Closed Loop and Remote Setup of Reolink NVR or Cameras (2023)

Complete setup directions on how to close your Reolink NVR from outside access. Also in this video we have a way to remote access your Reolink NVR with out using Reolink servers.

This video does assume you know how computer networks work and you have a minor knowledge of IP addresses external and internal to a network.

To obtain your wan IP address:

Reolink Mobile App

Time Stamps
00:00 Intro
00:32 Start of the closed loop system
01:03 Setup of the static IP address on network (internal)
02:33 Turning off of UID, DDNS, UPNP - closing the loop
03:29 Port Settings for closed loop (the defaults)
03:39 Explanation on why we are disabling UID, DDNS, UPNP
04:59 Setting up a strong secure password for your NVR or Camera's
06:15 Setting up of other users on NVR or Camera and the two user types
07:15 Message to Reolink about changing the admin user name and the fact that we can't
09:57 Outside Access - WARNING before proceeding
11:13 Steps to opening Outside Access (if you didn't watch the warning you should have)
11:42 What ports you will need open and how to change these ports if you need to
12:26 Each port displayed and which ones you might have to change depending upon your ISP blocking ports
14:30 Warning about opening ports on any router including PF Sense
15:14 Taking notes of the ports as I should have earlier but didn't do
15:47 Logging into PF Sense
15:55 PF Sense - Firewall - NAT
16:40 New Rule Setup
19:25 Applying Changes and finishing up configuration on the firewall (PF Sense)
21:30 How to get your WAN IP address for accessing your cameras from outside. This is your WAN. . . NOT LAN
22:03 Entering of the IP address on your phone reolink app and logging into the NVR
22:25 Connected to the NVR via app showing first camera how to get back to all cameras and settings area
23:04 If you want a less secure but easier setup you can start here
23:35 Words of advice on security and which is best
24:41 If you need professional services and closing

Our Site and Social:

[groarke]

This video was really helpful, you did a fantastic job of explaining the fundamentals of how this works. Thanks for taking the time to save me hours of messing around trying to figure this out.

[michaelc]

Thank you for posting this and also appreciate your support in providing responses to the comments. A lot of people post but seldom respond to comments.

[henryairconcepts]

Thanks for posting this video. It helps me a lot to set up mine

[philipm]

My favorite option for remote access is with VPN, and blocking the NVR from internet access with exception to port 553 for notifications. No holes in the firewall. Thank you for the video!

[iRitaAnn]

Thanks for a great video--very useful.

[Matisto]

Much appreciated! Thanks for the video!

[rrrrrrrr]

very informative video thanks for sharing

[RixtronixLAB]

Nice info, where can we find the port setting on argus eco ultra ? for port forwarding, thanks :)

[GurwinderSingh-gsok]

U explain nice . But I can not see all from phone app reolink. I can not see all remotely by using network why ?

[Seb]

Looking at getting a Reolink POE Doorbell, though is there a way to have rich push notifications when pressed without any internet connection (local network only)? Cheers

[Fryn_Hayn]

Very insightful video! Is this possible to do with an Amcrest system?

[mlutz]

I recently purchased Reolink RNL8-410 with D800 cameras and nvr. Everything is up and running great until I connect my ethernet cable to the back of NVR. I lose connection to cameras and they randomly reconnect for about 5 seconds at a time. Cameras are connected through a PoE switch along with the rest of my home network. No issues with any other devices, only cameras when connected to network ethernet. All new Cat6 cables, PoE switch, and cameras. Any suggestions to try? I can't get Reolink client to find my equiptment.

[PietrobonoFabio]

hi, i have a problem, we have the same nvr ^_^, i bought the reolink doorbell, if i use the nvr the mobile app doesn't work..
but if I want to use the doorbell, there's no problem only on the app, only so I have to dedicate a poe switch just for the doorbell.

in a nutshell, if I use nvr the app does not find the device, if I want to see it on the NVR (the doorbell) it seems that I lose the possibility of using it with the mobile app

how do you think it can be solved?

[defyiant]

Do i need a nvr if i want to self host with a unraid server. Will be using pfsense with a firewall and a managed switch

[Jean-MichelBrisebois-jbhm]

I installed the system RNL8-410 6 CAM Kit, everything works when we are on site but when we leave the house impossible to connect to our cameras what should I change in the system? the message is that the system is offline

[Humle]

This is so WRONG you don't get "more" security by doing a port-forwading direct into your services. If these contain any vulnerability at any point in time, you are exposing it to the whole internet... BAD!