Leave a Comment / Tech Guides & Product Tutorials (Ajax, Dahua & More) / By

 

The Definitive Guide

Dahua DMSS Not Showing Video — The Ultimate Troubleshooting Guide

Whether you are a homeowner seeing “Connection Failed” or a technician dealing with a “Device Bound” error, this guide covers every possible fix for Dahua NVRs.

It is the most common support call we receive at Sipko Security: “My cameras were working yesterday, but today the app just spins.”

The DMSS app (and its predecessors iDMSS/gDMSS) relies on a delicate chain of connections: your NVR, your modem, the Dahua P2P server, and your phone’s 4G/5G connection. If any single link breaks, you get the grey screen of death.

⚠️
First Rule of Troubleshooting: Is it just you? Before rebooting your NVR, turn off your phone’s Wi-Fi and try with 4G. Then try with Wi-Fi. If it works on one but not the other, the problem is your network, not the cameras.

In this premium guide, we go beyond the basic “turn it off and on again”. We explore advanced diagnostics, Port Forwarding, firmware updates, and how to use the ConfigTool to salvage a “broken” system.

Phase 1: Basic Diagnostics (Start Here)

Don’t skip this. 80% of issues are resolved in this phase.

  • The “Click” Test: Go to your NVR. Unplug the LAN cable and plug it back in. Listen for the click. Check if the green/orange lights on the port are flashing. No lights = No data.
  • Power Cycle Sequence: Turn off NVR. Turn off Modem. Turn Modem ON (wait 3 mins). Turn NVR ON. This forces the NVR to request a fresh IP address from the router.
  • Check Cable Quality: Factory-supplied cables are often cheap. If your NVR is far from the modem, ensure you are using a quality CAT6 cable. A chewed or bent cable causes intermittent packet loss.

Phase 2: Mastering P2P Status

The Peer-to-Peer (P2P) service is what allows remote viewing without static IPs.

The Golden Path to “Online”

You need a monitor connected to the NVR for this.

  1. Main Menu > Network > TCP/IP.
  2. Ensure DHCP is ticked. Click Apply. (This ensures your NVR matches your modem’s IP range, e.g., 192.168.1.xxx).
  3. Go to P2P / Platform Access.
  4. Ensure Enable is ticked.
  5. Status must be “Online”.
💡
Pro Tip: If Status is “Offline”, untick “Enable”, click Apply. Wait 5 seconds. Tick “Enable”, click Apply. This forces a re-handshake with the Dahua server.

Phase 3: Solving Specific Error Messages

Error 1: “User Locked”

Cause: You (or an old phone attempting to connect) entered the wrong password 5+ times.

Fix: The NVR locks for 20-30 minutes. Rebooting the NVR clears this lock immediately. Once rebooted, update the password in DMSS settings before trying to view the live feed.

Error 2: “Device Already Bound”

Cause: The device is linked to another email account (previous owner or installer).

Fix: New firmware allows “Self-Unbinding”. Try adding the device. When the error appears, click Request Unbinding. You will need to scan the QR code on the physical NVR label (not the screen) and upload a photo of it. Approval usually takes 24 hours.

Error 3: “Failed to Subscribe” (No Notifications)

Cause: The “Linkage” between your phone and the NVR is broken.

Fix: In DMSS, go to Device Details > Notification. Toggle it OFF, Save. Toggle it ON, Save. Ensure you select “Intrusion” or “Tripwire” (IVS) rather than just “Motion Detection”.

Phase 4: The “Nuclear Option” — Port Forwarding

If P2P is constantly failing (often due to firewall restrictions or NBN provider issues like CG-NAT), Port Forwarding is the professional workaround. It connects you directly to the NVR, bypassing the Dahua cloud.

Prerequisite: Static IP

You strictly need a Public Static IP from your ISP for this to work reliably. If you don’t have one, ask your ISP or use DDNS (see Phase 5).

Step 1: Set Static IP on NVR

Go to Network > TCP/IP. Untick DHCP. Set a high IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.200) to avoid conflicts.

Step 2: Log into Router

Find your router’s gateway IP (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and log in.

Step 3: Forward These Ports

Look for “Port Forwarding” or “Virtual Server” in your router menu. Create three rules pointing to your NVR’s IP (e.g., 192.168.1.200):

1. TCP Port: 37777 (Main Data Port)
2. UDP Port: 37778 (Audio/Intercom)
3. HTTP Port: 80 (Web Browser Access)

Step 4: Add via IP/Domain in DMSS

In the app, choose “IP/Domain” instead of “P2P”. Enter your Public IP address and Port 37777.

Phase 5: Firmware Updates (The Safe Way)

Running 2018 firmware is a security risk and a common cause of app failures.

⚡
Warning: Never turn off power during an update. You will “brick” the recorder.

Method 1: Cloud Update (Easiest)

Go to Main Menu > Maintain > Upgrade. Click “Manual Check”. If a file is found, click “System Upgrade”. The NVR will reboot automatically.

Method 2: USB Update (Safest)

  1. Download the specific firmware .bin file for your model from the Dahua Wiki or your supplier.
  2. Put it on a USB stick (formatted to FAT32).
  3. Plug USB into NVR. A popup will appear. Select “System Upgrade”.

Phase 6: Using ConfigTool (PC/Mac)

Can’t access the NVR monitor? You can manage everything from your laptop.

The Toolbox

Dahua ConfigTool is a free utility that scans your network for Dahua devices, even if their IP addresses are messed up.

How to Use It:

  1. Connect your laptop to the same Wi-Fi/Network.
  2. Open ConfigTool. It will list every camera and NVR found.
  3. Modify IP: You can batch-update IP addresses here.
  4. Web Access: Click the “Web” icon next to the NVR to open the browser interface (use Internet Explorer or Edge in IE Mode).
  5. Hard Reset: Some cameras can be factory reset via ConfigTool if you have the password.

Bonus: DDNS (Dynamic DNS)

If you don’t want to pay for a Static IP but want direct access (Port Forwarding), enable Dahua DDNS.

Go to Network > DDNS. Tick “Enable”. Select “Dahua DDNS”. Create a custom domain name (e.g., mylittlecastle.dahuaddns.com). If available, this domain will always point to your home network, even if your ISP changes your IP.

Troubleshooting Cheat Sheet

Method Pros Cons Difficulty
P2P (Cloud) Easiest, No Static IP needed Dependent on Dahua Servers Low
Port Forwarding Direct, Fast, Reliable Requires Static IP, Security Config High
DDNS Free, mimics Static IP Slightly slower DNS lookup Medium

Final Thoughts

Dahua systems are robust, but network complexity can bring them down. By following this guide—checking physical connections, validating P2P, and correctly configuring your router—you can achieve 99.9% uptime.

Still Offline?

If you’ve tried Port Forwarding, P2P, and Firmware updates, and the unit is still offline, it may be a hardware failure (NIC card). At this point, board-level repair or replacement is needed.

Need a Site Visit? Contact Sipko Security. We are Melbourne’s leading Dahua experts and can troubleshoot complex network environments.

Sipko Security

Written by Sipko Security Team

Your trusted partners in Melbourne home and business security. We specialize in custom installations of Ajax, Hills, and Dahua systems.

Official Technical References

Related Posts