Preview mode is ideal for installers when fine tuning the camera view during the installation. No login is required to access the camera view in preview mode. It is available only in factory defaulted state for a limited time from powering up the device.
This video demonstrates how to use preview mode.
Get started
Find the device on the network
To find Axis devices on the network and assign them IP addresses in Windows®, use AXIS IP Utility or AXIS Device Manager. Both applications are free and can be downloaded from axis.com/support.
You can use the device with the following browsers:
ChromeTM
EdgeTM
Firefox®
Safari®
Windows®
✓
✓
*
*
macOS®
✓
✓
*
*
Linux®
✓
✓
*
*
Other operating systems
*
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*
*
✓: Recommended *: Supported with limitations
Open the device's web interface
Open a browser and type the IP address or host name of the Axis device.
If you don’t know the IP address, use AXIS IP Utility or AXIS Device Manager to find the device on the network.
Type the username and password. If you access the device for the first time, you must create an administrator account. See Create an administrator account.
For descriptions of all features and settings in the web interface of devices with AXIS OS, see AXIS OS web interface help.
Create an administrator account
The first time you log in to your device, you must create an administrator account.
The device has no default account. If you lose the password for your administrator account, you must reset the device. See Reset to factory default settings.
Secure passwords
Important
Use HTTPS (which is enabled by default) to set your password or other sensitive configurations over the network. HTTPS enables secure and encrypted network connections, thereby protecting sensitive data, such as passwords.
The device password is the primary protection for your data and services. Axis devices do not impose a password policy as they may be used in various types of installations.
To protect your data we strongly recommend that you:
Use a password with at least 8 characters, preferably created by a password generator.
Don’t expose the password.
Change the password at a recurring interval, at least once a year.
Make sure that no one has tampered with the device software
To make sure that the device has its original AXIS OS, or to take full control of the device after a security attack:
After the reset, secure boot guarantees the state of the device.
Configure and install the device.
Configure your device
This section covers all the important configurations that an installer needs to do to get the product up and running after the hardware installation has been completed.
Basic settings
Set the mounting position
Go to Video > Installation > Mounting position.
Click Change.
Select a mounting position and click Save and restart.
Set the power line frequency
Go to Video > Installation > Power line frequency.
Select a power line frequency and click Save and restart.
Adjust the image
This section includes instructions about configuring your device. If you want to learn more about how certain features work, go to Learn more.
Level the camera
Make the view horizontal:
Go to Video > Installation and click .
Reduce image processing time with low latency mode
You can optimize the image processing time of your live stream by turning on low latency mode. The latency in your live stream is reduced to a minimum. When you use low latency mode, the image quality is lower than usual.
Go to System > Plain config.
Select ImageSource from the drop-down list.
Go to ImageSource/I0/Sensor > Low latency mode and select On.
Click Save.
Select exposure mode
To improve image quality for specific surveillance scenes, use exposure modes. Exposure modes lets you control aperture, shutter speed, and gain. Go to Video > Image > Exposure and select between the following exposure modes:
For most use cases, select Automatic exposure.
For environments with certain artificial lighting, for example fluorescent lighting, select Flicker-free.
Select the same frequency as the power line frequency.
For environments with certain artificial light and bright light, for example outdoors with fluorescent lighting at night and sun during daytime, select Flicker-reduced.
Select the same frequency as the power line frequency.
To lock the current exposure settings, select Hold current.
Benefit from IR light in low-light conditions by using night mode
Your camera uses visible light to deliver color images during the day. But as the visible light diminishes, color images become less bright and clear. If you switch to night mode when this happens, the camera uses both visible and near-infrared light to deliver bright and detailed black-and-white images instead. You can set the camera to switch to night mode automatically.
Go to Video > Image > Day-night mode, and make sure that the IR-cut filter is set to Auto.
Reduce noise in low-light conditions
To reduce noise in low-light conditions, you can adjust one or more of the following settings:
Adjust the trade-off between noise and motion blur. Go to Video > Image > Exposure and move the Blur-noise trade-off slider toward Low noise.
Set the exposure mode to automatic.
Note
A high max shutter value can result in motion blur.
To slow down the shutter speed, set max shutter to the highest possible value.
Note
When you reduce the max gain, the image can become darker.
Set the max gain to a lower value.
If there is an Aperture slider, move it towards Open.
Reduce sharpness in the image, under Video > Image > Appearance.
Reduce motion blur in low-light conditions
To reduce motion blur in low-light conditions, adjust one or more of the following settings in Video > Image > Exposure:
Note
When you increase the gain, image noise also increases.
Set Max shutter to a shorter time, and Max gain to a higher value.
If you still have problems with motion blur:
Increase the light level in the scene.
Mount the camera so that objects move toward it or away from it rather than sideways.
Maximize the details in an image
Important
If you maximize the details in an image, the bitrate will probably increase and you might get a reduced frame rate.
Make sure to select the capture mode that has the highest resolution.
Go to Video > Stream > General and set the compression as low as possible.
Below the live view image, click and in Video format, select MJPEG.
Go to Video > Stream > Zipstream and select Off.
Handle scenes with strong backlight
Dynamic range is the difference in light levels in an image. In some cases the difference between the darkest and the brightest areas can be significant. The result is often an image where either the dark or the bright areas are visible. Wide dynamic range (WDR) makes both dark and bright areas of the image visible.
Go to Video > Image > Wide dynamic range.
Use the Local contrast slider to adjust the amount of WDR.
Use the Tone mapping slider to adjust the amount of WDR.
If you still have problems, go to Exposure and adjust the Exposure zone to cover the area of interest.
To verify that a defined part of the image contains enough pixels to, for example, recognize license plates, you can use the pixel counter.
Go to Video > Image.
Click .
Click for Pixel counter.
In the camera’s live view, adjust the size and position of the rectangle around the area of interest, for example where you expect license plates to appear.
You can see the number of pixels for each of the rectangle’s sides, and decide if the values are enough for your needs.
Hide parts of the image with privacy masks
You can create one or several privacy masks to hide parts of the image.
Go to Video > Privacy masks.
Click .
Click the new mask and type a name.
Adjust the size and placement of the privacy mask according to your needs.
To change the color for all privacy masks, click Privacy masks and select a color.
You can add an image as an overlay in the video stream.
Go to Video > Overlays.
Click Manage images.
Upload or drag and drop an image.
Click Upload.
Select Image from the drop-down list and click .
Select the image and a position. You can also drag the overlay image in the live view to change the position.
Show a text overlay
You can add a text field as an overlay in the video stream. This is useful for example when you want to display the date, time or a company name in the video stream.
Go to Video > Overlays.
Select Text and click .
Type the text you want to display, or select modifiers to show for example the current date.
Select a position. You can also click-and-drag the overlay in the live view to change the position.
Add street names and compass direction to the image
Note
The street name and compass direction will be visible on all video streams and recordings.
Go to Apps.
Select axis-orientationaid.
Click Open.
To add a street name, click Add text and modify the text to fit the street.
To add a compass, click Add compass and modify the compass to fit the image.
View and record video
This section includes instructions about configuring your device. To learn more about how streaming and storage works, go to Streaming and storage.
Reduce bandwidth and storage
Important
Reducing the bandwidth can lead to loss of detail in the image.
Go to Video > Stream.
Click in the live view.
Select Video format AV1 if your device supports it. Otherwise select H.264.
Go to Video > Stream > General and increase Compression.
Go to Video > Stream > Zipstream and do one or more of the following:
Note
The Zipstream settings are used for all video encodings except MJPEG.
Select the Zipstream Strength that you want to use.
Turn on Optimize for storage. This can only be used if the video management software supports B-frames.
Turn on Dynamic FPS.
Turn on Dynamic GOP and set a high Upper limit GOP length value.
Note
Most web browsers don’t support H.265 decoding and because of this the device doesn’t support it in its web interface. Instead you can use a video management system or application that supports H.265 decoding.
View a live video stream on a monitor
Set up network storage
To store recordings on the network, you need to set up your network storage.
Go to System > Storage.
Click Add network storage under Network storage.
Type the IP address of the host server.
Type the name of the shared location on the host server under Network share.
Type the username and password.
Select the SMB version or leave it on Auto.
Select Add share without testing if you experience temporary connection issues, or if the share is not yet configured.
Click Add.
Record and watch video
Record video directly from the camera
Go to Video > Stream.
To start a recording, click .
If you haven’t set up any storage, click and . For instructions on how to set up network storage, see Set up network storage
To stop recording, click again.
Watch video
Go to Recordings.
Click for your recording in the list.
Verify that no one has tampered with the video
With signed video, you can make sure that no one has tampered with the video recorded by the camera.
Go to Video > Stream > General and turn on Signed video.
Use AXIS Camera Station (5.46 or later) or another compatible video management software to record video. For instructions, see the AXIS Camera Station user manual.
indicates that no one has tampered with the video.
Note
To get more information about the video, right-click the video and select Show digital signature.
Pair the camera with a radar
Radar pairing is a one-way setup where you pair a camera with a radar and use the camera to configure and maintain both devices. The radar stream is visualized in the camera’s second view area, called view area 2.
Make sure the camera and radar are directed towards the same area of interest.
Make sure the camera and radar are synced to the same time source. To check the time sync status, go to Installation > Time sync status in each device.
Make sure that the camera’s second view area (View area 2) isn’t used, since the radar will use it after pairing.
Pair the camera with the radar:
In the camera’s web interface, go to System > Edge-to-edge > Pairing.
Click Add.
In the list of pairing types, select Radar.
Enter the host name, username, and password for the radar.
Click Connect to pair the devices.
When the connection is established, the radar settings become available in the camera’s web interface.
Note
The default resolution of the paired radar is 1280x720. Keep the radar’s default resolution in the camera’s web interface, and if you add it to a VMS.
Configure the radar:
In the camera’s web interface, go to Radar > Scenarios.
Configure the radar according to your needs.
For more information about how to configure your radar, see the user manual at help.axis.com.
Note
When you upgrade the AXIS OS version for the camera, make sure to also upgrade AXIS OS for the radar to keep your system up-to-date. We recommend using a device management system like AXIS Device Manager.
Set up rules for events
You can create rules to make your device perform an action when certain events occur. A rule consists of conditions and actions. The conditions can be used to trigger the actions. For example, the device can start a recording or send an email when it detects motion, or show an overlay text while the device is recording.
Go to System > Events and add a rule. The rule defines when the device will perform certain actions. You can set up rules as scheduled, recurring, or manually triggered.
Enter a Name.
Select the Condition that must be met to trigger the action. If you specify more than one condition for the rule, all of the conditions must be met to trigger the action.
Select which Action to perform when the conditions are met.
Note
If you make changes to an active rule, the rule must be turned on again for the changes to take effect.
Save power when no motion is detected
This example explains how to turn on power saving mode when no motion is detected in the scene.
Note
When you turn on power saving mode, the IR illumination range is reduced.
Make sure that AXIS Object Analytics is running:
Go to Apps > AXIS Object Analytics.
Start the application if it is not already running.
Make sure you have set up the application according to your needs.
Create a rule:
Go to System > Events and add a rule.
Type a name for the rule.
In the list of conditions, under Application, select Object Analytics.
Select Invert this condition.
In the list of actions, under Power saving mode, select Use power saving mode while the rule is active.
Click Save.
Record video when the camera detects an object
This example explains how to set up the camera to start recording to the SD card when the camera detects an object. The recording will include five seconds before detection and one minute after detection ends.
Before you start:
Make sure you have an SD card installed.
Make sure that AXIS Object Analytics is running:
Go to Apps > AXIS Object Analytics.
Start the application if it is not already running.
Make sure you have set up the application according to your needs.
Create a rule:
Go to System > Events and add a rule.
Type a name for the rule.
In the list of conditions, under Application, select Object Analytics.
In the list of actions, under Recordings, select Record video while the rule is active.
In the list of storage options, select SD_DISK.
Select a camera and a stream profile.
Set the prebuffer time to 5 seconds.
Set the postbuffer time to 1 minute.
Click Save.
Show a text overlay in the video stream when the device detects an object
This example explains how to display the text “Motion detected” when the device detects an object.
Make sure that AXIS Object Analytics is running:
Go to Apps > AXIS Object Analytics.
Start the application if it is not already running.
Make sure you have set up the application according to your needs.
Add the overlay text:
Go to Video > Overlays.
Under Overlays, select Text and click .
Enter #D in the text field.
Choose text size and appearance.
To position the text overlay, click and select an option.
Create a rule:
Go to System > Events and add a rule.
Type a name for the rule.
In the list of conditions, under Application, select Object Analytics.
In the list of actions, under Overlay text, select Use overlay text.
Select a video channel.
In Text, type “Motion detected”.
Set the duration.
Click Save.
Note
If you update the overlay text it will be automatically updated on all video streams dynamically.
Provide visual indication of an ongoing event
You have the option to connect the AXIS I/O Indication LED to your network camera. This LED can be configured to turn on whenever certain events occur in the camera. For example, to let people know that video recording is in progress.
Required hardware
AXIS I/O Indication LED
An Axis network video camera
Note
For instructions on how to connect the AXIS I/O Indication LED, see the installation guide provided with the product.
The following example shows how to configure a rule that turns on the AXIS I/O Indication LED to indicate that camera is recording.
Go to System > Accessories > I/O ports.
For the port that you connected the AXIS I/O Indication LED to, click to set the direction to Output, and click to set the normal state to Circuit open.
Go to System > Events.
Create a new rule.
Select the Condition that must be met to trigger the camera to start recording. It can, for example, be a time schedule or motion detection.
In the list of actions, select Record video. Select a storage space. Select a stream profile or create a new. Also set the Prebuffer and Postbuffer as required.
Save the rule.
Create a second rule and select the same Condition as in the first rule.
In the list of actions, select Toggle I/O while the rule is active, and then select the port the AXIS I/O Indication LED is connected to. Set the state to Active.
Save the rule.
Other scenarios where AXIS I/O Indication LED can be used are for example:
Configure the LED to turn on when the camera starts, to indicate the presence of the camera. Select System ready as a condition.
Configure the LED to turn on when live stream is active to indicate that a person or a program is accessing a stream from the camera. Select Live stream accessed as a condition.
Record video when the camera detects loud noises
This example explains how to set up the camera to start recording to the SD card five seconds before it detects loud noise and to stop two minutes after.
In the list of conditions, under Audio, select Audio Detection.
In the list of actions, under Recordings, select Record video.
In the list of storage options, select SD_DISK.
Select the stream profile where audio has been turned on.
Set the prebuffer time to 5 seconds.
Set the postbuffer time to 2 minutes.
Click Save.
Record video when the camera detects impact
Shock detection allows the camera to detect tampering caused by vibrations or shock. Vibrations due to the environment or to an object can trigger an action depending on the shock sensitivity range, which can be set from 0 to 100. In this scenario, someone is throwing rocks at the camera after hours and you would like to get a video clip of the event.
Turn on shock detection:
Go to System > Detectors > Shock detection.
Turn on shock detection, and adjust the shock sensitivity.
Create a rule:
Go to System > Events > Rules and add a rule.
Type a name for the rule.
In the list of conditions, under Device status, select Shock detected.
Click + to add a second condition.
In the list of conditions, under Scheduled and recurring, select Schedule.
In the list of schedules, select After hours .
In the list of actions, under Recordings, select Record video while the rule is active.
Select where to save the recordings.
Select a Camera.
Set the prebuffer time to 5 seconds.
Set the postbuffer time to 50 seconds.
Click Save.
Detect tampering with input signal
This example explains how to send an email when the input signal is cut or short-circuited. For more information about the I/O connector, see I/O connector.
Go to System > Accessories > I/O ports and turn on Supervised for the relevant port.
Add an email recipient:
Go to System > Events > Recipients and add a recipient.
Type a name for the recipient.
Select Email as the notification type.
Type the recipient’s email address.
Type the email address that you want the camera to send notifications from.
Provide the login details for the sending email account, along with the SMTP hostname and port number.
To test your email setup, click Test.
Click Save.
Create a rule:
Go to System > Events > Rules and add a rule.
Type a name for the rule.
In the list of conditions, under I/O, select Supervised input tampering is active.
Select the relevant port.
In the list of actions, under Notifications, select Send notification to email and then select the recipient from the list.
Type a subject line and message for the email.
Click Save.
Trigger a notification when the enclosure is opened
This example explains how to set up an email notification when the housing or casing of the device is opened.
Add an email recipient:
Go to System > Events > Recipients and click Add recipient.
Type a name for the recipient.
Select Email as the notification type.
Type the recipient’s email address.
Type the email address that you want the camera to send notifications from.
Provide the login details for the sending email account, along with the SMTP hostname and port number.
To test your email setup, click Test.
Click Save.
Create a rule:
Go to System > Events > Rules and click Add a rule.
Type a name for the rule.
In the list of conditions, select Casing open.
In the list of actions, select Send notification to email.
Select a recipient from the list.
Type a subject line and message for the email.
Click Save.
Trigger a notification when the camera lens is tampered
This example explains how to set up an email notification when the camera lens gets either spray painted, covered, or blurred.
Activate the tampering detection:
Go to System > Detectors > Camera tampering.
Set a value for Trigger delay. The value indicates the time that must pass before an email is sent.
Turn on Trigger on dark images to detect if the lens is sprayed, covered, or rendered severely out of focus.
Add an email recipient:
Go to System > Events > Recipients and add a recipient.
Type a name for the recipient.
Select Email as the notification type.
Type the recipient’s email address.
Type the email address that you want the camera to send notifications from.
Provide the login details for the sending email account, along with the SMTP hostname and port number.
To test your email setup, click Test.
Click Save.
Create a rule:
Go to System > Events > Rules and add a rule.
Type a name for the rule.
In the list of conditions, under Video, select Tampering.
In the list of actions, under Notifications, select Send notification to email and then select the recipient from the list.
Type a subject line and message for the email.
Click Save.
Audio
Add audio to your recording
Turn on audio:
Go to Video > Stream > Audio and include audio.
If the device has more than one input source, select the correct one in Source.
Go to Audio > Device settings and turn on the correct input source.
If you make any changes to the input source, click Apply changes.
Edit the stream profile that is used for the recording:
Go to System > Stream profiles and select the stream profile.
Select Include audio and turn it on.
Click Save.
Connect to a network speaker
Network speaker pairing allows you to use a compatible Axis network speaker as if it is connected directly to the camera. Once paired, the speaker acts as an audio out device where you can play audio clips and transmit sound through the camera.
Important
For this feature to work with a video management software (VMS), you must first pair the camera with the network speaker, then add the camera to your VMS.
Pair camera with network speaker
Go to System > Edge-to-edge > Pairing.
Click Add and select the pairing type Audio from the drop-down list.
Select Speaker pairing.
Type the network speaker’s IP address, username and password.
Click Connect. A confirmation message appears.
The web interface
To read about all the features and settings available in the web interface of devices with AXIS OS, go to AXIS OS web interface help.
Learn more
Long-distance connections
This product supports fiber-optic cable installations through a media converter. Fiber-optic cable installations offer a number of benefits such as:
Long-distance connection
High speed
Long lifetime
Large capacity of data transmission
Electromagnetic interference immunity
Find out more about fiber-optic cable installations in the white paper “Long distance surveillance - Fiber-optic communication in network video” at axis.com/learning/white-papers.
For information about how to install the media converter see the Installation Guide for this product.
View area
A view area is a cropped part of the full view. You can stream and store view areas instead of the full view to minimize bandwidth and storage needs. If you enable PTZ for a view area, you can pan, tilt and zoom within it. By using view areas you can remove parts of the full view, for example, the sky.
When you set up a view area, we recommend you to set the video stream resolution to the same size as or smaller than the view area size. If you set the video stream resolution larger than the view area size it implies digitally scaled up video after sensor capture, which requires more bandwidth without adding image information.
Horizon straightening
When you install a panoramic multisensor camera you typically tilt its sensors to capture more of the ground and less of the sky. But because of how the image is projected, the tilt causes the horizon in the resulting wide-angle, panoramic overview image to be bent.
Horizon straightening compensates for any physical tilt of the camera. It removes distortion and provides an image with a horizon that appears to be straight even though it’s not in the middle of the image. All objects and lines that are vertical in real life stay vertical also in the image.
180-degree panoramic view snapshots taken with a multisensor camera.
Left: Without horizon straightening, the image is bent around the camera view’s center line (marked in yellow). Due to camera downtilt, this line is not at the horizon.
Right: With horizon straightening, the camera downtilt is compensated and the image is projected around the horizon.
180-degree panoramic view snapshot taken with a multisensor camera with horizon straightening. The horizon is straight and vertical objects are vertical.
A high-resolution panoramic camera can have multiple view areas and within each view area, you can digitally pan, tilt, and zoom. Digital zoom allows users to zoom in on a specific part of a view area, however, it can cause a loss of image quality.
When you use a panoramic multisensor camera that has lossless zoom to zoom in on an image, your image maintains the same sharpness the image had before you zoomed in.
Lossless zoom allows you to zoom in on a specific part of the view area without compromising image quality.
180-degree panoramic view snapshots taken with a panoramic multisensor camera
Left: Lossless zoom
Right: Lossy zoom
A camera with lossless zoom feature, indicating when zoom is in lossless or lossy mode.
A privacy mask is a user-defined area that covers a part of the monitored area. In the video stream, privacy masks appear either as blocks of solid color or with a mosaic pattern.
You’ll see the privacy mask on all snapshots, recorded video, and live streams.
You can use the VAPIX® application programming interface (API) to hide the privacy masks.
Important
If you use multiple privacy masks it may affect the product’s performance.
You can create several privacy masks. Each mask can have 3 to 10 anchor points.
Overlays
Overlays are superimposed over the video stream. They are used to provide extra information during recordings, such as a timestamp, or during product installation and configuration. You can add either text or an image.
The video streaming indicator is another type of overlay. It shows you that the live view video stream is live.
Streaming and storage
Video compression formats
Decide which compression method to use based on your viewing requirements, and on the properties of your network. The available options are:
Motion JPEG
Motion JPEG, or MJPEG, is a digital video sequence that is made up of a series of individual JPEG images. These images are then displayed and updated at a rate sufficient to create a stream that shows constantly updated motion. For the viewer to perceive motion video the rate must be at least 16 image frames per second. Full motion video is perceived at 30 (NTSC) or 25 (PAL) frames per second.
The Motion JPEG stream uses considerable amounts of bandwidth, but provides excellent image quality and access to every image contained in the stream.
H.264 or MPEG-4 Part 10/AVC
Note
H.264 is a licensed technology. The Axis product includes one H.264 viewing client license. To install additional unlicensed copies of the client is prohibited. To purchase additional licenses, contact your Axis reseller.
H.264 can, without compromising image quality, reduce the size of a digital video file by more than 80% compared to the Motion JPEG format and by as much as 50% compared to older MPEG formats. This means that less network bandwidth and storage space are required for a video file. Or seen another way, higher video quality can be achieved for a given bitrate.
H.265 or MPEG-H Part 2/HEVC
H.265 can, without compromising image quality, reduce the size of a digital video file by more than 25% compared to H.264.
Note
H.265 is licensed technology. The Axis product includes one H.265 viewing client license. Installing additional unlicensed copies of the client is prohibited. To purchase additional licenses, contact your Axis reseller.
Most web browsers don’t support H.265 decoding and because of this the camera doesn’t support it in its web interface. Instead you can use a video management system or application supporting H.265 decoding.
How do Image, Stream, and Stream profile settings relate to each other?
The Image tab contains camera settings that affect all video streams from the product. If you change something in this tab, it immediately affects all video streams and recordings.
The Stream tab contains settings for video streams. You get these settings if you request a video stream from the product and don’t specify for example resolution, or frame rate. When you change the settings in the Stream tab, it doesn’t affect ongoing streams, but it will take effect when you start a new stream.
The Stream profiles settings override the settings from the Stream tab. If you request a stream with a specific stream profile, the stream contains the settings of that profile. If you request a stream without specifying a stream profile, or request a stream profile that doesn't exist in the product, the stream contains the settings from the Stream tab.
Bitrate control
Bitrate control helps you to manage the bandwidth consumption of your video stream.
Variable bitrate (VBR) Variable bitrate allows the bandwidth consumption to vary depending on the level of activity in the scene. The more activity, the more bandwidth you need. With variable bitrate you are guaranteed constant image quality, but you need to make sure you have storage margins.
Maximum bitrate (MBR) Maximum bitrate lets you set a target bitrate to handle bitrate limitations in your system. You might see a decline in image quality or frame rate as the instantaneous bitrate is kept below the specified target bitrate. You can choose to prioritize either image quality or frame rate. We recommend that you configure the target bitrate to a higher value than the expected bitrate. This gives you a margin in case there is a high level of activity in the scene.
Target bitrate
Average bitrate (ABR) With average bitrate, the bitrate is automatically adjusted over a longer period of time. This is so you can meet the specified target and provide the best video quality based on your available storage. Bitrate is higher in scenes with a lot of activity, compared to static scenes. You are more likely to get better image quality when in scenes with a lot of activity if you use the average bitrate option. You can define the total storage required to store the video stream for a specified amount of time (retention time) when image quality is adjusted to meet the specified target bitrate. Specify the average bitrate settings in one of the following ways:
To calculate the estimated storage need, set the target bitrate and the retention time.
To calculate the average bitrate, based on available storage and required retention time, use the target bitrate calculator.
Target bitrate
Actual average bitrate
You can also turn on maximum bitrate and specify a target bitrate within the average bitrate option.
Target bitrate
Actual average bitrate
Edge-to-edge technology
Edge-to-edge is a technology that makes IP devices communicate directly with each other. It offers smart pairing functionality between, for example, Axis cameras and Axis audio or radar products.
Note
Make sure the paired devices run the same AXIS OS version.
Edge-to-edge speaker pairing allows you to use a compatible Axis network speaker as if it’s part of your camera. Once paired, the speaker's features are integrated in the camera's web interface and the network speaker acts as an audio out device where you can play audio clips and transmit sound through the camera.
The camera will identify itself to the VMS as a camera with integrated audio output and redirect any played audio to the speaker.
Radar pairing
With edge-to-edge radar pairing, you can connect your camera to a compatible Axis radar and benefit from integrated radar features, such as speed detection.
Radar pairing is a one-way setup where you pair one camera with one radar and use the camera to configure and maintain both devices. When paired, you can access the radar's settings and create rules for radar-specific events directly in the camera's web interface. The camera will also identify itself to a VMS as a camera with integrated radar functionality.
Additionally, the radar stream is visualized in the camera’s second view area, called view area 2. The metadata produced by the radar is available through the camera’s second metadata producer channel, called channel 2.
Analytics and apps
With analytics and apps you can get more out of your Axis device. AXIS Camera Application Platform (ACAP) is an open platform that makes it possible for third parties to develop analytics and other apps for Axis devices. Apps can be preinstalled on the device, available for download for free, or for a license fee.
To find the user manuals for Axis analytics and apps, go to help.axis.com.
Note
Several apps can run at the same time but some apps might not be compatible with each other. Certain combinations of apps might require too much processing power or memory resources when run in parallel. Verify that the apps work together before deployment.
One-click PTZ control
With one-click PTZ control you can connect your panoramic camera to a remote Axis PTZ camera and control it from the live view. This gives you the option to combine your panoramic camera's wide coverage with PTZ functionality, such as following moving objects and zooming in/out.
Note
Install the PTZ camera within 1 m (3 ft.) from your panoramic camera when you use one-click PTZ control.
Configure one-click PTZ control
How to configure one-click PTZ control in Axis panoramic cameras.
Download and install the required configuration apps:
Click and select Legacy device interface.
Go to Settings > System > One-click PTZ control and follow the instructions for the installation packages.
Connect the remote PTZ camera:
Go to Settings > System > One-click PTZ control and click Configure.
Go to One-click PTZ control > PTZ remote connection and click Configure.
Add the IP address and password for the remote PTZ camera.
Click Connect and verify the connection status.
Turn on One-click PTZ control and click Close.
Calibrate the PTZ camera automatically:
Go to One-click PTZ control > PTZ positioning calibration and click Start application.
Click Auto.
The auto-calibration will take a few minutes.
Click Done.
Go to the live view of your panoramic camera and click in the image to verify that the PTZ camera moves to the correct position.
If the automatic calibration doesn’t provide accurate positions, you can calibrate the PTZ camera manually.
Go to One-click PTZ control > PTZ positioning calibration and click Manual.
Click Re-calibrate.
Define a point in the live view of your panoramic camera and direct the remote PTZ camera to the same position.
Click Save and repeat three times.
Click Done.
AXIS Object Analytics
AXIS Object Analytics is an analytic application that comes preinstalled on the camera. It detects objects that move in the scene and classifies them as, for example, humans or vehicles. You can set up the application to send alarms for different types of objects. To find out more about how the application works, see AXIS Object Analytics user manual.
Product specific considerations
For best results, the camera must be correctly mounted. There are also requirements on the scene, image and objects.
AXIS Object Analytics is only supported when the camera is wall mounted.
Go to Video > Installation > Mounting position to set the mounting position to wall mounted in the web interface.
Metadata visualization
Analytics metadata is available for moving objects in the scene. Supported object classes are visualized in the video stream through a bounding box surrounding the object, along with information about the object type and confidence level of the classification. To learn more about how to configure and consume analytics metadata, see AXIS Scene Metadata integration guide.
Cybersecurity
For product-specific information about cybersecurity, see the product's datasheet at axis.com.
Axis provides a notification service with information about vulnerability and other security related matters for Axis devices. To receive notifications, you can subscribe at axis.com/security-notification-service.
Vulnerability management
To minimize customers' risk of exposure, Axis, as a Common Vulnerability and Exposures (CVE) numbering authority (CNA), follows industry standards to manage and respond to discovered vulnerabilities in our devices, software, and services. For more information about Axis vulnerability management policy, how to report vulnerabilities, already disclosed vulnerabilities, and corresponding security advisories, see axis.com/vulnerability-management.
Secure operation of Axis devices
Axis devices with factory default settings are pre-configured with secure default protection mechanisms. We recommend using more security configuration when installing the device. To learn more about Axis' approach to cybersecurity, including best practices, resources, and guidelines for securing your devices, go to axis.com/about-axis/cybersecurity.
Specifications
Product overview
Grounding cable
I/O port
Audio input
LED status indicator
Control button
Micro SD card slot
PoE connector
LED indicators
Status LED
Indication
Unlit
Connection and normal operation.
Green
Shows steady green for 10 seconds for normal operation after startup completed.
Amber
Steady during startup. Flashes during device software upgrade or reset to factory default.
Amber/Red
Flashes amber/red if network connection is unavailable or lost.
Red
Device software upgrade failure.
Network LED
Indication
Green
Steady for connection to a 1 Gbit/s network. Flashes for network activity.
Amber
Steady for connection to a 10/100 Mbit/s network. Flashes for network activity.
Unlit
No network connection.
SD card slot
NOTICE
Risk of damage to SD card. Don’t use sharp tools, metal objects, or excessive force when inserting or removing the SD card. Use your fingers to insert and remove the card.
Risk of data loss and corrupted recordings. Unmount the SD card from the device’s web interface before removing it. Don’t remove the SD card while the product is running.
This device supports microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC cards.
microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC Logos are trademarks of SD-3C LLC. microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC are trademarks or registered trademarks of SD-3C, LLC in the United States, other countries or both.
Connecting to a one-click cloud connection (O3C) service over the internet. To connect, press and release the button, then wait for the status LED to flash green three times.
Connectors
Network connector
RJ45 Ethernet connector with Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+).
I/O connector
Use the I/O connector with external devices in combination with, for example, motion detection, event triggering, and alarm notifications. In addition to the 0 VDC reference point and power (12 V DC output), the I/O connector provides the interface to:
Digital input
For connecting devices that can toggle between an open and closed circuit, for example PIR sensors, door/window contacts, and glass break detectors.
Supervised input
Enables possibility to detect tampering on a digital input.
Digital output
For connecting external devices such as relays and LEDs. Connected devices can be activated by the VAPIX® Application Programming Interface, through an event or from the device’s web interface.
4-pin terminal block
Function
Pin
Notes
Specifications
DC ground
1
0 VDC
DC output
2
Can be used to power auxiliary equipment. Note: This pin can only be used as power out.
12 VDC Max load = 50mA
Configurable (Input or Output)
3–4
Digital input or Supervised input – Connect to pin 1 to activate, or leave floating (unconnected) to deactivate. To use supervised input, install end-of-line resistors. See connection diagram for information about how to connect the resistors.
0 to max 30 VDC
Digital output – Internally connected to pin 1 (DC ground) when active, and floating (unconnected) when inactive. If used with an inductive load, e.g., a relay, connect a diode in parallel with the load, to protect against voltage transients.
0 to max 30 VDC, open drain, 100 mA
Example
DC ground
DC output 12 V, max 50 mA
I/O configured as supervised input
I/O configured as output
Clean your device
You can clean your device with lukewarm water.
NOTICE
Harsh chemicals can damage the device. Don’t use chemicals such as window cleaner or acetone to clean your device.
Avoid cleaning in direct sunlight or elevated temperatures, since this can cause stains.
Use a can of compressed air to remove dust and loose dirt from the device.
If necessary, clean the device with a soft microfiber cloth dampened with lukewarm water.
To avoid stains, dry the device with a clean, nonabrasive cloth.
Troubleshooting
Reset to factory default settings
Important
Reset to factory default should be used with caution. A reset to factory default resets all settings, including the IP address, to the factory default values.
To reset the product to the factory default settings:
Disconnect power from the product.
Press and hold the control button while reconnecting power. See Product overview.
Keep the control button pressed for 15–30 seconds until the status LED indicator flashes amber.
Release the control button. The process is complete when the status LED indicator turns green. If no DHCP server is available on the network, the device IP address will default to one of the following:
Devices with AXIS OS 12.0 and later: Obtained from the link-local address subnet (169.254.0.0/16)
Devices with AXIS OS 11.11 and earlier: 192.168.0.90/24
Use the installation and management software tools to assign an IP address, set the password, and access the device.
The installation and management software tools are available from the support pages on axis.com/support.
You can also reset parameters to factory default through the device’s web interface. Go to Maintenance > Factory default and click Default.
AXIS OS options
Axis offers device software management according to either the active track or the long-term support (LTS) tracks. Being on the active track means continuously getting access to all the latest product features, while the LTS tracks provide a fixed platform with periodic releases focused mainly on bug fixes and security updates.
Using AXIS OS from the active track is recommended if you want to access the newest features, or if you use Axis end-to-end system offerings. The LTS tracks are recommended if you use third-party integrations, which are not continuously validated against the latest active track. With LTS, the products can maintain cybersecurity without introducing any significant functional changes or affecting any existing integrations. For more detailed information about Axis device software strategy, go to axis.com/support/device-software.
Check the current AXIS OS version
AXIS OS determines the functionality of our devices. When you troubleshoot a problem, we recommend that you to start by checking the current AXIS OS version. The latest version might contain a correction that fixes your particular problem.
To check the current AXIS OS version:
Go to the device’s web interface > Status.
Under Device info, see the AXIS OS version.
Upgrade AXIS OS
Important
When you upgrade the device software, your preconfigured and customized settings are saved. Axis Communications AB can't guarantee that the settings are saved, even if the features are available in the new AXIS OS version.
Starting from AXIS OS 12.6, you must install every LTS version between your device’s current version and the target version. For example, if the currently installed device software version is AXIS OS 11.2, you have to install the LTS version AXIS OS 11.11 before you can upgrade the device to AXIS OS 12.6. For more information, see AXIS OS Portal: Upgrade path.
Make sure the device remains connected to the power source throughout the upgrade process.
Note
When you upgrade the device with the latest AXIS OS version in the active track, the product receives the latest functionality available. Always read the upgrade instructions and release notes available with each new release before you upgrade. To find the latest AXIS OS version and the release notes, go to axis.com/support/device-software.
If the upgrade fails, the device reloads the previous version. The most common reason is that the wrong AXIS OS file has been uploaded. Check that the name of the AXIS OS file corresponds to your device and try again.
Problems after AXIS OS upgrade
If you experience problems after the upgrade, roll back to the previously installed version from the Maintenance page.
Problems setting the IP address
Can’t set the IP address
If the IP address intended for the device and the IP address of the computer used to access the device are located on different subnets, you can’t set the IP address. Contact your network administrator to obtain an IP address.
The IP address could be in use by another device. To check:
Disconnect the Axis device from the network.
In a Command/DOS window, type ping and the IP address of the device.
If you receive: Reply from <IP address>: bytes=32; time=10... this means that the IP address might already be in use by another device on the network. Obtain a new IP address from the network administrator and reinstall the device.
If you receive: Request timed out, this means that the IP address is available for use with the Axis device. Check all cabling and reinstall the device.
There could be a possible IP address conflict with another device on the same subnet. The static IP address in the Axis device is used before the DHCP server sets a dynamic address. This means that if the same default static IP address is also used by another device, there could be problems accessing the device.
Problems accessing the device
Can’t log in when accessing the device from a browser
When HTTPS is enabled, make sure that you use the correct protocol (HTTP or HTTPS) when you try to log in. You might need to manually type http or https in the browser’s address field.
If you’ve lost the password for the root account, you must reset the device to the factory default settings. For instructions, see Reset to factory default settings.
The IP address has been changed by DHCP
IP addresses obtained from a DHCP server are dynamic and could change. If the IP address has been changed, use AXIS IP Utility or AXIS Device Manager to locate the device on the network. Identify the device using its model or serial number, or by the DNS name (if the name has been configured).
If required, you can assign a static IP address manually. For instructions, go to axis.com/support.
Certificate error when using IEEE 802.1X
For authentication to work properly, the date and time settings in the Axis device must be synchronized with an NTP server. Go to System > Date and time.
To access the device externally, we recommend you to use one of the following applications for Windows®:
AXIS Camera Station Edge: free of charge, ideal for small systems with basic surveillance needs.
AXIS Camera Station Pro: 90-day trial version free of charge, ideal for small to mid-size systems.
For instructions and download, go to axis.com/vms.
Problems with streaming
Multicast H.264 only accessible by local clients
Check if your router supports multicasting, or if you need to configure the router settings between the client and the device. You might need to increase the TTL (Time To Live) value.
No multicast H.264 displayed in the client
Check with your network administrator that the multicast addresses used by the Axis device are valid for your network.
Check with your network administrator to see if there is a firewall that prevents viewing.
Poor rendering of H.264 images
Ensure that your graphics card uses the latest driver. You can usually download the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
Color saturation is different in H.264 and Motion JPEG
Modify the settings for your graphics adapter. Check the adapter’s documentation for more information.
Reduce the number of applications running on the client computer.
Limit the number of simultaneous viewers.
Check with the network administrator that there is enough bandwidth available.
Lower the image resolution.
Log in to the device’s web interface and set a capture mode that prioritizes frame rate. If you change the capture mode to prioritize frame rate it might lower the maximum resolution, depending on the device used and capture modes available.
The maximum frames per second is dependent on the utility frequency (60/50 Hz) of the Axis device.
Can't select H.265 encoding in live view
Web browsers don’t support H.265 decoding. Use a video management system or application that supports H.265 decoding.
Problems with MQTT
Can’t connect over port 8883 with MQTT over SSL
The firewall blocks traffic that uses port 8883 since it’s regarded insecure.
In some cases the server/broker might not provide a specific port for MQTT communication. It might still be possible to use MQTT over a port normally used for HTTP/HTTPS traffic.
If the server/broker supports WebSocket/WebSocket Secure (WS/WSS), typically on port 443, use this protocol instead. Check with the server/broker provider to see if WS/WSS is supported and which port and basepath to use.
If the server/broker supports ALPN, the use of MQTT can be negotiated over an open port, such as 443. Check with your server/broker provider to see if ALPN is supported and which ALPN protocol and port to use.
Problems with operating the device
Front heater and wiper aren’t working
If the front heater or wiper are not turning on, confirm that the top cover is properly fastened to the bottom of the housing unit.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, try the troubleshooting section at axis.com/support.
Performance considerations
When you set up your system, it’s important to consider how different settings and situations affect performance. Some factors affect bandwidth (bitrate), others affect frame rate, and some affect both.
The most important factors to consider:
High image resolution or lower compression levels result in images containing more data which in turn affects the bandwidth.
Rotating the image in the GUI can increase the product's CPU load.
Access by large numbers of Motion JPEG clients or unicast H.264/H.265/AV1 clients affects the bandwidth.
Simultaneous viewing of different streams (resolution, compression) by different clients affects both frame rate and bandwidth.
Use identical streams wherever possible to maintain a high frame rate. Stream profiles can be used to ensure that streams are identical.
Accessing video streams with different codecs simultaneously affects both frame rate and bandwidth. For optimal performance, use streams with the same codec.
Heavy usage of event settings affects the product’s CPU load which in turn affects the frame rate.
Using HTTPS may reduce frame rate, in particular if streaming Motion JPEG.
Heavy network utilization due to poor infrastructure affects the bandwidth.
Viewing on poorly performing client computers lowers perceived performance and affects frame rate.
Running multiple AXIS Camera Application Platform (ACAP) applications simultaneously may affect the frame rate and the general performance.
microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC Logos are trademarks of SD-3C LLC. microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC are trademarks or registered trademarks of SD-3C, LLC in the United States, other countries or both.