# OAK4 Getting Started Use this guide to power your OAK4 camera, open it in OAK Viewer, optionally connect it to Luxonis Hub, and recover from the most common setup issues. ## Before you begin To get started quickly, we've made a video on how to get started with camera connected: The same process as in the video is described below in more detail. ## Power the camera OAK4 cameras can be powered in a variety of ways: #### PoE+ Use PoE+ (802.3at 30W) with an injector or switch, for example [TL-SG1008P](https://www.tp-link.com/en/business-networking/unmanaged-switch/tl-sg1008p/). Normal PoE (802.3af, 15W) injectors and switches won't provide enough power. For the best experience, keep the switch connected to the internet. #### USB-C For a USB-C only connection, we recommend a 30W power supply. The host USB-C port should be USB Power Delivery (PD) capable to handle OAK4 reliably. Use a high-quality USB-C cable and connect directly to a USB 3.0 port for best throughput. 15W is still supported with throttled performance, which is still sufficient for most use cases. If you are using USB for both power and communication, connect the camera to a USB-C port on the host. USB-A cannot provide enough power in this setup. If you experience USB instability, see [USB instability](#USB%20instability) in Troubleshooting. If your host computer's USB port cannot provide enough power, you can still use USB-C for communication while powering the camera over PoE+. In this case USB-A can also be used on host side as it handles only communication, but still make sure that it is USB port 3.0 You can also split power and data the other way around: power the camera over USB-C from a host or power bank, and use the network for data and optional internet connectivity. In that setup, USB-C is used only for power while the camera communicates over Ethernet or a supported [Wi-Fi adapter](https://docs.luxonis.com/hardware/platform/deploy/oak4-wifi.md). For the best experience we recommend connecting the camera to the internet. You can do that by sharing host PC internet connection by: 1. Install [oakctl](https://docs.luxonis.com/software-v3/oak-apps/oakctl.md) to your host PC. 2. Share host PC internet connection to camera with ```bash oakctl usbd enable ``` After being powered and booted, status light should turn solid blue, indicating that the device is ready. ## Install and open OAK Viewer OAK Viewer is a desktop GUI application that allows you to visualize the camera's streams and interact with the device. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Download and install OAK Viewer: #### Linux > **Note** > Debian packages are available for Ubuntu 24.04 / 22.04, supporting x86_64 (AMD64) architecture. OAK Viewer 3.2.1 for [Ubuntu 24.04 / 22.04 (x86)](https://oak-viewer-releases.luxonis.com/data/3.2.1/debian_x86_64/viewer.deb) #### macOS > **Note** > Viewer is available for macOS 12 and later, supporting both ARM (Apple Silicon) and x86_64 (Intel) architectures. OAK Viewer 3.2.1 for [macOS 12+ (ARM)](https://oak-viewer-releases.luxonis.com/data/3.2.1/macos_arm_64/Viewer.zip) | [macOS 12+ (x86)](https://oak-viewer-releases.luxonis.com/data/3.2.1/macos_x86_64/Viewer.zip) #### Windows > **Note** > Please note that you can get warning from Microsoft Defender. Viewer is available for Windows 10/11, supporting the x86_64 (AMD64) architecture. OAK Viewer 3.2.1 for [Windows 10/11 (x86)](https://oak-viewer-releases.luxonis.com/data/3.2.1/windows_x86_64/Viewer.msi) More details can be found on the [OAK Viewer Documentation page](https://docs.luxonis.com/software-v3/depthai/tools/oak-viewer.md). ## Optional: Connect to Luxonis Hub If you want to connect the camera to Luxonis Hub and explore the ecosystem click on the "Adopt to Hub" button in the OAK Viewer, confirm factory reset and select new password. Once setup is complete, a `Hub` tag will be shown on your device in OAK Viewer. Step-by-step instructions: If you want to connect the camera to Luxonis Hub and explore the ecosystem click on the "Adopt to Hub" button in the OAK Viewer. You will get a warning about the on-device data deletion if you continue with the Hub setup. This will delete all user data - including `/data/` and the user overlay. After this step you will be redirected to a web browser. Insert password and advanced settings if necessary. Navigating back to the OAK Viewer you should now see a `Hub` tag next to your device indicating that the camera is successfully connected to the Luxonis Hub. > **Connecting to Hub enables SSH** > Devices running OS 1.18 or newer ship with password-based SSH disabled; completing Luxonis Hub setup turns SSH back on and applies the password you configure in that flow. ## Factory reset > **Factory reset warning** > This will reset the device to factory settings, removing all configurations and data. Make sure to back up any important data before proceeding. If you need to factory reset your OAK4 device, you can do so by pressing the hardware reset button while the device is powered on: 1. Press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds. 2. The front LED blinks orange after ~5 seconds. 3. Keep holding; at ~10 seconds the LED blinks red and then turns off, indicating that the factory reset has started. 4. Release the button once the LED turns off and wait for the device to reboot (this may take a few seconds). ## Troubleshooting Jump to symptom: * [Outdated host or device software](#Outdated%20host%20or%20device%20software) * [Bad cables](#Bad%20cables) * [Red light (insufficient power)](#Red%20light%20(insufficient%20power)) * [Blue light does not behave as expected](#Blue%20light%20does%20not%20behave%20as%20expected) * [Device discovery problems](#Device%20discovery%20problems) * [Firewall or network configuration blocks connection](#Firewall%20or%20network%20configuration%20blocks%20connection) * [No DHCP](#No%20DHCP) * [PoE injector or switch problems](#PoE%20injector%20or%20switch%20problems) * [USB instability](#USB%20instability) * [Yellow light (throttled performance)](#Yellow%20light%20(throttled%20performance)) * [Orange light (device issue)](#Orange%20light%20(device%20issue)) * [Reset button malfunction](#Reset%20button%20malfunction) ### Outdated host or device software Outdated software is one of the most common causes of setup failures, discovery problems, unexpected LED behavior, and Hub setup issues. Before spending time on deeper troubleshooting, update the host tools and the device first. If you are using Python examples, custom scripts, or any other host application built on DepthAI, update the `depthai` package in the same environment where you run your code: ```bash # Linux / macOS python3 -m pip install --upgrade --force-reinstall depthai # Windows python -m pip install --upgrade --force-reinstall depthai ``` Then update the host tools: * Update `oakctl` with `oakctl self-update`. * Update OAK Viewer to the latest version and restart it after the update. Update the Luxonis OS on device using `oakctl`: * Download and install oakctl on host #### Linux/MacOS On 64bit system, run: ```bash bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://oakctl-releases.luxonis.com/oakctl-installer.sh)" ``` #### Windows Download and install using the [Windows Installer](https://oakctl-releases.luxonis.com/data/latest/windows_x86_64/oakctl-installer.exe). * Run the following command to update the OS on your OAK4 device: ```bash oakctl device update ``` Follow the prompts to select the device and input the device password. The tool will automatically download the latest OS version and flash it to the device. After the update is complete, the device will reboot. If issues persist: * Reboot the host computer and reconnect the camera. * If updating with `oakctl` fails, do a [Full Luxonis OS Flash](https://docs.luxonis.com/software-v3/sw-stack/luxonis-os.md). ### Bad cables Bad or incorrect cables are one of the most common causes of setup failures. * For PoE, use a known-good Cat5e or better cable and reseat both ends firmly. * For USB, use a data-capable USB-C cable. Charge-only cables can power the camera but still prevent communication. * Avoid damaged, loose, or very long cables. For USB runs longer than 2 m, use an active USB3 cable. * If moving the cable changes the behavior, replace it before troubleshooting anything else. ### Red light (insufficient power) Before booting, the OAK4 camera checks for a PoE+ (30W) signal. If not detected, the red light flashes, but the device will still attempt to boot if enough power is available. OAK4 negotiates per IEEE 802.3at for Type 2 (30W PoE+). If negotiation fails or a passive PSE is used, it defaults to Class 0 (15W) and may be underpowered, triggering the red LED as a warning. Some PoE injectors, like [Ubiquiti's PoE+ injector](https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/accessories-poe-power/collections/pro-store-poe-and-power-adapters/products/u-poe-plus?variant=u-poeplus), provide enough power but don't signal compliance. In such cases, OAK4 flashes red before booting and turning blue when operational. ### Blue light does not behave as expected It is possible that your device has an older OS version that behaves differently - blinks out of the box or does not light up at all. In that case it is recommended to update the OS to the latest version. If LED behavior does not match this guide, continue with [Outdated host or device software](#Outdated%20host%20or%20device%20software). ### Device discovery problems If the camera does not appear in either `oakctl list` or OAK Viewer: * Confirm that the device has finished booting and the front LED has settled into its normal state. * Re-check power and cable quality first. Most discovery failures are still power, cable, or port issues. * For USB, try a different USB3 port and cable, avoid unpowered hubs or adapters, and make sure USB communication is enabled with `oakctl usbd enable`. * For PoE, make sure the host and camera are on the same local network segment and that the switch port is active. * If the device appears in `oakctl list` but not in OAK Viewer, continue with [Firewall or network configuration blocks connection](#Firewall%20or%20network%20configuration%20blocks%20connection). ### Firewall or network configuration blocks connection If the camera appears in `oakctl list` but OAK Viewer shows no reachable device, discovery methods may differ on your network. Quick checks: * Update the camera and host tool to latest version * Verify that the host and camera are on the same subnet. * Allow `11491/udp` (discovery) and `11490/tcp` (XLink) through the host firewall. * Disable VPN temporarily. * If the host uses multiple interfaces such as Wi-Fi and Ethernet, make sure routing to the camera subnet uses the correct interface. * On managed networks, check for client isolation, blocked broadcast traffic, or ACLs that prevent local device discovery. ### No DHCP By default, OAK4 will try to get a dynamic IP address from DHCP server. If no DHCP server is available on the network (for example, when connecting an OAK4 directly to your computer through a PoE injector), the camera will fall back to a [link-local](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link-local_address) address. To communicate with the device in this setup, configure your computer with a static IP in the `169.254.0.0/16` subnet, for example: * Address: `169.254.10.112` * Netmask: `255.255.0.0` Once configured, run `oakctl list` in the command line on your host computer, and you should see the camera detected. ### PoE injector or switch problems Some PoE problems look like software issues but are caused by the network equipment. * OAK4 requires PoE+ (802.3at, 30 W) for full-power operation. Standard PoE (802.3af, 15 W) is not enough. * Try a different PoE+ injector, switch port, or patch cable if the device intermittently reboots or never reaches a stable blue light. * Passive or non-compliant injectors can still power the device but may trigger a red warning LED during startup. * If the switch is heavily loaded or slow to negotiate, try a direct connection through a known-good PoE+ injector. ### USB instability If the device disconnects randomly, drops to USB2 speeds, or becomes unreliable over time: * Connect directly to a host USB3 port instead of a front-panel port, dock, or unpowered hub. * For a USB-only connection, a host that is not USB power-delivery (PD) capable may still provide about 15 W, which is enough for the camera to boot but can leave the link at USB2 speeds. In that case, disconnect and rotate the USB-C connector on the camera side or host side, then reconnect and check whether the link comes up at USB3 speeds, which are recommended for image streaming. * Replace the cable with a shorter, higher-quality USB-C cable. * If the host port cannot provide enough power, power the camera over PoE+ and use USB only for communication like shown in the [Power the camera](#Power%20the%20camera) section. * Secure the cable so vibration or movement cannot momentarily interrupt the link. * If the problem remains, try another host or a powered USB3 hub to rule out host-controller instability. * If an M8 peripheral is connected, USB data is automatically routed to the M8 connector. In that state, USB-C can still provide power, but USB-C data is unavailable until the M8 peripheral is disconnected. For connector details, see [OAK4 M8 Interface Guide](https://docs.luxonis.com/hardware/platform/deploy/oak4-m8-interface.md). ### Yellow light (throttled performance) If you see a yellow light on boot, the camera has detected a power supply between 15 and 20 W and will boot into throttled performance mode. This will also cause it to boot slower, so wait a bit longer until the blue light shines. ### Orange light (device issue) If the light glows orange, please contact support@luxonis.com due to a potential device issue. ### Reset button malfunction If pressing the reset button between 5 and 10 seconds does not enter Setup (blue light blinking) or Factory Reset (blue light solid), the button might be malfunctioning. You can still switch to Setup mode with `oakctl adb shell agentconfd start-setup` or do a factory reset with `oakctl adb shell agentconfd factory-reset`. To learn how to use ADB, see the [Advanced guide](https://docs.luxonis.com/hardware/platform/deploy/oak4-deployment-guide/oak4-advanced.md). ## Next steps ### Explore software options Continue with the software stack, examples, and APIs for OAK4 development. [Explore software options](https://docs.luxonis.com/software-v3.md) ### Open the advanced guide Connect through SSH or ADB, set a static IP, or follow the local setup path. [Open the advanced guide](https://docs.luxonis.com/hardware/platform/deploy/oak4-deployment-guide/oak4-advanced.md) Head on over to [Advanced](https://docs.luxonis.com/hardware/platform/deploy/oak4-deployment-guide/oak4-advanced.md) to see how to: * [Connect via SSH/ADB](https://docs.luxonis.com/hardware/platform/deploy/oak4-deployment-guide/oak4-advanced.md) * [Set static IP](https://docs.luxonis.com/hardware/platform/deploy/oak4-deployment-guide/oak4-advanced.md) * [Local Setup](https://docs.luxonis.com/hardware/platform/deploy/oak4-deployment-guide/oak4-advanced.md) ### Need assistance? Head over to [Discussion Forum](https://discuss.luxonis.com/) for technical support or any other questions you might have.