Connect a Dahua camera over RTMP (no port forwarding)

With RTMP your Dahua camera connects to our server by itself — nothing to change on your router. The general explanation is here: Connect a camera without port forwarding.

1. Get the server and key

In the dashboard: Cameras → Add camera → choose RTMP → Save. Copy the Full URL (or the Server and Stream key separately). The key is shown only once.

2. Set up the video stream

Open the camera's web interface in a browser and go to Setting → Camera → Encode, Sub Stream.

• Codec: H.264 (not H.265)
• Resolution: 1280×720
• Bitrate: 1024–1536 Kbps
• Frame rate: 15–25
• I-frame interval: frame rate × 2 (e.g. 25 → 50)
• Smart Codec: off

Save.

3. Turn on RTMP

Go to Setting → Network → RTMP.

Tick Enable, set Stream Type: Sub Stream, Address Type: Custom, and paste the Full URL into Custom Address.

Save. Within a few seconds the camera shows Online in the dashboard.

RTMP appears on newer Dahua firmware. If it's not in the menu, update the firmware or connect over RTSP.

If it doesn't connect

• Check the URL and key were pasted in full, with no extra spaces.
• Make sure the camera has internet access (correct Gateway and DNS in its network settings).
• If you created a new key, the old one no longer works — enter the new one.
• Menu names differ slightly between firmware versions.