Why the “People and Vehicles” Filter Disappeared from Hik-Connect After a Firmware Update—Here’s How I Fixed the Problem

Why the People Vehicles Filter Disappeared from Hik-Connect

Some users may think that updating the NVR firmware will fix a problem. However, in some cases, a firmware update can cause certain features to disappear from Hik-Connect. For example, some users have experienced this issue after updating the firmware on a Hikvision DS-7616NXI-K1 NVR. After the firmware update, the human and vehicle detection features were no longer available in the Hik-Connect app during playback.

In this article, we’ll show you how to get the human and vehicle detection features back on the Hik-Connect app.

Background of the Issue: Hikvision DS-7616NXI-K1 NVR’s People and Vehicle Filters Not Working in Hik-Connect

I have a Hikvision DS-7616NXI-K1 NVR with AcuSense cameras.

I then updated the firmware from V4.73.106_240314 to the latest version, V4.73.111_260713. After the firmware update, the People, Vehicles, and Events filters that previously appeared in the Hik-Connect playback timeline were no longer available.

Before the update, I could use the Hik-Connect timeline to filter or search for human, person, and vehicle events. However, right after updating to version V4.73.111, those options disappeared.

NVR details:

  • Model: DS-7616NXI-K1
  • Hardware: B-R-K21B2_K21B2-00
  • Current firmware: V4.73.111 Build 260713
  • Previous firmware: V4.73.106 Build 240314
  • Cameras: Hikvision AcuSense cameras

I’ve already checked the usual things:

  • Event settings
  • Recording settings

I also tried downgrading the firmware back to the previous version using:

DZ_K21B2_K21B2_X_ML_STD_V4.73.106_240314.zip

After extracting it to digicap.dav and trying to update the NVR, I got the following message:

“Version mismatch”

How I Fixed the Issue with the People and Vehicle Filters Not Working in Hik-Connect

The People and Vehicle filters available in Hik-Connect depend on the camera, NVR, and firmware version you’re using.

I couldn’t find these filters on older Hikvision NVR models. In fact, the human and vehicle filters are also available on DVRs. For example, I tested this with a Hikvision iDS-7208HQHI-M1/XT DVR, and the Hik-Connect app still has the human and vehicle filter options available. The camera I’m using is the Hikvision DS-2CE78K0T-LPTS.

Here’s an example of the People and Vehicle filters in Hik-Connect.

People and Vehicle Filters in Hik-Connect

These options appear when you play back footage from the camera. If the filters don’t appear, it means that your DVR or NVR doesn’t support them. However, if the filters were available before a firmware update but disappeared afterward, the updated NVR firmware may no longer support these features in Hik-Connect.

You can try the steps below to resolve the issue where the people and vehicle filters do not appear in Hik-Connect.

Method 1: Update the Hik-Connect App

Check if there’s a newer version of the Hik-Connect app available.

Sometimes, updating the firmware on your NVR or DVR can affect how the device works with the Hik-Connect app. So, if the People and Vehicle filters aren’t showing up, try updating your Hik-Connect app to the latest version. Keeping the app updated can also improve overall performance and help fix issues such as video playback freezing.

How to update the Hik-Connect app:

  • Open the app store for your phone: the Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iPhone)
  • Search for Hik-Connect in the search bar
  • Click the Update button.

Method 2: Downgrade the Firmware

If the steps above don’t work, you can try downgrading the firmware.

However, don’t be surprised if you can’t downgrade the NVR firmware. In most cases, once the firmware has been upgraded, it can’t be rolled back to an earlier version. You may also see a “Version mismatch” error when trying to downgrade the NVR firmware.

This second method only works if you have the original firmware, not a version downloaded from the Hikvision portal.

Method 3: Upgrade the Firmware Correctly

Where did you download the firmware from?

If you download the firmware from the Hikvision portal, it may not be compatible with your device. I’ve tried several times to upgrade using firmware downloaded from the Hikvision portal, and in many cases, the upgrade either failed or caused the People and Vehicle filters to disappear.

For this reason, I recommend downloading the firmware through the Hik-Partner Pro app instead.

How to Download NVR and DVR Firmware Using the Hik-Partner Pro App?

Open the Hik-Partner Pro app.

Select Firmware Update Search.

Download Hikvision NVR and DVR Firmware Using Hik-Partner Pro

There are two ways to search for the firmware: scan the QR code on the device label or enter the serial number manually. In this guide, I’ll use the manual SN entry method.

Click Confirm.

You’ll then see a list of firmware versions available for your device. Select the appropriate one for your region, such as Asia or Europe.

Click Share Download Link.

Here, I’ll select Copy to Clipboard so I can open the download link in a web browser on my laptop. I’ll then paste the link into Samsung Notes or another notes app.

Example download link:

https://s.hikvision.com/cCkoq9

The firmware download will then start. Wait until the download is complete. Once it’s finished, extract the firmware file and copy it to a USB flash drive so you can use it to manually update the firmware on your Hikvision NVR or DVR.

As a result, the People and Vehicle filters are available again.

People and Vehicle Filters in the Hik-Connect App

Final Thoughts

For some people, updating the firmware on a Hikvision NVR or DVR is an effective way to fix various issues with the device. However, what they may not realize is that installing incompatible firmware can cause certain features to disappear from the Hik-Connect app. That’s why, as a camera technician, I rarely update the firmware if the device is still working properly.

I hope this guide was helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

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