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How to find out Hikvision Password

  • Writer: Administrator A
    Administrator A
  • Jun 11
  • 4 min read

How to Find Out a Hikvision Password: Essential Recovery Methods

If you are trying to "find out" a forgotten admin password for a Hikvision NVR, DVR, or IP camera, the most important thing to know is that there is no way to retrieve or view the current password in plain text. To prevent unauthorized access, Hikvision encrypts account credentials at a deep hardware level. If you don't know the password, your only path forward is to overwrite it and create a new one.

Depending on whether you have a modern, cloud-connected device or an older legacy system, you can use several methods to regain access.

Method 1: The Local "Password Hint" Check (Firmware V4.75+)

If you are locked out of a modern NVR or DVR, Hikvision includes a "Password Hint" function to help you recall your password without executing a full system reset.

The Steps:

  1. Go to the main login pattern or text interface screen on the monitor attached to your NVR.

  2. If your device has updated firmware, look for a small Question Mark (?) or Password Hint icon next to the password prompt field.

  3. Click it to display the text hint you created when you first activated the system.

Method 2: Instant Self-Service via the Hik-Connect App

If your security system was previously paired with a smartphone account using the Hik-Connect or Hik-Partner Pro application, you can bypass technical support entirely and unlock the system in minutes.

The Steps:

  1. On the local monitor login screen, click the Forgot Password link.

  2. Select Verify by Hik-Connect App from the security drop-down menu. A distinct QR code will appear on the monitor.

  3. Open the Hik-Connect app on your phone (ensure you are logged into the master admin account).

  4. Use the app's built-in camera tool to scan the QR code displayed on the monitor.

  5. The app will verify your identity and instantly display a temporary 6-digit token code on your phone screen.

  6. Type this code back into the NVR monitor to bypass the security wall and create a brand-new master password.

Method 3: The Reserved Email Loop

If you entered a recovery email address during the initial system setup but never linked the camera to a smartphone app, you can recover it using an automated verification code.

The Steps:

  1. Click Forgot Password on either the local monitor or your web browser login screen.

  2. Choose Verify by Reserved Email. The screen will populate an encrypted QR code.

  3. Use a QR scanner app on your phone to scan the code, which will automatically format an email payload addressed to Hikvision’s password robot. Alternatively, snap a photo of the code and send it to your registered recovery email parameters.

  4. An automated 6-digit security key will arrive in your email inbox within 2 to 5 minutes.

  5. Enter that key into the verification box on your screen to immediately clear the old password.

Method 4: The Enterprise XML File Handshake (SADP Tool)

If the device is completely standalone, has no configured recovery emails, and has no security questions assigned, you must request a cryptographic unlock key using Hikvision's desktop deployment software: the SADP (Search Active Device Protocol) Tool.

The Steps:


1.Run SADP as an Administrator:Connect on the same network.

Download the latest version of the SADP Tool onto a Windows or Mac computer. Ensure the PC is hardwired to the exact same physical network switch as your locked Hikvision device.

2.Export the Camera XML File:Initialize the reset parameter.

Highlight the locked camera or NVR in the device list and click Forgot Password in the lower-right menu. Select Export and save the resulting .xml configuration file to your Desktop. Do not power down or reboot the device after this step.

3.Submit File to an Authorized Distributor:Verification verification.

Email the exported XML file, along with a clear photograph of the physical serial number barcode sticker found on the device casing, to your regional Hikvision distributor or local technical support team.

4.Import the Response File and Reset:Final authentication step.

Support will process your device data and email back a signed validation file. Return to SADP, select Import File, choose the new file, type a strong, custom password into the fields, and click Confirm.


A Note on Legacy Models (Pre-2015 Firmware)

If you are dealing with a very old, unactivated Hikvision device manufactured prior to 2015, the internal software might still contain fixed factory default credentials. If the system was never updated, try logging in using the old standard:

  • Default Username: admin

  • Default Password: 12345 (or 123456 / admin for white-labeled sub-brands)

🔒 Cyber Security WarningBe highly cautious of online web forums or suspicious websites offering "Hikvision Master Password Generators." Older firmware versions utilized a predictable system clock glitch that allowed third-party tools to calculate a daily backdoor code based on the camera's internal date and time. Modern Hikvision firmware completely patched this flaw. Attempting to use shady online generators on a modern NVR will fail and can trigger a temporary security IP address lockout on your network

 
 
 

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