Networking · IP cameras
RTSP port: 554, 8554 and 322 explained
RTSP uses TCP port 554 by default. Port 8554 is its registered alternate and 322 is RTSP over TLS. That covers the number; getting video through a firewall or a VPN depends on what happens after the first connection, which is where most streams fail.
The ports, at a glance
| Port | Name (IANA) | Where you meet it |
|---|---|---|
| 554 | rtsp, TCP and UDP | The default on almost every IP camera, NVR and VMS. |
| 8554 | rtsp-alt, TCP and UDP | Streaming servers that run without administrator rights, such as MediaMTX. Ports below 1024 need those rights on Linux and macOS. |
| 322 | rtsps, TCP and UDP | RTSP over TLS, so the commands and the credentials are encrypted. |
| 88 | not an RTSP port | Foscam cameras serve RTSP on their HTTP port, 88 by default. One of the few brands that does not use 554. |
The registrations come from the IANA service name and port number registry. The full list of brand formats, with the port each one uses, is on our RTSP URL formats page.
Port 554 carries the commands, not the video
RTSP is the remote control: the player connects to port 554 and sends DESCRIBE, SETUP and PLAY. The picture itself travels as RTP, and SETUP decides how:
- Over TCP (interleaved). The video rides inside the same TCP connection on port 554. One port, one connection, nothing extra to open.
- Over UDP. The camera sends RTP to a pair of UDP ports the player asked for, plus RTCP on the next one. Lower overhead on a clean LAN, but every firewall and NAT on the way has to let those ports through.
When a stream connects and then shows no picture, this is usually the reason: port 554 answered, the UDP video was blocked. Switching the player or recorder to TCP fixes it. Through a VPN, TCP is the safer default. A recorder at a site we connected over WireGuard pulled a test stream from a laptop without trouble once the transport was TCP.
Changing the RTSP port on a camera
The port lives in the camera's network settings, usually under a ports or advanced section next to the HTTP and HTTPS ports. Reasons to move it off 554:
- Several cameras behind one public IP address, each needing its own port.
- An ISP or a corporate firewall that blocks 554.
- Another service on the same machine already listening on 554.
After the change, the port has to appear in the URL, for example rtsp://user:[email protected]:8554/Streaming/Channels/101, and in the recorder's camera settings.
Do not forward port 554 to the internet
Plain RTSP sends the user name and password in a form anyone on the path can read, and port 554 is scanned constantly. To watch or record cameras from outside the site, connect through a VPN and use the camera's local address, or use RTSPS on port 322 where the camera supports it.
How to check the port
- Is anything listening?
nc -zv 192.168.1.100 554on macOS or Linux,Test-NetConnection 192.168.1.100 -Port 554in Windows PowerShell. - Does it stream? Open the full URL in VLC under Media > Open Network Stream.
- What does it send?
ffprobe -rtsp_transport tcp "rtsp://user:[email protected]:554/…"prints the codec, resolution and frame rate.
Questions
What is the default RTSP port?
554, registered with IANA for RTSP over both TCP and UDP. Almost every IP camera and recorder uses it out of the box.
What is port 8554 used for?
8554 is the registered alternate RTSP port (rtsp-alt). Streaming servers that run without administrator rights use it, because ports below 1024 need those rights on Linux and macOS. MediaMTX, for example, listens on 8554 by default.
Is RTSP TCP or UDP?
The RTSP commands travel over TCP, port 554 by default. The video itself travels as RTP, either inside that same TCP connection or over separate UDP ports agreed during setup. TCP is the safer choice through firewalls, NAT and VPNs.
Which port does ONVIF use?
ONVIF commands go over HTTP, usually port 80 on the camera. When a recorder asks an ONVIF camera for video, the camera answers with an RTSP URL, so the video still comes over the RTSP port.
Plan the cameras before you wire them
Place cameras on the real site map, see each camera's view in 3D and check bandwidth for the whole system.