latest version|

Check that your smartphone and camera are on the same network|

Log in to the same account that the camera is linked to-->

3. Scanning the network using specialized utilities

If your router isn't showing its IP address or your camera isn't showing up in the app, scanning your local network can help. This involves using programs that analyze all connected devices and their ports.

Top 3 utilities for Windows/macOS/Linux:

• 🖥️ Advanced IP Scanner (Windows) - a free program with a simple interface. Scans an IP range and displays open ports (usually for cameras) 80, 554, 8000).
• 🍎 LanScan (macOS) — scans the network and determines the device manufacturer by MAC address.
• 🐧 nmap (Linux/macOS/Windows) — a command-line utility for advanced users. Scanning command:

  nmap -sn 192.168.0.0/24

  To find the camera, add a port check:

  nmap -p 80,554,8000 192.168.0.0/24

Example of the result in Advanced IP Scanner:

IP address	MAC address	Manufacturer	Open ports
192.168.0.101	00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E	Apple	—
192.168.0.105	A4:B1:C2:D3:E4:F5	TP-Link Technologies	80 (HTTP), 554 (RTSP)

Cameras usually have open ports. 80 (web interface) or 554 (RTSP streaming video). If you find a device with these ports and an unknown name, it's most likely your camera.

4. Find IP via command line (Windows/Linux/macOS)

For experienced users, the command line method is suitable. It doesn't require any additional software and works on all operating systems.

For Windows:

1. Open Command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
2. Enter the command to view all devices on the network:

   arp -a

   The result will show IP and MAC addresses, but without device names.

3. To get more data, use:

   for /L %i in (1,1,254) do ping -n 1 192.168.0.%i | find "TTL"

   This command "pings" all addresses in the range 192.168.0.1–254 and displays only those who responded.

For Linux/macOS:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Enter the command to scan the network:

   ping -c 1 -t 1 192.168.0.255

   Then check the ARP cache:

   arp -a

3. For a more detailed analysis, use:

   nmap -sn 192.168.0.0/24

If you see an IP address with the MAC address of the camera manufacturer in the results (for example, Hangzhou Hikvision or Shenzhen Bilian), - this is the device you need.

⚠️ Attention: Some cameras block ICMP (ping) packets and may not appear in the results. In this case, use a port scan (Section 3).

5. View network settings on the camera itself

If the camera has web interface or physical display, the IP address can be found directly from the device. This method is suitable for professional models (Hikvision, Dahua) or cameras with a screen.

Methods:

• 🖥️ Web interface:
  1. Connect the camera to the router.
  2. Open your browser and enter the camera's standard IP (indicated in the instructions, for example, 192.168.1.65 For Hikvision).
  3. Enter login/password (by default it is often admin/12345 or admin/empty).
  4. Go to the section Network or Net — the current IP will be there.

📺 Camera screen: On some models (eg, Reolink RLC-510A) The IP is displayed in the menu on the device itself. Go to Settings → Network.

🔧 Reset button: If the camera does not connect, perform a factory reset (hold the button Reset 10-15 seconds). After that, it will receive an IP from the router's DHCP server (usually in the range 192.168.0.100–200).

An example of the path to network settings in the web interface Dahua: Configuration → Network → Basic Settings → IPv4.

What to do if you don’t know the standard IP camera?

Many manufacturers use fixed IP addresses by default. Try entering the following into your browser:

• Hikvision: 192.0.0.64 or 192.168.1.64
• Dahua: 192.168.1.108
• TP-Link Tapo: 192.168.0.100 (if connected via cable)
• Foscam: 192.168.1.100

If the camera does not respond, check that your PC is on the same subnet (for example, set a static IP 192.168.1.10 with a mask 255.255.255.0).

6. Features for cameras with PoE and cloud connection

Cameras with support PoE (Power over Ethernet) or cloud connection (P2P) have nuances when determining IP. Let's take a closer look.

For PoE cameras:

• 🔌 If the camera is connected to a PoE switch or injector, its IP can be assigned by the router's DHCP server or by the switch itself (if it is "managed").
• 🔄 Check your VLAN settings: Some PoE cameras operate on a separate subnet (e.g. 192.168.2.x instead of 192.168.0.x).
• 🛠️ Use utilities for PoE devices, for example, Ubiquiti Discovery Tool or ONVIF Device Manager.

For cloud cameras (P2P):

• ☁️ If the camera is connected via the cloud (for example, Xiaomi Mi Home or Ezviz), a local IP may not be required for remote access. However, it is needed for RTSP setup or integration with Home Assistant.
• 🔗 In some cases, P2P cameras receive a "gray" IP address (behind NAT) and cannot be found using standard methods. In these cases, the only solution is a factory reset and connecting to the router in AP mode.

⚠️ Attention: Cloud cameras (eg YooSee or VStarcam) can block access via local IP unless you disable P2P mode in the settings.

7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

When searching for a camera's IP address, users often encounter common problems. Let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them.

Error 1: The camera is not displayed in the router's device list.

• ❌ Cause: The camera is connected to another network (for example, a guest Wi-Fi or a neighbor's).
• ✅ Solution: Check the SSID of the network the camera is connected to. If you're unsure, reset it and reconnect.

Error 2: IP address found, but web interface does not open

• ❌ Reasons:
  • Invalid port (for example, the camera uses 8080 instead of 80).
  • Blocked by Windows Firewall or antivirus.
  • The camera requires firmware to work in a local network.
• ✅ Solution: Try entering it in your browser http://[IP]:[port] (For example, http://192.168.0.105:8080). Disable your firewall during the test.

Error 3: Network scan does not find the camera

• ❌ Reasons:
  • The camera is in "sleep" mode (some models save energy).
  • IP address outside the standard range (eg. 10.0.0.x instead of 192.168.0.x).
  • The camera uses a static IP that is not in the DHCP pool.
  • ✅ Solution: Connect the camera via cable and check the network settings in its web interface. If the IP is static, change it to automatic (DHCP).

  If nothing helps, do full camera reset and reconnect it following the manufacturer's instructions.

  FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

  Is it possible to find out the IP address of a camera if it is connected to someone else's network (for example, in an office)?

  No, if the camera is on a different subnet (for example, on an office network), you won't be able to find its IP using standard methods. You'll need:

  1. Physical access to the camera to connect to your router.
  2. Login/password from the administrator of another network (if the camera is in their DHCP).

  The exception is cloud cameras (P2P), but even there the local IP is unavailable without network access.

  The camera is connected to Wi-Fi, but it doesn't show up in the router. What's wrong?

  Possible reasons:

  • The camera is connected to guest network router (check Wi-Fi settings).
  • It's turned on in the router client isolation mode (AP Isolation), which hides devices from each other.
  • The camera uses static IP outside the DHCP range (eg 192.168.0.250, and the router only distributes up to .200).
  • DHCP server failure (reboot the router).

  Solution: Connect the camera via cable or reset its settings.

  How to find IP cameras Xiaomi without Mi Home app?
  If the application is not installed, use:
  1. Scanning the network via Advanced IP Scanner (look for a device with a MAC address starting with 78:11:DC or 48:5F:99 - this is the manufacturer Xiaomi).
  2. Viewing the list of devices in the router (cameras Xiaomi usually have a name of the form lumi.camera.*).
  3. Bluetooth connection (some models, for example, Xiaomi Mi Home Security Camera 360°, first connect via Bluetooth to set up Wi-Fi).
  Is it possible to change the IP cameras manually?

  Yes, but the method depends on the model:

  • Via the web interface: Go to network settings and specify a static IP (it is recommended to choose outside the DHCP range, for example, 192.168.0.201).
  • Via the app: IN TP-Link Tapo or Ezviz There is a "Static IP" option in the network settings.
  • Via console: For cameras Hikvision/Dahua you can use the utility SADP Tool (downloaded from the manufacturer's website).

  ⚠️ After changing the IP, the camera may become unavailable if the new address conflicts with another device. Always check for available IP addresses via ping.

  Why does the camera have two IP addresses?

  It is normal if the camera:

  • Connected simultaneously to Wi-Fi and Ethernet (for example, a backup channel).
  • Works in mode dual stack (IPv4 + IPv6).
  • Has multiple network interfaces (for example, primary and backup for the cloud).

  To configure, use the IPv4 address (usually starts with 192.168. or 10.0.).