Quick answer

Click Forgot Password on the recorder's login screen. You can reset it with the reserved email (using the Hik-Connect app), a GUID file you saved earlier, or your security questions. If none were set up, an authorised installer or Hikvision support can reset it with proof of ownership.

Hikvision recorders do not have a reset button, so a forgotten password is reset through one of the recovery methods chosen when the recorder was first set up. Start at the recorder's own screen (a monitor and mouse connected to it).

Method 1: Reserved email and the Hik-Connect app

This works if an email address was saved on the recorder during setup.

  1. On the login screen, click Forgot Password.
  2. Choose Verify by Reserved Email. A QR code appears on the screen.
  3. On your phone, open the Hik-Connect app and find the Reset Device Password option (in the app's menu or under More). Scan the QR code.
  4. A verification code is sent to the reserved email address. Enter it on the recorder.
  5. Set a new strong password.

Method 2: GUID file

This works if someone exported a GUID file to a USB stick when the recorder was set up.

  1. Insert the USB stick into the recorder.
  2. Click Forgot Password and choose Verify by GUID.
  3. Select the GUID file on the USB stick and import it.
  4. Set a new password. The old GUID file stops working, so export a new one and keep it safe.

Method 3: Security questions

If security questions were set, choose Verify by Security Question, answer all of them exactly as they were entered, and set a new password.

None of these were set up?

Contact the company that installed the system, or Hikvision's authorised support. They will ask for:

  • the recorder's serial number (on the label, or shown by Hikvision's free SADP tool on a computer on the same network)
  • proof of ownership, such as the invoice

They can then give you an official reset file or code for that one recorder.

Please avoid "reset tools" and unofficial codes

Tools and codes shared online are not from Hikvision. At best they do not work on current firmware; at worst they damage the recorder or leave it open to attack. A reset by your installer is quick and keeps the system secure.

After the reset

  • If some IP cameras show offline, their password may be different from the new recorder password. Update it in the camera management screen.
  • Update the password in the Hik-Connect app and on any other phones.
  • Set up the reserved email and export a GUID file now, so this is easier next time.
Still stuck?Send us a photo or short video of the screen on WhatsApp. We support systems from any installer in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman.
WhatsApp us 056 794 3209

Frequently asked questions

Will resetting the password delete my recordings?

The official recovery methods change the password only. They are not the same as a factory reset or formatting the hard disk. If you are unsure, ask us before you try anything.

Can you reset a recorder installed by another company?

Yes, with proof that the system is yours. We can then check the whole system and set up recovery options for the future.

How do I make a strong password?

Use 8 to 16 characters with upper and lower case letters, numbers and a symbol. Do not reuse your email or banking password.

Related

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Menu names can differ slightly between models and software versions. Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Back to the help centre