Blue Iris

Blue Iris is a remote desktop tool for Android devices that enables connection to and monitoring of a PC. It supports the management of multiple cameras and provides access to live video feeds from cameras connected to the PC. Users can play back recordings stored on the PC and receive timely status notifications. The software supports the management of multiple deployments and offers camera control features, including the ability to control infrared settings, navigation, and audio monitoring. It delivers robust real-time monitoring and video access, allowing users to view PC-based recordings in real time. Highly powerful yet compact, the application features a simple user interface that allows users to get up and running quickly.

Features

Central access to your camera network

Blue Iris gives you one mobile entry point for cameras that are already connected to the Blue Iris PC software. This matters when you manage several cameras and do not want to open each camera to outside access. Through a secure session based connection, you can reach the system from your Android phone while keeping the main camera setup managed on the PC.

Live viewing and recorded playback

Blue Iris lets you watch live video from cameras linked to the Windows software. When you need to check an earlier event, you can also play recorded video stored on the Blue Iris PC. Fast H.264 streaming is supported, so the app is designed for viewing video on a mobile connection when the server setup allows it.

Push alerts for camera activity

You can receive Android push alerts when cameras are triggered or when important Blue Iris status messages appear. This helps users who rely on the Blue Iris mobile app for motion events, security checks, or system notices. After an alert arrives, you can open the app and review the related camera view or recording from the connected PC system.

Multiple Blue Iris installations

Blue Iris can manage more than one Blue Iris installation from the same Android app. This is useful if you monitor separate locations, such as a home and a business. Instead of switching between unrelated camera tools, you can keep different Blue Iris PC setups available inside one mobile client.

Camera controls when supported

You can use camera controls such as PTZ movement, infrared control, digital navigation, listening, talking, and DIO output control when the camera and Blue Iris PC configuration support them. These controls depend on how each camera is set up in the desktop software. As a result, the available buttons may differ from one camera to another.

Recording review and file actions

Blue Iris also supports review tools for recordings kept on the Blue Iris PC. You can navigate through clips, speed play footage, and delete selected recordings when needed. This gives you a practical way to check saved events from an Android phone without sitting at the computer that runs the camera software.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros

Strong live viewing and recording access.

Push alerts for triggers and system status.

Supports multiple PC installations.

Useful PTZ, audio, IR, and DIO controls.

Reduces direct Internet exposure for cameras.

Cons

Requires Blue Iris Windows PC software.

Some controls depend on camera support.

How to Use

Open Blue Iris on your Android phone and prepare the connection details for the Blue Iris PC system you want to access.

Add the Blue Iris installation in the app, then sign in through the secure session based connection used by your server setup.

Select the camera or camera group you want to view, then check the live video feed from the connected Blue Iris PC.

When an alert arrives, open the related camera view and review the recording or status message tied to that event.

If your camera supports extra controls, use PTZ, audio, infrared, digital navigation, or output controls directly from the mobile screen.

User comments

I've been using this app for over a year and have found it works really well. It has its issues, but so does every other app ever made. The performance of this app depends on your settings, internet/network quality, Blue Iris PC performance, phone performance and your settings in app and on the PC. Using a slow PC, over dodgy wifi or 3G, with an android A7 and all settings on max resolution and bitrate isn't going to be a great experience for you. Tweek your settings to match your setup.

Overall, app is pretty good. I don't use it for notifications, because my phone would never stop notifying me of triggers. I use it strictly to check live feed on a regular basis for a few minutes at a time. Cameras are setup with BI on a dedicated PC. Checking camera feed through web interface works, but is a pain because of difference when in network or out roaming. The app was worth the money, but could be better. Also, manual setup didn't work out for me, but the remote access wizard worked

This in conjunction of the desktop version is just amazing. I run a small server at home with a very high speed connection and multiple mp cams and this program is so fluid. I love it and I will live longer without the stress of not knowing why my alarm is going off when I'm 100 miles or more from home. The cameras tell me it all. Thanks to the dev for all your hard work you rock bro.

Summarize

The Blue Iris program allows you to turn your PC into a real video surveillance hub, to which you can connect up to 64 different cameras: from normal webcams and Android devices connected to the computer to specialized surveillance cameras. All the material you record using the app can be exported either as JPG images or as MP4 or MPEG video clips.