Phone app setup
How to view your Dahua cameras on your phone
Dahua recorders and cameras connect to your phone through the DMSS app and Dahua's P2P service. Enable P2P, scan the serial number, enter the device password.
VuePoint
Dahua's phone app is DMSS. It replaced the older gDMSS and iDMSS apps, and Dahua's own wiki links to it. On the App Store the developer is listed as Hangzhou Dong Bin Information Technology Co., Ltd. rather than Dahua, which confuses people; it is still the official app. DMSS handles NVRs, XVRs, IP cameras, doorbells and access controllers.
Dahua's US support wiki says December 31, 2025 was the last day to buy Dahua products in the United States, and that existing warranties will continue to be honored. Installed systems keep working with DMSS.
What you need before you start
- The device initialized, meaning an admin password was set at first boot.
- The admin password. DMSS asks for the device's admin password, not your Dahua account password.
- P2P enabled and online on the recorder or camera.
- The serial number (SN) or its QR code, shown on the P2P page and on the device label.
- DMSS installed, plus a Dahua account if you want sharing and cloud features.
Add your Dahua device by QR code or serial number
- 1
Enable P2P
On the recorder's local monitor or web interface, go to Settings > Network > P2P. Make sure P2P is enabled and the status shows online. The QR code shown here is the serial number.
- 2
Start adding in DMSS
In DMSS, go to the Home tab and tap + in the top-right corner (or Add Device if shown).
- 3
Scan the serial number
Choose Scan QR Code, allow camera access, and scan the QR code from the P2P page or label. If scanning fails, pick the option to enter the SN manually.
- 4
Skip the security code, enter the admin password
Dahua's instructions say not to enter a security code on the SN screen; tap Next. Enter the device's admin password. Some Android versions ask you to pick the device type first.
- 5
Name it and finish
Name the device, set the time zone and DST, and tap Get Started. It appears on the Home tab.
The alternative: adding by IP or DDNS
DMSS can add a device by IP address or domain instead. From outside your network that requires port forwarding on your router, exposing the recorder to the internet. If you go that route, use our port forwarding guide, keep firmware current, and do not forward the web interface port unless you have to.
Troubleshooting
- Device offline. Check the P2P page. Offline usually means no internet at the recorder: bad cable, wrong gateway, or a DNS server that doesn't resolve. Fix it there before touching the app.
- Locked out after wrong passwords. Dahua devices lock the account for a period after repeated failed logins. Stop retrying and wait. A forgotten password requires Dahua's password reset process at the device.
- P2P disabled. If P2P was turned off, DMSS can't reach the device remotely. Re-enable it.
- Firmware too old. Very old firmware may not work with current DMSS. Dahua's wiki lists firmware by model.
VuePoint Secure can add live monitoring to the same Dahua cameras through an on-site edge device, no port forwarding needed.
Common questions
- Can I still get support for my Dahua system?
- Dahua says existing warranties continue to be honored after its US exit. Firmware and parts availability may change over time; see our FCC rules explainer.
- I had gDMSS or iDMSS. Do I need DMSS?
- Yes. DMSS is the current app, and Dahua documents a migration of the device list from the old apps.
- Why can't my family see the cameras I shared?
- Sharing goes to a Dahua account. The other person must create one in DMSS with the email you shared to.
Stuck getting your Dahua system online?
Tell us the recorder model and what the app is showing. We'll tell you what we'd check next.