RTSP 400 Bad Request

Use this page when the player or recovery flow returns 400 Bad Request and you need to decide whether the problem is the RTSP URL itself, the stream path, or the way the address was copied.

This error usually means the camera or recorder received your RTSP request, but rejected its format, path, or parameters. Start here before you debug network reachability or browser playback.

What to check first

  • review the full RTSP or RTSPS URL format, including username, password, host, port, and path
  • confirm that you copied the camera-specific stream path, not only the IP address
  • compare the URL with the vendor or recorder pattern before you assume the network is the problem
Test a stream again Requirements and limits

Questions behind a 400 Bad Request error

Start with the URL itself, then confirm the camera-specific stream path and public fit.

This error means that the camera does not understand the entered address. Usually, a part of the path that specifies the video channel is missing or incorrect.

Correct address format:

rtsp://user:password@camera_address:554/path_to_stream

Examples by manufacturer:
• Hikvision: rtsp://user:[email protected]:554/Streaming/Channels/101
• Dahua: rtsp://user:[email protected]:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0
• Axis: rtsp://user:[email protected]:554/axis-media/media.amp

What to do: Check the exact format in your camera’s manual or on the manufacturer’s website – each model uses a different “path”.

The RTSP address is the URL your camera uses to share video over the internet. You can find it in the user manual, in the camera settings, or on the manufacturer’s website.

Typical format:

rtsp://user:password@IP-address:554/path_to_stream

Not sure? Search for your camera model together with the phrase RTSP URL or contact the manufacturer.

This is usually caused by an incorrect address, an unreachable camera, or a blocked connection.

  • Make sure the camera is powered on and RTSP is enabled in its settings.
  • For access from the internet, the stream must be publicly accessible (private IPs like 192.168.x.x will not work externally).
  • If the camera is behind a router, set up port forwarding (typically port 554).
  • Check that the connection is not blocked by a firewall or your internet provider.