RTSP - How to View the Camera on PC / Laptop
RTSP URL is usually used on third-party video players, such as VLC player. It cannot be used directly on a web browser, since web browsers don't support RTSP protocol. (or you may install the RTSP plug-in on a web browser to view the RTSP stream.)
How to View the Camera on PC / Laptop
1Confirm the RTSP address
RTSP address format: rtsp://xxx.xxx.xx.xxx:5543/xxxxxxxx/live/channel0
RTSP Address Components:
"xxx.xxx.xx.xxx" - Refers to the camera's IP address, which can be found on the ONVIF settings page.
Find camera IP address in ONVIF settings
"xxxxxxxx" - Refers to the encrypted URL segment, which must be generated by entering the username and password.
Generate MD5 hash at online tool
Example: Generate MD5 Hash
Visit: https://emn178.github.io/online-tools/md5.html
Password: 123456
Input: admin123456
Output: a66abb5684c45962d887564f08346e8d
2Download VLC and use it to play the RTSP stream
1. Download and install VLC Media Player." target="_blank">https://www.videolan.org/vlc/
2. Open VLC → Click "Media" → "Open Network Stream."
3. Enter the RTSP address, for example:
4. Click "Play", then you can see the live video after a few seconds.
📋 Complete RTSP Setup Checklist
- ✅ Camera connected to same network as PC
- ✅ ONVIF enabled in camera settings
- ✅ Camera IP address obtained
- ✅ MD5 hash generated from username+password
- ✅ VLC Media Player installed
- ✅ Firewall configured to allow RTSP traffic
Important Notes
- RTSP streams are not encrypted - use on secure networks only.
- Default username is usually "admin".
- Port 5543 is the default RTSP port for outoutput cameras.
- Multiple cameras will have different IP addresses but same port.
🎯 Pro Tips
- Use static IP addresses for cameras to avoid connection issues.
- Keep VLC updated to the latest version for best compatibility.
- Configure quality settings in VLC for optimal performance