What is a DAV file and how do you open it?
A DAV file is a video recording made by a Dahua security camera recorder (DVR or NVR) or by a recorder from a brand that uses Dahua hardware. It holds ordinary H.264 or H.265 video in a Dahua-specific wrapper, which is why most media players refuse to open it. The quickest fix is to convert it to MP4, which keeps the same video in a format every device plays.
What’s inside a DAV file
A DAV file is a container, like a box with several things packed into it. Dahua calls the format DHAV.
| Part | What it usually is |
|---|---|
| Video | H.264 on older and budget recorders, H.265 (HEVC) on most newer ones |
| Audio | G.711 (A-law or µ-law) or AAC, if the camera has a microphone |
| Extra data | Recording date and time, channel number and frame information |
The video itself is standard. Only the box around it is unusual, so converting is mostly a matter of moving the same video into a standard MP4 box. Nothing has to be re-encoded, and the picture quality stays the same.
Which devices create DAV files
- Dahua DVRs and NVRs, when you back up recordings to a USB stick
- Dahua’s SmartPSS and DSS software, when you export a clip
- Recorders sold under other brands that are built on Dahua hardware, such as Amcrest and some Lorex models
Three ways to watch a DAV file
1. Convert it to MP4
This is the most useful option if you want to send the clip to someone, post it, or play it on a phone. Our DAV to MP4 converter does it in your browser without uploading the file, and keeps the original video quality. To keep only the part you need, cut it afterwards with the video trimmer. If your recorder is a Hikvision or HiLook, its files aren’t DAV: use Hikvision to MP4.
Which player works on which device is in How to play DAV files on Mac, PC and phone.
2. Use Dahua Smart Player
Dahua’s free Smart Player opens DAV files directly on Windows and macOS. It’s fine for watching, but the file still won’t play for anyone you share it with.
3. Try VLC
VLC can open many DAV files, because it includes FFmpeg’s DAV reader. Results vary by recorder model and VLC version, and seeking is sometimes unreliable.
How to get MP4 straight from the recorder
Many recent Dahua recorders let you pick MP4 instead of DAV when you back up to USB. Look for a file type option on the backup screen. Older firmware often offers only DAV, and that’s when a converter helps.
If the MP4 plays sound but no picture
The recording is probably H.265. The MP4 still contains that video, but some players need extra support for it. It plays on macOS and iPhone, in Chrome and Edge on most recent computers, and on Windows after installing Microsoft’s HEVC Video Extensions. VLC plays it everywhere.
Sharing a clip
Keep the original DAV file as it came from the recorder, and share an MP4 copy cut to the moment that matters. If it’s too big for WhatsApp or email, How to make a video small enough to send explains the limits and what to do.
Sources
- FFmpeg’s DHAV demuxer, the DAV reader in FFmpeg and VLC.
- VideoLAN: VLC media player.
- Microsoft Store: HEVC Video Extensions.
Questions
Is a DAV file a virus or something dangerous?
No. It's an ordinary video recording in Dahua's own format. It only looks unusual because few programs recognise the .dav extension.
Can I rename a .dav file to .mp4?
No. Renaming changes only the label, not the container inside, so players still can't read it. The video has to be rewrapped, which a converter does in seconds.
Should I keep the original DAV file after converting?
Yes. Keep the original as it came from the recorder, and use the MP4 for watching and sharing. If something goes wrong with a copy, you can always make another.