V380 Custom Firmware (RECOMMENDED)

Most cameras running the V380 app utilize low-cost System-on-Chip (SoC) designs, primarily from manufacturers like HiChip (Hi3518, Hi3516) or XM (XiongMai).

Open a serial terminal (Putty, Screen, Minicom) at 115200 baud. Power on the camera. You will see boot logs. As soon as you see Hit any key to stop autoboot, press a key. You are now in the U-Boot shell. v380 custom firmware

If the above process sounds intimidating, you have alternatives without going full custom: Most cameras running the V380 app utilize low-cost

⚠️ Bricking – Without proper backup of the original flash, a bad flash can permanently disable the camera.
⚠️ No recovery – Many cheap V380 cameras lack a hardware reset button that restores stock firmware.
⚠️ Peripheral support – IR cut filter, PTZ motors, LEDs may need custom GPIO config in the new firmware.
⚠️ Warranty void – Obviously. Stock firmware often hides RTSP behind obscure URLs (e

Stock firmware often hides RTSP behind obscure URLs (e.g., rtsp://192.168.1.xxx:554/11), or disables it entirely. Custom firmware exposes robust, documented RTSP streams that work perfectly with VLC, Home Assistant, and OBS Studio.