TP-Link VIGI NVR FAQ, The VIGI management system is mainly divided into “Standalone Management Mode” and “VMS Centralized Management Mode”. Standalone Mode connects directly to the devices for management. The VMS Centralized Management System consists of a server and an application. Devices are connected to the server in a unified manner, and users manage the VMS system through applications.

What Should I Do If I Cannot Control My VIGI Devices?

If you have finished the configuration on the VIGI app but you are unable to control the VIGI device with the app, you can refer to the following steps to troubleshoot.

Case 1: Unable to control the VIGI device in the local network.

Step 1. Ensure the router is working properly. You can connect your phone or laptop to the Wi-Fi network of your router, then confirm if the router is working or not.

Step 2. Make sure if there are any mac filtering, ACL, and firewall rules on the router. If yes, disable the rules and then reboot the VIGI device for a try.

Step 3. Move the VIGI device closer to the router/switch or check the Ethernet connection to your router/switch, in case the problem is caused by the bad signal or cable. It is recommended to use a 3ft cable during the troubleshoot to isolate the possible cause.

Step 4. Update the firmware of the VIGI device.

Case 2. Unable to control the VIGI device remotely.

Step 1. Ensure you can control the VIGI device in the local network. If you are unable to control the VIGI device in the local network, please refer to the Case 1 to troubleshoot.

Step 2. Upgrade your VIGI device to the latest firmware. On the VIGI app, find your model and view More Settings, then tap Firmware Update to update the firmware.

Step 3. Try to change the DNS server on your home router.

Step 4. Disable firewall settings if there is one on your home router/switch, then reboot the router/switch.

How to use recovery mode to recover firmware for VIGI Camera and NVR

Scenario

If the VIGI NVR/Camera becomes unresponsive or stops working after a firmware upgrade due to disoperation or power supply interruption, it can be restored to normal using the firmware recovery function.

Phenomenon

1. The NVR cannot boot successfully, no image output on the connected monitor via HDMI or VGA, or it remains stuck on the logo screen.

2. The Camera doesn’t respond to any operations, such as device adding or video stream via RTSP.

How to recover

Step1: Find a PC and assign a static IP address to it. The IP address needs to be in the 192.168.0.1/24 subnet and cannot be 192.168.0.60 or 192.168.0.240.

For example:

IP address: 192.168.0.200

Subnet Mask:255.255.255.0

Step2: Power on the IPC or NVR.

Directly connect the Ethernet port of the PC to the Ethernet port of the IPC/NVR. Please note, do not use a switch between NVR/IPC and PC.

For NVR4032H, please use the LAN port 2.

Step3: Open a web browser and enter the IP address in the address bar, then press ‘enter’.

For VIGI NVR, use 192.168.0.240. For VIGI Camera, use 192.168.0.60.

This will take us to the firmware recovery page.

Step4: Upload the correct official firmware file and upgrade.

(You can obtain the official firmware from TP-Link Official Website or TP-Link Technical support team)

https://www.tp-link.com/en/vigi/

Step5: VIGI NVR/Camera will reboot and restore normal operation within a few minutes.

How to choose a suitable HDD for TP-Link VIGI NVR

Surveillance equipment usually needs to work 24/7, and the video is mostly stored in the hard disk, so there are certain requirements for the hard disk. There are many types and models of hard drives on the market, and improper selection of hard drives may lead to abnormal video, video loss, or even damage to the NVR, to ensure that the video is more stable and reliable, you need to choose a hard drive compatible with the storage device.

Below are some suggestions to choose a suitable hard disk.

1. Choose a surveillance HDD.

The surveillance level HDD is designed for 24/7 continuously recording, which is suggested for VIGI NVR.

For example, the HDD provides from Western Digital has 6 types HDDs, including green, blue, black, red, purple and gold, among them purple level is surveillance HDD.

Color	Typical Application
Green	home usage, HDD for file downloading
Blue	home usage, high performance and low-cost advantages
Black	video/photo editing/rendering and high-performance game console
Red	NAS environment
Purple	video surveillance storage, 24*7 continuous working design
Gold	Data Center

For SEAGATE, SkyHawk series is the surveillance level HDD.

2. Recommended size and interface of NVR.

VIGI NVRs use SATA interface, which is common for the most of HDD and SSD.

To guarantee the life, we do suggest to use 3.5 inch HDD.

SSD has shorter life and more expensive, so HDD is suggested; 2.5 inch HDD is hard to fix in the NVR, so 3.5inch is better.

3. Choose a suitable volume.

The maximum volume of VIGI NVRs is 10TB, please choose a suitable capacity according to the environment, time, camera’s resolution and encoding type.

You can refer to the following two methods to calculate the capacity.

(1) Estimate via weekly storage:

In general, the monitoring scenario is relatively stable, the weekly capacity consumption is basically the same, so it is recommended to observe the capacity consumption in the past week to estimate.

HDD volume= Weekly storage * Time

(2) Calculate via VIGI Tool:

TP-Link has provided a quick tool to calculate the volume via some special parameters.

Link: https://www.tp-link.com/en/smb/vigi-tool/disk/

Note: The result is a reference value in an ideal condition, the real result will deviate inevitably.

4. Suggested HDD list.

The mainstream hard drive manufacturers now are mainly SEAGATE and Western Digital, we have tested some brands, below are the models we suggest use on VIGI NVR.

Brand	Model	Volume
SEAGATE SkyHawk	ST1000VX005	1TB
SEAGATE SkyHawk	ST2000VX015	2TB
SEAGATE SkyHawk	ST3000VX009	3TB
SEAGATE SkyHawk	ST4000VX007	4TB
SEAGATE SkyHawk	ST6000VX001	6TB
SEAGATE SkyHawk AI	ST10000VE001	10TB
Western Digital Purple	WD10EJRX	1TB
Western Digital Purple	WD30PURZ	3TB
Western Digital Purple	WD42EJRX	4TB
Western Digital Purple	WD63EJRX	6TB
Western Digital Purple	WD84EJRX	8TB
Western Digital Purple	WD102PURZ	10TB

Note: The same model may have the different versions, so if you have experienced the compatible issue with above models, kindly contact us as soon as possible, many thanks!

What should I do if I forgot the password of VIGI NVR

If you forget the password of the VIGI NVR, you can reset the password via VIGI NVR.

Step 1. Click the Forgot Password option on the login window.

Step 2. Send the Verification Code to your Reset Password Email.

• If your NVR is connected to the internet

1.Click the Send Code and you’ll receive a verification code sent to your Reset Password Email.

2.Enter the verification code you received into the blank under the QR code and click the Verify button. Then you can set a new password for your NVR

• If the NVR is not connected to the internet

1.Download the VIGI app from the Apple App Store or Google Play or scan the QR code to download the VIGI app.

2.Open the VIGI app, log in with your TP-Link ID. If you don’t have a TP-Link ID, sign up first.

3.Tap the “+” on the top right to scan the QR code on the left of the VIGI NVR. Then you’ll receive a verification code sent to your Reset Password Email.

4.Enter the verification code you received into the blank under the QR code and click the Verify button. Then you can set a new password for your NVR.

Note:

1. What’s the Reset Password Email?

Reset Password Email is the one you entered in Quick Setup for the password reset. It is only used to receive the verification code when you need to reset the password.

2. What should I do if I don’t receive the verification code?

• Check your junk or spam folder.

• Add noreply@tp-link.com in the White list (by clicking Create a new filter) in your email setting.

• Check your email filter setting in your email account.

If the above steps don’t solve your problem, you can refer to the link to reset the VIGI NVR.

Get to know more details of each function and configuration please go to Download Center to download the manual of your product.

How to upgrade the firmware of VIGI NVR

If you want to upgrade the firmware of VIGI NVR, please follow the steps below:

Step 1. Right-click on the screen, click Settings on the Main Menu.

Step 2. Go to Settings -> System -> Firmware Upgrade.

Method 1: Upgrade firmware online

1.Click Check for Update.

2.Click Upgrade, and the NVR will be automatically upgraded.

Method 2: Upgrade firmware locally

1.Please find your NVR at TP-Link Download Center, download the latest firmware of your NVR and save the file of firmware to your USB drive. Insert your USB drive into the USB port on the front panel of the NVR.

2.Click Select upgrade firmware and select the firmware you need for the upgrade.

3.After the import of firmware, the NVR will be automatically upgraded.

How to reset VIGI NVR to factory defaults

If you want to reset VIGI NVR to the factory default settings, please follow the methods below:

Method 1: By using the management page of VIGI NVR

Step 1. Click Settings on the Main Menu.

Step 2. Go to Settings -> System -> System Configuration -> Settings Management, and click Reset.

Step 3. Click Yes. The NVR will restore to its factory default settings.

Note: Please wait without any operations until the NVR is reset successfully. It may take a few minutes.

Method 2: Hard reset/ By pressing the RESET button

Remove the cover of the NVR, then press and hold the Reset button inside the NVR for over 3 seconds. The NVR will restore to the factory settings.

Note: Please wait without any operations until the NVR is reset successfully. It may take a few minutes.

How to change the password and Reset Password Email of the VIGI NVR

You can change the password and Password Reset Email of the VIGI NVR. Password Reset Email is used to receive the verification code when you need to reset the password.

Step 1. Right click on the Live View screen, go to Settings > System > User Management, select the admin account and click .

Step 2. Tick the Change Password, enter your old password and new password, click Save. You can also change the Password Reset Email for NVR, Preset Password for Camera and Password Reset Email for Camera here. Done.

Note: If you forget the old password, please refer to the link to reset the password.

To get to know more details of each function and configuration please go to Download Center to download the manual of your product.

Why Can’t I Receive VIGI App Notifications After Turning On Notifications?

If push notifications from your VIGI camera on your phone don’t work correctly, please refer to the following steps for inspection:

Step 1 Check your camera whether the Notifications is on your VIGI app.

Go to Me > Settings > Message Notification Settings and check if you have turned on the notifications.

Step 2 Check and confirm Notifications setting on your phone is enabled.

For iOS: Launch Settings > Notifications, ensure Show Previews is on Always, and the Allow Notifications for the VIGI App is on.

For Android: Launch Settings -> Notifications & Status bar > App notifications, locate the VIGI App and ensure the Show notifications option is on.

Step 2 Turn off Do Not Disturb

For iOS 14 or earlier: Go to Settings and tap Do Not Disturb, then tap on the toggle next to Do Not Disturb to turn it off.

For iOS 15 or later: Open Control Center, tap Focus, then tap the Focus that is on to turn it off.

For Android: Launch Settings > Sound & vibration > Do not disturb, locate the Do not disturb option is Off.

Step 3 Check and ensure the Wi-Fi and cellular connection on the phone is working properly.

Please contact TP-Link technical support with the following information if you still encounter push notification issues after the above suggestions.

1) Your TP-Link ID or cloud account;

2) The brand & model of your phone and its Android/iOS version;

3) Whether you have tried all the suggestions listed above or not. If yes, what are they?

How to Create an Account in VIGI App

If you have a TP-Link account:

Open the VIGI app and enter your account information to log in.

If you don’t have a TP-Link account:

1. Open the VIGI app and tap Sign Up.

2. Enter a valid email address and create your own password. Then a verification email will be sent to your inbox and you need to finish the verification within an hour.

3. Open your mailbox and find the verification email. Click the Click to Finish Registration button in the email to activate the TP-Link account.

4. Once the account is activated, open the VIGI app and enter the account information just registered to log in.

How to Unbind the Account (TP-Link ID) with VIGI Devices in VIGI App

You can unbind the TP-Link account with devices by removing them via the VIGI app. After unbinding, you can re-register the VIGI devices to another account (TP-Link ID).

Method 1: Go to the Me page

On the Me page, you can tap on Unbind Device to unbind your VIGI devices from your TP-LINK ID.

Method 2: Go to the Device Settings page

1. On the My Devices page, tap on your three-dot icon on the model. Then tap on More Settings. Here we take VIGI C540W as an example.

2. Tap Remove Device at the bottom and confirm the removal. The device will be removed from your TP-Link account.

How to Update the Firmware of VIGI Devices in the VIGI App

The firmware on TP-Link VIGI cameras can be updated by using the TP-Link VIGI App. Please make sure you’ve downloaded this app before continuing.

Before you begin:

Please log into your TP-LINK ID and make sure you can control your VIGI devices.

How to create an account in VIGI app

Update the firmware for all VIGI devices

Here we take VIGI C540W as an example.

Step 1. Tap on your camera and go to the Live View page. Then, tap on More Settings.

Step 2. Tap on Firmware Update on the Device Settings page.

Step 3. On the Firmware Update page, VIGI app will automatically check the update for you. You can also tap on Check for Update to manually check the update of your camera.

How to Share Your VIGI Devices with Your Families and Employees

With the Device Sharing feature, you can invite your families to manage the VIGI devices together.

Note:

1. Make sure the firmware of VIGI device and VIGI App are both up to date.

2. Some devices do not support the sharing feature for the time being. And the APP will prompt that the sharing feature is not supported.

Step 1. On the Me page, tap Device Sharing and select the device you want to share.

Step 2. Tap Share. Enter the invitee’s TP-Link ID, then tap Next.

If the invitee is new to TP-Link, please refer to the link to register your TP-Link ID: What is TP-Link ID and how to create a TP-Link ID?

Step 3. Set the Permissions for the invitees. Note that there are two different permissions for your invitees. Watch Video will restrict their privilege to only watch live and playback. If you want to give permission to your invitee for control your VIGI devices, please assign Manage Device.

After selecting the permission for your invitee, click Share and Got It. Now the invitee can view the camera now.

Step 5. Let the invitee log in to the VIGI app, check the invitation under Notifications and tap Accept. After that, the invitee can watch/manage this shared VIGI device.

How to stop the device sharing

If you want to stop this Device Sharing, go to Me > Device Sharing > Shared Devices. Tap on the device that you want to stop sharing. Tap Delete and confirm your deletion.

Please contact TP-Link technical support with the following information if you cannot share VIGI devices.

1) Your TP-Link ID or cloud account; invitee’s TP-Link ID;

2) The model number of your VIGI device and its firmware version;

3) VIGI APP version.

How to get started with the TP-Link VIGI app

What is the TP-Link VIGI app?

The TP-Link VIGI app is designed for VIGI network cameras and NVRs that are dedicated to protecting your business. It allows you to easily add, configure, monitor, and control your connected devices. Simply create an account and add network cameras to it to enjoy real-time video, anytime, anywhere. Moreover, it also allows you to play back videos whenever you need. With the VIGI app, you can get instant notifications when motion is detected and know what happened.

In sum, you can use the VIGI app to

• Easily complete setup with step-by-step instructions.

• Check your camera feed, anytime, anywhere

• Watch live-view videos and play videos back

• Keep your business safe and secure by keeping an eye on things with multiple advanced features such as smart detection, motion detection, boundary alerts, active zones, obstacle alerts, and instant notifications

Note: Features available in VIGI devices may vary by model and software version.

Get started with the TP-Link VIGI app

1.Download and install the VIGI app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

2.Open the VIGI app and log in with your TP-Link ID. If you don’t have an account, sign up first.

3.Tap the + button on the top right and scan the QR code on your camera. You can find the QR code printed on the product label of your camera.

4.Follow the app instructions and set a device password to activate the device.

5.Set the time zone, and give a name to your device.

6.Tap Done to finish the setup, and now you can view and manage the camera.

Easily manage devices with the TP-Link VIGI app

After adding cameras to the VIGI app, on the Live View page, you can keep an eye on what’s important to you real time from anywhere with the VIGI app.

You can adjust the live view display on the Device Control page. You can tap More Settings on the My Devices page or tap the gear icon on the Live View page to enter the Device Settings page. On the Device Control page, you can change the camera settings of your camera to meet various needs.

Follow the app instructions to configure the settings. You can enable HLC, set LED status, change the video direction, configure WDR, disable the microphone or adjust the microphone volume (for certain cameras), adjust the speaker/alarm volume (for certain cameras), set the night vision and light brightness (for certain cameras).

Get instant notifications

On the VIGI app, enable motion detection, set custom activity areas, set boundaries, and more. Then, you can get instant notifications when the camera detects motion and receive alerts when someone crosses boundaries, enters an area, or blocks the camera. You can get instant alerts on your phone faster than email alerts.

Conclusion

The VIGI app is designed to be compatible with all VIGI devices. It lets you fully control your VIGI cameras and VIGI NVRs, all from one app. With simple device onboarding and cloud service, you can manage your security from the palm of your hand at any time, without relying on an additional monitor or computer. The TP-Link VIGI app provides real-time visibility into your business security from anywhere.

How to avoid IP address conflicts in a surveillance system

An IP address conflict occurs when two or more devices on the same network are assigned the same IP address. In the surveillance system, IP address conflicts may cause many problems such as the failure of camera addition, frequent dropouts of the camera, unstable live view, and so on. Therefore, we should make sure there is no IP address conflicts in the network to ensure a stable surveillance system. This article tells you how to avoid IP address conflicts.

Common IP conflicts in a surveillance system

• IP address conflicts between IP cameras

In a surveillance system, if two IP cameras have the same IP address, the live streaming source of one channel will switch between the two cameras.

• IP address conflicts between IP cameras/NVR and other clients such as computer

In this situation, the monitoring screen sometimes will show ‘no network video’.

How to avoid IP address conflicts?

If you find a similar phenomenon above, you need to check whether there is IP address conflict.

• IP address conflicts between VIGI NVR and other clients

VIGI NVR can detect the IP conflict between NVR and other devices in local network. When it is detected, you will get a prompt. You need to go to Settings > Network > Connection to change the IP address. Or you can find the device that has an IP conflict with NVR and change its IP.

• IP address conflicts between multiple VIGI cameras or between VIGI camera and other clients.

When you first add VIGI cameras via VIGI NVR, VIGI security manager or VIGI App, they will automatically set unused static IP addresses for them. But if IP address conflicts occur after VIGI cameras are added, you need to change the IP address of devices with IP address conflicts.

You can refer to the link to change the IP address of VIGI cameras.