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Dahua NVR text alerts: email-to-SMS setup

Dahua NVRs and DVRs email alarm events (motion, IVS tripwire, SMD) over SMTP. NVRtxt’s structure-aware parser pulls the event, channel, and time out of the Dahua "Alarm Event / Alarm Name / Alarm Time" layout and texts you a one-line summary.

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 Dahua 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 “dahua” 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 Dahua email (SMTP) settings

    Web UI: Setup → Network → SMTP (Email). On the local display: Main Menu → Network → Email.

    • Enter the SMTP Server and Port for your sending mailbox, set Encryption (SSL/TLS) to match, and turn Anonymous off.
    • Enter the mailbox User Name and Password (an app password for Gmail/Outlook), set Sender, and set the Receiver to your NVRtxt endpoint.
    • Use the "Email Test" button to confirm before relying on it.
  4. 4

    Turn on email for the events you want texted

    Setup → Event → Video Detection → Motion Detection: enable it, open the event’s actions, tick "Send Email", and set the schedule. Repeat under IVS / SMD for smart events.

  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 Dahua

  • Some Dahua firmware sends the time day-first (DD/MM/YYYY). NVRtxt always shows the time, and the date when it can read it — if you want the date in every text, set the recorder clock format to YYYY-MM-DD where available.
  • Turn off the picture attachment if you only want the text; it isn’t needed.

Optional: include a snapshot image

Want the camera image in the text too? In your Dahua 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 Dahua 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: Alarm Message

Alarm Event: Motion Detection
Alarm Name: Front Entrance
Alarm Input Channel: 3
Alarm Time: 2026-06-29 14:47:03

The text you receive

NVRtxt

Motion: Front Entrance (3) Jun 29 2:47 PM

Delivered · now

Dahua text alerts: FAQ

Does this work with DMSS / the Dahua app?
Yes — independently. DMSS push notifications keep working; NVRtxt uses the recorder’s SMTP email alerts, which is a separate channel that becomes SMS.
Which template should I choose for an Amcrest or other Dahua-based recorder?
Use "dahua" (or "generic"). They share the same alarm-email structure, so the parser handles them the same way.

Ready to text your Dahua alerts?

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

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