Run the installer. When you first launch Yawcam, you’ll see a simple interface.
A "new" IP camera isn't just about video; it's about alerts.
location /yawcam/
proxy_pass http://192.168.1.100:8081/;
proxy_set_header Host $host;
auth_basic "Restricted";
auth_basic_user_file /etc/nginx/.htpasswd;
| Limitation | Workaround | |------------|------------| | Windows only | Run on Windows VM or Wine (unstable) | | No native ONVIF | Use MJPEG wrapper (e.g., ffmpeg to RTSP) | | Single camera per instance | Run multiple Yawcam instances (different ports) | | No audio streaming | Not supported |
Convert MJPEG to RTSP with ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -i http://192.168.1.100:8081/out.mjpg -c copy -f rtsp rtsp://localhost:8554/yawcam
This guide gives you everything needed to treat Yawcam as a developer-friendly IP camera source for automation, dashboards, and custom integrations.
The Next Era of Surveillance: Yawcam Ai vs. Classic If you've spent any time in the DIY security world, you know
as the reliable, lightweight tool that has powered thousands of PC-based webcams for over two decades. But things have changed.
The developer has officially split the software into two distinct paths: Yawcam Classic and the brand-new
. If you're looking for a "new" way to manage your IP cameras, here is what you need to know about the latest evolution of this surveillance staple. Yawcam Ai: What’s Actually New? Yawcam Classic (v0.8.0) remains available for basic streaming, yawcam ip camera new
is a complete ground-up rethink designed for modern security. Intelligent Object Detection
: Unlike the old pixel-based motion detection that triggered every time a tree swayed, Yawcam Ai uses machine learning to identify specifically what is in the frame— people, vehicles, or animals Multi-Camera Support
: One of the biggest complaints about the original software was the difficulty of running multiple cameras. The new Ai version is built as a true NVR (Network Video Recorder) that can handle multiple streams in one interface. Cross-Platform (Windows & Linux)
: For the first time, you aren't tethered to Windows. Yawcam Ai can run on or even inside a Docker container
, making it perfect for homelab setups or low-power servers. Mobile-First Interface
: The old Java control panel has been replaced with a responsive web interface that looks and works great on mobile devices without needing a dedicated app. Setting Up Your IP Camera
Integrating a modern IP camera into the new Yawcam is significantly easier thanks to ONVIF support . Here is the high-level process: Yawcam - Yet Another Webcam Software
Yawcam is free software for Windows that transforms standard webcams or existing IP cameras into a full surveillance system with features like streaming, motion detection, and AI-powered object recognition Run the installer
. This guide covers setting up your camera, enabling AI features, and managing remote access. Initial Setup & Adding Cameras
Yawcam supports two primary ways to add cameras: standard USB webcams and network-based IP cameras. Detecting a Local Webcam Connect your webcam and open Yawcam. Navigate to Detect webcam to find connected hardware like a Logitech C920 Adding an IP Camera (ONVIF)
This is the easiest method for network cameras. Yawcam will automatically search for ONVIF-enabled devices on your network. Add Device IP Camera (ONVIF) and enter the camera’s username and password Manual IP Camera Setup If ONVIF isn't supported, use the You must provide the stream URL (e.g., rtsp://[IP_Address]:554/path
This turns your USB camera into an IP camera.
Your new IP camera address is now: http://[YourComputerIP]:8081/output.jpg
You can now paste that URL into any modern IP camera viewer (like tinyCam Monitor on Android or SecuritySpy on Mac).
camera:
- platform: mjpeg
name: Yawcam Office
mjpeg_url: http://192.168.1.100:8081/out.mjpg
still_image_url: http://192.168.1.100:8081/out.jpg
username: admin
password: yourpass
Python:
import requests from datetime import datetimeurl = "http://192.168.1.100:8081/out.jpg" response = requests.get(url, auth=("username", "password")) # if auth enabled location /yawcam/ proxy_pass http://192
if response.status_code == 200: timestamp = datetime.now().strftime("%Y%m%d_%H%M%S") with open(f"snapshot_timestamp.jpg", "wb") as f: f.write(response.content)
cURL:
curl -o snapshot.jpg http://192.168.1.100:8081/out.jpg
Node.js:
const axios = require('axios'); const fs = require('fs');
axios.get('http://192.168.1.100:8081/out.jpg', responseType: 'stream' ) .then(response => response.data.pipe(fs.createWriteStream('snapshot.jpg')); );
To truly modernize Yawcam, avoid the common pitfalls of old tutorials.