Connect Swann cameras to Camzify
Swann recorders that offer RTSP connect to Camzify over it, so the cameras on them can run AI detections, virtual patrol rounds and cloud recording; not every Swann product does. Swann states that not every Swann product supports RTSP, and that if a product's manual or specifications do not mention RTSP, it is not officially supported. Its own RTSP article lists which systems do.
Swann RTSP URL format
As Swann’s own documentation gives it. Replace the parts in angle brackets with the camera’s values.
- Swann EliteX system
rtsp://admin:<recorder-password>@<recorder-ip>:554/<channel><stream>Channel starts at 0 for channel 1; stream is 0 for main and 1 for sub, so /00 is channel 1's main stream. Swann calls this format undocumented but acknowledges EliteX is RTSP capable.
Turning on RTSP and ONVIF on a Swann camera
On Swann's DVRs and NVRs (including the 8580, 8600 and 8780), SecureAlert (NVW-800), AllSecure (NVW-650/800) and AdvancedX systems, the RTSP setting is under Network > Port Configuration, where the model supports it. Swann's recorders use port 554 for RTSP by default, and it can be changed.
Some Swann NVRs can add a camera with its Protocol set to ONVIF, but Swann notes that not all recorders support ONVIF.
Can a Swann camera push RTMP?
Swann's documentation, as checked for this page, does not describe pushing RTMP from its cameras. Use RTSP instead; if a site needs a push, an encoder can convert the RTSP stream, as the RTMP setup guide explains. RTMP setup in Camzify.
Worth knowing before you connect
- Swann lists its standalone cameras and the MaxRanger4K Base Station as not supporting RTSP. The MaxRanger4K Power Hub supports it, but its battery-powered cameras do not.
- Swann describes RTSP as designed for a trusted local network and says its technical support does not assist with RTSP or third-party software. For cameras on a local network, the Camzify Connector relays the stream without exposing it to the internet.
Adding the Swann stream to Camzify
- 1
Check the stream plays
Open the RTSP URL above in a player such as VLC. If it plays from outside the camera’s network, Camzify can connect it directly.
- 2
Local only? Use the Connector
If the camera is only on the local network, the Camzify Connector on a Windows, macOS or Linux machine there relays it, with no port forwarding.
- 3
Add it in the console
Camera Management → Add Camera, paste the URL (or pick the relayed stream) and enter the camera’s credentials. The RTSP setup guide has the detail.
What runs on Swann cameras once they are connected
Once the stream is in Camzify, a Swann camera is treated exactly like any other: the brand decides nothing about which features it can use.
- Virtual patrol roundsscheduled checks of each camera against its checklist, with a report per round
- AI detectionsintrusion, loitering, tailgating, weapons, fire and smoke, slip and fall, and the rest of the 23
- Camera tampering detectionan alert when a camera is covered, moved, defocused or frozen
- Cloud recordingfootage kept off site, under a retention period set per camera
- Custom detectionsbuilt to order when the standard set does not cover what a site needs
Sources, checked 7 October 2026
Every Swann-specific detail on this page comes from Swann’s own documentation, listed below. Firmware changes menus over time; when the camera’s own interface differs, it is the authority.
- Swann: Access Your Swann Camera Using RTSP
- Swann: Still no mobile access to my NVR system even after changing the RTSP port number 554 to 1085
- Swann: Camera FAQ's - NHD-855/856 Connection Guide
Swann is a trademark of its owner. This page states that Swann cameras exposing a standard RTSP stream interoperate with Camzify; it does not imply partnership, endorsement or certification by Swann.