Dahua NVR: Date, Time and NTP Setup
Dahua NVR: Date, Time and NTP Configuration
Correct time synchronisation is essential for a Dahua installation. Incorrect timestamps make footage inadmissible as evidence, break motion event logs, and cause confusion when reviewing multi-camera incidents. This guide covers setting the date and time on an NVR via the web interface and, where available, enabling NTP to keep the fleet synchronised automatically.
Prerequisites
- Admin access to the NVR web interface (or local on-screen interface)
- Internet connectivity or an on-site NTP server for automatic sync
- Correct time zone for the installation site
Setting date and time via the web interface
- Log in to the NVR's web interface using Internet Explorer or a supported browser
- Navigate to Settings > General > Date & Time (path may vary by firmware version)
- Set the current date and time
- Select the correct Time Zone:
| Region | GMT offset |
|---|---|
| London (UK) | GMT+0 (GMT+1 BST in summer) |
| Berlin / Paris / Madrid | GMT+1 |
| Cairo | GMT+2 |
| Moscow | GMT+3 |
| Dubai | GMT+4 |
| New Delhi | GMT+5:30 |
| Bangkok | GMT+7 |
| Beijing / Hong Kong | GMT+8 |
| Tokyo | GMT+9 |
| Sydney (AEST) | GMT+10 |
- Click Save
Enabling NTP (recommended for all sites)
NTP keeps the NVR's clock accurate over time. Without it, clock drift accumulates and timestamps become unreliable within weeks.
- On the same Date & Time settings page, look for the NTP or Sync section
- Enable NTP
- Enter an NTP server address. Recommended options:
pool.ntp.org(public, reliable, globally distributed)time.cloudflare.com(Cloudflare, low-latency public server)- A local Windows Server or Synology NAS acting as NTP source (preferred on isolated networks)
- Set the Sync Interval — 60 minutes is a sensible default
- Click Save
Setting time zone on the local interface (without web access)
- From the NVR Main Menu, navigate to Settings > General > Date & Time
- Set the date, time, and time zone using the on-screen controls
- Click Apply and Save
Fleet synchronisation
On sites with multiple NVRs and camera fleets, ensuring all devices share the same NTP source prevents timestamp mismatches when correlating footage across units. Recommended approach:
- Point all NVRs to the same NTP server (e.g. the site router if it supports NTP, or
pool.ntp.org) - Where cameras are connected directly to the NVR, the NVR can serve as a time master to the cameras — check the camera's time sync settings and point them to the NVR's IP
UK-specific note
The UK observes British Summer Time (BST, GMT+1) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. Systems using NTP with the correct UK time zone will handle the DST shift automatically. Systems with manual time settings require a manual update twice a year — use NTP to avoid this.
This article was adapted from dahuawiki's original guidance: "How to Set Date and Time" — https://dahuawiki.com/NVR/Basic_Setup/Date_and_Time Habitech-edited for UK trade installer context. Original © Dahua Technology Co., Ltd.