How to Install the Vantrue N5S 4-Channel Dashcam: A Step-by-Step Guide

Published by Veltrixa Auto · October 2026 · 10 min read

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Installing the N5S is a bigger job than fitting a single-camera dashcam because there are two units and two cables. The front unit sits behind your rear-view mirror, the rear unit sticks to the rear windscreen, and a power cable and a rear camera cable run up to the front unit. A plug-in install powered from your 12V socket is a manageable DIY job. Parking monitoring needs a hardwire kit, which is a step up in difficulty, and a professional installer is a sensible choice if you're not comfortable working in a fuse box. The biggest mistakes are plugging cables into the wrong USB-C port, skipping the memory card format, and routing cables across an airbag. This guide steps you through all of it.

Before You Start

Plug-in or hardwired?

Start with a plug-in install and test everything. You can add the hardwire kit afterwards.

What's in the box

According to Vantrue's user manual, a standard N5S package includes:

• The N5S dash cam, plus a GPS mount and a GPS mount base
• The rear camera and an adhesive sticker for it
• A car charger (about 3.5 m)
• A rear camera cable (about 6 m)
• A USB data cable (for data transfer only)
• Two electrostatic stickers and two warning stickers
• Cable clips, a trim tool (the "crowbar"), a dust-free cloth and an adhesion promoter
• A quick start guide

The manual lists these as optional extras, bought separately unless your bundle includes them: a Vantrue hardwire kit, an LTE module, a CPL filter and a remote controller. A microSD card isn't in the standard package either. Check the exact contents of the bundle you ordered before you start.

What you'll also need

• A microSD card. The manual calls for 32GB to 1TB with a U3 or higher speed rating. Use a reliable high-endurance card.
• For hardwiring: a circuit tester or multimeter and fuse taps that match your car's fuses.

A few rules before you pick a spot

• Keep it out of your line of sight. Vantrue's manual says not to install the dash cam where it obstructs your driving view. Rules about windscreen-mounted devices differ between Australian states and territories, so check yours.
• Don't mount it directly in front of a passenger. The manual warns against this in case the camera ever detaches.
• Don't configure it while driving. Set it up while parked.
• Mind the airbags. Never run a cable over or through an airbag panel. Check your vehicle manual for where they sit.

Step 1: Test Everything Before You Stick Anything Down

Lay the front unit and rear camera on the seat, connect the rear camera cable and the power cable, and power the camera up from the 12V socket. Confirm that it boots and shows all four views. If something's wrong, you'll find out before the adhesive is down and the cables are hidden.

The two USB-C ports are not interchangeable. On the front unit:

• The port for the car charger is for charging only. It can't be used for the rear camera or for data.
• The port for the rear camera is where the rear camera cable goes.

Mixing these up is the most common reason a rear camera "doesn't work".

Step 2: Format and Insert the microSD Card

1. Turn the camera off. The manual says to turn the power off whenever you insert or remove the card.
2. Insert the microSD card into the slot on the front unit.
3. Power the camera back on and format the card in the camera (System Setup, then Format SD Card). Vantrue says to format the card before first use.

Formatting in the camera, not on a computer, matches what the camera expects. If you see a card error later, reformat and check that the card is a compatible, quality one.

Step 3: Clean the Glass and Prepare the Mount

1. Clean the mounting area on the windscreen with the dust-free cloth. Vantrue says to clean the installation area for both the main unit and the rear camera before installing.
2. Use the adhesion promoter on the spots where adhesive will go, following the instructions on the pack.
3. Vantrue recommends attaching the electrostatic stickers before installing the dash cam. They give the mount a surface that's usually easier to peel off later than adhesive stuck directly to glass.
4. The N5S has a split adhesive mount, and you can detach it by sliding the mount base.
5. When you attach the GPS mount, press it firmly against the windscreen to push out air bubbles and get a solid bond.

Step 4: Mount and Aim the Front Unit

Mount the front unit high on the windscreen, behind the rear-view mirror where the mirror body helps hide it. Position it so the front lens looks through an area the wipers clear.

The front unit has two lenses: one facing the road and one facing into the cabin with infrared lights. The screen faces the driver. Slide the camera onto the mount and make sure it's connected properly to the GPS mount, because the N5S gets its GPS signal through the mount.

Aim the front lens so the horizon sits roughly level in the frame. You'll fine-tune it later using the app's lens correction line.

Step 5: Route the Power Cable

1. Plug the car charger cable into the charging USB-C port on the front unit.
2. Tuck the cable along the top edge of the windscreen, into the gap between the glass and the headliner.
3. Run it down the A-pillar trim towards your 12V socket, staying clear of the airbag.
4. Use the trim tool to tuck the cable into the gaps and the cable clips to hold it in place.
5. Leave a little slack at the camera so the cable doesn't pull on the mount.

Keep the cable away from the pedals, the gear stick and the steering column.

Step 6: Install the Rear Camera

The rear unit also has two lenses: one facing out through the rear windscreen and one facing into the cabin, with its own infrared lights.

1. Clean the rear glass in the mounting area.
2. Mount the unit near the top centre of the rear windscreen with the rear-facing lens looking back out. If you can, place the adhesive on clear glass rather than over a demister line.
3. Use the adhesive sticker included for the rear camera and press it firmly.
4. Check the live view before you commit to the position, so you're happy with both the rear and the cabin framing.

Step 7: Route the Rear Camera Cable

The rear camera cable is about 6 m long. Plug the connector end into the rear camera USB-C port on the front unit.

1. Run the cable from the rear camera along the roof edge, tucking it under the headliner as you go.
2. Bring it forward along one side of the car, down or along a pillar, until it reaches the front unit. Keep it away from airbag panels.
3. On a hatchback or SUV, the camera is on the tailgate, so the cable must cross the flexible rubber boot between the tailgate and the body. This is the hardest part of the job. Feed it through carefully and make sure it can't be pinched when the tailgate closes.
4. Secure the cable with the cable clips along the way.

Measure the route before you commit. On larger vehicles such as vans, 6 m can be tight.

Step 8: First Power-On Settings

With everything connected and the card formatted, power the camera on and check these:

• All four views. Use the buttons to switch between the front, front cabin, rear cabin and rear views and confirm each one is working.
• GPS. GPS is on by default. The manual says it should lock within about a minute outdoors with a clear view of the sky. If it doesn't, check that GPS is enabled, that the camera is connected to the GPS mount, and that you're not in a tunnel or underground car park.
• Time zone. GPS automatic time correction needs the correct time zone selected. Leave the summer and winter time auto switch off. Vantrue says it only works in North America and can cause time errors elsewhere. If your state observes daylight saving, check the time when the clocks change.
• Frequency. Set the frequency to 50Hz, which is the correct setting for Australia, to avoid flicker affecting your recordings.
• Language and voice control. Voice control supports English, Japanese, Russian, Chinese and French, and the default sensitivity is Standard.

Step 9: Connect the Vantrue App

1. Scan the QR code in the quick start guide to download the Vantrue app.
2. Turn the camera on. Wi-Fi switches on automatically.
3. In the app, tap Add Device, choose the Nexus series, pick the N5S, confirm the Wi-Fi name and follow the prompts.
4. Change the default Wi-Fi password straight away. The initial password is 12345678, and Vantrue says to change it after the first login so nobody else can connect.

A few things to know:

• With no connection, Wi-Fi turns itself off after 10 minutes by default. Turn it on again from the shortcut key, voice control or the menu.
• The default band is 5 GHz. If you can't connect, restart the camera and try switching between 5GHz and 2.4GHz.
• Vantrue says the app may not connect while you're using wireless CarPlay or Android Auto. If you run a wireless CarPlay adapter, you may need to pause it when you want to use the app.

Use the app's lens correction line to level the front camera, then check the preview from all four cameras.

Step 10: Check the Recording Settings

The defaults are sensible, but these are worth a look:

• Recording mode. The camera records all four channels by default. Vantrue also offers modes such as Front + Rear or Front + Front Cabin, which is useful if you don't want the cabin recorded.
• Loop recording. The default is 1-minute clips. Options are 1, 3 or 5 minutes, or off. Don't switch it off: the manual says emergency lock won't work with loop recording off.
• G-sensor sensitivity. A higher setting triggers emergency recordings more often. Lower it if you get too many false triggers on rough roads.
• IR LEDs. The cabin infrared lights default to Auto.
• Audio recording. This is on by default. Recording passengers' audio is covered by privacy and surveillance laws that differ between states, so decide deliberately whether you want it on, and tell passengers if you carry them. The box includes two warning stickers that can help you let passengers know recording is in progress.
• Number plate stamp. You can add your plate number to the video overlay.

Step 11 (Optional): Hardwire for Parking Monitoring

Parking monitoring needs stable, continuous power. Vantrue's manual recommends the Vantrue ACC hardwire kit and warns that ACC kits from other brands may not work well because the ACC detection pins sit in different places.

General steps:

1. Turn the ignition off. Find your car's fuse box (see your owner's manual for the location and the fuse layout).
2. Use a circuit tester to find one constant fuse (live all the time) and one ACC fuse (live only with the ignition on).
3. Fit the fuse taps, matching the fuse ratings, and connect the kit's constant and ACC wires.
4. Connect the ground wire to a clean, bare metal bolt on the body.
5. Run the cable up to the front unit, using the same route as the power cable, and plug it into the charging port.
6. Don't tap circuits that are critical for safety, such as airbags or ABS.

Inspect the kit before you start cutting into anything. One published review found damaged wiring on a hardwire kit out of the box.

If any of this is unfamiliar, have a professional install the kit. A fuse box mistake can cost far more than the installation.

Parking modes the N5S offers, selected in the menu:

• Collision detection. The camera shuts down after the car has been still for 5 minutes, and wakes when it detects vibration. It records 30 seconds plus the 10-second pre-recording, giving you a 40-second clip.
• Motion detection. It detects movement within roughly 2, 4 or 6 metres depending on the sensitivity setting. It only works when the camera stays powered.
• Low bitrate and low frame rate recording. These record continuously at reduced quality to save space.
• Time-lapse. You can't use it at the same time as the other parking modes.

Heat matters in Australia. Vantrue recommends collision detection mode in hot, sunny weather, and says to turn the dash cam off if the temperature inside the car reaches 60°C.

The optional LTE module lets you view your vehicle remotely. You insert a SIM card into the module and connect it to the dash cam.

Step 12: Take a Test Drive and Check the Footage

1. Drive for 10 to 15 minutes, then park.
2. Open the app and play back clips from all four cameras.
3. Check that the image is level, the lenses are clean, the GPS location and speed are stamped on the video, and audio is behaving as you expect.
4. Check that the cables haven't loosened and nothing is rubbing or hanging.
5. Look at the mount and the rear camera again the next day to make sure the adhesive has set.

Files are named so you can tell them apart. The letter at the end shows the camera (A front, B front cabin, C rear cabin, D rear), and the letter before it shows the type (N for normal loop recording, E for event, P for parking, T for time-lapse and S for privacy mode).

Common Installation Mistakes

• Plugging the rear camera cable into the charging port, or the car charger into the rear camera port.
• Skipping the format of the microSD card.
• Not testing before hiding the cables.
• Running cables across an airbag.
• Mounting the camera where it blocks your view.
• Using a hardwire kit from another brand.
• Leaving the default Wi-Fi password.
• Leaving frequency on a setting that suits another country.
• Turning loop recording off.

Troubleshooting

Keeping It Working

• Format the card at least once a month. Vantrue says to do this for stable use.
• Back up important footage. Event files are overwritten once they reach 30% of the card's capacity, and normal loop files once they reach 70%. Save anything that matters.
• Update the firmware. You can update over the air from the app, which uses data, or from a file on the card. Keep the camera powered during the update.
• Replace the card now and then. Memory cards wear out, and Vantrue recommends buying a new one if footage stops saving.
• Keep the lens and windscreen clean.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a hardwire kit? Not to record while you drive. You need one for parking monitoring, because that needs continuous power.

Can I install the N5S myself? A plug-in install is a realistic DIY job if you're patient with the cable routing. Hardwiring is harder, and a professional installer is a good choice if you're unsure.

Will it drain my battery? A plug-in install only runs when the socket has power. Parking monitoring draws from the car's battery, so if the car sits unused for long periods, keep that in mind and set up the parking mode that suits you.

Where does the rear cable go on a hatchback or SUV? Through the flexible rubber boot between the tailgate and the body. Feed it carefully and check it isn't pinched when the tailgate shuts.

What if I don't want the cabin recorded? Change the recording mode to one that excludes the cabin cameras, such as Front + Rear, or switch audio off. Whatever you choose, follow the laws in your state.

Which microSD card should I buy? A reliable high-endurance card from 32GB up to 1TB, rated U3 or higher.

Want an N5S to Install?

See the Vantrue N5S Bundles and Specs →

Questions about installing your N5S? Email hello@veltrixaauto.com with your vehicle make, model and year, and we'll help. This guide follows Vantrue's N5S user manual (version 1.4), and the manual and instructions included with your bundle take precedence. Vehicles differ, so if you're not confident working with vehicle wiring, use a professional installer.