How to Add LaView Cameras to Home Assistant via ONVIF

A simple step-by-step guide to integrate LaView WiFi cameras into Home Assistant using the ONVIF protocol. This also works for exposing cameras to Apple HomeKit through Home Assistant.

Why This Guide?

LaView cameras can be tricky to integrate with Home Assistant because they use non-standard ports and the automatic discovery often fails. This guide shows you exactly what settings to use.

Prerequisites

• LaView camera already set up on your network using the LaView mobile app
• Home Assistant instance running and accessible
• Camera and Home Assistant on the same network

Part 1: Enable ONVIF in LaView App

Step 1: Open Camera Settings

In the LaView mobile app, tap on your camera to view the live feed, then tap the menu button (three dots) in the top right.

Step 2: Navigate to Settings

Scroll down and find the settings section. You should see options like "Device Information", "Private Mode", "Basic Function Settings", etc.

Step 3: Enable ONVIF

Look for the "Onvif" or "ONVIF" option in the settings menu and tap it.

Once in the ONVIF settings:

1. Toggle the "Onvif Switch" to ON (it will turn green)
2. Note the IP address displayed - you'll need this later
3. Tap "Reset Password" to set a password for ONVIF access
   • Choose a password and remember it (you'll need it for Home Assistant)
   • The username will default to admin

Important: Make note of:

• Camera IP address (shown in the ONVIF settings)
• The password you just set
• Username is always admin

Part 2: Add Camera to Home Assistant

Step 4: Start ONVIF Integration

In Home Assistant:

1. Go to Settings → Devices & Services
2. Click "+ Add Integration" (bottom right)
3. Search for "ONVIF"
4. Click on the ONVIF integration

Step 5: Allow Network Scan

Home Assistant will show a dialog asking to search your network for ONVIF devices.

1. Check the box next to "Search automatically"
2. Click "SUBMIT"

Note: Even though you allow the scan, LaView cameras often don't show up in automatic discovery. This is normal - continue to the next step.

Step 6: Manually Configure Device

After the scan completes, you'll see a list of discovered devices. Your LaView camera probably won't be in this list.

Select "Manually configure ONVIF device" at the top of the list.

Step 7: Enter Camera Details

Now you'll see a form to configure your camera. Fill it in with these details:

• Name: Choose a friendly name (e.g., "Garage Camera", "Front Door", etc.)
• Host: Enter the IP address from the LaView app ONVIF settings
• Port: Enter 8000 (this is the key - LaView uses port 8000 for ONVIF, not the standard port 80)
• Username: Enter admin (this is the default username)
• Password: Enter the password you set in the LaView app

Click "SUBMIT"

Step 8: Success!

Home Assistant will connect to your camera and add it to your system. You should now see:

• Two camera entities (PROFILE_1 and PROFILE_2)
  • PROFILE_1: High resolution (2880×1620) - May be laggy
  • PROFILE_2: Lower resolution (640×352) - More responsive

Tip for HomeKit users: If you're bridging to Apple HomeKit, use PROFILE_2 for better performance on mobile devices.

Troubleshooting

Camera not connecting?

Double-check these common issues:

1. Port number: Make sure you entered 8000, not 80 or 554
2. Username: Must be admin (lowercase)
3. Password: Use the password you set in the LaView app's ONVIF settings
4. ONVIF enabled: Verify the "Onvif Switch" is toggled ON (green) in the LaView app
5. Network: Camera and Home Assistant must be on the same network

Both profiles showing up but one is disabled?

By default, Home Assistant may disable PROFILE_2. You can enable it in the device settings if you want both streams available.

Which profile should I use?

• PROFILE_1 (High-res): Better for recordings, but requires more bandwidth and processing power
• PROFILE_2 (Low-res): Better for live viewing and HomeKit integration, more responsive

Technical Details

For those interested in the technical specifics:

• ONVIF Port: 8000 (non-standard)
• RTSP Port: 5543 (non-standard)
• Default Username: admin
• Video Encoding: H.264/H.265
• Audio: G.711 codec, 8kHz

Contributing to Home Assistant Community

If this guide helped you, consider:

• Sharing it with others who have LaView cameras
• Adding your camera model to the comments so others know it works
• Contributing improvements to this guide

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Camera Models Confirmed Working:

• LaView F1 (model: IPCamera, manufacturer: Happytimesoft)

Feel free to add your model in the comments!