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Blue Iris – Installation and Initial Setup

🔹 Overview​

This guide walks through a clean Blue Iris installation and initial system setup.

Follow the steps in order.
Do not enable advanced features until the base system is stable.

🔹 Step 1 — Install Blue Iris​

  • Install the latest version
  • Launch the application
  • Confirm license activation

✔ Result: Blue Iris opens and runs without errors

🔹 Step 2 — Add First Camera​

  • Add a new camera
  • Select Network IP
  • Enter IP, username, and password
  • Confirm video stream loads

✔ Result: Live video is stable

🔹 Step 3 — Configure Video Stream​

  • Confirm main stream resolution
  • Set FPS (~15 FPS recommended)
  • Enable sub-stream if available

✔ Result: Smooth video with no stuttering

🔹 Step 4 — Configure Recording​

  • Enable Direct-to-disk
  • Confirm recording folder
  • Set recording to When triggered

✔ Result: Clips are being recorded

🔹 Step 5 — Configure Motion Detection​

  • Enable motion sensor
  • Define zones
  • Adjust thresholds:
    • Minimum object size
    • Minimum contrast
    • Make time (~1.0 sec)

✔ Result: Motion triggers are clean and consistent

🔹 Step 6 — Add AI Confirmation​

  • Enable Confirm alerts with AI
  • Set confidence (~60%)
  • Use main stream for AI if available

✔ Result: False alerts are reduced

🔹 Step 7 — Configure Alerts​

  • Trigger: New triggers only
  • Add to alerts list: Database only

✔ Result: Alerts are meaningful and controlled

🔹 Step 8 — Validate System​

  • Confirm cameras are stable
  • Confirm recordings are stored correctly
  • Confirm motion and alerts function correctly
  • Check CPU and system load

✔ Result: System is stable under normal operation

🔹 System Flow​

Build the system in this order:

  1. Camera works
  2. Recording works
  3. Motion works
  4. AI works
  5. Alerts work

Do not skip steps.

🔹 Quick Wins​

  • Start with 1–2 cameras before scaling
  • Use sub-stream for motion detection
  • Set FPS to ~15 for most cameras
  • Avoid H.265 if performance issues appear
  • Use direct-to-disk whenever possible

🔹 Common Mistakes​

  • Enabling AI before motion is tuned
  • Adding too many cameras too early
  • Not verifying recording folders
  • Over-tuning sensitivity
  • Ignoring system performance

🔹 Final Thought​

A stable system is built step-by-step.

Do not optimize until the base system is working correctly.