Mobile App for Hikvision Cameras

 

How to get the Hikvision app

 

If you’re looking for a mobile app for your Hikvision cameras that allows you to view footage on the go, you might have already tried Hikvision’s native app – Hik-Connect. However, users on forums like IP Cam Talk report frustrations with features such as delayed live viewing. That’s where Videoloft comes in. Whether you have a Hikvision system, or you’re a security professional seeking a reliable cloud solution for your customers, Videoloft delivers.

 

 

 

 

What is the best app for Hikvision cameras?

 

The best app for Hikvision cameras depends on your needs. Hikvision’s native app – Hik-Connect – is best for basic users as it’s free and has a direct integration with Hikvision NVR/DVRs and IP cameras, but it has limited AI features (Science Direct, 2023) and only offers local storage. In fact, Hik-Connect primarily provides live viewing and basic playback from local storage, without offering offsite redundancy or multi-site access. Videoloft is a cloud video storage and mobile app for Hikvision CCTV cameras, available both for iPhone and Android. It adds offsite cloud storage and backup to Hikvision and it’s OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer), and can transform a basic security system into a cloud based Video Management System.

 

How is Videoloft different from Hik-Connect?

 

You might have heard of, or tried, Hik Connect and whilst similar to Videoloft, there are some important differences. Hik Connect connects by default to the local storage on the camera or recorder. Videoloft, on the other hand, transmits and stores video via the cloud, so if your local storage is tampered with, or destroyed, the recorded footage is still accessible, ensuring complete data redundancy and peace of mind. Videoloft also offers extra features, including:

 

• Remote viewing of live and up to 4k recorded video
• Centralized multi-site access for an unlimited number of users
• Multi-camera event playback
• Unlimited motion alerts, personalized AI powered alerts and camera status alerts
• Recording scheduling and alert scheduling

 

And so much more!

 

This guide will take you through some of Videoloft’s features and show you how to set them up for your cameras once they have been connected to the Videoloft cloud.

 

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Hikvision app camera setup

 

If want to watch your camera footage on your phone, but you’ve not yet connected your security system to the Videoloft cloud then follow this step-by-step guide to complete the camera app setup. 

 

If you already have a Videoloft account, download the app on your iPhone or Android mobile phone, log in and get started! Once you’re set up and logged in you’ll be able to access the features we’re going to talk about below.

 

App setup: Remote viewing of live and up to 4K recorded video

 

The Videoloft mobile app gives you 24/7 remote access to your Hikvision cameras’ live streams and recorded video at up to 4K resolution. 

 

Videoloft records on motion by default, (you can also choose continuous recording as well) when motion is detected on one of your cameras, Videoloft will save that footage to the cloud. It will store it for the duration of the cloud recording subscription plan (e.g. 7, 30, 60 days). 

 

• To view your cameras’ live video in the mobile app, from the main menu screen tap ‘Viewer’
• Search for a particular motion event by tapping the calendar icon 

 

 

 

• Choose the date you are interested in looking at
• To view a particular motion event, tap on the event you want to watch
• Each recorded event can be:
  • Replayed
  • Shared it with anyone as a video or as a picture
  • Downloaded it to your phone
  • Permanently deleted

 

 

 

App setup: Hikvision camera motion detection  

 

With the Videoloft mobile app you can remotely control your Hikvision cameras and set up detection zones. Motion detection zones means you can mask out certain areas to reduce false alerts. To adjust these settings, simply follow the steps outlined below.

 

• Choose the camera you want to adjust the motion detection settings for by tapping the cog icon
• Scroll down to ‘MOTION DETECTION’ section

 

 

 

• To adjust camera sensitivity tap ‘Sensitivity Threshold’ and choose a value between 1 and 10.
  • The sensitivity will depend on Hikvision camera’s location as well as the likelihood of movement: the lower the value you choose the higher the camera’s sensitivity is.

 

 

 

• To set up or adjust camera detection zones tap ‘Detection Zones’
  • Using your finger draw to mask the area you don’t want to monitor

 

 

 

App setup: Alerts for Hikvision cameras

 

Motion alerts  

With Videoloft you can choose to be notified when something happens on your Hikvision cameras with unlimited motion activated alerting. To adjust these settings, simply follow the steps outlined below.

 

• Choose the camera you want to adjust the motion detection alerts for by tapping the cog icon
• Scroll down to ‘ALERTS – Motion / Analytics’ section
• To switch the motion detection alerts on simply use the toggle button
  • You can also choose the type of alerts you will receive when motion is detected

 

 

• If alerting is switched on, but you don’t want to receive them for every motion event you can set a minimum gap between alerts. The minimum gaps for push notifications and emails need to be set up individually. To set up the minimum gap between alerts, tap on ‘Min Gap Between Notifications’ or ‘Min Gap Between Emails’
  • For push notification alerts choose minimum gap from 1 minute up to 2 hours
  • For email alerts choose minimum gap from 10 minutes up to 24 hours

 

 

Camera status alerts  

 

You can also choose to be notified if your Hikvision cameras go offline or come back online. Please note you’ll have to set this up for each camera individually. To adjust these settings for other cameras, simply follow the same steps as outlined below.

 

• • Choose the camera you want to adjust the motion detection settings for by tapping the cog icon
  • Scroll down to ‘ALERTS – Camera Status’ section
  • To switch the camera status alerts on simply use the toggle buttons for push notifications and/or email alerts

 

 

Smart alerts  

 

You can also use the Videoloft mobile app to configure personalized and smart AI powered alerts for your Hikvision cameras. To build personalized alerts based on object detection or text recognition via the mobile app follow the steps in this setup guide.

 

As well as viewing your events on the app, you can also use the Videoloft web viewer on your PC or Mac to search and view analytics based events from your Hikvision cameras.

 

App setup: Scheduled recording for Hikvision cameras

 

Schedule when your cameras record and you receive alerts. Configure these schedules for specific cameras and/or time periods.

 

Camera scheduling

 

With the Videoloft mobile app you can set up a cloud recording schedule for your CCTV cameras and apply it to all cameras.

 

• • Choose a camera you want to adjust the cloud recording schedule for by tapping the cog icon
  • Tap on ‘Camera Schedule’
  • Tap on a day you want to set the schedule for, then tap ‘Add schedule event’
  • Set the start and stop time(s) as required
  • Click ‘Save’

 

 

Alert scheduling

 

With the Videoloft mobile app you can set up an alert schedule for your Hikvision cameras and apply it to all cameras.

 

• • Choose a camera you want to adjust the cloud recording schedule for for by tapping the cog icon
  • Scroll down to ‘ALERTS – Motion / Analytics’ section
  • Tap on ‘Alert Schedule’
  • Tap on a day you want to set the schedule for, then tap ‘Add schedule event’
  • Set the start and stop time(s) as required
  • Click ‘Save’

 

 

App setup: Remote PTZ controls for Hikvision cameras

 

With the Videoloft mobile app you can remotely control Hikvision PTZ cameras. 

 

• • You’ll first need to enable PTZ controls from the camera’s settings screen 
  • Choose a camera you want to enable the PTZ controls for by tapping the cog icon
  • To switch the PTZ controls on simply use the toggle button

 

 

 

• • Once you’ve enabled the PTZ control, simply tap on the PTZ icon to remotely control the camera
  • Use arrows to pan and tilt the camera, and + and – icons to zoom in and out
  • If you use the ‘Continuous’ toggle button that will continue moving the camera indefinitely

 

 

Watch our video to see it in action!

 

 

 

Why use Videoloft as my Hikvision app provider? 

 

In summary, in addition to numerous features and benefits, Videoloft is also available as a browser-based desktop app. It’s a scalable and flexible solution compatible with a wide range of professional security cameras other than Hikvision, such as Axis, Dahua or Uniview.

 

If you need cloud storage, AI analytics and multi-brand compatibility then Videoloft is a great choice, however, if you only use Hikvision devices and prefer a free remote access app with local storage then Hik-Connect might be more suitable.

 

So, what’s next? Are you ready to connect your Hik pro system to the cloud with the Videoloft app?