Physically power off the NVR/DVR and turn it back on. This clears out "stuck" sessions where the device thinks a channel is still being watched even when it isn't. Reduce Active Channels:
Enable H.265+ video encoding on all capable Hikvision cameras. This drastically reduces the file size and the bandwidth required during playback.
Solutions to Resolve "Maximum Number of Channels Under Playback Reached"
Where the limit appears
are you trying to play back at the exact same time when the error pops up? Share public link
Avoid setting every single camera to maximum bitrates and frame rates if it is not required. Drop non-essential cameras to 15 frames per second (fps) instead of 30 fps.
Hikvision is a renowned Chinese company that specializes in the development and manufacturing of video surveillance products, including IP cameras, NVRs (Network Video Recorders), and DVRs (Digital Video Recorders). Their products are widely used across various industries, including security, transportation, and education. One common issue faced by Hikvision users is the "Maximum Number of Channels Under Playback Reached" error. This paper aims to provide an in-depth analysis of this issue, its causes, and potential solutions.
High-definition video streams require massive amounts of data. If you attempt to pull eight 4K video streams across your local network simultaneously, the NVR or the client computer may reject the request to prevent total network failure. Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix the Error
At its core, the error is a . Unlike live viewing (which is relatively easy for a recorder to process), playback requires:
| SDK Return | Description | Playback channel error? | |------------|-------------|--------------------------| | NET_DVR_NOERROR | OK | No | | NET_DVR_PLAYBACK_FAILED | General failure | Check sub-error | | NET_DVR_PLAYBACK_DEVICE_FAILED | Device busy | – too many channels | | NET_DVR_PLAYBACK_NOT_INIT | SDK not initialized | No |
Perhaps the most critical specification for playback is the decoding capacity. Decoding capacity is the processor's ability to decompress and display video streams. This is expressed as "X channels at Y resolution," such as "16-ch @ 1080p decoding capacity". Even if a device has 32 camera inputs, it may only have the processor power to decode 8 or 16 of them simultaneously at full resolution. Some recorders can handle 2 channels at 12MP, or 8 channels at 8MP, or 16 channels at 4MP simultaneously. When the limit is exceeded, the device begins dropping frames or refusing additional playback requests. Lower resolutions require less processing power. If you need to play back many channels at once, reducing each channel's resolution during playback can help stay within the decoding limit.
In some cases, the issue is specific to a particular version of the Hik-Connect app. Using an alternative Hikvision-supported client can provide a temporary workaround.
Watching via Hik-Connect, iVMS-4200, or a web browser shifts the decoding workload to your computer, tablet, or smartphone processor. 3. Stream Resolution Configurations
Workarounds and best practices
Physically power off the NVR/DVR and turn it back on. This clears out "stuck" sessions where the device thinks a channel is still being watched even when it isn't. Reduce Active Channels:
Enable H.265+ video encoding on all capable Hikvision cameras. This drastically reduces the file size and the bandwidth required during playback.
Solutions to Resolve "Maximum Number of Channels Under Playback Reached"
Where the limit appears
are you trying to play back at the exact same time when the error pops up? Share public link
Avoid setting every single camera to maximum bitrates and frame rates if it is not required. Drop non-essential cameras to 15 frames per second (fps) instead of 30 fps.
Hikvision is a renowned Chinese company that specializes in the development and manufacturing of video surveillance products, including IP cameras, NVRs (Network Video Recorders), and DVRs (Digital Video Recorders). Their products are widely used across various industries, including security, transportation, and education. One common issue faced by Hikvision users is the "Maximum Number of Channels Under Playback Reached" error. This paper aims to provide an in-depth analysis of this issue, its causes, and potential solutions. hikvision maximum number of channels under playback reached
High-definition video streams require massive amounts of data. If you attempt to pull eight 4K video streams across your local network simultaneously, the NVR or the client computer may reject the request to prevent total network failure. Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix the Error
At its core, the error is a . Unlike live viewing (which is relatively easy for a recorder to process), playback requires:
| SDK Return | Description | Playback channel error? | |------------|-------------|--------------------------| | NET_DVR_NOERROR | OK | No | | NET_DVR_PLAYBACK_FAILED | General failure | Check sub-error | | NET_DVR_PLAYBACK_DEVICE_FAILED | Device busy | – too many channels | | NET_DVR_PLAYBACK_NOT_INIT | SDK not initialized | No | Physically power off the NVR/DVR and turn it back on
Perhaps the most critical specification for playback is the decoding capacity. Decoding capacity is the processor's ability to decompress and display video streams. This is expressed as "X channels at Y resolution," such as "16-ch @ 1080p decoding capacity". Even if a device has 32 camera inputs, it may only have the processor power to decode 8 or 16 of them simultaneously at full resolution. Some recorders can handle 2 channels at 12MP, or 8 channels at 8MP, or 16 channels at 4MP simultaneously. When the limit is exceeded, the device begins dropping frames or refusing additional playback requests. Lower resolutions require less processing power. If you need to play back many channels at once, reducing each channel's resolution during playback can help stay within the decoding limit.
In some cases, the issue is specific to a particular version of the Hik-Connect app. Using an alternative Hikvision-supported client can provide a temporary workaround.
Watching via Hik-Connect, iVMS-4200, or a web browser shifts the decoding workload to your computer, tablet, or smartphone processor. 3. Stream Resolution Configurations This drastically reduces the file size and the
Workarounds and best practices