What do the buttons on my Hikconnect app do?

15/5/2023

This brief guide provides an overview of the buttons and icons found in the HikConnect App. Although some of the icons may initially be confusing, it is beneficial to familiarise yourself with their functions, as they enable control over useful features on your Hikvision cameras/recorder.
It is safe to press all of the buttons mentioned below, so once you have reviewed our guide, feel free to experiment with them in your own HikConnect App.
Please note that the icons depicted in this guide are sourced from the Hikvision IOS App version 5.2.1, obtained directly from the Apple App Store in the UK. If you are using a different version or an Android app, there might be slight variations in the visuals.
We appreciate your feedback, so please don't hesitate to ask any questions or share your inquiries in the comments section below this guide.

Pause

This button allows you to pause the video feed. It is a feature available in both Liveview and Playback.

Mute/Unmute

If your cameras have built in microphones and you have audio enabled, then this feature allows you to mute/unmute the audio.

Picture quality

The picture quality option allows you to switch between High Definition and Basic.

Window Divisions

This button allows you to change the number of cameras you are viewing at one time. Multiple cameras will be shown by divding the screen in to either 4, 9, 12 or 16.

Change screen orientation

This button allows you to switch between portrait mode and landscape. When viewed in landscape the camera(s) image(s) will fill the whole screen and menus are overlayed (visable when the screen is touched)

Playback

The playback button grants you access to the playback menu, where you can view your recorded footage. The menu is nearly identical to the live view menu, with a few missing icons and one additional icon. The additional icon is located at the bottom of this page.

Snapshot

This feature allows you to take a snapshot (or photo) of the image currently being displayed. You can utilise this feature in both Playback and Liveview. Once the snapshot has been taken, it will automatically be saved in the app. The picture can be found in the bottom menu under Me -> Pictures and Videos. You can also download the image to your phone's photo album or share it directly via email, WhatsApp, etc.

Record

Similar to a snapshot, this feature allows you to record both video and audio. It can be utilised in both Playback and Liveview modes. Once the recording has been initiated, it will automatically be saved within the app. To access the recorded video, navigate to the bottom menu and select Me -> Pictures and Videos. Additionally, you have the option to download the video to your phone's photo album or directly share it via email, WhatsApp, and other platforms.

Two way audio

This feature enables you to communicate with someone using the camera's built-in microphone and speaker. It can prove useful in scenarios such as alerting a potential intruder that they have been detected or engaging in a brief conversation, such as with a delivery driver. However, it's important to consider that effective communication may be challenging if the camera is positioned too far away from the individual you are speaking to.
Please be aware that this feature is only accessible on cameras equipped with a built-in microphone.

Pan Tilt Zoom control

This feature can be used to control the movement of a Pan Tilt Zoom Camera (PTZ). For static cameras this button has no use.

Zoom

If you wish to zoom, this button can be utilised in both Liveview and Playback. Additionally, you can zoom by using the pinch gesture with your fingers on the display, so there is typically no need to use this button.

Alarm

If you have alarm outputs connected to a camera or NVR, this feature can be utilised to activate an alarm. However, if you do not have any alarm outputs connected, you will receive a message informing you that no alarm outputs are connected.

Strobe and Siren

If you have a camera or cameras with the strobe and siren feature, this button can be utilised to activate them. This can be beneficial in alerting a potential intruder to the presence of CCTV, as the camera will flash and a siren will sound. There are various sirens to choose from, including verbal announcements or warnings. Additionally, it is possible to upload custom audio for this purpose.