Looking for the best NVR? This guide will help you find the right one for you, help you through the jargon, and get your recorder at the best price.

NVR is short for Network Video Recorder, a device which acts as a hub for an IP-based security camera system. It is a storage and review point for your CCTV which means you don’t need to sign up to remote service to store your video.

That means, of course, it’ll need cameras, typically connected by power-over-ethernet (PoE) cables (see our guide to the best PoE cameras), and a storage medium like a hard drive.

Retailers often package the same NVR in several different bundles, mixing up the types and numbers of cameras and hard drives, or simply leaving this all to you. There are real bargains to be had with some of these all-in-one kits, and the only real downside is some spectacularly confusing product names.

An NVR, incidentally, is not quite the same thing as a DVR (or Digital Video Recorder), which appeared in the late 90s. They look similar and store video too, but a DVR is built to accept and digitally compress analogue or digital video via coax sockets; an NVR expects a digital input.

The advantage of an NVR-based security system is that, because the video is being compressed by the cameras, local processing power is available for AI functions like detecting movement. This, in turn, means you don’t need to dig into your wallet for a subscription service; both storage and AI analysis are provided by a device you own rather than a service you lease. 

Given that subscription services usually only store the clips their AI identifies as significant, having your own NVR may give you the power to review every moment yourself rather than being dependent on an algorithm to parse the events your camera sees. All the advantages of networking like remote access and – of course – the ability to work with all IP cameras, wired or wireless, remain.

We look at some of the key features in detail at the end, but something else to remember if you’re in the USA is the China trade war; major security player HikVision have already fallen victim to US internal bans on new products and may end up on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. 

Key features to look out for are remote access, PoE (Power over Ethernet), which can simplify wiring, hard drive capacity (indeed if any drives are included at all), the resolution limit, the number of channels or cameras it can handle, and if there are any means of backup. Remember that a 4K camera uses more data throughput than a 1080P one, so an NVR can handle fewer of them – this is where the compression method (e.g. H.264 or H.265) can make a big difference.

Best NVR in 2023

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(Image credit: Adam Juniper/Digital Camera World)

1: EufyCam HomeBase 3

The EufyCam HomeBase 3 and various bundles bring the glossy consumer experience of IP cameras like those from Google or Nest – including AI-like face detection – but don’t leave you paying every month. This device also has a home-friendly design so you can leave it on a countertop (good if you have limited space near your router).

Some security pros might not appreciate the non-traditional approach with only clips recorded when the cameras detect motion. The flip side is that the NVR is a more accessible experience. Even without adding a hard drive the 16GB included will likely capture a couple of months of ‘events’ (clips by triggered movement) from your cameras; add a drive and that can go up to a lifetime. It also means the cameras can be installed wirelessly, with battery power, meaning getting up and running is virtually painless. We especially liked the S330 eufyCam 3 bundle with solar-powered 4K cameras featuring floodlights and night vision

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(Image credit: Amcrest)

2: Amcrest 5 Series NV5232E-16P

Best DVR for multi-brand compatibility

While not everyone will need the 320Mbps throughput, if you’re looking for a powerful NVR which affords some flexibility when it comes to choosing your cameras (and don’t mind paying for that) then the Amcrest 5 Series seems to have that in the bag. Eight of the sixteen Ethernet sockets are PoE, likely enough for most customers though it seems a shame they weren’t all enabled.

We certainly can’t complain about the level of effort which seems to have gone into usability in what is not always the most user-friendly product category; a great example is the QR codes to bring up quick remote viewing via the Amcrest View app.

The device is certainly not the cheapest on this list, given the list price doesn’t’ include a hard drive and you’ll need at least one – likely two unless you opt for the motion detection mode. It does, however, offer some of the features of subscription services via the app and web features, as well as the advantages of a hardwired device; not to be sniffed at.

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3: Swann AllSecure650

Best NVR for uninterrupted security

Swann has always built innovative systems, and this is no exception. Adopting an elegant upright design, the NVR PowerHub is the basis of several new Swann packs including the AllSecure650. We like this system not only because of the elegant design, but because it offers so many options in a small package. It also, brilliantly, turns the main annoyance of battery camera systems to its advantage; an extra battery is included (total of 3 for a 2 camera bundle).

The extra battery lives in the hub, where it not only charges but offers backup power backup in case of an outage. When you need to swap a camera battery you have a spare, ready to go, so you can swap it with one – rather than two – trips up the ladder to the camera.

It does not, however, ditch all the functionality of a traditional NVR as it attempts to blend into the home or small business. While you can control nearly everything via the app, as well as enjoy remote access, there is also a mouse socket and HDMI port for use with a monitor. The supplied 1TB storage will also manage 2 years of clips by Swann’s reckoning, after which you can opt for Dropbox or USB transfer. 

Best NVR camera systems 2023

Read More : Best Night Vision Security Cameras

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(Image credit: Synology)

4. Synology Deep Learning DVA1622

Best AI NVR for homes and small businesses

Synology offer multi-drive RAID storage systems – many which can take on a little monitoring on the side – and devices like this built with it front and center. There is the power to drive AI on up to 16 streams of video including separating people from animals, intrusion detection and even license place recognition. Businesses can even use the AI system to detect whether face mask rules are being complied with. This AI also helps distinguish threats in poor lighting thanks to the GPU power. Recording can be backed up across drives or both can form a single volume

As well as HDMI connection for a monitor, the device can be reached remotely via iOS and Android apps and on virtually any computer via a browser interface. The USB 3.2 ports (front and back) offer keyboard and mouse connection.

This is a great choice for smaller installs, but bigger businesses might need something like the 4-drive FVA3221.

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(Image credit: Reolink)

5: Reolink RLK8-800

Best DVR for reviewing video history

Despite having only one SATA bay, the Reolink system makes a lot of room for storage by adding an eSATA socket at the back. The system is also typically bundled with its preferred Reolink 4K cameras which provide stand-out sharp footage which is easy to review thanks to the fresh modern interface. Reolink also offer a great variety of cameras and a doorbell.

Built-in operating systems can be a tad clunky, but connect the supplied mouse to the NVR and the Reolink interface, whether on 4K TV or VGA screen, is a bit clearer. The 24/7 recording is accompanied by a timeline which highlights events (people or vehicles) and can be filtered as you browse. While it doesn’t sound a lot, in practice most CCTV reviewing is for these things.

When connected to your local network via the LAN socket, assuming an internet connection, the system can use the same alert tech to send specific activity alerts to your devices.

(Image credit: Annke)

6: Annke 4K 8CH PoE NVR

Best NVR for affordable plug-and-play

Clearly built for practicality, the Annke H800 makes connecting a USB drive easy without re-positioning by adding an extra USB socket at the front as well as the rear one for the mouse.

The in-built OS isn’t beautiful, but actually very smart; you can choose to disable motion detection by zone on each camera view and, even as you refine the detection, you see a handy live view of where the algorithm is spotting action. Other handy features include quotas for individual cameras to prioritize some recordings drive vapacity.

The system includes event-driven or “Smart” timeline review of recorded video, the latter allowing you to search video for movement within areas you specify – a handy tool for finding if someone went into a specific corner of the shot after the fact.

Phone integration for Android or iOS also brings notifications though only one user account can be connected.

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(Image credit: Swann)

7: Swann SRNVR-88580H

Best DVR for AI features

What shines out with the Swann system is the more advanced facial recognition tools which put person/vehicle recognition in the shade. Yes, generalized person or vehicle alerts are still very useful, but Swann allows the known faces can be named. That makes specific alerts possible if, say, one of the kids gets near the treats. That is the kind of benefit consumer smart cameras offer, built on with integrations with Alexa and Google Assistant, but without the cost of a subscription.

A third USB socket covers mouse, backup drive and downloading to a USB stick
without needing to unplug anything – usability plus. 

On the down-side, pet detection does require a cloud subscription (perhaps that just feels a worrying threshold to cross). In reality the fact Swann offer a cloud option – and secure backup using it – will be a handy option for some, even if it does bring with it a monthly fee. Swann’s Enforcer Kit system also has a number of 4K CCTV cameras with red and blue flashing LEDs and sirens built in which can be acquired in a bundle with the NVR for an effective deterrent system. 

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(Image credit: Lorex)

8: Lorex D861A82B 4K DVR

Best NVR for smart home integrations

This elegant-looking NVR actually has the same sockets as most other 4K 8-channel systems from the back, but is chic enough to sit comfortably under a living room TV. There the central panic button, which triggers all lights & sirens built into connected cameras, could end a home invasion.

The main Lorex NVR software also allows you to set up effective deterrence rules using person and vehicle detection and features area search for easier review.

There is a similar level of design polish in the remote access app save for one thing; if you do connect wireless and wired cameras you’ll need to tidy up the alerts yourself to avoid duplicates. 

We also appreciated that the Apple TV wasn’t forgotten; and smart home fans will love the ability to add sensors (like gate or door opening) as well as cameras via a Lorex Sensor Hub.

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(Image credit: Synology )

9. Synology DS923+

A RAID system with security-friendly extras

As well as dedicated NVRs, Synology are synonymous (sorry!) with all sizes of data storage devices. While many entrust their data – especially with limited amounts of it – to the cloud, there are many reasons to have a physical backup system. Hot-swappable drives mean every piece of information can be backed up within the device, and a network connection means it is available via your home network, or remotely.

Since the machine is essentially a small computer, it can run apps on its own OS, from Mail Server to (more relevant here) Synology Surveillance Station. This lets you use some of your overall drive space to store video from your connected security cameras.

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(Image credit: CanaKit)

10. CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4

For those who want to make security a hobby experience

Make no mistake, this is not the same approach as the other products on this list. This isn’t a ready-made box with all the necessary PoE sockets to connect a series of cameras to but, since an NVR is essentially just a computer in different clothes, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the enthusiast community is continuously refining software to power NVRs.

If you feel motivated to build your own, why not start with a Raspberry Pi 4? Unless you’re only using USB cameras, you’ll also need a PoE Ethernet Switch (like the BV-Tech) and certainly some kind of storage (it’s unlikely the microSD card slot in the Pi will cut it for long, but many folk already have a spare external hard drive lying around). From there it’s simply a matter of choosing an OS and a piece of software; Shinobi is available for free and supports ARM architecture, as does ZoneMinder, so there are two good starting points. 

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(Image credit: Amcrest)

11. Amcrest 4K NV4216E-AI

Best NVR for big multi-camera set-ups

If you need a more powerful NVR – with greater camera capacity – than the NV4108E above, then Amcrest have you covered; the 4216E-AI supports up to two 8GB drives inside and has 16 PoE ports for cameras on the back, all capable of 4K resolution. The system is happy with H.265 and H.264 and has a high-speed throughput of 200Mbps, dropping to 80Mbps when the on-board AI functions are active. This sacrifice buys you human and vehicle detection (and search in recordings), offering functionality to compete with the subscription services from Google Nest and Amazon Ring among others. Amcrest’s App is similar in scope. The machine even has microphone sockets for two-way-talk from the NVR.

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(Image credit: xmartO)

12. xmartO WNQ28

Wi-Fi NVR which can keep your CCTV separate from home network

If you’d like to install a CCTV system with some of the advantages of your own NVR, but aren’t interested in undertaking the cabling, then the WNQ28 seems a rational choice. It eschews the PoE network switching components in favor of two antenna to create its own wi-fi network which you can connect cameras and viewing devices to. xmartO also include their “G3 Auto WiFi Relay” feature which can use cameras to extend the network.

With or without this, the advantage of this device is that it keeps CCTV cameras on a different frequency from your home’s potentially already heavily taxed wi-fi (an issue many of us are starting to notice as high-speed broadband becomes more common). On the down-side it offers a fairly generic Linux-based OS and doesn’t have high bandwidth, while it definitely prefers xmartO cameras. Nevertheless it definitely helps keep things separate when building your network, so we can see some DIY fans strongly preferring this.

How to choose an NVR system

Selecting an NVR forces you to think about the very heart of your security system, and the choice you make will depend on whether you’re starting from scratch or you already have cameras you need to connect to. In either case, make the right choice and it’ll offer years of use even though you add and swap cameras and hard drives.

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How to Upgrade Firmware Using the Amcrest IP Config Tool

The firmware for your device can be upgraded manually using the Amcrest Smart Home IP Config tool. Before proceeding, please make sure your device is still connected to the same network as the device that is using the Amcrest IP Config tool. To download the Amcrest IP Config tool, clickhere

For more information on how to manually upgrade the firmware, please refer to the information provided below.

Step 1:Locate the .bin file for your specific device.

Step 2: Open the IP config tool, select your device and click Login.

Step 3: Enter the username and password for your device and click OK.

Step 4: Click on the Upgrade tab.

Step 5: Click Open File and access the .bin file and click Upgrade.

Allow the device to upgrade, the device will go offline and reboot. Once the reboot is finished the device will come back online (solid green LED) and you will be able to access the device again.

Load More :

• Amcrest NVR Troubleshooting
• How To Upgrade HDCVI firmware for Amcrest XVR

Wi-Fi Best Practices (Amcrest Smart Home)

Most Wi-FiAmcrest Smart Home devices have a communication distance of up to 164ft (open field) however if you notice the device is going offline regularly or becomes unresponsive your network and the location of the device may play a huge role in its ability to function properly. For more information on location and how it affects a Wi-Fi device, please refer to the information provided below.

Location: How far is the device is from the wireless router.

• Larger distances can be affected more by interference and be susceptible to connection issues. This can cause the hub to go offline which will also affect the sensors.
• Actual distances can vary drastically by the type of router. If connection issues arise, then a Wi-Fi extender should be considered.

Range Limiting Factors

Reflection: The signal reflects back.	Scattering: The signal scatters back into multiple new signals.	Refraction: The signal bends as it travels through an object (e.g. glass window).	Diffraction: The signal changes direction as it passes around an object.	Attenuation: The signal strength weakens as it passes through an object.

Wi-Fi signal strength decreases as it passes through different types of material. Try to position your wireless camera and receiver where the signal does not pass through metal or concrete blocks, which can significantly reduce signal strength (as shown in the information provided below).

Plastic & Wood: 10 – 30%

Brick: 30 – 50%

Concrete Cinder Blocks: 50 – 70%

Metal & Metal Cladding: 70 – 90%

Note: Signals that must pass through wet or moist materials (e.g. shrubs and trees) may be significantly reduced.

Using Amcrest Smart Home Products with Amcrest View Pro

Amcrest Smart Home devices such as deterrent cameras, doorbells, or other related Amcrest Smart Home devices, excluding battery cameras, are capable of connecting to both the Amcrest Smart Home app as well as the Amcrest View Pro app.

However, since Amcrest Smart Home devices function primarily on a cloud-based platform setting up an Amcrest Smart Home device to the Amcrest View Pro app will result in only live view being available and must be set up first using the Amcrest Smart Home app. If using push notifications, please make sure push notifications settings are established in the Amcrest Smart Home app, prior to adding the device to view pro. For more information on activating push notifications, click here.

For more information on how to add your specific device using the Amcrest Smart Home app, please refer to the Quick Start Guide for your specific device.

If you would like to view your Amcrest Smart Home devices using the Amcrest View Pro app, please refer to the information provided below.

Adding an Amcrest Smart Home Device to Amcrest View Pro

Please make sure your mobile device and Amcrest Smart Home device are connected to the same network during setup.

Step 1: Open the Amcrest View Pro app.

Step 2:  Tap on the Settings ( ) icon in the upper left corner and tap on Device Manager. Then tap on Add Device.

Step 3: Tap on Search Device. 

Step 4: Select your Amcrest Smart Home device from the Device List. Tap on Connection Type to continue.

Step 5: Tap on P2P Setup

Step 6: Enter a name for your camera in the Device Name field and enter the password for your device in the Password (default is admin) field. The password used in this field will be the password originally set for the camera in the Amcrest Smart Home app.  Tap Start Live View to continue.

Your Amcrest Smart Home device has now been added to your Amcrest View Pro app.

Note: Live view features such as, microphone, speaker, etc will be available in the Amcrest View Pro app. Other features such as playback, configuration, etc will not be available. To access and use these settings, please use the Amcrest Smart Home app.

How to Connect An Amcrest Smart Home Camera to the Amcrest View Pro App Using the Camera’s QR Code.

Amcrest Smart Home devices such as deterrent cameras, doorbells, or other related Amcrest Smart Home devices, excluding the AB2WFSET, are capable of connecting to both the Amcrest Smart Home app as well as the Amcrest View Pro app.

However, since Amcrest Smart Home devices function primarily on a cloud-based platform setting up an Amcrest Smart Home device to the Amcrest View Pro app will result in only live view being available and must be set up first using the Amcrest Smart Home app.

For more information on how to add your specific device using the Amcrest Smart Home app, please refer to the Quick Start Guide for your specific device.

Please note, the recommended set up method for adding an Amcrest Smart Home device to your view pro app will be using the built in Device Search option that can be found in the Amcrest View Pro app. For more information on how to add the device using the device search menu, click here.

However, if you would like to view your Amcrest Smart Home devices using the Amcrest View Pro app, and connect using the QR code that is found on your device, please refer to the information provided below.

Please make sure your mobile device and Amcrest Smart Home device are connected to the same network during setup.

Step 1: Open the Amcrest View Pro app.

Step 2:  Tap on the Settings ( ) icon in the upper left corner and tap on Device Manager. Then tap on Add Device.

Step 3: Tap WiFi Camera and select the Add Connected Device tab. Tap P2P Setup. 

Step 4: Locate the QR code found on your device and scan the QR code.

Step 5: The information found in the S/N will need to be updated. Please remove the extra wording found in this field and verify the serial number is entered correctly. The serial number will start as “Z” followed by 13 characters (letters and numbers. This information can be verified on the serial tag of the device as well if needed. Tap Next.

Note: If you do not remove the additional wording it will result in a failure to connect as the serial number for the device is registering as invalid. Please make sure the correct serial number is being entered into the app before tapping Next.

Step 6: Enter a name for your camera in the Device Name field and enter the password for your device in the Password (default is admin) field. The password used in this field will be the password originally set for the camera in the Amcrest Smart Home app.  Tap Start Live View to continue.

Your Amcrest Smart Home device has now been added to your Amcrest View Pro app.

Note: Live view features such as, microphone, speaker, etc will be available in the Amcrest View Pro app. Other features such as playback, configuration, etc will not be available. To access and use these settings, please use the Amcrest Smart Home app.

SDK Programming Guide For Amcrest Smart Home

To download the latest SDK for your device please click on the link provided below.

Amcrest_SDK_Programming_Guide.pdf

How To Externally Format a MicroSD Card to FAT32

How To Externally Format a MicroSD card 

If you are unable to format your microSD card using the Amcrest Smart Home app you can also format it using the GUI format tool provided in the link below.

• GUI Format Tool.exe
  (80 KB)

Note: A microSD adapter or USB microSD card reader will be required to read the MicroSD card on your computer. Mac users, click here.

Step 1: Download and load the GUI Format Tool.

Step 2: Insert your SD card into your computer and allow the program to read the card.

Note: Uncheck the Quick Format checkbox if you would like a full format of the SD card. Formatting the SD card will remove all information and data from the card and format the card to FAT32.

Step 3: Click Start in the FAT32 Format menu and allow the program to format the card. Click OK to continue.

 Step 4: Allow the program to finish formatting the SD card. When finished, click the Close button to close the program.

The microSD card has now been properly formatted to FAT32. Remove the microSD card and insert it into your device.

Amcrest Smart Home App Icons Explained

See below for a chart that details what each icon of the Amcrest Smart Home app:

How to Disable the Indicator Light on Your Amcrest Smart Home Camera

The Indicator light on your camera can be disabled or enabled using the Amcrest Smart Home app. For more information, please refer to the information provided below.

Step 1: Log in to the app and access your device.

Step 2: Tap on the Settings icon.

Step 3: Scroll down to the Indicator Light toggle switch and tap to disable it.

Note: If your device does not have an indicator light toggle switch, tap on Video Settings, then slide your finger on the carousel and locate the Indicator Light icon. Tap the Indicator Light icon to disable the indicator light. To enable the indicator light, tap the icon again.

How to Recover a Password for Your Amcrest Smart Home Account

If you have forgotten the password for your Amcrest Smart Home account and would like to recover the password, please refer to the information provided below. Please note, during the process, a verification code will need to be sent to the email address used for your Amcrest Smart Home account. Please make sure you have access to this email address before starting the password recovery process.

Step 1: Open the Amcrest Smart Home app and tap Forgot Password.

Step 2: Enter the email address for your Amcrest Smart Home account and tap Send Verification Code.

Step 3: Navigate to your email and locate the verification code email. Enter the verification code into the app and tap OK.

Note: There is a 60-second window to enter the verification code into the app. If a new verification code is needed, tap on the Resend button to allow the app to send another verification code to your email.

Step 4: Enter a new password into the app and confirm the password in the next field. Tap OK.

The new password has been applied to your Amcrest Smart Home account. Please remember this password as it will be required to access your Amcrest Smart Home account.

Accessing Amcrest Smart Home Products Using RTSP

Some applications or viewing tools can use Real Time Streaming Protocol or RTSP to pull a device’s stream. This requires a specifically formatted URL. Please note, not all Amcrest Smart Home devices, such as the AB2WFSET will be compatible with RTSP streaming.

URL: rtsp://admin:password@IPAddress:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0&authbasic=64

Please note, the admin and password portions of the URL will be the username and password of the CAMERA not the username and password of the account. 

RTSP URL Breakdown

The bracketed items are variables that you need to input according to your setup. Explanations of each variable are given below.

rtsp:// – The RTSP protocol

[admin] – username of the camera/device
[password] – password of the camera/device
[IP address] – IP address of the camera/device. If you are not on the same local network, this should be the external IP address of the device’s network.
[port] – RTSP port number

[channel] – channel number of the stream

[stream] – main or sub stream (use “main” (01) for main stream and “sub” for substream (0)

[authbasic] – basic authentication for the stream (64).

Using VLC Media Player to Access an Amcrest Smart Home Device on RTSP?

Before proceeding, please ensure the device is properly added to the Amcrest Smart Home app, powered on, and the computer you are using is on the same network as the device. For information on how to set up your device on the Amcrest Smart Home app, please refer to the quick start guide provided with your specific device.

Step 1: Download the Amcrest IP config tool. To access the Amcrest IP config tool, please visit: http://amcrest.com/downloads

Step 2: Open the Amcrest IP config tool and locate the IP address for your Amcrest Smart Home device.

Please note, the IP address represented in the above image is for reference purposes only. The IP address for your specific device may be different depending on the network.

Step 3: Lauch the VLC Media Player

Step 4: In the toolbar, click on Media, then click on Open Network Stream to display the open-source window.

Note: The open network stream menu can also be opened by pressing Ctrl-N while the VLC player is opened.

Step 4: Enter the RTSP protocol into the Network Protocol field and fill in the information into the URL.

rtsp://admin:password@IPAddress:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0&authbasic=64

Click Play.

You can now begin streaming your camera live.

How to Register an Amcrest Smart Home Account

How to Register an Amcrest Smart Home Account

Registering an Amcrest Smart Home account is easy using the Amcrest Smart Home app. The Amcrest Smart Home app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store.

Registering an account allows you to begin adding your Amcrest Smart Home devices into the app. Please note, if you currently have a Zencam Security account already, registration to the Amcrest Smart Home app is not necessary as these accounts will share the same credentials. If you have a Zencam account, simply download the Amcrest Smart Home app and enter your Zencam login information into the Amcrest Smart Home app to access your account.

For more information on how to register a Amcrest Smart Home account, please refer to the information provided below.

Step 1: Download the Amcrest Smart Home app from the App Store or Google Play Store and open the app. On the main screen, tap on Register.

Step 2: Select the region in which you reside and tap Next to continue.

Step 3: Enter a valid email address and tap the “I have read and agreed” check box. The “Send Verification Code” option will appear. This will be the code needed to register your account. Tap Send Verification Code.

Step 4: Check the email address you entered for the verification code. Enter the verification code into the app and tap OK to continue. Please note, the verification code will only be valid up to 15 minutes.

Step 5: Enter a password for your account into the app and confirm the password in the next field. Set a password with a combination of 8 – 32 letters and numbers. The password will be case sensitive. Tap OK to continue.

Your Amcrest Smart Home account has been registered successfully. You will now be able to begin adding devices to your account. For more information on how to add your specific Amcrest Smart Home device, please refer to the Quick Start Guide included with your device.

How to Download a MicroSD card Recording

How to Download a MicroSD Card Recording

Recordings in the Amcrest Smart Home app can be downloaded to your phone through the Amcrest Smart Home cloud or from a microSD card. For more information on how to download recordings from the Amcrest Smart Home cloud, click here.

A microSD card must manually be inserted into the device to retain and download motion events. For more information on how to download a microSD card recording, please refer to the information provided below.

Step 1: Log into your Amcrest Smart Home account and select your device from the Devices menu.

Step 2: Tap on “MicroSD Card”.

Step 3: Tap on the File List icon (  ) located in the Cloud playback interface.

Step 4: Select the recording you wish to download from the file list.

Step 5: Tap the download icon (  ) to download the recording.

The recording will begin to download.

A blue checkmark ( ) will appear next to the download icon once the recording has finished downloading. You can also share your recordings directly to other services on your smartphone via the share icon (  ) located in the middle of the download menu. Please note, the recording must be downloaded to the app first in order to share them.

Exporting the Recording to the Mobile Device

Recordings downloaded from the microSD card will be downloaded to the Downloads List folder. The Downloads List folder can be found in the Account menu.

Step 1: Exit the interface to access the main menu. Click Account.

Step 2: Click on Downloads List.

Step 3: Click on the Folder icon.

Step 4: Tap on the Export icon.

The event will be downloaded to the photo or gallery section on your phone.

How to Format a MicroSD card Using the Amcrest Smart Home App

How to Format a MicroSD card Using the Amcrest Smart Home App

A microSD card can be formatted using the Amcrest Smart Home app. This will clear all data on the microSD card and format the microSD card to FAT32. Formatting the microSD card is performed via the storage status menu in the app.

The storage status menu displays any current cloud or microSD card storage options applicable for your device. This option also allows you view current cloud subscriptions applicable to your device as well as format a microSD card right from your smartphone. For more information on how to format the microSD card, please refer to the information provided below.

Note: A microSD card can be formatted externally as well if needed. For more information on how to format a microSD card externally, click here.

Step 1: tap on the settings icon () on the live view screen. Tap on the Storage Status option located in the settings menu.

Step 2: The microSD card storage capacity will be displayed in this menu. If no microSD card is being read by the device the status will be “Disabled”. To format the microSD card, tap on “Format Storage
Device”.

How to Set a Motion Detection Schedule Using Amcrest Smart Home

How to Set a Motion Detection Schedule Using Amcrest Smart Home

A motion schedule allows you to set the device to begin recording motion detection events at a designated time. This is useful if you would like the device to only start detecting motion during specific times of the day. If you would like the device to record motion 24/7 you can leave the schedule as default. However, for more information on how to set a motion schedule, please refer to the information provided below.

Step 1: Log into the Amcrest Smart Home app and access your device.

Step 2: Tap on the Settings icon (  ).

Step 3: Tap on Motion Detection.

Step 4: Tap on Motion Schedule.

Step 5: Tap on the day of the week you wish to modify. If you are setting a schedule for multiple days of the week this can be done later in the interface.

Step 6: Tap on “Add Schedule“.

Step 7: Tap on “Start Time” and use the scroll option to select a time you want the motion schedule to start. Note: In this example we will be setting the start time to 6am (0600).

Step 8: Tap on “End Time” and use the scroll option to select a time you want the motion schedule to stop. In this example we will be setting the stop time to 5pm (1700). Tap on the back arrow ( Tap on “Repeat” to choose which days of the week you would like the motion schedule to apply. A green check mark will be displayed next to the active days. Tap on the back arrow (  ) to exit.

Step 9: Tap on “Repeat” to choose which days of the week you would like the motion schedule to apply.

A blue check mark will be displayed next to the active days.

Tap on the back arrow (  ) to exit.

Note: Motion schedules cannot overlap.

Step 10: Tap on the “Save” button to save your motion schedule. To add additional motion schedules, you can tap on Add Schedule and repeat the setup process.

Tap on the back arrow (  ) to exit.

How To Turn Off the IR LEDs

How To Turn Off the IR LEDs

Disabling the IR LEDs will result in night vision being disabled on your device. This function can be enabled or disabled using the Amcrest Smart Home app. Please note, certain Amcrest Smart Home devices, such as the Wi-Fi Doorbell camera and battery camera do not support this function. For more information on how to turn off the IR LEDs, please refer to the information provided below.

Step 1: Log into your Amcrest Smart Home account via the Amcrest Smart Home app.

Step 2: Select your device from the Devices menu.

Step 3: Tap on the Settings (  ) icon.

Step 4: Tap on Video Settings.

Step 5: Tap on the Night (  ) icon to turn the IR LEDs off and disable night vision.

Note: To turn the IR LEDs back on, tap on the Night (  ) icon again to enable night vision.

How To Delete a Device from the Amcrest Smart Home App

How To Delete a Device from the Amcrest Smart Home App

Deleting a device from the Amcrest Smart Home app will remove the device completely from your Amcrest Smart Home account. This is highly recommended if you are performing a factory reset on your device or need to remove the device from your specific account. For more information on how to delete a device from the Amcrest Smart Home app, please refer to the information provided below.

Step 1: Log into the Amcrest Smart Home app and select the device you want to delete from the Devices menu.

Step 2: Tap on the Settings (  ) icon.

Step 3: Scroll down to the bottom of the Settings page and tap on Delete Device.

Step 4: Confirm if you would like to keep or delete your cloud recordings after the device has been deleted. To keep the recordings, tap the “Keep Recordings” check box. Tap Delete to confirm.

The device has now been unbound and deleted from your Amcrest Smart Home account.

Unable to Get an SSID?

Unable to Get an SSID?

If you are having issues obtaining an SSID when adding your device into the Amcrest Smart Home app there may be a miscommunication happening between the app and your mobile device. This appears to be a more common situation among iOS users and we are currently working with Apple to device a solution. There is an easy fix you can use to resolve the issue. For more information on how to resolve this issue, please refer to the information provided below.

If the SSID for your Wi-Fi network is not pulling up in the app when attempting to add your Amcrest Smart Home device, close the app completely then power your mobile device off and back on again allowing it to restart.

Once your mobile device has finished restarting, ensure your mobile device is connected to the proper Wi-Fi network, open the Amcrest Smart Home app and continue to add your device as normal. The SSID for your network should populate allowing you to complete the setup process. For more information on how to properly add your device please refer to the included quick start guide provided with your device.

How To Verify/Update Firmware

How To Verify/Update Firmware

All firmware verification and updates will be available using the Amcrest Smart Home app. For more information on how to verify/update the firmware for your camera, please refer to the information provided below.

Step 1: Log into your Amcrest Smart Home account and select your device from the Devices menu.

Step 3: Once you are logged in, tap on the settings (  ) icon.

Step 4: In the settings menu,  locate the “Firmware Update” tab. If a firmware update is necessary there will be a red indication identifier prompting you that a firmware upgrade is ready. If there is not a red dot, you are operating on the most up to date firmware.

If you need to update the firmware, tap on the “Firmware Update” tab to proceed with the update.

Step 5: In the firmware update menu, you will notice the current version of firmware that is on your camera, and the latest firmware file that will be downloaded to your camera. To proceed with the update, please click on “Update”.

Step 6: You will then be promoted to upgrade the firmware. Tap Cloud Upgrade to begin. If you wish to cancel to process tap Cancel.

Step 7: The firmware file will begin to download from that point. Please wait for the download and upload of the file to complete its processes.

Once the process is complete, there see a prompt letting you know that the firmware has successfully updated, and the current version is now updated on your device.

How To Activate An Amcrest Smart Home Cloud Account

How To Activate An Amcrest Smart Home Cloud Account

Amcrest Smart Home cloud is an optional premium cloud storage option provided exclusively for Amcrest Smart Home products. Amcrest Smart Home products are not compatible with traditional Amcrest Cloud accounts and will require activation specifically through the Amcrest Smart Home app. For more information on how to activate an Amcrest Smart Home Cloud account, please refer to the information provided below.

Step 1: Log into your Amcrest Smart Home app and select the device you wish to activate.

Step 2: On the live view screen tap on Cloud Recordings.

Step 3: Tap on Activate Cloud Storage.

Step 4: Select a Cloud Storage plan from the list of cloud plans and tap Buy

Note: Currently, we only offer motion detection storage plans. Continuous recording plans are currently not available for Amcrest Smart Home cloud plans.

Step 5: Enter your billing information into the billing form. All plans will require a credit card to process the request.

After you have purchased your Smart Home cloud account you will be able to store and view your recordings all from the Cloud Recordings menu. Additionally, you can change your plan, update your payment method, as well as cancel a subscription right from the app.

Note: Any plan changes made to your account will only take place at the end of your current billing cycle.

How To Share/Remove a User

How To Share/Remove a User

Device sharing allows you to add specific Amcrest Smart Home users to share the live feed of your added device.  When you add a shared user, the shared user will have access to your camera and features such as live viewing, recording, playback, and two-way audio. If you would like to proceed with the device sharing process please follow the step by step instructions provided in this article.

Note: The maximum users allowed on a shared account is 6 users.

Step 1: Log into your camera via the Amcrest Smart Home app.

Step 2: Once you are logged in, access your device and select the settings (  ) icon in the upper right hand corner.

Step 3: In the settings menu, please click on “Device Sharing”.

Step 4: In the device sharing menu, tap on, “Add a Shared User”.

 

Step 5: In the Add Shared User menu, enter a registered Amcrest Smart Home account email you would like to share your device with. Once you have entered the email press the Save icon (  ) located in the upper right hand corner.

Step 6: Once you have pressed Save icon, you will be prompted whether or not you would like to add the shared user to your device. If you would like to proceed with the process, please press “OK“, if not, there is also an option to cancel the process.

Removing a Shared User

To remove the shared user from your device, tap on the “Remove” button.

Then tap on the Remove option to remove the shared user from your device.

The shared user can then log into their Amcrest Smart Home account and view the recently shared device by tapping on the device located in their devices menu.

How To View MicroSD Card Recordings

How To View MicroSD Card Recordings

Please ensure you are using a class 10 or above microSD card that does not exceed the storage limitation of your device. The microSD card must be formatted to FAT32. This may have to be done manually as most programs do not format to this allocation automatically. For more information on how to format your microSD card to FAT32, click here

When a microSD card is inserted into the device, all motion based recordings will be stored to it. Additionally, if you have a Amcrest Smart Home Cloud account, recordings will be stored both on the cloud and microSD card. To view recordings from the microSD card, open the Amcrest Smart Home app and access your device.

On the live view screen, tap on the “MicroSD Card” menu located at the bottom right of the screen.

In the MicroSD card menu you will notice a list of recordings. Recordings can be accessed and viewed based on the date the motion occurred and can be found by tapping on the calendar menu in the app.

Select which day you would like to access from the calendar. You will notice a list of events located in the event timeline. To view the event, tap on the play button. You can also use the timeline to adjust and view specific events based on that time.

Note: All motion detection recordings will occur back to back in the interface which allows the device to capture all events without the use of a cool down period.

How To Activate Push Notifications Using Amcrest Smart Home

Push notifications, are events sent to your phone which let you know a motion or other event has been detected by the camera. These actions can range from a motion event being detected by your device by a call coming through from someone using your Amcrest WiFi doorbell.

Note: If you are adding your device in the Amcrest View Pro app, please make sure to enable push notifications using the Amcrest Smart Home app directly, not the view pro app.

Activating Push Notifications

Push notifications should be on by default, however, can be turned enabled or disabled using the Amcrest Smart Home app. These settings are device based and can be disabled or enabled per device associated with your Amcrest Smart Home account. To turn push notifications on or off, log into your Amcrest Smart app and select the device and click on the settings icon.

Scroll down and locate the push notification toggle switch. This option allows you to enable or disable push notifications for your device.

How To Setup Alexa Using Amcrest Smart Home

How To Setup Alexa Using Amcrest Smart Home

Many of our Amcrest Smart Home devices, such as the Wi-Fi doorbell camera and other devices, are compatible with Amazon Alexa devices that support video streaming. To use Alexa with our devices the device must be setup first in the Amcrest Smart Home app before you can set it up in Alexa.

Note: The name of the device on your Amcrest Smart Home account will be the name used to view your device on Alexa.

Note: Certain Alexa devices such as the Echo Show 5 only support cameras up to 1080P resolution. Cameras set at a higher resolution above 1080P may experience issues connecting to Alexa.

For a brief guide on how to connect your Amcrest Smart Home camera to a supported Amazon Alexa device, please follow the instructions below:

Step 1: Ensure your Alexa device has completed its initial setup including synchronization with your Amazon account.

Step 2: Download the Amazon Alexa app from the Apple App store or Google Play Store and sign in using your Amazon Alexa account.

Step 3: Once you are logged into the app, from the Home menu, tap on the menu icon (  ) and tap “Skills & Games“.

Step 4: Tap on the search icon (  ) and search for “Amcrest Smart Home”. Download and install the Amcrest Cloud skill.

Step 5: Tap on Enable To Use.

Step 6: Enter the account credentials for your Amcrest Smart Home account and tap Sign In.

Step 7: Tap “Authorize” to authorize the connection.

Step 8: Your Amcrest Smart Home account has now been properly linked to Amazon Alexa. Please close this window to proceed.

Step 7: Tap on Discover Devices

Alexa will begin discovering your connected devices. This may take up to 45 seconds to complete.

Step 8: Tap on Set Up Device.

Step 8: You can then request Alexa to show you the camera by uttering a phrase. For example, if your device is named “Doorbell”, speak the phrase: “Alexa, show me the Doorbell camera.” The live stream of the device will be displayed.

As a reminder, the name of the camera on your Amcrest Cloud account will be the name used to view your device on Alexa.