How to reset an NVR password depends on exactly why you’re locked out – and in most cases you can get back in without losing your recordings. Maybe you set the password months ago and can’t remember it, maybe you bought the system secondhand, or maybe it keeps rejecting a password you’re sure is right.
Either way, you can’t get into the recorder that holds all your footage, and that’s an unsettling place to be. The fix depends on which situation you’re in, so work through these five fixes in order.
This guide on how to reset an NVR password is written for homeowners, so there’s no assumption you know networking terms. We’ll explain each step as we go.
FIX 1: Rule Out the Simple Causes First
Before assuming the password is lost, make sure it’s actually wrong. Most lockouts come down to small, fixable things. Check that Caps Lock isn’t on, since NVR passwords are case-sensitive. If you’re typing on an on-screen keyboard with a mouse, it’s easy to hit the wrong character – type it slowly and watch each character appear.
Also confirm you’re entering the right username. Many systems have a separate admin account, and the password you remember may belong to a different user. The default username on most recorders is “admin” – if you’ve been trying a personal username, switch to admin and try the password there. These small checks resolve a surprising number of “wrong password” lockouts before you have to reset anything.
FIX 2: Try the Default Credentials
If the system is new, secondhand, or was never set up with a custom password, it may still be on its factory defaults. Most NVRs ship with a default username of “admin” and a simple default password printed in the manual or on a sticker on the unit itself. Look on the bottom or back of the recorder for a label showing the default login.
If you can’t find the sticker, the manufacturer’s manual lists the defaults for your model, and a search for your exact model number plus “default password” will usually turn it up. Be aware that for security, many newer systems force you to create a custom password during first setup and don’t have a usable default – if that’s your situation, move on to the recovery options below.
FIX 3: How to Reset an NVR Password With the Recovery Option
Many modern NVRs have a built-in password recovery feature, and this is the method that gets you back in without erasing anything. On the login screen, look for a “Forgot Password,” “Reset,” or key-shaped icon. Tapping it usually offers one of two paths.
The first path uses a recovery email: if you registered an email when you set up the system, the recorder can send you a verification code or reset link to that address. The second path uses security questions you answered during setup.
A third method on some brands generates a security code on screen that you provide to the manufacturer’s support – they return an unlock code tied to that day. If any of these were set up when the system was installed, this is by far the best route, because it resets only the password and leaves your recordings and settings intact.
FIX 4: Reset Through the Manufacturer’s App
If your NVR is linked to a phone app – which it likely is if you view cameras remotely – you may be able to reset the password from there. Open the app on the phone that’s already paired with the system. Because that device is already authenticated, the app can often let you set a new device password directly through the account, sidestepping the lock on the recorder itself.
Look in the device settings within the app for a password or security option. This works only if the app is already connected to your system and you’re logged into the account that owns it. If you’ve lost access to the app account too, you’ll need the account recovery for the app first, then come back to reset the device.
FIX 5: The Physical Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If none of the recovery options are available – no recovery email, no security questions, no app access, no usable default – the last resort is a physical factory reset. Most NVRs have a small recessed reset button, often on the back or inside near the circuit board, that you hold for ten to twenty seconds with the unit powered on to return it to factory settings.
Understand clearly what this does before you do it: a full factory reset wipes the password, but it also typically erases your settings and configuration, and on some systems it can wipe recorded footage. If your recordings matter, exhaust every recovery option above first.
Only use the physical reset when you’ve accepted that you may be starting the system’s configuration over from scratch. Check your specific model’s manual, because the exact button location and hold time vary, and on some units the reset is a menu option rather than a physical button.
After You’re Back In: Set Up Recovery Properly
Once you have access again, take five minutes to make sure you never go through this a second time. Follow strong password practices and set a password you’ll actually remember or store safely, and – most importantly – register a recovery email and answer the security questions if your system offers them. Those recovery options are exactly what would have saved you this time, and they only work if they’re set up in advance.
It’s also worth writing down the make, model, and login somewhere secure, separate from the system itself. If you ever sell the system or hand it to a family member, that record makes the transfer painless.
A Note on Buying a Secondhand System
If you landed here because you bought a used NVR that’s locked, the seller is your best resource – ask them for the password or to perform a reset before you take it. A locked secondhand recorder with footage you can’t access and no recovery info set up often leaves the physical factory reset as the only way in, so it’s worth sorting out the credentials at the time of purchase rather than discovering the lock afterward.
Going forward, choosing a system with solid password recovery built in – recovery email and security questions, not just a buried reset button – saves a lot of grief the day you inevitably forget a password.
Locked out right now? Try Fix 3 (the built-in password recovery) before anything else – it’s the only method that gets you back in without risking your recordings. Save the physical factory reset for when every other option is gone.
How to Hard Reset an NVR When Nothing Else Works
If the default credentials don’t work and the built-in recovery options are unavailable, a hard reset is the last resort that wipes the password along with everything else. Power the unit down, then look for a small recessed reset button — usually on the rear panel near the ports, or on the main circuit board if you open the case. Hold it for roughly 10 seconds while powering the NVR back on, and keep holding until it restarts into setup. If there’s no physical button, you’ll need the manufacturer’s reset utility, since some brands deliberately leave it out for security. Remember this clears all your settings and camera setup, but it normally leaves recorded footage on the drive intact.
What to Do If You’re Still Completely Locked Out
When defaults fail, recovery is greyed out, and you’d rather not wipe the configuration, the safest path is the manufacturer. Contact their support line with the NVR’s serial number, model, and proof of purchase or ownership — most can generate a one-time unlock or temporary password tied to that exact device and the current date. Avoid the “master password generator” sites you’ll find online; many are scams or malware, and a legitimate manufacturer reset is both safer and free. Once you regain access, set a strong unique password and record it somewhere you won’t lose it.
Related guides: If your recorder is doing more than locking you out, see why your NVR keeps rebooting or what to do when the NVR says “no hard disk” and won’t record.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reset my NVR password?
Start with the default password on the unit’s sticker, then use the manufacturer’s app reset or security-question recovery. If those fail, request a reset code from the manufacturer, or factory reset as a last resort.
Will resetting the NVR password erase my recordings?
A password reset itself usually doesn’t, but a full factory reset can wipe settings. Try app or security-question recovery before any factory reset.
What is the default NVR password?
It is often printed on a sticker on the unit or in the manual. Older systems used logins like admin/12345, but newer ones force a custom password at setup.
I’m completely locked out — what now?
Use the manufacturer’s password-reset tool, which generates a temporary code from your device’s date and serial. Contact their support with proof of ownership if needed.
What should I do if I forgot my NVR password?
Work through it in order. First try the default credentials printed on the unit or listed by the manufacturer, since many systems were never changed. If that fails, use the recorder’s built-in password recovery — usually a security-question or email/QR-code reset reached from the login screen. Still locked out? Contact the manufacturer’s support with proof of ownership; most can generate a temporary unlock code from the device’s serial number and date.
How do I hard reset an NVR?
A hard reset returns the recorder to factory defaults, which also clears the password. Many NVRs have a small physical reset button on the rear or on the main board that you hold for about 10 seconds while the unit powers on. Others require the manufacturer’s reset tool because there’s no button. A hard reset wipes your settings and camera configuration, so use it as a last resort — and note it usually leaves recorded footage on the hard drive untouched.
What is the default admin password for an NVR?
There’s no single universal password — it varies by brand. Common factory defaults pair the username “admin” with a password like “admin,” “12345,” “123456,” or a blank field, and many units print the real default on a sticker on the case. Newer NVRs force you to create a password on first setup, so there may be no default at all. Always change the default once you’re in, since these credentials are widely published.
Guard Source HQ is built on 30 years in the construction trades — real-world experience installing equipment, keeping systems running, and protecting them from the elements. Every guide here follows the same rule: practical, field-tested advice on security cameras and the networks behind them, without the scare tactics or the hard sell.
About the author
This guide was written and reviewed by the GuardSourceHQ Editorial Team. We research and hands-on test home-security gear so we can recommend only what we would use in our own homes. GuardSourceHQ helps homeowners choose, install, and troubleshoot security cameras and home networks.