Hi everyone,
I have created a Homey SDK v3 app for Hikvision IP cameras, compatible video doorbells and network video recorders. The app communicates directly with the Hikvision device over the local network using ISAPI and RTSP, so no cloud account is required.
This is a new app with a new app ID: nl.nobrainerhomey.Hikvision. It does not automatically replace or migrate devices and Flows from the older com.hikvision app.
Test version:
- Current published Test release: 2026.8.7
Update 2026.8.7
- Improved video-doorbell detection with the official Hikvision ISAPI call-status fallback
- Added a privacy-safe diagnostic bug report under Repair device
- Unknown ISAPI event types are recorded safely to help diagnose model- and firmware-specific behaviour
- Existing
CallButtonPressdetection remains available and duplicate doorbell triggers are suppressed
Main features
- Native Homey Live video through RTSP and WebRTC
- Automatic selection of a Homey-compatible H.264 substream
- Camera snapshots for up to sixteen online NVR channels
- A Homey dashboard widget with digital zoom, pan, pinch gestures and automatic refresh
- Support for compatible Hikvision video doorbells and door stations
- Support for Hikvision cameras, NVRs and compatible OEM devices such as selected ABUS and Annke models
- HTTP and HTTPS connections with Digest authentication
- Automatic reconnection after temporary camera or network errors
- The last valid snapshot remains visible during temporary camera errors
- Privacy-safe diagnostics through Repair device
Flow and status support
The app provides separate Flow triggers for:
- Doorbell button pressed
- Motion detection
- Local alarm input
- Video loss
- Camera tampering
- Line crossing
- Intrusion detection
- Camera connected, disconnected and connection-error events
Motion is shown as the standard active Homey device status. Motion, line-crossing and intrusion events also activate the Homey camera tile and zone. The minimum active time can be adjusted in the device settings, which makes short Hikvision event pulses easier to use in Flows.
Individual device statuses and Insights are available for tampering, local alarms, video loss, line crossing and intrusion. For NVRs, alarm state is aggregated across channels. The app also automatically ends an alarm when an NVR sends a start event but omits the corresponding stop event.
Motion, line-crossing, intrusion and doorbell triggers include a current snapshot tag. Advanced Flow also provides an action to take a snapshot from a selected camera or NVR channel.
Compatible PTZ cameras can be moved, tilted and zoomed from Advanced Flow. A separate action safely stops PTZ movement.
Video doorbells
Compatible Hikvision video doorbells and door stations are handled as single-channel video devices. The dedicated The doorbell was pressed Flow trigger uses:
CallButtonPressfrom the ISAPI event stream, when supplied by the device- The official ISAPI call status as a fallback on video intercoms that explicitly support it
The fallback triggers when the call status changes from idle to ringing. The existing debounce prevents the event stream and call-status fallback from producing duplicate Flow triggers.
Doorbell event names and behaviour can still differ between models and firmware versions. Practical feedback with the exact model and firmware remains welcome.
Difference from the other Hikvision SDK v3 app
Both community apps provide local Hikvision camera integration. This app focuses on:
- Separate Flow triggers for motion, line crossing, intrusion, tampering, video loss, local alarms and doorbell calls
- Up to sixteen NVR channels with native Live video and snapshots
- Snapshot image tags for visual Flow events
- Automatic H.264 substream selection for Homey WebRTC
- A zoom and pan dashboard widget
- Separate live alarm statuses and Insights
- An adjustable minimum active time for the Homey camera tile and zone
- Safe timed PTZ movement plus a PTZ stop action
- Retaining the last valid snapshot during temporary errors
- Privacy-safe diagnostics for model- and firmware-specific issues
There is no automatic migration between the apps because they use different app IDs.
Live video compatibility
Homey Live video requires an H.264 RTSP stream. Many Hikvision devices use H.265 for the main stream, which Homey WebRTC cannot use directly. The app checks the available profiles and selects a compatible H.264 substream when available.
The default RTSP port is 554. The HTTP port is normally 80 and HTTPS is normally 443.
If Live video is black or only audio is available on iPhone or iPad, first verify that the selected Hikvision substream uses H.264. If the snapshot widget also fails, please report the model, firmware, stream codec/resolution, HTTP or HTTPS mode and whether the camera is connected directly or through an NVR.
Alarm events
Enable Notify Surveillance Center as the linkage method for the desired event in the Hikvision configuration.
Alarm events are optional. Some accounts or firmware versions return HTTP 403 for the event stream. This does not prevent snapshots, the dashboard widget or Live video from working.
Requirements
- Homey Pro with firmware 12.3.0 or newer
- A Hikvision camera, compatible video doorbell or NVR reachable from Homey on the local network
- A local Hikvision user account with permission to view video and events
- An H.264 RTSP profile for native Live video
When reporting an issue, please open Repair device and create the privacy-safe bug report. It contains the app version, device type, firmware, safe settings and relevant diagnostics, but never includes passwords, usernames, IP addresses, hostnames, images or video. You can review the report before copying it to the forum or a support message.
Have fun testing it! 
