Lorex Camera Not Connecting To NVR? (Try This Quick Fix!)

We understand the frustration when your Lorex camera not connecting to NVR right when you need it most, but don’t worry–this is easy to fix. 

Connection issues are often caused by loose PoE cables, IP conflicts, outdated firmware, or even an issue with the Local Area Network (LAN).

The problem tends to occur only with wired PoE Lorex cameras, so advance further into the guide as we review the most helpful solutions.

How to Fix When the Lorex Camera Not Connecting to NVR?

Note: Have you checked if any of the other Lorex cameras have also lost connection?

1. Reconnect the Camera PoE Ethernet Cable

When facing NVR connection issues, a loose (or even faulty) PoE Ethernet cable could disrupt the data and power supply to the Lorex camera.

Well, this results in repeated failed connection attempts and causes the Lorex camera to either fully power off or disappear from the interface. 

So, unplug your PoE cable from both the Lorex camera and the NVR, ensure the cable is in a functional condition, then firmly reconnect it with both devices.

Also, test the Lorex camera on an alternative LAN port on the NVR and try to determine whether the connection issue persists.

If any of your other cameras are disconnected as well, or you are unable to set up your other Lorex products, then the fault could be NVR-related…

2. Reset the Power Supply of the Lorex NVR

Perhaps, a power cycle of the NVR can resolve temporary software or connectivity issues by discharging the recorder entirely from electricity.

This process ensures the NVR relaunches all of the network services and everything works appropriately. 

Follow these steps to power cycle the Lorex NVR:

• Unplug the Lorex NVR from the electrical power source to initiate a full reset.
• Wait 30 seconds to discharge the NVR completely and reconnect the adapter.
• Now, wait for about 60 seconds until the NVR relaunches all network services.

When ready, you should check whether the Lorex camera status changes to “Online” within the Lorex mobile application, right after the NVR has fully loaded up. 

Note: While power cycling the recorder, we also recommend disconnecting the Ethernet cable of each connected Lorex camera. 

3. Set the Lorex NVR IP Address Mode to “DHCP”

The problem could be related to incorrect internet settings on your Lorex LHV/LNR Series NVR, particularly if the Mode is set to Static.

This prevents the automatic IP assignment of the Lorex NVR and could disconnect one or more of your PoE cameras from the local network.

Here’s how to switch your NVR IP from “Static” to “DHCP”:

• Right-click on the Live View to access your Quick Menu.
• Click Main Menu, then click the Settings icon to proceed.
• Navigate to Network → TCP/IP from the on-screen menu.
• If the mode is set to Static, click the DHCP button to enable
• Click Apply to save changes, then click OK to exit the page.

Now, the Lorex NVR will power off by itself and reboot for about ~2–3 minutes before the new network settings are reassigned.

In the meantime, keep checking the Lorex mobile application for any changes to the Lorex camera connection status. 

Note: Your Lorex camera might even refuse to record if the IP address is not set correctly!

4. Assign the Lorex Camera with a Static IP

If you are still wondering how to connect Lorex camera to an NVR and the error is still there, there could be a conflict in the LAN IP addresses.

Setting a static IP for your Lorex camera, instead of using DHCP, can resolve this problem and reconnect the Lorex camera to the NVR recorder.

Note: You can assign a static IP either through the router settings or the NVR/DVR interface!

Method #1: Assign a Static IP via Router GUI:

There are two ways to acquire the URL, allowing you to access your router settings:

• Through a Windows PC on your network, open the Command Prompt, type “ipconfig”, and copy the default gateway IP address.
• Turn your router upside down, check the label on the bottom, and note the default gateway IP address 

To access your router’s settings, insert this IP address (default gateway) into the browser URL on a device connected to your router. 

Note: You can sign in by using the default credentials “admin/ admin” or “admin/password”.

Navigate to Network → DHCP and locate a host under the “Lorex” name in the device list.

Note the MAC address and assign a new IP starting with “192.168.1” followed by a unique identifier within the “DHCP” section.

Next, save the changes and wait until the Lorex camera reconnects.

Method #2: Assign a Static IP via the Recorder GUI:

• For older NVR interfaces, right-click on Live View to open the Quick Menu, go to Network → Network tab, and choose Static in the Type drop-down to manually input an IP address. 
• For newer interfaces, navigate to Settings → Network → Network, select Static in the Network tab, and enter a unique IP address such as “192.168.1.x.”

Note: The camera will be offline for about 2–3 minutes after changing the IP.

5. Power Cycle/Reset the Network Router

An underlying problem with the network router could affect the functionality of the NVR and even cause all hosts (cameras) to lose connection or display a black screen.

Hence, the next step is rather simple: power cycle the NVR, test it, and if the problem persists, perform a system reset.

Step #1: Power Cycle the Router

Unplug the router from the power source, wait 30 seconds to discharge, then connect it back in.

Then, check your Lorex app status to see if the Lorex camera reconnects after the power cycle.

Step #2: Factory Reset the Router

Locate the “Reset” button on your router, press and hold it for ~10 seconds until the lights flash, then wait for the router to restart.

Reconfigure the router settings via the web interface.

Note: Contact the ISP if you are unable to set up the network router from scratch!

6. Check the NVR-to-Router Ethernet Connection

A disrupted Ethernet connection between the NVR and router could disrupt the connection of each Lorex camera in your system.

So, we have prepared multiple steps to identify potential connection issues between the router and the NVR.

Step #1: Reconnect the Ethernet

Verify the Ethernet cable between the NVR and router is firmly plugged in on both ends, then check for damage to the plastic cover.

Unplug the cable for approximately 10 seconds, and reconnect it securely on both ends before testing.

Step #2: Test on an Alternative Port

Reconnect the NVR Ethernet cable to a different blue or yellow port on your router to check if the issue was port-related.

Testing an alternative port allows you to identify if the hardware of the network router is potentially defective. 

Step #3: Replace the Ethernet Cable

If the issue persists, replace the current Ethernet cable with a new Cat5e or Cat6, to determine if the cable was the problem.

A fresh brand-new, high-speed Ethernet cable ensures a reliable data and power supply to each connected Lorex camera.

Tip: You could also try connecting one of your other Lorex cameras with the Ethernet cable of the problematic camera to test. 

7. Bypass the Lorex NVR and Switch

Another effective approach is to bypass the PoE (Power over Ethernet) setup with a direct adapter connection of your Lorex camera.

A potential problem with the NVR or switch might disrupt the Lorex camera feed while the unit is still powered on. 

This technique allows you to power the camera separately from the NVR/DVR and switch, provided your camera has an A/C input for a 12V adapter (USB-C or micro-USB).

Step #1: Set up a Compatible Adapter

First, connect the USB to the camera side or rear port and plug the other end into an A/C adapter.

Wait until the indicator on the camera lights up and wait for several seconds before proceeding with the next step.

Step #2: Plug Lorex Directly into the Router

Now, connect the Lorex camera to your router using a separate Ethernet cable while keeping the external adapter connected. 

When ready, check your Lorex app or NVR interface to confirm if the camera is online and the connection error is still there.

If the camera functions and can be discovered through your router without involving the NVR or switch, ZontSound recommends contacting Lorex for more help.

8. Resolve NAT Loopback (Hairpinning) Issues

Another reason why the Lorex camera refuses to connect is an issue with the Dynamic Domain Name System (DDNS) caused by a NAT Loopback (Hairpinning). 

This prevents external IP or DDNS from being used within your network, and a quick fix can restore access by creating dual IP connections.

Follow these steps to host dual-IP addresses:

• Launch the Lorex Client software on any device and navigate to Device Manager.
• Now, set up two connections: one for the internal IP and another for the external IP.
• Save the IP changes and test both connections to check if the camera error persists.

Note: We suggest power cycling the network NVR/DVR after the IP reset.

9. Reset the Lorex DVR to Factory Defaults

Well, performing a factory reset is another effective solution whenever the Lorex camera is not connecting to the NVR.

Keep in mind that all data on your recorder will be erased permanently, so ensure your system is prepared for the data loss before proceeding with the reset procedure.

Here’s how to factory reset the Lorex NVR:

• Connect your camera to the Recorder via Ethernet and find the Reset button.
• Next, press and hold the Reset button, then reconnect the camera Ethernet.
• Continue holding the button for ~10 seconds after reconnecting the Ethernet.
• Now, wait for the camera to restart, then check if the connection error remains.

Alert: Avoid interacting with the Lorex camera during the reset to prevent cancellation!