How to use SmartPSS Lite for Windows – Once you’ve installed SmartPSS Lite on your computer, you can use this software to monitor the live view of your Dahua CCTV cameras. SmartPSS Lite allows you to watch live video, access playback recordings, and download stored surveillance footage. You can install this software on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
In this guide, I will explain how to use SmartPSS Lite on Windows 11, based on the computer I am currently using.
What Is SmartPSS Lite?
SmartPSS Lite is a lightweight video management software (VMS) designed for Windows computers. It allows users to connect and manage compatible CCTV devices such as IP cameras, DVRs, and NVRs.
The software is commonly used for:
- Video playback
- Live CCTV monitoring
- Device management
- Download Video
How to Use SmartPSS Lite on Windows for Beginners
After you log in to the SmartPSS Lite dashboard, the system displays several main menus, including Live View, Playback, Smart Center, Access Control, Attendance, and Video Intercom. We won’t use all of these menus; for CCTV cameras, we’ll use Live View, Playback, and Devices.
Add Device
To connect a camera to the SmartPSS Lite software, the first step is to add a device. You can add devices using the Devices menu. Devices here include DVR, NVR, and IP cameras.
Here’s how:
Step 1 – Klik menu Devices.
Step 2 – Klik +Add.
There are three methods you can use to add a device to SmartPSS Lite. In this guide, I’ll use the serial number method. I consider this the easiest method. You only need to enter the device name, serial number (SN), username, and password.
After that, wait a few moments for the Online Status to change from Offline to Online.
Live View
Once you have connected the device and its status is Online, you can view the camera’s live view on SmartPSS Lite by selecting the Live View menu on the dashboard page.
Here’s how:
Step 1 – Click the Live View menu.
Step 2 – Double click on the name of the connected device.
That’s all there is to it. The screen will then display the cameras based on the number of connected devices. For example, if you’re using an 8-channel NVR, the number of cameras will be 8. The advantage of using SmartPSS Lite is that there are no live viewing restrictions, unlike the iVMS-4200, which limits live viewing time to 5 minutes.
Playback
For playback, you can also just click the Playback menu on the SmartPSS Lite dashboard page.
Here’s how:
Step 1 – Click the Playback menu.
Step 2 – Click the arrow next to the device name to expand it. Select one or all cameras to playback. Select a date, then click the Search button.
A timeline will then appear, highlighted in green to indicate a saved recording. Click the Play button to start playback.
Download Video
You can download videos in SmartPSS Lite by pressing the scissors icon on the Playback page. This will select the length of the video you want to download. The downloaded video is automatically 1 hour long. You cannot shorten or extend the duration.
Here’s how:
Step 1 – Click the scissors icon on the Playback page.
Step 2 – Specify the save location for the downloaded video (Export Path) and select AVI, ASF, MP4, or Original Format (Export Format). I typically use AVI and MP4.
Then, click the OK button to start downloading the video. A download window will appear. Wait for the process to complete. The successfully downloaded video file will appear in the Exported tab.
How to Play downloaded videos?
To play videos, I use the VLC Media Player application.
If you use a built-in Windows video player like Windows Media Player, you’ll see an error message like “It’s encoded in a format that isn’t supported.” This is why I use VLC to play videos.
Here’s how:
Step 1 – Right click on the video.
Step 2 – Select Open with > VLC Media Player.
Apart from playing videos from SmartPSS Lite, I also use VLC Media Player to play videos downloaded from iVMS-4200.
Final Thoughts
SmartPSS Lite is a practical solution for monitoring CCTV cameras from a Windows computer. The software is lightweight, easy to use, and suitable for both home and business surveillance systems. Please note, SmartPSS Lite is for Dahua and OEM devices. This software cannot be used with other brands such as Hikvision, V380, Ezviz, and others.
That’s how to use SmartPSS Lite. If you’re new to CCTV management software, SmartPSS Lite provides one of the easiest ways to start efficiently monitoring your security system on Windows.