UniFi Protect - Getting started

This article will introduce you to UniFi Protect, what you'll need to get started, and how to set up your devices.

• UniFi Protect overview
• Set up UniFi Protect
• Use the Protect web application
• Use the Protect mobile app
• Adopt devices with UniFi Protect
• Add other users
• Frequently asked questions

UniFi Protect overview

UniFi Protect is Ubiquiti's surveillance camera and video management system for UniFi cameras and security products.

With the UniFi Protect, you can:

• Add and manage your Protect cameras and other security devices.
• Watch camera streams and download recordings.
• Configure each camera by adding privacy zones, enabling smart detection, changing recording settings, and more!

UniFi OS Consoles

To use UniFi Protect, you will need a UniFi OS Console which manages your cameras and stores your footage.

Here is a breakdown of Protect-compatible UniFi OS Consoles:

	Description	Hosted applications	Storage capacity
Dream Machine Pro	Multi-application, rack-mountable console with network gateway capabilities	UniFi Network, Protect, Talk, and Access	(1) 3.5" hard disk drive (HDD)
Cloud Key Gen2 Plus	Multi-application console that can be deployed anywhere	UniFi Network, Protect, Talk, and Access	(1) 2.5" HDD (pre-installed but replaceable 1TB model)
Network Video Recorder	Dedicated Protect console with greater storage capabilities	UniFi Protect	(4) 3.5" HDDs
Network Video Recorder Pro	Dedicated Protect console with expanded camera support and storage capacity for heavy-duty users	UniFi Protect	(7) 3.5" HDDs

 

To use UniFi Protect, you will need:

• • A UniFi OS Console
  • One or more Protect cameras or security products
  • A compatible HDD for storing video footage, although you can set up Protect without one.
    • To learn more about compatibility standards and view a list of incompatible HDDs, see UniFi - Hard drive compatibility and management.
    • The Cloud Key Gen2 Plus comes pre-installed with a 1TB HDD that can be replaced with a compatible model with up to 5TB of storage. 
  • For wired cameras such as the G4 Pro, a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) source (e.g., the Switch PoE 24 or 48) is required to power your camera(s) and connect them to your console
  • For wireless devices such as the G3 Instant or G4 Doorbell, a WiFi source (e.g., a router, Access Point WiFi 6 Lite) is required to connect your camera(s) to your console

What cameras and other devices are compatible?

UniFi Protect is compatible with all G2, G3, and G4 cameras and doorbells with the prefix UVC (UVC, UVC-G3, and UVC-G4), as well as all Protect IoT devices with UFP and UP prefixes.

Note: Aircams and cameras from third-party vendors are not by UniFi Protect.

For a complete comparison of all Protect-supported cameras, visit our UniFi Protect page.

 

 

Set up UniFi Protect

1. If you haven't set up your UniFi OS Console yet, set it up by following its Quick Start Guide:
   1. Dream Machine Pro
   2. Cloud Key Gen2 Plus
   3. Network Video Recorder
   4. Network Video Recorder Pro
2. Set up your console with the UniFi Portal mobile app (iOS / Android):
   1. Launch the UniFi Portal mobile app and turn on the console.
   2. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone and stand within 1.5 m / 5 ft of the console. The setup wizard should appear.
      1. Some older UniFi OS Consoles can't be set up via Bluetooth. If the setup wizard doesn't appear, physically connect the console to your local network with an Ethernet cable, then connect your mobile device to the same WiFi network.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup process.

Use Protect in a web browser

With the UniFi Protect web application, you can:

• View, add and manage your cameras and other Protect devices.
• View camera streams and download recordings.
• Manage each camera's smart detection, motion detection, and privacy zones, as well as other Protect features

You can access UniFi Protect anywhere by going to unifi.ui.com and signing in with your Ubiquiti SSO account.

If you'd like to connect to Protect directly without going through unifi.ui.com:

1. Make sure your computer and UniFi OS Console are on the same network.
2. Type your UniFi OS Console's IP address into a web browser. You can also use Ubiquiti's WiFiman mobile app to find your UniFi OS Console's IP address.

For an overview of Protect's features, see UniFi Protect - Use UniFi Protect.

Adopt devices with UniFi Protect

Once you've set up Protect, you can start adding cameras and other devices with either the Protect web application or mobile app.

For a step-by-step guide on how to adopt devices, see UniFi Protect - Adopt devices.

Add other users

Once you've set up Protect and adopted your devices, you can invite other users to access and view your cameras and devices.

For a step-by-step guide on how to add other users to Protect, see UniFi - Manage users and user roles.

Frequently asked questions

What cameras are compatible with UniFi Protect?

For information about camera compatibility, see the UniFi Protect overview section. 

 

Can I use Protect with third-party cameras?

No, UniFi Protect is only compatible with Ubiquiti-manufactured cameras.

 

How many cameras does UniFi Protect support?

See our UniFi Protect - Supported camera limits by host device article for information on each UniFi OS Console's maximum camera limit.

 

How do I access UniFi Protect, and do I need an Internet connection?

For more information, see the previous sections about accessing UniFi Protect with the web application and the mobile app.

An internet connection is required:

• For initial UniFi OS Console setup and registration.
• To connect to your UniFi OS Console when you're not on the same local network (via unifi.ui.com or the Protect mobile app).

You can still connect to your UniFi OS Console without internet as long as you're on the same local network. Simply enter its IP address into a web browser (mobile direct connect feature coming soon). If you don't know the IP address, you can find it in the Ubiquiti Wifiman mobile app.

 

Can I install the UniFi Protect application on Windows, Linux, or macOS?

No, Protect cannot be installed on third-party operating systems. Our platform takes advantage of tight integration with our first-party hardware to deliver a superior experience to our end users.

 

Where can I find information on the UniFi Video migration to UniFi Protect?

For more information, see UniFi Protect - How to migrate from UniFi Video 3 to UniFi Protect.

Related articles

UniFi Protect - Adopt devices
UniFi Protect - Manage devices
UniFi Protect - Using the UniFi Protect application
UniFi - How to Set Up a Dream Machine Pro
UniFi Protect - How to Migrate from UniFi Video 3 to UniFi Protect
UniFi - Hard drive compatibility and management
UniFi - Manage users and user roles