RTSP URL Generator

Generate RTSP stream URLs for IP cameras. Supports Hikvision, Dahua, Uniview, Axis, Reolink, Foscam, Amcrest, Hanwha, VIVOTEK and custom cameras.

1.0.0
Version
Auth
Batch

About RTSP URL Generator

Every IP camera vendor invents its own RTSP URL scheme. Hikvision uses /Streaming/Channels/101, Dahua uses /cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0, Reolink uses /h264Preview_01_main, Axis uses /axis-media/media.amp?camera=1, and Vivotek just hard-codes /live.sdp. The numbers, query params and paths all change again for sub-streams. The result is the same forty-minute hunt through PDFs and forum threads every time you set up a new NVR, integrate a camera into Home Assistant or wire one to VLC for monitoring.

This RTSP URL generator ships URL templates for nine major brands — Hikvision, Dahua, Uniview, Axis, Reolink, Foscam, Amcrest, Hanwha (Samsung), Vivotek — plus a Custom mode for anything that's not in the list. Type in IP, port (defaults to 554), username, password and channel number, pick Main or Sub stream, and the generator emits a ready-to-paste URL. The Reolink template knows the channel needs zero-padding (01, not 1). The Amcrest template knows the firmware shares Dahua's scheme. The Hanwha (formerly Samsung) template knows the path uses profile{N}/media.smp. Brand-specific notes appear alongside the URL so you know about default port quirks (Foscam's 88 instead of 554) or channel-numbering oddities. Pure browser — no upload of camera passwords to anyone.

Use it to wire a new Hikvision into Synology Surveillance Station, pull a Dahua feed into Frigate or Home Assistant, test a Reolink in VLC before mounting on the wall, build a multi-camera grid in OBS from mixed-vendor cameras, troubleshoot why an Axis stream won't open by checking the URL syntax first, or document the right RTSP paths for a customer's deployment.

RTSP URL Generator Use Cases

  • Integrators wiring a new Hikvision camera into Synology Surveillance Station or Frigate
  • Home Assistant users pulling Dahua or Reolink feeds into the dashboard
  • Quick test in VLC before mounting a camera on the wall
  • OBS streamers building multi-camera grids from mixed-vendor IP cameras
  • Troubleshooting an Axis or Vivotek stream that won't open by checking the URL syntax
  • Documentation pass — generating the right RTSP paths for a customer deployment
  • Pairing this with the CCTV Storage Calculator after URLs are confirmed

RTSP URL Generator Features

  • URL templates for 9 brands — Hikvision, Dahua, Uniview, Axis, Reolink, Foscam, Amcrest, Hanwha (Samsung), Vivotek
  • Custom mode lets you build the URL by hand for any brand not in the preset list
  • Main and Sub stream switching per brand — knows about Dahua's subtype=1, Reolink's _sub, Hanwha's streamType=sub
  • Channel-number quirks handled — Reolink's zero-padded 01/02, Foscam's IP-based addressing, Hanwha's profile{N}
  • Per-brand notes appear alongside the URL — default port quirks (Foscam 88), channel-numbering oddities, firmware overlaps
  • Username / password encoded into the standard rtsp://user:pass@host:port/path form ready to paste into VLC, FFmpeg, NVR or OBS
  • Runs entirely in your browser — camera credentials never upload to a server, no signup, works offline once loaded

How to Use RTSP URL Generator

Pick your camera brand

Choose from Hikvision, Dahua, Uniview, Axis, Reolink, Foscam, Amcrest, Hanwha (Samsung) or Vivotek. If your brand isn't listed, pick Custom and type the path manually from your camera's documentation.

Enter the IP and port

Fill in the camera's LAN IP (e.g. 192.168.1.64). Port defaults to 554 (the RTSP standard) which is right for every brand except Foscam, which usually uses 88. Read the brand notes panel to see if your camera has a non-default port.

Enter credentials

Username (admin is the typical default) and password. These are encoded into the URL as user:pass@host so VLC, FFmpeg and most NVR/integration tools authenticate automatically. Leaving the password blank produces a username-only URL for cameras with no password set.

Pick channel and stream

Channel number (1 for most single-camera setups, 1-N for multi-camera NVR back-ends) and Main vs Sub stream (Main is full resolution, Sub is lower for bandwidth-constrained use). The generator handles the brand-specific quirks automatically.

Copy the URL

Click Generate. The URL appears with a brand-specific notes line explaining any oddities (port defaults, channel-numbering rules). Click Copy to grab the URL for VLC, FFmpeg, ONVIF integration, NVR setup or Home Assistant configuration.

RTSP URL Generator FAQ

No. The URL is assembled entirely in client-side JavaScript and shown back on the page. There is no network call, no analytics, no API. Camera credentials and LAN IPs stay on your machine. This is the right default — pasting a working RTSP URL with the admin password embedded into a third-party SaaS would be a real privacy leak.

Nine major vendor schemes are preset: Hikvision (the /Streaming/Channels/ format), Dahua (the realmonitor subtype scheme), Uniview (/media/video{N}), Axis (/axis-media/media.amp), Reolink (zero-padded h264Preview), Foscam (/videoMain on port 88), Amcrest (shares Dahua's firmware), Hanwha/Samsung (/profile{N}/media.smp), and Vivotek (/live.sdp). Custom mode handles anything else.

Three common paths. (1) Your router's DHCP client list — look for the manufacturer name (Hikvision Digital Technology, ZheJiang Dahua, etc.). (2) The vendor's discovery utility (Hikvision SADP, Dahua ConfigTool, Reolink app). (3) ONVIF discovery — many NVR and integration tools include a 'discover cameras' scan that lists IPs.

Main stream is the full camera resolution and frame rate (typically 1080p–4K at 25–30 fps) — what you record to the NVR. Sub stream is a downscaled, lower-bitrate copy (typically 640×360 to 720p at 10–15 fps) — what live-view tiles, mobile apps and constrained-bandwidth uses should pull. Most NVR setups use Main for recording and Sub for the multi-tile preview grid.

Most often a transport mismatch. VLC defaults to RTSP over TCP, while some integrations default to UDP. Try appending ?transport=tcp to the URL (most brands accept this) or setting the transport in the Home Assistant camera config. Other common culprits: special characters in the password (URL-encode them) or a non-default RTSP port on the camera.

Indirectly. ONVIF Profile S exposes RTSP URLs through the GetStreamUri SOAP call — once you've fetched the URL, it follows one of these vendor schemes. So if your camera supports ONVIF, query it once with an ONVIF client (onvif-cli, Happytime ONVIF Client) to confirm the URL, then use this generator for sibling cameras of the same brand to skip the ONVIF round-trip.

Reolink URLs need the channel number zero-padded: h264Preview_01_main, not h264Preview_1_main. The generator does this automatically when you pick Reolink — type channel 1 in the form, the URL renders with 01. Other brands also have small quirks (Foscam uses port 88 by default, Hanwha uses profile1 not channel1) — the notes line under each generated URL flags them.

Hikvision
海康威视
Dahua
大华
Uniview
宇视
Axis
安讯士
Reolink
Foscam
Amcrest
Hanwha
韩华
VIVOTEK
晶睿
Custom
自定义
Enter the RTSP path for your camera. Check your camera's documentation.

RTSP URL Generator Tutorial

What is RTSP?

RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) is a network protocol used to control streaming media servers. Most IP cameras and NVR/DVR systems use RTSP to deliver live video streams. You need the correct RTSP URL to view your camera feed in software like VLC, Blue Iris, or Home Assistant.

Why is this useful?

Every camera brand uses a different RTSP URL format. Finding the correct format often means digging through manuals or forums. This tool generates the correct URL instantly for 9+ major brands.

How to test your RTSP URL

  1. Copy the generated URL
  2. Open VLC Media Player → Media → Open Network Stream
  3. Paste the URL and click Play
  4. If it doesn't work, double-check IP, port, username and password

Common Default Ports

BrandDefault RTSP Port
Hikvision554
Dahua / Amcrest554
Uniview554
Axis554
Reolink554
Foscam88
Hanwha554
VIVOTEK554

Main Stream vs Sub Stream

  • Main Stream — Full resolution, high bitrate. Best for recording.
  • Sub Stream — Lower resolution, lower bitrate. Best for remote viewing or multi-camera displays.
RTSP URL Format Reference
BrandMain StreamSub Stream
Hikvisionrtsp://user:pass@IP:554/Streaming/Channels/101.../Channels/102
Dahuartsp://user:pass@IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0...&subtype=1
Univiewrtsp://user:pass@IP:554/media/video1.../video1/2
Axisrtsp://user:pass@IP:554/axis-media/media.amp?camera=1+ &resolution=320x240
Reolinkrtsp://user:pass@IP:554/h264Preview_01_main..._01_sub
Foscamrtsp://user:pass@IP:88/videoMain/videoSub
AmcrestSame as Dahua (Amcrest uses Dahua protocol)
Hanwhartsp://user:pass@IP:554/profile1/media.smp+ ?streamType=sub
VIVOTEKrtsp://user:pass@IP:554/live.sdp/live2.sdp