Phone app setup
How to view your Reolink cameras on your phone
Reolink uses one app for nearly everything it sells. Here is how to add an NVR or camera by its UID so you can watch live and recorded video from anywhere.
VuePoint
Reolink keeps this simple: one free app, called Reolink (published by Reolink Digital Technology), covers its NVRs, PoE cameras, Wi-Fi cameras and battery cameras on both iPhone and Android. Every device has a UID, a unique ID that the app uses to find it through Reolink's cloud relay, so in the normal setup you don't touch your router at all.
What you need before you start
- The recorder (or camera) online. It must be plugged into a router with working internet. Most NVR menus show network status under the network settings page.
- The device's admin password. This is the password set on the NVR or camera during first setup, not your Reolink account password. Current models force you to create one on first boot.
- The UID. It is printed with a QR code on the label of the NVR or camera, and on most firmware is also shown in the device information screen of the recorder's local menu.
- A phone with the current Reolink app from the App Store or Google Play. Remove any third-party "Reolink viewer" apps; they are not made by Reolink.
Add your Reolink NVR or camera by UID
- 1
Install the app and sign in
Download Reolink from your phone's app store. Creating a Reolink account is optional for viewing, but it is required for some features, including sharing, so set one up now.
- 2
Tap the + icon
On the device list, tap + in the top-right corner. If your phone is on the same Wi-Fi as the recorder, the app may list it automatically; tapping it there does the same job.
- 3
Scan the UID QR code
Point the camera at the QR code on the NVR or camera label. If the label is unreadable or the recorder is in a locked rack, choose the option to enter the UID manually.
- 4
Enter the device password
Type the NVR or camera admin password. Give the device a name you'll recognize, such as the site or building.
- 5
Check live view and playback
Open a camera, confirm live video loads, then scrub back on the playback timeline to confirm recordings come through. Turn on push notifications only for the cameras that need them.
The alternative: connecting by IP address or DDNS
The app can also add a device by its public IP address or a DDNS hostname instead of the UID. That only works from outside the building if your router forwards the right ports to the recorder, which exposes the device directly to the internet. We cover it step by step in how to set up port forwarding for a camera recorder. For a single site, the UID route is simpler and safer.
Troubleshooting
- Device shows offline. Confirm the recorder has internet: unplug and reseat the network cable, check the router, and restart the NVR. A recorder plugged into a switch with no route to the internet looks fine locally and offline remotely.
- Locked out after wrong passwords. Reolink devices block logins for a period after repeated failures. Stop retrying, wait, then use the correct device password. If nobody knows it, a reset must be done at the recorder; the app cannot recover it.
- UID connection disabled. Some firmware has a UID or P2P switch in the network settings. If someone turned it off, the app can't reach the device remotely until it is turned back on.
- Firmware too old. Older firmware can fail to connect with current app versions. Update the NVR first (most recent firmware updates from the app or the local menu), then the cameras.
If you also want someone watching those cameras live, VuePoint Secure can add monitoring to the same Reolink system through an on-site edge device that needs no port forwarding.
Common questions
- Do I need a Reolink subscription to view cameras on my phone?
- No. Live view and playback from the NVR's own drive are free in the app. Reolink sells optional cloud storage plans, but they are not needed for remote viewing.
- Why does the app ask for two different passwords?
- Your Reolink account password signs you into the app. The device password unlocks the NVR or camera itself. They are separate, and changing one does not change the other.
- Can I view the same system on more than one phone?
- Yes. Add it on each phone, or better, share it from the owner's account so each person has their own login and can be removed later.
Stuck getting your Reolink system online?
Tell us the recorder model and what the app is showing. We'll tell you what we'd check next.