What is a .DAV file?
DAV is the recording format of many Dahua CCTV systems.
- Did you know
- DAV files are the footage saved by a large share of the world’s security cameras.
- DAV is a proprietary, often encrypted container Dahua builds around an H.264 or H.265 stream to deter tampering with footage.
- Standard players choke on it, but VLC can play a DAV by forcing its H264 demuxer in the advanced codec settings.
- What Analyser reads
- Inspect streaming manifests and video containers: HLS/DASH/Smooth Streaming/HDS manifests and playlists; pro/broadcast MXF/GXF/LXF/DV; ASF/.dvr-ms and RealMedia; DivX/F4V/Insta360/GoPro proxies/GIFV; raw elementary streams (IVF, Y4M, MPEG-1/2, H.264/H.265 SPS, AV1 OBU); MPEG program/transport and PVR/DVB recordings; Windows Recorded TV, Ogg Media, NUT; DPX/Cineon/Dahua/.yuv identified.
- Depth of analysis
- .DAV is an identification-grade format: Analyser recognises it from its bytes and decodes the header metadata it carries, rather than opening it in a full viewer. Formats that do get a full viewer are marked "Full" on the formats page.
- Open a .DAV file
- Drag a .DAV file onto the Analyser home page (or tap to pick one). It is identified entirely in your browser - nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and it works offline once installed.