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How To Setup And Configure Unifi NVR For UniFi Cameras

This guide walks you through how to set up and configure a UniFi NVR for use with UniFi Protect cameras and the Deep Sentinel platform. It covers everything from initial hardware installation and camera adoption to network configuration, recording settings, API key generation, and adding your cameras to the Deep Sentinel app.

1. Unbox the Unifi NVR and install mounting brackets

2. Install the Hard Drive(s) into the Unifi NVR

3. Connect power and ethernet to the Unifi NVR

4. Add the NVR in the Unifi App. The NVR will automatically update.

5. Connect cameras to network via POE Switch

6. Onboard cameras to NVR using either Unifi App or Web (Web Recommended)

  • Unifi App: Tap on your NVR, then go to Devices. All pending cameras will show up under this list as Pending Adoption. Tap on the camera, then tap Adopt.
  • Via the web interface: Using a web browser, enter the NVR's IP (see Find Your NVR IP Address) into the address bar. You may see a security warning ("Your connection is not private") - this is normal for local access. Login using the Unifi account which you setup the NVR. Go to Devices, select the camera, click to adopt
  • Allow the camera to update
  • Set the camera name now, by selecting the camera > Settings > Camera Name
    • This will be the camera name that will be used by the Deep Sentinel app.
    • Use a descriptive name, but also include the camera model.
      • Example: Front West Side - G6

7. Set the camera to use static IP:

⚠️ Important: You must set a static IP (or a DHCP reservation) for each camera. If the IP changes later, the NVR will lose connection to the camera and it will stop recording/functioning.

  • Using a web browser, enter the NVR's IP (see Find Your NVR IP Address) into the address bar. You may see a security warning ("Your connection is not private") - this is normal for local access. Login using the Unifi account which you setup the NVR.
  • Go to Devices, click on the camera name, click the gear/settings icon, scroll down and click on Manage > Manual Recovery > Reveal > Copy the code (we will use this to login to the camera).
  • Navigate web browser to camera's IP address. Use username: ubnt / Password: (your recovery code).
  • Navigate to Network. Change "Configuration Mode" to "Static", then copy the information shown on the right side of the screen to the left side. Save Changes.
  • Alternatively, you may login to your router to setup DHCP reservation for each camera instead. We recommend setting this up even if you are setting the camera's configuration to static.

8. Set the NVR to use static IP

⚠️ Important: You must set a static IP (or a DHCP reservation) for the NVR. If the IP changes later, the hub will lose connection to the NVR and it will stop recording/functioning. If you are using a Cloud Gateway instead of an NVR, you can skip this step.

  • Using a web browser, enter the NVR's IP (see Find Your NVR IP Address) into the address bar. You may see a security warning ("Your connection is not private") - this is normal for local access. Login using the Unifi account which you setup the NVR.
  • Go to Settings (bottom left corner) > Control Plane > select Console > under Network settings, change "IP Configuration" to "Static"
    • You may need to manually type in the "IP Address" to match your NVR's current IP. The subnet mask, gateway, and DNS settings should be automatically configured. 
    • When finished, click "Apply Changes"
  • Alternatively, you may login to your router to setup DHCP reservation for the NVR instead. We recommend setting this up even if you are setting the NVR's configuration to static.

9. Configure Camera Settings:

  • Via Unifi App: Tap Devices > Tap Camera > Recording Mode
  • Via Web UI: Devices > Camera > Recording Settings
  • Ensure the following settings match:
    • Create Motion Events: ON
    • Encoding: Standard
    • Overlay Info: Disable Logo
    • Lower Recording Resolution to 2K (optional)

10. Generate NVR API Key:

  • Using a web browser, enter the NVR's IP (see Find Your NVR IP Address) into the address bar. You may see a security warning ("Your connection is not private") - this is normal for local access. Login using the Unifi account which you setup the NVR.
  • Navigate to Settings > Control Plane > Integrations > Your API Keys > Enter a name > Create API Key > Copy the generated API key
  • Save the key somewhere safe, and/or send it to your mobile device. You will need to paste it into the Deep Sentinel App in the next step

11. Add NVR and Camera(s) to the Deep Sentinel app:

  • Navigate to Settings > Device Manager >  Add Device to Hub > UniFi Cameras
  • Add a new NVR > Enter NVR IP > Paste API Key > Next > Success
  • Select camera > Next > Setup Protection Zones > Next

Please note: We do not support 180° or 360° cameras at this time.