18 October 2026

SADP tool on Mac: availability, permissions, and why it finds nothing

Hikvision made a Mac build of the SADP tool, and people still run it on Apple Silicon Macs through Rosetta 2. Hikvision no longer lists it, though: its Tools pages now offer SADP for Windows only, SADP stopped receiving updates in April 2026, and the recommended replacement, HiTools Delivery, is Windows-only. If you have the Mac build, it only finds devices on recent macOS once you grant it Full Disk Access, and on macOS 15 and later it also needs Local Network permission. Some jobs, such as activating a new device, may still need Windows or the recorder's own screen.

Updated November 2026.

What SADP does, and what the Mac build cannot do

SADP (Search Active Devices Protocol) is Hikvision's small discovery utility. It lists every Hikvision or HiLook device on your local network, shows its IP address, firmware and activation state, and lets you change the IP settings. Installers use it on day one; home users usually open it when a camera has vanished from the network.

The Mac build is the lesser sibling. The last version Hikvision listed was V1.0.0.4 from November 2022, while the Windows build is at V3.1.4.6. Hikvision never published a separate feature list for the Mac build, so treat anything beyond discovery and IP changes as unconfirmed, and keep the recorder's own screen or a Windows PC as the fallback for activation and password resets.

SADP is one of several Hikvision tools with a weaker Mac story. Our hub, Hikvision on a Mac in 2026, covers every route for viewing cameras; this post only covers finding and addressing them.

Task	SADP for Windows	SADP for Mac	Notes
Discover devices on the LAN	Yes	Yes, after Full Disk Access	Needs the Mac on the same subnet
Change IP, gateway, port	Yes	Yes	Device password required
Activate a new device	Yes	Not confirmed	Use the recorder's screen or Windows if it fails
Reset password (export XML)	Yes	Not confirmed
Apple Silicon	n/a	Runs under Rosetta 2; Intel-only build	Rosetta Check, 8 Macs reporting (Oct 2026)

Is SADP for Mac still available?

Not from Hikvision. Each regional site (hikvision.com/uk, /us-en, /en and so on) has a HiTools page under Support, and as of October 2026 it lists SADP for Windows only. The SADP(mac64) entry, last at V1.0.0.4 from November 2022, was still on Hikvision's global site in April 2025 (archived copy) but has since been removed. HikGrid does not host, mirror or redistribute SADP or any other Hikvision software.

The SADP page itself now says SADP stopped receiving updates in April 2026, and recommends HiTools Delivery, which adds batch upgrades and scenario-based configuration. Hikvision lists HiTools Delivery for Windows 7 and later and Windows Server 2012 R2 and later; there is no Mac build.

If you already have the Mac build, keep a copy. If you need one, ask the distributor you buy from rather than using a "download SADP" site: some serve old builds, and a few bundle unwanted installers. The last Mac build Hikvision listed came as a zipped installer package (SADPTool.pkg), not a DMG.

"SADP cannot be opened" on macOS

macOS often refuses the first launch of the old Mac build, with a message that the app "cannot be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software". We do not give steps for overriding macOS security here. Confirm the package came from Hikvision or your distributor, delete it if macOS says it is damaged or may harm your Mac, and follow Apple's own guidance on opening apps for the options Apple supports. If you would rather not deal with it, the alternatives below avoid SADP entirely.

Why SADP finds nothing on a Mac: permissions first

An empty device list is the most common complaint. Hikvision's own knowledge base gives one cause: the Mac build needs Full Disk Access, or it cannot read the network data it relies on (Hikvision KB: why is SADP not finding anything on my Mac). Grant that first, then check Local Network.

Grant Full Disk Access

Quit SADP completely (Cmd-Q).
Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access.
Click the plus button, choose SADP from Applications, and switch it on.
Relaunch SADP and click Refresh.

Grant Local Network permission (macOS 15 Sequoia and later)

Since macOS 15, any app that scans or broadcasts on the local network must be allowed under System Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network. The prompt appears on first launch; if you dismissed it, SADP will sit silently with no results.

Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network.
Switch SADP on. If it is not listed, quit and relaunch SADP so it asks again.
Press Refresh in SADP.

The same permission trips up iVMS-4200 and SecuritySpy on Sequoia, so it is worth remembering for every camera app you install. See iVMS-4200 for Mac for the client-side version of this fix.

Still nothing? Network causes, in order

SADP discovers devices by broadcast on the local segment. Anything that keeps your Mac off that segment hides every camera. Work through these in order.

Wi-Fi versus Ethernet. Many routers put Wi-Fi clients on a separate subnet or enable client isolation. Plug the Mac into the same switch as the recorder, or at least the same router, and refresh.
VLANs. If your cameras live on a camera VLAN (common on UniFi, Omada and business switches), the broadcast never reaches your Mac. Either join that VLAN temporarily or run SADP from a machine on it.
Recorder PoE ports. Cameras plugged into an NVR's built-in PoE ports sit on the NVR's own internal network, not your LAN. SADP will show the NVR but not those cameras. Manage them through the NVR menu instead.
The macOS firewall. If the firewall is set to block all incoming connections, SADP cannot receive replies. Open System Settings > Network > Firewall and allow SADP while you scan.
USB and Thunderbolt Ethernet adapters. Check that the adapter has an address in the same range as your cameras. If the Mac is also on Wi-Fi, drag the Ethernet service to the top of the list under Network > the three-dot menu > Set Service Order.
VPN clients. A VPN that routes all traffic will hide the LAN. Disconnect it while scanning.

If SADP lists the device but you cannot open its web page from Safari or Chrome, that is a different problem, usually firmware. The plugin-free thresholds are in plugin-free live view: does your firmware support it?

SADP on M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5 Macs

Forum and Reddit users report running the Mac build on Apple Silicon machines; one r/Hikvision user said it runs fine on an M1 Pro. Hikvision does not document which chips it targets, but Rosetta Check lists SADPTool as Intel-only, with 8 Macs reporting as of October 2026, so on an M-series Mac it runs through Rosetta 2, as iVMS-4200 for Mac does.

If macOS prompts you to install Rosetta when you first open SADP, accept, and the app will run. Bear in mind that Apple says Rosetta stays available for general Intel apps only up to macOS 27, so an Intel-only SADP has a limited future. For the wider picture on Hikvision tools and M-series chips, see Does Hikvision work on M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5 Macs?

Alternatives when SADP will not cooperate

iVMS-4200 for Mac device discovery

The free iVMS-4200 Mac client has an online-device list in its Device Management screen that finds devices the same way SADP does, and it can add them in one click. It runs under Rosetta 2 on Apple Silicon (Rosetta Check: iVMS-4200) and needs the same Local Network permission.

Unofficial SADP rebuilds

Unofficial rebuilds of SADP for Mac circulate on CCTV forums. They are unsigned, not from Hikvision and maintained by individuals, so we do not recommend or link to them. Use one of the other routes on this page instead.

Your router, or an IP scanner

Most routers list connected clients with their MAC address; Hikvision devices show a vendor prefix you can recognise. Once you have the IP, open it in a browser or add it to a client by hand. A generic LAN scanner (for example nmap from Homebrew) also works, and does not need any Hikvision-specific permission.

The recorder's own menu

If all you want is a camera's address, the NVR shows every channel's IP under Camera Management on its HDMI output. For cameras on the NVR's PoE ports, this is the only place to change them anyway.

View your Hikvision or HiLook cameras natively on your Mac. HikGrid (our app) gives you live view, playback, recording search and footage download in one native macOS window: no iVMS-4200, no Windows virtual machine and no browser plugin. It runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs (macOS 13 Ventura or later), connects to several Hikvision and HiLook systems at once, and costs £39.95 one-time per Mac with monthly feature upgrades included and no subscription.

HikGrid is an independent app. It is not made by, affiliated with or endorsed by Hikvision, and it is not SADP.

See how HikGrid works Buy a HikGrid licence (£39.95)

FAQ

Is there an SADP tool for Mac?

There was. Hikvision's last Mac build was V1.0.0.4 from November 2022, and it is no longer listed on Hikvision's Tools pages. SADP stopped receiving updates in April 2026, and its replacement, HiTools Delivery, is Windows-only. Discovery and IP changes work on the old Mac build; other tasks are not confirmed.

Does SADP work on M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5 Macs?

Yes, through Rosetta 2. Users report that it opens and runs on Apple Silicon, and Rosetta Check lists it as Intel-only. If macOS asks you to install Rosetta, agree and carry on.

Why does SADP find nothing on my Mac?

Nine times out of ten it is a permission: Full Disk Access (per Hikvision's KB) and, on macOS 15 or later, Local Network. After that, check that the Mac is on the same subnet as the cameras, not on isolated Wi-Fi or a different VLAN.

Can I activate a new camera with SADP on a Mac?

Possibly, but Hikvision does not confirm it for the Mac build. If it fails, activate from the NVR's screen, from the camera's web page (firmware permitting), or from SADP or HiTools Delivery on a Windows machine.

Are unofficial SADP rebuilds for Mac safe?

They are unsigned and not from Hikvision, so we do not recommend them. Use the iVMS-4200 client's device list, your router's client list, or SADP on a Windows machine instead.

Where should I not get SADP from?

Random "software download" sites, shared Google Drive links and forum attachments. Use hikvision.com for the Windows build, and for the old Mac build ask a distributor you already buy from.

Sources

apple-silicon hikvision how-to mac macos-sequoia sadp troubleshooting