Mastering CCTV Camera Setup: How to Change IP Address of CCTV Camera

Surveillance in modern days has come a long way from asking neighbours to watch over the house and organisation. Now we have modern security measures such as CCTV cameras. However, the process of installing the CCTV camera itself is tough. But what’s even tougher is changing the IP address of the CCTV camera once it has been installed. This is especially so for those who have no idea about CCTV cameras and are not familiar with network configuration. So, how do you change the IP address of a CCTV camera?

In this blog, we provide you with brief instructions on how you can change the IP address of a CCTV camera. Along with this, we shall also provide you with some advice on how to troubleshoot common issues while changing the IP address of the CCTV. But before we dive deep into the intricacies, let’s first discuss what an IP address is in a CCTV.

What Is An IP Address In CCTV?

Before you start reading the instructions regarding how to change the IP address of the CCTV camera, you first need to know what an IP address is. So, what is an IP address? In simple words, an IP address is a unique label for devices on a network, including CCTV cameras. This unique label allows the devices to connect and share data. Each security camera on the network has its own unique IP address, which allows it to communicate with other devices, such as smartphones and computers. Needless to say, this connection is highly important for a smooth data transfer so that you can monitor your home or business.

The IP address on the IP cameras makes it possible to manage and access the data on your network. Without this address, the camera would not connect to the network in the first place. Needless to say, your cameras without an IP address make remote viewing or recording impossible. Knowing the IP address is highly beneficial since it allows you to change the IP address when needed. This action is especially helpful if you are facing connectivity issues or if you need to update your network.

Step-by-Step Guide to Change IP Address of CCTV

So, changing the IP address can help you if you are facing connectivity issues and when you need to update your network. However, the question here is – how do you change the IP address? Well, the process depends on the specifics of your device configuration. That said, we can provide you with a general process. And now you may ask, what is this general process? Well, the general step-by-step guide on how to change the IP address of CCTV cameras includes the following:

Step 1: Connect the IP Camera to your Network

The first step to the answer of how to change the IP address of a CCTV camera is to connect the IP camera to your local network. If your IP camera has Wi-Fi capability, you can connect it wirelessly to your network. To connect the IP camera in a wireless network, you need to plug one end of the ethernet cable into the ethernet socket of the camera and the other end into the free port on the router. You can also use a single cable to provide both power and data on the camera if you are using the PoE IP camera. You can also use a PoE injector or PoE switch to power multiple PoE cameras.

Step 2: Find the IP Address of the IP Camera

The next step i to the answer of how to change the IP address of a CCTV camera is to find the IP address of the IP camera. You must know the IP address of the IP camera to access the web interface and change the settings. There are multiple ways to find the IP address of the IP camera. The two key ways include:

1. Using Vendor’s Utility Program

One of the first ways to get an IP address is to use the vendor’s utility program from the camera vendor. This software is typically available on the vendor’s website or is provided with a CD along with a camera. You can also use the third-party network scanning software.

2. Using Command Prompt

The second method to find the IP address of the camera is to use the command prompt. While you do need to know a few commands to do this, it is undoubtedly one of the best ways to know the IP address. To do this, you can follow the steps below.

• Press Ctrl + R, type “cmd”, and press enter to open the command prompt
• Type “ipconfig” to view the network information, such as the default gateway and subnet mask. This shows you the range of possible IP addresses.
• Type “ping” followed by IP addresses within the said range.
• If you receive a reply, it means a device is using that IP address, which may be your camera.
• Try different addresses until you find the camera.

Step 3: Access the Web Interface of the IP Camera

The next step to the answer of how to change the IP address of a CCTV camera is to access the web interface of the IP camera. You can do this by entering the CCTV camera IP address
into the address bar of your browser, which is followed by your username and password. You can find the username and password in the user manual or the label in the camera box.

Once you access this web interface, you can configure various settings for your IP camera, such as video quality, motion detection, and recording schedules.

Step 4: Navigate to Network Settings

Once you have accessed the camera’s web interface, you can look for the configuration settings. This setting is commonly labelled as “network”, “advanced”, or “IP configuration”. You can then manage the network details, such as CCTV camera IP address, subnet mask, and gateway settings. By going to these settings, you can access the settings necessary to update your camera’s IP address.

Step 5: Change the IP Address

After navigating to the network settings, the next step is to change the IP address. For this, you can locate the IP address field and assign a new IP address to your camera. That said, while doing this, you should ensure that the IP address you choose is within your network’s range. Furthermore, you should also confirm that the IP is not used by another device to prevent any form of conflict within the network.

Following this, you should adjust the mask and the default gateway if you need to match your network configuration, especially when assigning a static IP address to ensure that your camera stays connected when the router restarts.

Step 6: Save and Reboot

At this point, you have already done the key modification, and all you need to do is save the changing camera ip address and reboot the device. Look for the “Save” or “Apply” button to store the updated IP address. Then, you should follow the prompts to reboot the device. If the device does not restart automatically, you should reboot the option within the settings. Additionally, you can also disconnect or reconnect the power cable to manually restart it. Following this step, apply the new IP settings.

Step 7: Verify the Change

Last but not least, you should then reboot the browser again and enter the new IP address in the address bar. Following this, you should log in to the camera’s interface to confirm the access. If you can successfully access the interface, then the change of IP address is successful. If the connection fails, then you should recheck the process while ensuring that the new address matches your network.

These are the general steps to change the IP address of CCTV cameras. That said, as we mentioned previously, the specific process does depend on the type, brand, and other specifications of the camera that you have.

Learn More: Step-by-Step Guide For CCTV Camera Installation in Nepal

Troubleshooting Common Issues While Changing the IP Address of CCTV

While now you may know the general process for changing the IP addresses in an IP CCTV camera, you should note that not all processes go smoothly. During the process, you may face many issues, and if you do not know how to troubleshoot them, the entire process can go down the drain. Without knowing how to troubleshoot some common issues, just knowing the process of changing the IP address of a CCTV camera might not be all that useful. So, what are these common issues, and what are the methods used to troubleshoot them? Some of the key ways of troubleshooting common issues while changing the IP address of CCTV include:

1. Camera Not Responding To New IP Address

One of the common issues that you may face when changing the IP address of a CCTV camera is the camera not responding to the new IP address. As you may guess, this is a common enough issue for it to be on this list, and the good news is that you can solve it relatively easily. The solution to this issue is:

• Unplug the camera and then wait for around 10 seconds, and plug it back in. This resets the network settings and allows the camera to accept a new IP address.
• Check if the new IP address is within the same subnet as your router.
• Ensure that the IP address you inserted is not already being used by other devices within the network. You can check it through the router’s DHCP client using a network scanning tool.
• Access the camera’s web interface using a different browser or a computer while clearing the cache to avoid cached errors.

2. Unable To Save New IP Address Settings

Another common issue that you may face alongside the camera not responding to a new IP address is not being able to save new IP address settings. In these circumstances, the camera fails to save new IP addresses even after entering them in your browser interface. The good news here is that this issue is also relatively easy to solve, and the key steps in troubleshooting this issue are as follows:

• Check if all fields, including IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway, are filled correctly. The default subnet mask is usually 255.255.255.0 and home networks. Similarly, the default gateway is typically your router’s IP address.
• You should also update the camera’s firmware to the latest version. Manufacturers of CCTV cameras, such as Night Vision, periodically update and fix bugs that improve the compatibility of your device with your network.
• You should also verify that you are logged in as an administrator on the camera’s web interface. Note that you need admin privileges to change the camera’s IP address.

3. Camera Disconnects After IP Change

The third common issue that we are about to mention here is the camera disconnecting after you change the IP address. While the specific way to solve this issue depends on the specifications of the camera, the following are some of the general ways to solve this issue.

• If you have initially set up the camera to use the static IP address, you should switch to the dynamic IP (DCHP) and check if the camera works. You can reassign a static IP after the camera is back online.
• You can also try restarting your router and network switches. This is because sometimes the network device needs to refresh its Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) tables to recognize the new IP.
• You can also connect the camera directly to your computer using the Ethernet cable. Change the IP address in isolation to ensure that there is no interference, and reconnect the camera to the network once you are done with this.

4. Difficulty Accessing the Camera Remotely

The final issue we are going to discuss is the difficulty of accessing the camera remotely. If you have changed the IP of your camera but are having difficulty accessing the camera remotely, then you should follow the process below.

• Set up port forwarding on your router by entering the new IP address and the correct port number to allow remote access to your camera. This way, any external traffic is directed to your camera.
• If your external IP address changes often, consider using a dynamic DNS service. This service gives you a consistent, easy-to-remember hostname that points to your changing IP, making remote access simpler.
• Also, check your router’s firewall settings to ensure that the new IP address and port are allowed so the firewall doesn’t block remote access to your camera.

Tips for Enhancing Security After Changing IP Address

By this point, you should have a general idea regarding the general process of changing the IP address of a CCTV camera and how to troubleshoot some of the common issues. That said, you might still want some additional tips to enhance security after changing the IP address. Some of the tips we have for you include:

• Set a strong, unique password for your IP camera instead of the default one.
• Secure your network by enabling encryption protocols like WPA2 to protect data transmission.
• Keep your camera’s firmware updated to fix any security vulnerabilities.
• Turn off any services and ports you don’t need to reduce potential risks.
• For extra security when accessing your camera remotely, use a VPN.

Conclusion

Surveillance has come a long way from the olden days when you had to keep security personnel or ask neighbors to watch your home and office. Nowadays, you have CCTV cameras to monitor your surroundings. When installing the CCTV, you may face some issues when changing the IP address. The process of changing the IP address depends on the specifics of your device. However, there are some general steps. You may also face some issues when changing the IP address of your CCTV issues. That said, the good news here is that the process of troubleshooting the issues when changing the IP address of CCTV is relatively simple, and you can solve it within a few minutes.

In this blog, we provide you with instructions regarding the general process of changing the IP address of a CCTV camera, along with common steps to deal with the common issues. We hope you found this helpful. If you seek further insights into various aspects of the CCTV camera, do check out some of our other blogs. If you want the best IP CCTV camera in Nepal, look no further than Night Vision.

Also Read:

• How to Connect CCTV to Mobile: Easy Steps to Follow
• Steps To Check Recorded CCTV Footage On Different Devices
• Night Vision CCTV Camera Price List in Nepal

FAQs on How to Change the IP Address of CCTV Camera

1. How do I reset my IP camera address?

The answer is yes. Each camera on a network has its IP address. This special label allows cameras to communicate with other devices such as smartphones and computers, where the capture of data enables remote monitoring capabilities.

2. How do you change your IP address?

There are two main methods to find your camera’s IP address:

• Using Vendor’s Utility Program:
  • Use software provided by the camera vendor
  • Download it from the vendor’s website or use the CD provided with the camera
  • You can also use third-party network scanning software
• Using Command Prompt:
  • Press Ctrl + R, type “cmd” and press enter
  • Type “ipconfig” to view network information
  • Type “ping” followed by IP addresses within the identified range
  • When you receive a reply, you’ve found a device using that IP address

3. How do I find the IP address of my CCTV camera?

The process for finding the IP address of your CCTV depends on specific specifics of your camera model and specifications. However, in general, steps include:

• Connect the IP camera to your network.
• Obtain the current IP.
• To access the web interface, use a browser.
• Click on Network Settings.
• Enter New IP Address.
• Save and restart the device.
• Check the change by accessing the camera at the new IP.

4. How do you set up an IP camera in CCTV?

While the process of setting up the IP camera depends on your camera specifications, the general process to set up the IP camera in the CCTV is as follows:

• Unplug the camera and wait for 10 seconds before plugging it back in
• Access the camera’s web interface
• Navigate to network settings
• Either select DHCP for automatic IP assignment or enter a new static IP address.
• Ensure the new IP address is within your network’s subnet
• Save changes and reboot the device

5. Do IP cameras have their own IP address?

Yes, the IP cameras are designed to have their own unique IP addresses. In that respect, the address allows them to communicate over a network, either over a local area network or across the Internet. It would, in effect, be like an independent web server, where it has remote monitoring and can also be controlled.

6. What is the default IP address for an IP camera?

Most IP cameras tend to have a default IP address set by the manufacturer, something like 192.168.1.1 or another variation depending on the brand. This default address should be subject to change during setup to be able to integrate seamlessly with other devices on the network and not cause some sort of conflict with other operating IP addresses.