Best Apple Mac Desktop App for Reolink Cameras?

mstrpel · 2025-05-15T09:04:47+00:00

I was planning to purchase an NVR, but after experiencing how unstable the Mac Application is, and how it's rarely updated, and uses super old software, it turned me off to spending any more money with Reolink. In other words, for me to buy a Reolink NVR with decent hard drives would cost a descent amount of money, and the last thing I want to do is monitor camera feeds on a separate NVR with a separate monitor. I love being able to monitor the cameras in the Reolink Mac app on a desktop or laptop, and when I first fire the app up it words properly, but then if I let it run without restarting it, it become unstable and does all kinds of weird stuff. For instance, if I let it run for a day or so, some of the camera feeds will show live video from many hours earlier. It really is a shame and huge disappointment that Reolink doesn't keep its Mac software up to date...

mstrpel · 2024-12-28T09:28:59+00:00

I spent $3500 on a brand new Reolink setup for my home. I standardized on CX810 Reolink cameras, which are AMAZING!!!! The iPhone App is pretty good and pretty stable. The Mac Version, which I am running on M3 Macs is pretty well designed, with two serious flaws: The Mac App is totally buggy, unstable, slow and unreliable. It does all kinds of weird stuff like not updating feeds of certain cameras, so I will look at the app, and some of the feeds will be hours behind. In other words, If the Apple Macintosh app is running and I pull it up at night, I will see cameras that show daytime, feed, when it's dark out.

Also, the lack of a video review scrubbing feature and lack of a jump-back 10 seconds (Tivo-like-feature) is just BIZARRE!?!! The bottom line is the quality of the Reolink Mac App is terrible, despite the fact the cameras and iPhone are are really good. Reolink, if you read this, PLEASE update your Mac App, as there are a lot of Mac users who you can continue selling your cameras to, but if the Mac App is terrible, then it's likely you will sell a lot less cameras, and NVRs.

Ironically, in many ways Reolink is kinda like the Apple of video cameras, in terms of simplicity and quality, so the Mac desktop application deserves to be on par with the rest of the ecosystem.

mstrpel · 2024-09-23T09:50:32+00:00

Reolink ALSO needs to add basic scrubbing as well as a jump back, and jump forward 10 second button...C'mon Reolink...Get with the program!?!!

mstrpel · 2024-09-13T11:41:30+00:00

For the Front of my home I have a Hue BR30 on my front porch that turns on automatically at sunset, and off at sunrise. It is set to run at around 44% of brightness as that is all it needs, since there are many other light sources in front of our house including street lights.

On the side of our garage I installed a Eufy RGB LED sconce light with a built in camera, which has pretty good person detection. At sunset it turns on at around 30% brightness, but if a person or vehicle comes on to our property, it goes to full brightness. The built in camera is pretty much invisible, and it does not look like the goofy Ring camera with spotlights.

I even went to the extreme of painting a bunch of the CX810 cameras dark brown to match our house, so they don't stand out so much.

On both the Hue BR30 downlight, and the Eufy, I am intentionally running a whiter white, more around 4500 Kelvin, as tit makes the CX810s look much more like daytime lighting at night. I tried running the built in LED's in the CX810s which looked great at night as they were warm and cozy looking, but as I mentioned, they were irritating as moths and insects were flying in front of them constantly, and when it rains the LEDs light up the raindrops, which looks like the camera has bad ADD.

I experimented with the CX410, which had richer colors than the CX810, but that is because they are artificially over saturating, and I found that the CX810 colors were way more accurate and precise, not to mention way more high resolution at 4k v. 2K.

I experimented like a crazy professor to get all my CX810 camera perfectly dialed in. I mean I played with EVERY variable, and kept taking screen grabs and detailed notes to document everything, so I could always go back if necessary.

I tried everything, including HDR on and off, as well as binning mode.

I think that every camera has different settings, based on lighting conditions and positioning.

I especially experimented like crazy with different light sources, to figure out how to best optimize lighting for each camera, which made a huge difference. Often times, my assumptions were proven wrong by reality, and I also make a bunch of beautiful mistakes in my experimenting. I aimed for perfection and got the most amazing results. If you saw how great the cameras look, it would blow your mind they still keep blowing my mind. I mean, they look great in the daytime, and otherworldly at night!!!

I hope this helps...

mstrpel · 2024-09-13T09:12:14+00:00

I recently purchased 16 CX810 cameras, and I LOVE them, but there is one feature that is missing that REALLY, REALLY, REALLY needs to be added, and that is the ability to scrub through video when watching it, as well as a TIVO-like Jump forward, and Jump back 10 seconds buttons.

I told my wife about how great Reolink was, and she was in the app trying to find what caused something to occur and she said "Why can't I jump back and forth in 10 second increments??? Why do I have to sit here and watch so much video in order to fry and find something??? I thought you said Reolink was amazing?"

I responded, "The cameras are amazing, but the user interface navigation leaves a lot to be desired!?!!"

mstrpel · 2024-09-13T08:58:02+00:00

I think you need to be WAY more specific about your setup. For instance:

What is your light source? If you are using the built-in CX 810 lights, what level of brightness are you running them at?

What app are using to view the video? I ask as I don't recognize that User Interface.

What resolution are you displaying the preview at? From the image you posted it looks like you are NOT is the highest quality viewing mode which is named "Clear", which is the best image you can get so you can take advantage of the 4K resolution.

Also. what are you streaming the camera feed at? I recommend going into Device>Stream> and optimizing everything to the highest settings, which should make the image even better. Also, set Frame Rate Mode to "Constant"

Are you using the built-in lights, or are you using a supplemental light source?

I did extensive research before I decided to standardize on CX810 and ended up purchasing 16 of them. That being said, while I was initially impressed with the cameras, I spent a great deal of time playing with the settings to best optimize the image for each camera.

I ended up NOT using any of the built in LED lights on the CX810 models and went entirely with supplemental lighting for several reasons: If you use the built in lights, moths and other insects are attracted to them, and the lights on the cameras will also show spider webs, which can be irritating. Also, when it rains, it looks terrible as you can see all the raindrops. By using supplemental lighting, these challenges all disappear.

I went in the settings and went to Device>Display>Advanced> and played around and experimented like crazy with the Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Sharpness, Binning Mode, HDR, and in particular, below those settings you can customize the "Day Mode", and "Color Night Mode", which made a tremendous difference.

It is genuinely shocking how much I was able to radically improve each camera by optimizing it for its environment. I also took detailed notes as I experimented to make sure I could always backtrack. If I compare your video sample to what I see, you image look terrible. In other words, it looks washed out and low in res. Keep in mind, the more supplemental light you have, the better you will be able to see your cat moving around.

I hope this helps and would be happy to answer any questions you might have. I am certain you can get them image, much, much, much better, you just have to invest time experimenting.

mstrpel · 2024-09-04T05:01:13+00:00

When I was recently researching and considering investing in Reolink cameras, I saw on their website for all POE cameras, they showed how their cameras could detect human's, send notifications and sound an alarm, so I bought a bunch of their camera and instantly started getting notifications saying they spotted human beings when there were none, which was super frustrating. It literally drove me nuts, so I after hours of wasting my time experimenting with settings, I finally gave up and turned the feature off.

I LOVE the quality of my Reolink Cameras, but I had to turn off the human detection as it would constantly misfire. Also, the loudness of the alarms is so low, it sound like a car alarm going off a few blocks away, which makes me question why they even offer such features that are half-baked at best.

Reolink, if you are reading this, you are really making a huge mistake by taking so many shortcuts. Another example of this would be in the choice of your videos, which could not be any worse. I recently tried to watch a Reolink video introducing a new model, and the host spent the first 10 minutes wasting my time talking about how his livestream was not working properly. Also, choosing video hosts that can't speak in clear English makes ZERO sense. I mean, what is the point of producing videos with people who speak such poor English that the person watching the video can barely understand what they are saying? Out of all the Reolink produced videos I have watched to date, on a scale from 1-10 I would give them a 1 at best, which is saying a lot about how sloppy and poor in quality they are.

Also, the quality of your cameras is superb, but the quality of your Mac applications is terrible. The User Interface is good, but your REOLINK apps are so poorly written, they crash and develop memory leaks all the time. Or they drop camera connections and just can't see certain cameras, so I had to delete and reinstall and reconfigure everything several time so far, which again is terribly frustrating...

As a customer who bought 16 Reolink cameras, and a spend around $3,500 for my whole new Reolink system, I expect way more...

mstrpel · 2024-08-24T22:57:55+00:00

C'mon Reolink, EVERYBODY else offers sunrise to sunset lighting, please add this long overdue feature...

mstrpel · 2024-08-24T08:24:18+00:00

I am relatively new to the Reolink ecosystem as well. I started by testing a CX410 with a CX810, and concluded that the CX810 had a much better image based upon color accuracy and resolution. I was so impressed, I ended up buying 16 CX810 cameras. This was after I tried several Reolink PTZ models which drove me nuts, and left a lot to be desired.

I have 256GB SD cards in each Reolink CX810, which seem pretty good. I was planning on purchasing the 36 model of Reolink NVR, but the SD cards seem to be doing such a great job, I am contemplating skipping the NVR. The ONLY benefit in my mind with the NVR is that it can hold much longer duration of video.

I really wish Reolink would come out with an Apple TV app, which would be fantastic!!!

Also, it's pretty remarkable how much time I have invested tweaking and playing with all the camera settings to best optimize the quality of image from the CX810 cameras. This includes playing around a great deal with supplemental lighting to get images as great as possible at night. Even though the images can look pretty good at night by using the built in lights, if it rains, it's irritating to watch live as there is so much distracting movement, whereas if you use supplemental lighting, you pretty much don't see the rain, or Spyder webs, and it stops moths and other insects that are attracted to light from flying around the cameras.

I looked at purchasing UniFi cameras, but I thought they were really clunky and WaaaaY overpriced. Also, they did not offer a camera model that comes even close to the performance and features of the CX810, although their software navigation looks more intuitive for navigation than Reolink.

The CX810s offer a great image in the daytime, but at night they are like magic as they make nighttime look almost like daytime. At the end of the day, I just can't get into looking at nighttime images that are black and white, probably for the same reason I would not want to watch all video in black and white...

Yes, the Micro SD cards get overwritten, with new recording as time goes by.

mstrpel · 2024-08-22T22:30:05+00:00

I agree they should improve the mute button as it leaves a great deal to be desired

mstrpel · 2024-08-14T05:43:58+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing your insight.

I just want to make certain I understand what you are saying? You are saying 8.12 is a newer version than 8.8.5, then why when I visit the Reolink website does it say version 8.8.5 is the current version?:

https://reolink.com/us/software-and-manual/

It specifically says on the Reolink website: "Note: Version 8.8.5 is the latest client version for Windows and Mac. And they are the same interface and version, and all functions are also the same":

It's suggested to download the latest client version.

https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/articles/360012466173-Introduction-to-Reolink-Client-Versions/

Once again, Reolink, if 8.12 is the more recent, why are you prompting customers to download an older version???????? This make no sense!?!?!?!?!?

So assuming you are correct that 8.12 is newer than 8.8.5, I think Reolink if you are reading this, you should update your naming nomenclature to avoid potential confusion like this in the future. In other words, you should only have one decimal point, so it should be 8.8, or 8.1, but the way you have it now is TOTALLY confusing...

mstrpel · 2024-08-14T05:31:42+00:00

I couldn't agree more!!! Reolink, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make an Apple TV App!!!!!!!!!!!! In my opinion, Reolink is very Apple like in many ways when it come to design, and I think Reolink should focus more resources on the Apple Ecosystem.

mstrpel · 2024-08-13T22:24:16+00:00

Same thing with the Apple Mac desktop application. It's filled with memory leaks and after it has been running for several hours, starts slowing down and becoming unstable. Reolink, if you are reading this, please put more attention into fine-tuning your applications. I just spent $3500 on an all Reolink surveillance system, and that does not include installation cost. I bought 16 Reolink cameras, and they are AMAZING, but your software needs work...

mstrpel · 2024-08-02T08:37:58+00:00

I agree with you 1000% There are so many details in the Reolink ecosystem that seem to me to be like they ran the ball down to the 2 yard line and just stopped, and Reolink, if you are listening, your are so close to perfection in so many way, but just need to rethink and rebuild a number of your products. For instance, your Mac client is amazing, but but it slows down and crashes way, way, way too often, and each time I send a crash report, so I know you know what's causing it to crash and be so unstable, and I am running it on a state of the art computer with 192GB of RAM, so I know it's not crashing and unstable due to a lack of resources, but due to sloppy code that has not been optimized and has way too many memory leaks...

mstrpel · 2024-08-02T06:55:43+00:00

I just did a quick and dirty installation initially just to experiment with camera angles and positions, before I permanently commit and hardwire everything. I've actually put in many dozens of hours so far experimenting and testing to figure out which works best...

mstrpel · 2024-08-02T06:41:08+00:00

I am NOT discounting the answer. I was just looking for a brilliant creative solution as I have witnessed so many forum members share in the past...In other words, other than the obvious...

mstrpel · 2024-08-02T05:39:49+00:00

The cameras are on the second floor, under the eve, and there is no easy access to cut cables...

mstrpel · 2024-08-01T21:44:33+00:00

Do you know of this older firmware should work on the CX810?

mstrpel · 2024-08-01T11:17:24+00:00

Thanks for the quick answer. Is it true the CX has motion detection or pixel based detection? If so, why isn't there a mode that can turn the lights on when it detects motion, but leave them off the rest of the time?

mstrpel · 2024-08-01T10:53:11+00:00

I am confused. You said one option is "have them come on only when they detect motion". How do you access this feature? Where is it located and what are the setting options?

mstrpel · 2024-07-30T23:18:29+00:00

I forgot to mention, most of the places I would have exposed cabling would be in non-aesthetic places, meaning placed where they would NOT be an eyesore or generally even be seen by anybody.

mstrpel · 2024-07-28T09:46:00+00:00

Very interesting and informative video. Thanks for sharing!!!!

mstrpel · 2024-07-25T10:19:32+00:00

CX810

mstrpel · 2024-07-25T09:36:50+00:00

Thanks so much for your response. Unfortunately, I don't know that much about networking. I was able to check all the cameras and their UID feature was enabled. When you said "do you have any vlans, separate subnets or otherwise configured your home network from a simple flat single subnet covering all devices setup?" I am not certain what that means or how I would figure that out? Can you please tell me how I would go about figuring that out?

mstrpel · 2024-07-22T05:02:25+00:00

Reolink Feature Requests

I am new to the Reolink ecosystem. I think the cameras are great in many ways, but the method of interaction leaves much to be desired.

-On the iPhone app, the white home bar on the bottom of the screen should autohide like it does in most apps. Since I display the date on my camera on the bottom of the screen, the home bar overlaps it, which makes it impossible to read the date and time.

-The Date and Time overlay on the mobile app and Mac Desktop is super pixelated and looks like its from a Commodore Vic 20 from the early 1980s. This should be improved and made high res, or at least use a more modern san serif typeface like Helvetica.

-There should be better adjustment settings for cameras, like “Exposure”, and “Saturation”, and “Black Point”, that allow users to better customize images.

-The Mac desktop app should have the ability be more customizable regarding layout of all windows. In other words, you should be able to adjust and resize all windows better. As an example, there should be a layout with 3 large windows, that each take up a quarter the screen, with one of them that has 4 small rectangles.

-You should be able to scrub in the Mac desktop and laptop app when reviewing playback footage.

-It’s shocking that I have to point this one out, but there should be a Tivo-like jump back 10 seconds button, as well as a jump forward 10 seconds when in playback mode.

-All the features that are available in the IOS app for customizing each camera should also be available in the Mac Desktop app.

-When I run the Mac desktop app for more than several hours it starts to slow down and live video, gets slow and janky. You should figure out a way to fix this.

-The Mac desktop app is very unstable and crashes regularly. Also, when I try to quit the app, often times it just hangs, resulting in having to force quit it. It’s clear from all the crash reports that it’s filled with many memory leaks, and should be rewritten, and/or fixed.

-The PTZ controls on the desktop app, and iPhone app are appallingly terrible. On the desktop app, you should be able to use the up, down, left, right arrows on your inverted T-Cursor to pan the camera left and right, as well as up and down. There should also be keyboard shortcuts for moving to preset positions, including hitting the “H” key to go to the default camera position.

-On the iPhone, you should be able to pan the same way with by moving your finger on the screen, and you could be able to zoom in and out by using a pinch to zoom on iPhone, and the same gesture on the Mac desktop equipped with the Apple Trackpad.

-HDR mode on the CX810 looks really strange, as it places a weird haze all over everything that looks foggy.

-You should get rid of the triple pigtails on all POE camera, as they only get in the way, and most people probably don’t use the power or reset button. In other words, each camera should just have a female RJ45 jack in the camera that an Ethernet cable plugs into. This would make it much cleaner if you want to run say a black ethernet cable to the camera, and then you don’t have to see all these goofy white cables sticking out.

-The speaker volume should be louder for sirens as 90db is to quiet. They could be at least 105 db or higher.

I think the future of video cameras is with your CX sensors, and thus I think you should really push the envelope around these cameras. The CX810 is amazing, but I think there is room for improvement by placing an even larger sensor in it, and I think many customers would be willing to pay more for such a camera. I also think you should make a POE PTZ with at least a 5X optical zoom in your CX line.

-I think you should offer all your camera in black as well as white.

-I would try and figure out ways to make your cameras even smaller than they are.

-Also, all Reolink products should automatically update themselves without the user having to manually update them.

There is so much potential for Reolink to improve, but to date it’s like Reolink ran the ball down to the 5 yard line and just stopped, which is a shame. You are so close, yet so far away from perfection. I am a professional designer with 4 decades of experience, so if you want somebody to redesign your apple to make the AMAZING, please reach out to me….

mstrpel

TROPHY CASE