How to Open a .Dav File

If you used a DVR365 or CCTV camera to record a video, that video was probably saved as a .dav file. DAV file types save videos in an encrypted format using modified MPEG compression. Because DAV files are encrypted, popular media and MPEG players and editing programs can't play or edit the files, which can make working with DAV file formats a huge headache. The solution is to convert the DAV files to a format that is more user-friendly by downloading one of the programs out there that can open and manipulate DAV files.

Playing .Dav Videos on a PC

If you want to play and edit a DAV file, you'll have to do it on a PC. That's because DAV formats open only on DVR365 players, and DVR365 players only run on PCs operating on Windows.

If you use a Mac or a computer with a non-Windows operating system, you'll have to convert the DAV video into a new file format. Here's a couple of ways to do it.

Avdshare Video Converter

Avdshare offers downloadable software that can convert DAV files to MP4, AVI, WMV, MPEG, MOV or FLV formats. It works with Windows and Mac operating systems. Go to to install and launch the video converter. At that point, the converter's interface pops up, and you can work on changing the DAV video to something a little more usable.

  1. In the video converter, click Add file to add one or more DAV files to the video converter. You can also drag and drop multiple DAV files to the converter for a batch convert.
  2. Click Profile and select a new format for the video.
  3. Edit the video if needed. The video converter offers a platform for simple edits to your video. Click Effect if you want to trim, crop or add images, watermarks, effects or subtitles to the video. Click Settings to edit the video bitrate, frame rate, video size or ratio, and audio volume.
  4. Click Convert and your video exports in the file format you chose.

Amcrest Smart Player

Amcrest devices capture most of their video files in the DAV format. However, Amcrest recognizes that DAV files aren't particularly user-friendly, so the company offers a downloadable media player that converts DAV files to AVI format – a more widely used format that can be opened in most media players.

To use the Amcrest Smart Player, you need a PC that operates on Windows 7 or later, or a Mac running on Mac OS X or newer. Here's how to get the Smart Player up and running:

  1. Head to to download and install the Amcrest Smart Player.
  2. When you start up the player for the first time after installation, you can choose to associate certain file types – including DAV – with the media player.
  3. Click the folder with the plus sign to add a DAV video to the player. Locate the video files in your computer and open them in the player.
  4. Select E*xport* file and check the box of the video file you want to convert. Change the export format to AVI.
  5. Click Begin export and choose a folder to export your video into.
  6. Keep the smart player open until the prompt window for Export end appears and then click OK. Your converted file shows up in the folder you designated.