ONVIF Camera Integration Setup

This guide walks you through connecting ONVIF-compatible cameras to Home Assistant for live view and basic controls. You will confirm ONVIF is enabled, gather the camera details, create an ONVIF user if needed, and add the camera to Home Assistant.

Before You Start

Confirm the following before you begin:

1. The camera is powered on and reachable on the local network.
2. You have administrator access to the camera’s web interface.
3. Home Assistant and the camera are on the same network.

Step 1: Confirm ONVIF Is Enabled

1. Log in to your camera using its IP address in a browser.
2. Look through settings sections such as Network, Advanced, or Integration / Protocols.
3. Ensure ONVIF is enabled.

Step 2: Create a Dedicated ONVIF User

Some cameras require a separate login specifically for ONVIF access. This is required when:

• your normal login does not work in Home Assistant,
• you see a setting for ONVIF User or similar, or
• the camera brand requires it (common on some models).

To create one:

1. Go to your camera’s Users, Security, or ONVIF settings.
2. Create a new user.
3. Set a username and password.
4. Grant it a standard user role. A standard user is enough for all current functionality; administrator rights are not required.

Step 3: Gather the Required Information

You need:

• IP address (for example, 192.168.1.50)
• Username (the ONVIF user, if you created one)
• Password
• Port (usually 80, 8000, 8080, or 8899)

Step 4: Add the ONVIF Integration

1. In Home Assistant, go to Settings > Devices & Services > Add Integration.
2. Search for ONVIF and select it.
3. Enter the following details:
   • Host: camera IP address
   • Port: leave the default if unsure
   • Username
   • Password
4. Click Submit.

Step 5: Verify the Camera

1. The camera should appear in Home Assistant.
2. Add it to your dashboard using a Picture Entity card.
3. Confirm that live video works.

Troubleshooting

Connection Fails

1. Confirm ONVIF is enabled on the camera.
2. Double-check the IP address and credentials.
3. Try creating an ONVIF-specific user.

Authentication Errors

1. Use a dedicated ONVIF login.
2. Avoid using the main admin account.

No Video

1. Ensure RTSP or streaming is enabled in the camera settings.
2. Confirm both devices are on the same network.