Yoosee IP Camera: Find Its IP Address and Open It in VLC

You can often watch a Yoosee IP camera in VLC or other PC recording software without the app, but only if your particular model exposes a standard stream (RTSP, usually advertised through ONVIF). The process is always the same: find the camera's local IP address, confirm the stream is switched on and protected by a password you know, then paste an RTSP address into VLC on a computer connected to the same network. If your model does not expose RTSP, no address will work, and the app or the desktop client is the way to go.

This guide is about direct stream access from a computer. It does not cover pairing the camera or connecting it to a recorder box.

Before you start: what this depends on

Cameras that use the Yoosee app come in many models with different firmware, so the camera you own may behave quite differently from one owned by a friend. If that sounds odd, this overview of how the Yoosee system fits together explains why. For VLC, three things vary by model and firmware:

• Whether RTSP exists at all. Many models expose it; some do not. The manual, the box, or the product listing usually mentions "ONVIF" or "RTSP" if it is supported.
• The exact stream path. The part of the address after the IP and port is set by the firmware, not by a universal standard.
• Which password the stream uses. On many models it is the device password set in the app, not your app account password.

Check all three on your model rather than assuming. If the camera is not yet online in the app, sort that out first; the WiFi connection guide covers the usual causes. A camera that is not on your network has no IP address to find.

Step 1: find the camera's local IP address

The local IP address is the number your router gives the camera on your home or shop network, usually in a form like 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x. It only means something inside that network.

Option A: the router's device list

This is the most reliable method because the router is what hands out the address.

1. Sign in to your router's admin page in a browser. The address and login are often printed on a sticker on the router.
2. Find the list of connected devices. It may be called DHCP clients, attached devices, client list or something similar.
3. Identify the camera. Look for an unfamiliar device name, or match the MAC address printed on the camera's label or box against the list.
4. Write down the IP address next to it.

If you cannot tell which entry is the camera, unplug it for a few minutes, refresh the list, plug it back in, and see which entry drops off and reappears. Some routers keep old entries for a while, so compare the online or active status rather than just the names.

Option B: the app's device information

On some app versions, the camera's settings include a device information or network page that shows its IP address. Menu names differ slightly by app version, so look under settings, then device info, network or about. If you do not see an IP there, use the router method.

Option C: an ONVIF discovery tool

If your model supports ONVIF, a free ONVIF discovery tool on a Windows PC can scan the network and list every ONVIF camera with its IP address. If the camera does not show up in the scan, that is useful information too: either ONVIF is switched off or your model does not support it.

Keep the address from changing

Routers can give a device a different address after a restart. If VLC works today and fails next week, this is usually why. In the router's settings, look for DHCP reservation (sometimes called address reservation or static lease) and fix the camera's MAC address to its current IP. This is safer than typing a fixed address into the camera itself.

Step 2: check that the stream is on and know its password

Open the camera's settings in the app and look in the security or password area. On many models there is a device password, sometimes labelled for NVR or visitor connections, that third-party software uses. Some app versions also have a separate switch for ONVIF or RTSP access.

A few practical points:

• Set a strong device password if you have not already: long, unique, and made of letters and numbers (symbols can cause trouble in RTSP addresses, see Step 3). Once a standard stream is reachable on your network, anyone on that network can try to open it.
• Do not confuse the two passwords. Your app account password signs you in to the app. The device password protects the camera itself. For VLC you need the device password.
• The username is model-specific. Many cameras use "admin" for the stream; check your manual.

If you cannot find any of these settings, your model may simply not expose a third-party stream. That is not a fault.

Step 3: build the RTSP address

An RTSP address has four parts:

rtsp://username:password@CAMERA-IP:PORT/PATH

• username and password: the stream credentials from Step 2.
• CAMERA-IP: the local address from Step 1.
• PORT: RTSP's standard default is 554, and many cameras use it, but your model may use another.
• PATH: set by the firmware. For cameras used with the Yoosee app, a path such as /onvif1 is often reported for the main stream and /onvif2 for a lower-quality stream, but treat these as something to test, not a guarantee.

A worked example, assuming the router gave the camera 192.168.1.50, the port is 554, and the device password is the one you set in the app:

rtsp://admin:YourDevicePassword@192.168.1.50:554/onvif1

If your password contains symbols such as @ or :, VLC may misread the address. Either leave the credentials out of the address and type them when VLC asks, or change the device password to letters and numbers only.

If your camera supports ONVIF, a discovery tool can usually show you the exact stream address it reports. That removes the guesswork about the path.

Step 4: open the stream in VLC

1. Install VLC from its official website on a computer connected to the same network as the camera.
2. Open VLC and go to Media, then Open Network Stream (on a Mac, File, then Open Network).
3. Paste the RTSP address and click Play.
4. If VLC asks for a username and password, enter the stream credentials.

The picture may take a few seconds to appear. That delay is normal for RTSP.

Settings that fix common VLC problems

• Grey screen or stream drops after a few seconds. In VLC preferences, show all settings, open Input / Codecs, and enable the option to use RTP over RTSP (TCP). Some cameras and networks do not handle the default transport well.
• Choppy or smeared picture. Increase the network caching value in the Open Network Stream dialog (under "Show more options"). A higher value adds delay but smooths playback.
• Audio but no video, or video in the wrong colours. Some models may send H.265 video. Update VLC to a current version, which handles it better than old builds.
• Several cameras at once. Use the lower-quality stream path for each one. Every window is a separate stream, and the computer and WiFi have to carry all of them.

Step 5: use the stream in PC recording software

Any software that accepts an RTSP address or an ONVIF camera can, in principle, use the same stream. Most video recording programs have an "add camera" option where you either let them discover ONVIF cameras or paste the RTSP address manually.

Before relying on it, test three things:

1. Does it keep recording overnight? Leave it running and check the files in the morning. Short gaps usually point to WiFi strength at the camera.
2. Is the camera's own recording unaffected? The memory card in the camera keeps recording as normal on most models, and playback in the app still reads from that card.
3. How much disk space does it use? As a worked example only: if one camera's stream averages around 2 megabits per second, a full day of continuous recording is roughly 20 GB. Your camera's real bitrate depends on resolution and settings, so check the size of one hour of footage and multiply from there.

If all you need is to watch on a big screen with alerts and playback, the PC client or an Android emulator is often simpler than RTSP.

Watching from outside your network

RTSP addresses with a local IP only work inside the same network. From a phone on mobile data, or a computer at another location, the address leads nowhere.

The tempting fix is port forwarding on the router, which opens the camera stream to the whole internet. That exposes the camera to anyone scanning for open cameras and is not recommended. Safer options:

• Use the app for remote viewing. It is designed to work from outside without opening ports.
• Use a VPN into your own network if your router supports one. You connect to home first, then use the local RTSP address as if you were there.

When it still does not work: a checking order

Work through these in order. Each one rules out a whole group of causes.

1. Can the computer reach the camera at all? Open a command prompt and ping the camera's IP. No replies usually means the wrong IP, a different network, or a guest WiFi that isolates devices from each other. A few cameras ignore ping, so if the camera shows as online in the router list, move on to the next check.
2. Is the computer on the same network? A laptop on a guest network or a second router will not see the camera.
3. Does VLC report "unable to open"? That usually means a wrong path or port, or that RTSP is not available on this model. Try the alternative path and confirm the port.
4. Does it ask for a password repeatedly? The credentials are wrong. Re-check the device password in the app and the username for your model.
5. Does it open, then freeze? Switch to TCP transport, raise network caching, and check signal strength at the camera.
6. Did it work, then stop? The camera's IP has probably changed. Check the router list and set a DHCP reservation.

When to get help

Contact the seller or installer if your manual says nothing about RTSP or ONVIF and none of the paths work. They can confirm for your exact batch whether the stream is available and which path and port it uses. Also ask for help before changing router settings you do not understand, especially on a shared office network, where the network administrator may need to make the change. If a camera needs to be moved or rewired to get a better signal, switch off power first, and leave work on mains wiring, ladders or roofs to a qualified electrician.

Install or resell cameras?

Customers who ask for "VLC access" usually want one of two things: a stream into existing recording software, or a single screen showing several sites. A few habits save repeat visits:

• Confirm RTSP and ONVIF support for the exact model and batch before quoting a job that depends on it.
• Set a DHCP reservation for every camera at install time and note each IP and MAC address in the handover sheet.
• Set a unique device password per site and hand it over in writing, separate from the app login.
• Test the stream in VLC on site, on the customer's own network, before leaving.
• Steer customers away from port forwarding and toward the app or a VPN for remote viewing.

If you sell or install cameras, dealer information is on the Yoosee business page.

Frequently asked questions

Does every Yoosee camera support RTSP?

No. Support depends on the model and its firmware, so some cameras expose an RTSP stream and others only work through the app. Check the manual or product listing for "RTSP" or "ONVIF", or ask the seller to confirm for your model.

What username and password does VLC need?

Usually the camera's device password, set in the camera's security settings in the app, not your app account password. The username is often "admin" on these cameras, but check the manual for your model. If VLC keeps asking again, one of the two is wrong.

Can I use VLC instead of the app for motion alerts?

Not really. VLC only plays a video stream; it does not receive alerts, change camera settings or read the memory card. Keep the app on your phone for notifications and playback, and use VLC for watching or recording on a computer.

Why can I see the camera in VLC at home but not at work?

The RTSP address uses a local IP that only exists on your home network. From another place you would need a VPN into your home network or the app's own remote viewing. Avoid opening the camera to the internet with port forwarding.

Does opening the stream in VLC stop the camera recording to its card?

On most models, no: card recording follows the schedule set in the app, and the stream is a separate output. If you see gaps on the card only while VLC or recording software is connected, close it for a day and compare, then tell the seller which model and firmware you have.