How to Find Your Camera's RTSP URL (Every Major Brand)

The RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) URL is how software connects to your camera's live video stream. Every IP camera has one, but finding it can be frustrating — manufacturers don't always make it obvious.

This guide gives you the exact RTSP URL format for every major camera brand, plus how to test it.

The Universal RTSP Format

Every RTSP URL follows this pattern:

rtsp://username:password@camera-ip-address:554/path

username:password — Your camera's login credentials (often admin/admin by default)
camera-ip-address — Your camera's local IP (e.g., 192.168.1.100)
554 — The default RTSP port (some cameras use different ports)
/path — The stream path, which varies by manufacturer

RTSP URLs by Brand

Axis

rtsp://user:pass@IP/axis-media/media.amp

Axis cameras are consistent. The same URL works across virtually all models. For H.264 specifically:

rtsp://user:pass@IP/axis-media/media.amp?videocodec=h264

Default credentials: root / (set during setup)

Hikvision

rtsp://user:pass@IP/Streaming/Channels/101

The last three digits: first digit = channel (1), last two = stream type (01 = main, 02 = sub).

# Main stream (high quality)
rtsp://user:pass@IP/Streaming/Channels/101

# Sub stream (lower quality, less bandwidth)
rtsp://user:pass@IP/Streaming/Channels/102

Default credentials: admin / (set during activation)

Dahua / Amcrest

rtsp://user:pass@IP/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0

Amcrest cameras use the same Dahua firmware. subtype=0 is main stream, subtype=1 is sub stream.

Default credentials: admin / admin

Reolink

rtsp://user:pass@IP/h264Preview_01_main

For sub stream: /h264Preview_01_sub. Note: Some newer Reolink models require enabling RTSP in the camera's settings first.

Default credentials: admin / (blank or set during setup)

Wyze (with RTSP firmware)

rtsp://user:pass@IP/live

Wyze cameras need the RTSP firmware flashed. Go to Wyze app → Camera Settings → Advanced → RTSP. Set a username and password there.

TP-Link / Tapo

rtsp://user:pass@IP:554/stream1

Sub stream: /stream2. Enable RTSP in the Tapo app under Camera Settings → Advanced.

Generic ONVIF Cameras

rtsp://user:pass@IP:554/stream1
rtsp://user:pass@IP:554/live.sdp
rtsp://user:pass@IP:554/media/video1

If none of these work, check your camera's documentation or admin web interface. Most cameras show the RTSP URL somewhere in their network settings.

How to Find Your Camera's IP Address

Before you can build the RTSP URL, you need your camera's local IP address:

Check your router's admin page — Look for connected devices. The camera usually shows up by brand name.
Use the camera's app — Most camera apps show the IP in device settings.
Network scan — Use a free tool like Angry IP Scanner or run arp -a in your terminal.
ONVIF discovery — Tools like ONVIF Device Manager can automatically find cameras on your network.

Testing Your RTSP URL

Before using your URL with any monitoring software, test it with VLC or ffmpeg:

With VLC

Open VLC Media Player
Go to Media → Open Network Stream
Paste your RTSP URL
Click Play — you should see your camera's live feed

With ffmpeg (command line)

ffprobe -rtsp_transport tcp "rtsp://user:[email protected]/stream1"

If it shows stream info (resolution, codec), your URL is correct.

Troubleshooting

401 Unauthorized: Wrong username or password. Try the camera's default credentials.
Connection refused: Camera might not have RTSP enabled. Check the camera's web interface or app settings.
Timeout: Wrong IP address, or camera is on a different subnet/VLAN.
No video (black screen): Try adding ?tcp or using TCP transport: ffplay -rtsp_transport tcp "rtsp://..."
Wrong port: Some cameras use port 8554 instead of 554. Check your camera's documentation.

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