How to Find a CCTV Camera's Wi-Fi IP Address: A Complete Guide

A surveillance camera's Wi-Fi IP address is its "digital passport" on the local network. Without it, it's impossible to connect to the device for setup, viewing archives, or integrating it with a smart home system. The problem is that manufacturers rarely indicate this address on the camera's housing or in documentation, and standard methods like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 They don't always work. It's especially difficult for beginners who are encountering network settings for the first time.

In this article we will look at 5 proven methods Finding a camera's IP address ranges from simple (using a mobile app) to advanced (scanning the network with utilities). We'll cover the specifics for popular brands separately: Xiaomi, TP-Link Tapo, Hikvision, Dahua And EzvizYou'll also learn what to do if your camera isn't showing up in your router's device list and how to avoid common search errors.

1. The easiest way: check via a mobile app

Most modern Wi-Fi cameras come with proprietary apps that display the IP address in the device information. This is the fastest method if the app is already installed and the camera is connected to the network.

Here's how it works with popular brands:

• 📱 Xiaomi Mi Home / Home Assistant: Open the app → select camera → go to Settings → About device → Network information. The IP address will be listed in the section Local IP or LAN IP.
• 🔍 TP-Link Tapo: In the appendix Tapo Click on the camera icon → Settings (⚙️) → Advanced → Network Settings.
• 🏢 Hikvision / Ezviz: In applications Hik-Connect or Ezviz Studio go to Devices → Select camera → Information → Network settings.
• 🌐 Dahua: Use the app Dahua SmartPSS or DMSSThe IP address is displayed in the device properties.

⚠️ Attention: If the camera is connected via the cloud (P2P), the local IP address may not be displayed. In this case, proceed to methods 2–5.

If the app doesn't show the IP or the camera doesn't connect to it, check:

• 🔌 Is the camera connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your smartphone?
• 🔄 Is the camera firmware updated (outdated versions may not support IP display).
• 📵 Is there any blocking on the router side (for example, parental controls or MAC address filtering).

2. Finding an IP address through the router's web interface

If the camera is connected to your Wi-Fi router, its IP address can be found in the list of connected devices. This method is universal and works regardless of camera brand.

Instructions for popular router models:

If the camera does not appear in the list:

1. Make sure it is turned on and connected to your router (the Wi-Fi indicator on the camera should be green or blue).
2. Check if the DHCP server is disabled on the router (in this case, the camera may be assigned a static IP that is not displayed in the lease list).
3. Reboot the camera and router.

⚠️ Attention: Some routers (eg. Zyxel Keenetic) hide devices with disabled DHCP. If the camera is configured for a static IP, use method 4 (network scanning).

3. Using network scanning utilities

If the router doesn't display the camera's IP address or it's configured to a static IP, scanning the local network with specialized software can help. These utilities analyze all active devices and display their IP addresses, MAC addresses, and sometimes even models.

Top 3 free programs for Windows, macOS, and Linux:

• 🖥️ Advanced IP Scanner (Windows): Scans a range of IP addresses and displays all connected devices. Supports exporting the list to CSV.

  Download from the official website: https://www.advanced-ip-scanner.com/

• 🍎 LanScan (macOS): A simple scanner with a minimalist interface. Shows the IP, MAC address, and manufacturer of a device by its MAC prefix.
• 🐧 nmap (Linux/macOS/Windows): A powerful network scanning tool. Requires command line skills.

  Example command for scanning:
  nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

How to use Advanced IP Scanner:

1. Run the program (no installation required).
2. Click Scan (by default the range is scanned 192.168.0.1–192.168.0.254).
3. In the results, find the device with the camera name (for example, Xiaomi Camera) or an unknown device with the manufacturer's MAC address.
4. The IP address will be in the first column.

If the camera is not detected:

• 🔍 Check that the correct IP range is being scanned (for example, if the router issues addresses 10.0.0.x, change the range in the utility settings).
• 🔌 Make sure the camera is turned on and connected to the same network as your computer.
• 🛡️ Disable your firewall or antivirus software—they may be blocking scanning.

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

Connect your computer to the same network as the camera

Disable VPN (if used)

Run the scanner as administrator (for Windows)

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

If you prefer to avoid third-party software, you can find the camera's IP address using standard network commands. This method requires minimal terminal knowledge but provides accurate results.

For Windows:

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

   arp -a

3. In the results, find the line with the camera's MAC address (if known) or an unknown device. The IP address will be in the first column.

For macOS/Linux:

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

   ping -c 1 192.168.1.255 && arp -a

   (replace 192.168.1 to your subnet, for example, 192.168.0).

3. Or use nmap (install via brew install nmap or apt-get install nmap):

   nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24 | grep -i "camera\|unknown"

If the team arp -a does not show the camera:

• 🔄 Try pinging the broadcast address first:

  ping 192.168.1.255

  Then re-run arp -a.

• 📡 Make sure the camera is active (for example, move it or turn on night mode to wake it up).

⚠️ Attention: Some routers block ICMP packets (ping), so scanning may not work. In this case, use utilities like Advanced IP Scanner.

What should I do if the camera does not respond to ping?

If the camera does not respond to ping, this may mean:

1. It is configured to block ICMP (in the camera's security settings).

2. A non-standard port is used (for example, 8000 instead of 80).

3. The camera is connected via the cloud (P2P) and does not have a local IP.

In this case, try connecting to it through a browser by entering possible IP addresses manually (for example, 192.168.1.100:8000).

5. Checking via the camera's web interface (if the IP range is known)

If you know the IP address range of your network (e.g. 192.168.1.1–192.168.1.254), you can try connecting to the camera through a browser, trying possible addresses. This method is labor-intensive, but sometimes the only possible one.

How to do it:

1. Open your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
2. Enter possible IP addresses of the camera in the address bar, adding standard ports:

   http://192.168.1.100
   http://192.168.1.100:80
   http://192.168.1.100:8000
   http://192.168.1.100:8080

3. If the address is correct, the camera authorization window will open (usually you need to enter your login and password, often by default admin/admin or admin/empty).

Tips to speed up the process:

• 🔢 Start with addresses that are often assigned by default:
  • 192.168.1.100 — TP-Link Tapo,
  • 192.168.1.64 — Hikvision,
  • 192.168.1.99 — Dahua.
• 🔍 Use browser extensions like IP Scanner, which automate the search of addresses.
• 📋 If the camera has previously connected to the network, check your browser history—you may have already accessed its IP address.

⚠️ Attention: Never use standard passwords like admin/12345 to access the camera over the internet. This makes it vulnerable to hacking. Always change the password to a complex one (at least 12 characters, including numbers and special characters).

Common problems and their solutions

Even following the instructions, you may encounter difficulties. Let's look at typical scenarios and how to resolve them.

If none of the methods worked:

• 🔧 Check the camera's physical connection (power, indicators).
• 📡 Make sure the camera and the device you're looking for IP from are connected to the same network (not via guest Wi-Fi or VPN).
• 📄 Please refer to your camera documentation - some models (e.g. Reolink) have unique utilities for searching IP.

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to find out the IP address of a camera if it is connected to someone else's Wi-Fi?

No, unless you have access to the router or local network. The IP address is assigned internally to the network and can only be seen when connected to the same Wi-Fi network. The exception is if the camera supports cloud access (P2P), but in this case, a local IP address is not needed.

The camera shows the IP address 0.0.0.0 or 169.254.x.x. What does it mean?

This means the camera hasn't received a valid IP address from the router. Reasons:

• DHCP is disabled on the router.
• The camera is configured to a static IP which conflicts with other devices.
• Problems connecting to Wi-Fi (incorrect password, weak signal).

Solution: Check the camera's network settings (via the app or reset), reboot the router.

How do I reset my camera's IP address to factory settings?

To reset IP (and all other settings) press and hold the button Reset on the camera body for 10-15 seconds. After the reset, the camera will receive a new IP from the router via DHCP. This is usually 192.168.1.x or 192.168.0.x.

Is it possible to change the camera's IP address manually?

Yes, but only if the camera supports static IP settings. This can be done:

• Via the camera's web interface (in the section Network or LAN).
• Via the proprietary application (in network settings).
• On some models - via the manufacturer's utility (for example, SADP Tool For Hikvision).

When setting up manually, make sure the selected IP does not conflict with other devices on the network.

Why does the camera's IP address keep changing?

This happens if DHCP is enabled on the router and a static IP address hasn't been reserved for the camera. To assign an address:

1. Go to your router settings.
2. Find the section DHCP Reservation or IP to MAC Binding.
3. Add a rule for the camera's MAC address, specifying the desired IP.

This way the camera will always receive the same address.