Phone app setup
How to view your Axis cameras on your phone
Axis does phone viewing through a My Axis account and a cloud-connected site, not a serial-number scan. Which app you need depends on which Axis system you have.
VuePoint
Axis works differently from consumer brands. There is no QR sticker to scan on the phone. Cameras and recorders are organized into a site tied to a My Axis account, and the mobile app simply signs in to that account. First, work out which Axis system you have, because each has its own app.
| Your system | Phone app to download |
|---|---|
| AXIS Camera Station Edge (formerly the current version of AXIS Companion): cameras with SD cards or an AXIS S30/S40 recorder, no server | AXIS Camera Station Edge |
| AXIS Companion version 3 (now called Classic) | AXIS Companion Classic, but see the note on remote access below |
| AXIS Camera Station Pro or 5, running on a Windows server | AXIS Camera Station Pro & 5 |
The rest of this article covers AXIS Camera Station Edge, which is what most small and mid-size Axis installs use today.
What you need before you start
- A My Axis account with multi-factor authentication. Axis asks you to choose an authenticator app or email as the second factor when you register.
- A site already created. Sites are created in the AXIS Camera Station Edge Windows client by whoever installed the system. If you're the owner and your installer created it, ask to be invited.
- Cameras and recorder online with outbound internet access. Axis's documentation lists the outbound addresses and ports the system needs; inbound ports are not required.
- A phone on iOS 16 or Android 11 or later, per Axis's current system recommendations.
Get your Axis site onto your phone
- 1
Register or sign in to My Axis
Create a My Axis account at axis.com if you don't have one, and set up multi-factor authentication when prompted.
- 2
Get access to the site
If you created the site yourself, you already have it. If an installer did, they add you from the Windows client (Users > Add) with your email and an access level. Accept the emailed invitation, then accept it in the client under Invitations.
- 3
Install the mobile app
Download AXIS Camera Station Edge from the App Store or Google Play.
- 4
Sign in with your Axis credentials
Use the same My Axis account. Your sites appear automatically; open one to see live view and recordings.
- 5
Turn on notifications
Enable notifications for the devices you care about in the Windows client under Configuration > Events, allow notifications for the app in your phone's settings, then pick which ones you want inside the app's settings.
The alternative: direct IP access
Axis cameras have their own web interface and can be reached by IP address. Doing that from outside the building means port forwarding on your router, which exposes each camera directly to the internet. Axis's cloud-connected setup exists to avoid that. If you have a specific reason to forward ports, read how to set up port forwarding for a camera recorder first.
Troubleshooting
- Site or device offline. Check the device has power and internet. A firewall, VPN or traffic inspection blocking Axis's cloud services is a common cause; Axis's firewall documentation lists what must be allowed outbound.
- Password rejected or locked out. AXIS Camera Station Edge requires device passwords of at least 15 characters. AXIS OS also slows down repeated failed logins. Use the correct credentials rather than retrying; a forgotten device password means a hard reset and re-adding the device.
- No devices found during setup. The computer running the Windows client must be on the same subnet as the cameras.
- Device not supported. The camera's AXIS OS version is too old. AXIS Camera Station Edge updates AXIS OS on supported devices during installation; unsupported models can't be added.
VuePoint Secure can add live monitoring to the same Axis cameras through an on-site edge device, without opening ports.
Common questions
- Do I need a server to view Axis cameras on my phone?
- Not with AXIS Camera Station Edge. Recording runs on the cameras' SD cards or an AXIS S30/S40 recorder, and access runs through Axis's cloud services. AXIS Camera Station Pro does use a server and its own app.
- Is there a monthly fee?
- Axis says licenses for AXIS Camera Station Edge are included with Axis devices. Optional cloud storage is a separate service.
- Can I still view cameras if the internet drops?
- Live and recorded video stay available on the local network. Axis requires internet access for setup and management.
Stuck getting your Axis system online?
Tell us the recorder model and what the app is showing. We'll tell you what we'd check next.