Setup Guide

Step-by-step guide to setting up LocalNanny with your network cameras

Quick Setup Walkthrough

Watch this 30-second video to see how easy it is to get started with LocalNanny:

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Get a Compatible Camera

You’ll need an IP camera that supports:

  • H.264 or H.265 video codec
  • RTSP streaming
  • ONVIF protocol (recommended for auto-discovery; cameras without ONVIF can be added manually)

Recommended cameras:

2. Connect Your Camera to Your Network

There are several ways to get your camera on the network. Wired connections are more reliable, but WiFi works too.

Wired with Ethernet (most reliable)

A wired PoE camera gets power and network from a single Ethernet cable — no power adapter, no WiFi drops. This is the gold standard for baby monitoring.

  • Have Ethernet jacks in your walls? Most homes built after 2000 have structured wiring. Put a PoE switch in your wiring closet and plug the camera into the nursery jack. → Structured Wiring Guide
  • Have coax (cable TV) outlets? MoCA adapters turn your existing coax wiring into a wired network connection. Pair with a PoE injector for a fully wired camera. → MoCA + PoE Guide
  • No Ethernet or coax? Powerline adapters use your home’s electrical wiring to create a network connection. Pair with a PoE injector for a wired camera using nothing but power outlets. → Powerline + PoE Guide
  • Running a new cable? If you can run a single Ethernet cable from your router to the nursery, a PoE camera is plug-and-play. → PoE Camera Setup Guide

WiFi (easiest setup)

WiFi cameras don’t need any cables other than power. Setup is straightforward — use your camera’s app to connect it to your WiFi network, then open LocalNanny.

3. Download LocalNanny

Download LocalNanny from the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.

Requirements: iOS 17.0 or later

4. Discover Your Camera

  1. Open LocalNanny
  2. Tap the “Add Camera” button
  3. LocalNanny will automatically scan your network for ONVIF-compatible cameras
  4. Select your camera from the list
  5. Enter the camera’s username and password if prompted

Tip: Most cameras have default credentials like admin/admin. Check your camera’s documentation.

5. Share with Family

Want your spouse to access the camera too?

  1. Tap the camera settings
  2. Select “Share via QR Code”
  3. Your spouse scans the QR code with their device
  4. Camera is instantly added - no manual configuration needed!

6. Background Audio

When you leave the app, LocalNanny keeps playing audio from your camera so you can hear your baby while using other apps. No setting to toggle, it just works.

On the free version, background audio runs for 60 seconds so you can try it out — you’ll get a notification when it stops. Upgrade to Premium (one-time purchase) for unlimited background audio and unlimited cameras.

Troubleshooting

Camera Not Discovered

Try these steps:

  1. Check Local Network permission:

    • When you first open LocalNanny, iOS asks for permission to access your local network. If you denied this, auto-discovery won’t work — LocalNanny needs local network access to send ONVIF discovery messages.
    • Go to Settings → LocalNanny → Local Network and make sure it’s enabled.

  2. Disable VPN:

    • VPN apps (such as NordVPN) can interfere with local network routing, even if local network discovery is enabled in iOS. If you have a VPN running, try disconnecting it and then scanning again.
    • Some VPN configurations may work with LocalNanny, but VPN setups are not officially supported.

  3. Verify network connection:

    • Ensure your camera and iPhone/iPad are on the same WiFi network
    • Check that the camera has an IP address (look in your router’s connected devices)

  4. Check ONVIF support:

    • Some cameras need ONVIF enabled in their settings
    • Check the camera’s web interface or mobile app

  5. Check RTSP is enabled:

    • Some cameras (such as Reolink) ship with RTSP disabled by default
    • Open your camera’s app or web interface and look for RTSP settings to enable it

  6. Manual entry:

    • If auto-discovery doesn’t work, you can manually enter the camera’s RTSP URL
    • Format: rtsp://username:password@camera-ip:554/stream
    • Check your camera’s documentation for the exact RTSP path

Video Stuttering or Buffering

  1. Check WiFi signal strength:

    • Move the camera or router closer together
    • Consider using a WiFi extender
    • PoE cameras with wired connection don’t have this issue

  2. Reduce video quality:

    • Some cameras allow you to adjust the streaming quality
    • Lower bitrate = smoother streaming on slower networks

Audio Issues

  1. Check camera audio support:

    • Not all cameras have microphones
    • Verify in camera specifications

  2. Background audio stops after 60 seconds:

    • The free version includes a 60-second background audio preview. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited background audio.
    • Check iOS permissions: Settings > LocalNanny > Microphone

Need More Help?

Setup Guides

Want to learn more about camera types and networking? Check out our detailed guides:

Wiring & Installation:

Camera Guides:

Technical:

Apple Family Sharing: Remember, with Apple Family Sharing, you only need to purchase LocalNanny once and everyone in your family can use it!