Frequently Asked Question

DeskCamera 6.0.0 introduces Multi-user mode. This setting controls how DeskCamera appears to NVR/VMS systems when more than one Windows user can sign in to the same PC, including Remote Desktop and Terminal Server environments.

Open Options > Application to select the Multi-user mode.

Shared mode

All Windows users on the PC appear under one DeskCamera camera. The PC presents one machine-wide ONVIF/RTSP camera to the NVR/VMS. Users share the same camera identity and the same camera ports.

Use Shared mode when the NVR/VMS should keep one stable camera entry for the PC, regardless of which Windows user is currently logged in.

Per-user mode

Each Windows user appears as a separate DeskCamera camera in the NVR/VMS. Each user has separate settings and separate ONVIF/RTSP ports.

Use Per-user mode when different Windows users need independent DeskCamera cameras, media sources, or NVR/VMS pairing.

Changing Multi-user mode

1) Open DeskCamera
2) Go to Options > Application
3) Select the required Multi-user mode: Shared or Per-user

When the mode is changed, DeskCamera shows a confirmation message. After switching, cameras may need to be re-added in the NVR/VMS, and settings, camera credentials, or media sources may need to be reconfigured.

This action requires administrator approval.

Lock Settings

In Per-user mode, DeskCamera can lock Media Sources and Application Settings across all Windows users on the PC.

When settings are locked, individual users cannot change these settings. This is useful for shared workstations, kiosk PCs, classrooms, dispatch stations, and managed deployments where the administrator wants all users to use the same DeskCamera configuration.

To lock settings:

1) Switch Multi-user mode to Per-user
2) Click Lock Settings
3) Confirm the administrator approval prompt

When settings are locked, DeskCamera displays a locked-settings notification. Users can still run the camera, but they cannot change the locked configuration until settings are unlocked.

To unlock settings, click Unlock Settings. After unlocking, users return to their own per-user configuration.

Important notes for NVR/VMS systems

Changing Multi-user mode can change how DeskCamera is discovered by the NVR/VMS.

In Shared mode, the NVR/VMS should normally see one camera from the PC.

In Per-user mode, the NVR/VMS may see one camera per Windows user. Each per-user camera has its own ONVIF identity and its own ONVIF/RTSP ports.

After changing this setting, check the camera in the NVR/VMS. In some cases it may be necessary to update the camera address, rediscover the camera, or add the per-user camera as a new device.