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Axis Communications NVR text alerts: email-to-SMS setup

Axis devices use a Recipients + Rules model: define an email recipient, then a rule that emails on motion or analytics. Point the recipient at NVRtxt for texts.

What you’ll need

  • An NVRtxt account and an endpoint (created in step 1).
  • A mailbox for the recorder to send from — a free Gmail/Outlook account with an app password works.
  • Access to your Axis Communications recorder’s settings (web interface or local monitor).
  • The phone number(s) that should receive the texts.
  1. 1

    Create your NVRtxt endpoint

    In your NVRtxt dashboard, add an endpoint and choose the “generic” template. NVRtxt generates a unique inbound address for it, like front-door-a1b2c@alerts.nvrtxt.com.

    Open your dashboard
  2. 2

    Set up an email account to send from

    NVRtxt receives your alert emails, but your recorder still needs a mailbox to send from. The simplest option is a free, dedicated Gmail or Outlook account with an app password — most NVRs can’t do modern sign-in, and an app password works around that. You only set this up once and can reuse the same sending account across every recorder and endpoint.

    ProviderSMTP serverSSL portSTARTTLS port
    Gmailsmtp.gmail.com465587
    Outlook.comsmtp-mail.outlook.com—587
    Microsoft 365smtp.office365.com—587
    Yahoo Mailsmtp.mail.yahoo.com465587
    Tip: turn on 2-Step Verification for the account, then generate an app password and use that 16-character value as the SMTP password — typed without the spaces Google shows (they’re display-only, and some recorders reject them). Use the account’s full email address as the user name.
  3. 3

    Configure Axis Communications email (SMTP) settings

    Settings → System → Events → Recipients → Add. Choose type "Email", enter your sending mailbox’s SMTP host, port, and authentication, set the From address, and set the To address to your NVRtxt endpoint.

    • Use a sending mailbox you control (Gmail/Outlook with an app password, or your mail server).
    • Use the recipient’s Test button to confirm delivery before building the rule.
  4. 4

    Turn on email for the events you want texted

    Settings → System → Events → Rules → Add a rule. Set the condition (e.g. motion via AXIS Motion Guard / Object Analytics, or a virtual input) and the action "Send notification through email" to your recipient.

  5. 5

    Set the recipient to your NVRtxt address and send a test

    Set the recorder’s recipient/receiver to your NVRtxt endpoint address, then use the built-in Test button. A test email should reach NVRtxt within seconds — you’ll see it appear in your Activity log.

  6. 6

    Add phone numbers and confirm delivery

    In NVRtxt, open the endpoint and add the phone numbers that should receive alerts in E.164 format (for example +15555550123). Trigger a real event and watch the Activity tab — each alert is logged as received → parsed → sent. Recipients can reply STOP to opt out anytime.

Tips for Axis Communications

  • On Axis, "video motion" usually comes from an analytics app (Motion Guard, Object Analytics) — install/enable one and use it as the rule’s condition.

Optional: include a snapshot image

Want the camera image in the text too? In your Axis Communications email or event-linkage settings, turn on “Attach picture” (sometimes labeled “Attach JPEG” or “Image”). Then set this endpoint’s Snapshot option in NVRtxt to Link — a tap-to-view image link that keeps it a low-cost SMS — or Image, which sends the picture inline as an MMS. NVRtxt attaches the snapshot to each alert automatically.

What the text looks like

NVRtxt reads the alert Axis Communications emails and pulls out the event, camera, and time, so your phone gets a single clean line instead of a full email.

The alert email

Subject: AXIS Motion Guard: Lobby

Event: Motion Guard triggered
Device: AXIS Q35 Lobby
Time: 2026-06-29 09:40:17

The text you receive

NVRtxt

AXIS Motion Guard: Lobby — Event: Motion Guard triggered

Delivered · now

Axis Communications text alerts: FAQ

Can I customize the email text Axis sends?
Yes. In the rule’s email action you can set the subject and message. Keep it short — for example "Motion: Lobby" — and NVRtxt will text exactly that.

Ready to text your Axis Communications alerts?

Create an endpoint, paste the address into your recorder, add your number.

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