CamWatch

CamWatch on Mac

CamWatch on your Mac: a window full of cameras you can keep open while you work.

Setting up for the first time

Your Mac needs to be on the same local network as your NVR.

  1. Open CamWatch and click Set up cameras.
  2. Under Your NVR, type the NVR's address (for example 192.168.1.50), its username and its password. Leave the video port as 554 unless your NVR uses a different one.
  3. Click Find my cameras. It can take up to a minute.
  4. If your Mac asks whether CamWatch can find devices on your local network, click Allow.
  5. Click Save and watch.

If Find my cameras comes up empty, see Support, or use Add camera manually.

Watching all your cameras

  • Resize the window and the grid rearranges itself to make the pictures as big as possible. Use the green button to go full screen.
  • Click a camera to open it on its own, or press 1 to 9.
  • The gear button in the top right corner opens Settings, or press ⌘ ,.
The grid in a Mac window.
The grid in a Mac window.

One camera on its own

  • Switch camera: press ← or →.
  • Zoom: pinch on the trackpad, or double-click to zoom in quickly. Drag to look around. Double-click again to go back.
  • Sound: click the speaker button in the bottom right corner, or press M.
  • Back to the grid: press Esc or click the picture.
One camera on its own, with the sound button in the bottom right corner.
One camera on its own, with the sound button in the bottom right corner.

Putting cameras in your order

  1. In the grid, click and hold a camera.
  2. Drag it to where you want it. The other cameras shuffle along in order.
  3. Let go.

Renaming your cameras

CamWatch starts with the names your NVR uses. To give a camera a friendlier name, like "Front door":

  1. Open Settings (the gear in the top right corner, or ⌘ ,).
  2. Under Cameras, click Saved cameras to show the list.
  3. Click the name of the camera you want to change, and type the new name.
  4. Click Save and watch.

To remove a camera completely, click the bin next to its name, then Save and watch.

What's in Settings

Your NVR
The NVR's address, username, password and video port.
Find my cameras
Asks your NVR for its cameras again, for example after you add a camera.
Saved cameras
Your cameras, their names, and which picture size each one uses. Grid is the size used when all cameras are showing (smaller is faster); Full screen is used when you open one camera. Remote is the lighter picture used when watching remotely, on mobile data or Tailscale.
Add camera manually
For cameras Find my cameras can't see. You'll need the camera's RTSP link from your NVR's manual.
Keep the screen on
Stops the Mac going to sleep while you're watching.
Show camera names
Shows or hides the name labels on the grid.
Use a lighter stream when watching remotely
When you're watching remotely, full screen uses a lighter picture so it starts quickly. On the same Wi-Fi as your NVR you always get full quality.

Watching remotely

CamWatch is built for your local network, but you can watch remotely using Tailscale, a separate free app. See the FAQ for a quick guide.