Privacy Mask allows you to hide specific areas in the camera's view that you do not want to monitor or record. You can draw privacy masks over areas such as windows, neighboring properties, or other private spaces.

This article explains how to set up Privacy Mask using the Reolink App, Reolink Client, web browser, or Reolink NVR, as well as how Dynamic Privacy Mask works on supported PTZ cameras.

Applies to: All Reolink cameras.

Table of Contents

What Is Privacy Mask on Reolink Devices?

Privacy Mask lets you cover specific areas in the camera's view with black rectangles. The masked areas are hidden in the live view and recordings.

You can use Privacy Mask to block areas such as neighboring properties, windows, or other private spaces that you do not want the camera to capture.

Step-by-Step Instructions on Setting Up Reolink Privacy Mask

  • via Reolink App

    Step 1. Tap the settings_icon icon > Display.

    Device Settings  Display

    Step 2. Tap Privacy Mask and then draw rectangles over the areas you want to hide. Tap Save to save the settings. 

    Tap Privacy Mask  draw rectangles

    Note: For multi-lens cameras, such as the Duo Series, TrackMix Series, OMVI Series, and so on, privacy mask areas can be set separately for each lens. You could select lenses to set different or the same privacy mask areas.
    multi-lens cameras app

    Step 3. (Optional) If you want to delete one of the privacy masks, tap the privacy mask first, then tap the icon. If you want to delete all privacy masks, tap Remove All. Tap Save to save the settings. 

    delete app

    Done! On the live view page, the privacy mask will appear in black to hide the areas.

    live view page

  • via Reolink Client

    Step 1. Login to your device and then go to Device Settings > Camera > Display > Privacy Mask.

    access Privacy Mask client

    Step 2. Click and drag the left mouse button to draw rectangle(s) over the privacy mask area you want to cover, then click Save to save the setting.

    draw client

    Note: For multi-lens cameras, such as the Duo Series, TrackMix Series, OMVI Series, and so on, privacy mask areas can be set separately for each lens. You could switch lenses to set different or the same privacy mask areas.
    multi-lens cameras client

    Step 3. (Optional) If you want to delete one of the privacy masks, click the privacy mask first, then click the icon. If you want to delete all privacy masks, click Delete All. Click Save after deleting.

    delete client

    Done! On the live view page, the privacy mask will appear in black to hide the areas.

    live view client

  • via Reolink Web browser

    Applies to: All Reolink cameras except battery-powered cameras, Reolink E1, Reolink E1 Pro, and Reolink Lumus, and the add-on cameras in the NVR Kit. For details of the models that can be accessed via web browsers, refer to Which Reolink Devices Can Be Accessed via Web Browsers.

    Step 1. Access your camera via a web browser. Click the gear icon > Display. Click Set Up under Privacy Mask.

    access Privacy Mask web

    Note: For multi-lens cameras, such as the Duo Series, TrackMix Series, OMVI Series, and so on, privacy mask areas can be set separately for each lens. You could select lenses to set different or the same privacy mask areas.
    multi-lens cameras web

    Step 2. Click and drag the left mouse button to draw rectangle(s) over the privacy mask area you want to cover, then click Save to save the setting.

    draw client

    Step 3. (Optional) If you want to delete one of the privacy masks, click the privacy mask first, then click the icon. If you want to delete all privacy masks, click Delete All. Click Save after deleting.

    delete web

    Done! On the live view page, the privacy mask will appear in black to hide the areas.

    live view web

  • via Reolink NVR (New UI)

    Applies to: RLN8-410 (hardware version NVR_NNT3NA78P / N7MB01 / N3MB01 / N2MB02 / H3MB18), RLN16-410 (hardware version NVR_NNT4NA716P / N6MB01 / H3MB18), RLN4E, RLN36, RLN12W, NVS4E, NVS8, NVS12W, NVS16, NVS36, RP-PN8, RP-PN16, RP-N64.

    Step 1. Log in to your camera on the NVR monitor and enter the Live View page. Then go to Settings > Camera > Display.

    access Privacy Mask nvr

    Step 2. Click Privacy Mask Settings. Click and drag the left mouse button to draw rectangle(s) over the privacy mask area you want to cover. Click Apply to save the settings.

    draw client

    Note: For multi-lens cameras, such as the Duo Series, TrackMix Series, OMVI Series, and so on, privacy mask areas can be set separately for each lens. You could select lenses to set different or the same privacy mask areas.

    multi-lens cameras nvr

    Step 3. (Optional) If you want to delete one of the privacy masks, click the privacy mask first, then click the icon. If you want to delete all privacy masks, click icon. Click Apply after deleting.

    delete nvr

    Now you can see the black privacy mask you've just set on the camera's live-view image.

    live view nvr

  • via Reolink NVR (Old UI)

    Applies to: RLN4-410, RLN8-410 (hardware version H3MB02/H3MB16), and RLN16-410 (hardware version H3MB02/H3MB06).

    Step 1. Log in to the camera on your NVR monitor and enter the Live-view page. Go to Menu > Display. Tick Mask and then click Area Settings.

    access Privacy Mask nvr

    Step 2. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag to draw a black rectangle as a privacy mask.

    Put your cursor on one privacy mask and right-click your mouse. Click Delete Area to delete this privacy mask. Click Delete All to delete all the drawn areas. If you have finished drawing privacy masks, click Save to save the settings. If you don't want to set up privacy masks, just click Cancel to exit. 

    delete nvr

    Now, you can go to the camera's live-view page to check out if there are black privacy masks on the image.

    live view nvr

Notes on Using Privacy Mask

1. Once set, the masked area will be shown in the live view and recordings.

2. Different camera models support a varying number of privacy mask areas, with the maximum number displayed in the software under privacy settings being the reference for each device.

3. It's not supported to draw other shapes randomly except for rectangles. 

Dynamic Privacy Mask (Beta feature)

1. Introduction: During PTZ operations, the mask adjusts with the scene to continuously cover privacy areas, preventing unauthorized regions from being captured, enhancing user privacy awareness and security.

2. Camera and Software support: This function is currently only available in RLC-823S1, RLC-823S1W and RLC-823S2. Also, Dynamic Privacy Mask is supported only on the Reolink App and web interfaces. To achieve dynamic privacy masking, configuration must be done through the Reolink App or web interface. If set on a Reolink NVR or Reolink Client-side, privacy zones remain static and will offset with PTZ movements in the scene.

Related Articles

How to Set up Display via Reolink App

Introduction to Reolink Privacy Mode

Introduction to Motion Boxes on Reolink Cameras

If you have any questions, click “Submit a request” below to contact the Reolink Support Team.