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What is the Hikvision NVR Default Password

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

What is the Hikvision NVR Default Password?

The absolute short answer is: Modern Hikvision NVRs do not have a default password.  

To comply with global cybersecurity regulations, Hikvision eliminated preset default credentials. Any Hikvision NVR manufactured after 2015 is shipped from the factory in an "Inactive" state. When you power it on for the first time, you are legally and structurally required to create a strong, custom password before the system will record a single frame of video.  

However, if you are servicing an older system or working with inherited hardware, the answer depends on the manufacturing date of your unit.

The Default Credential Framework

Device Era

Default Username

Default Password

Initial Network IP

Modern Systems

admin

None (Requires Custom Activation)

192.0.0.64

Legacy Systems (Pre-2015)

admin

12345

192.0.0.64

Alternative Legacy / HiLook

admin

123456 or admin

192.0.0.64

1. Modern Hikvision NVRs: The "Inactive" Status

If you buy a brand-new NVR or perform a complete hard factory reset on an existing unit, its status will show as "Inactive" inside the SADP Tool or your web browser interface.  

The Mandatory Activation Rules:

When you first access the IP address 192.0.0.64, a prompt will block the interface demanding Device Activation. Your custom password must meet the following parameters:

  • Must be between 8 and 16 characters long.  

  • Must include a combination of at least two distinct categories: uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, or special symbols.

  • Banned Combinations: The system software actively blocks "risky" structures like admin123, 12345678, or matching usernames/passwords (admin/admin).

2. Legacy Hikvision NVRs (Pre-2015 Firmware)

If you are working with an older piece of hardware that running ancient firmware versions (typically below V3.3.0), Hikvision utilized fixed factory defaults.  

If you loop the machine into an offline network, try logging in with the classic configuration:

  • Username: admin

  • Password: 12345 (or 123456 / admin for OEM white-labeled sub-brands like Alibi, LTS, or LaView).

⚠️ The Firmware Security Trap: If a legacy NVR is updated to modern firmware, the system will immediately flag the old default password as a security risk, freeze the streaming channels, and force the operator to create a brand-new custom alphanumeric password before allowing access to the dashboard menus.

Locked Out? How to Bypass if "12345" Fails

If 12345 does not work and you do not know the custom password that was set during initial activation, the NVR is locked. You cannot guess your way past the login prompt; five incorrect attempts will lock down the network interface for 30 minutes.

To bypass the barrier and create a new password, you have three primary paths:

Path A: Self-Service Mobile Reset (Under 2 Minutes)

If the NVR was previously bound to your smartphone's Hik-Connect account:

  1. Click Forgot Password on the local monitor login screen.

  2. Select Verify by Hik-Connect App to generate a local QR code.

  3. Open your Hik-Connect app, tap the QR scanner tool, and scan the monitor.

  4. Type the temporary 6-digit verification code sent to your phone back into the NVR monitor to instantly create a new master password.

Path B: The SADP Desktop Handshake

If the NVR is standalone and not bound to a cloud account:

  1. Connect a PC to the same network switch and open the free SADP Tool.  

  2. Select the locked NVR and click Forgot Password in the lower-right quadrant.

  3. Click Export to save an encrypted .xml device file to your computer.

  4. Email that file to your local Hikvision distributor or regional tech support team. Without turning off the NVR, wait for them to return a signed verification file.

  5. Import their file back into the SADP interface to reset the device admin barrier.  

💡 System Integration Pro-Tip: When you activate a new Hikvision NVR, the setup wizard will ask you a critical question: "Do you want to use the NVR password to activate connected IP cameras?" Always check YES. This automatically pushes your custom NVR password over to any newly attached cameras via Plug-and-Play PoE, preventing a nightmare scenario where every camera on your roof winds up with a different, unknown password.

  



 
 
 

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