RTSP commands for Axis cameras

Are you looking for the RTSP URL (commands) for the Axis cameras?

You are in the right place. In this article, I have a list of them for IP cameras, encoders, multi-sensor cameras, and recorders.

This is not just a list, I've tested the RTSP URL myself, so I'm sure they really work. (Yeah, I have many Axis products and a lot of experience in the industry).

There's a video by the end of this article to help you to find the RTSP URL for any camera.

RTSP URL for IP Cameras

There are different RTSP URLs (or commands) for the Axis products.

Let's take a look how they work for the old and new products.

You can use the VLC software to test them with your cameras.

Old devices

Old devices use different codecs (such as MJPEG and MPEG-4), and the way to request the video stream is not the same as the newer devices with H.264.

As you can see, the RTSP URL requests a stream with the mpeg4 codec.

See the example below, where I get the video stream from my Axis 223M camera.

Open VLC, go to: Media >> Open Network Stream and enter the RTSP URL.

rtsp://root:pass@192.168.0.14/mpeg4/media.amp

New devices

New devices use the H.264 codec and have a simple RTSP URL.

Below is an example where I get the video from my Axis P1365 MKII camera.

rtsp://root:pass@192.168.0.17/axis-media/media.amp

RTSP URL for Encoders and Multi-sensor cameras

You can use the same RTSP URL to pull a video stream from an encoder.

The only difference is the information about the channel you want to play.

As you can see, the command requests a video stream from camera number 1.

If you have a 4-channel encoder, just select which channel you want by changing the camera number at the end of the RTSP URL (camera=1,2,3 or 4).

It also works with Multi-sensor and Fish Eye cameras.

It's possible to get the dewarped stream from a fish eye camera and even the quad view by just replacing the camera number in the end of the command.

RTSP URL parameters

You can use parameters to choose video codec, resolution, and other things from the Axis device. See the following examples.

Video Codec and Resolution

rtsp://root:pass@192.168.1.118/axis-media/media.amp?videocodec=h264&resolution=640x480

Requests the video compressed with the H.264 codec and VGA resolution.

Fish Eye camera video stream

rtsp://root:pass@192.168.1.118/axis-media/media.amp?camera=1&videocodec=h265

Disable the audio stream

rtsp://root:pass@192.168.1.118/axis-media/media.amp?audio=0

Requests the 1st video video stream from a fish eye camera  with no audio.

If the audio parameter is not used the camera send audio by default.

Black and white video

rtsp://root:pass@192.168.1.118/axis-media/media.amp?color=0

Disable the video color and gets black and white image.

You can find all the other RTSP parameters in the Axis Developer Community.

Video: How to find the RTSP URL for IP cameras

I have a video that can help you to find the RTSP URL for any IP camera (including Axis).

Please click the image below to watch it (Hosted on YouTube).

Axis RTSP URL List