Think of it this way: your Studio lives in the cloud, and your cameras live on a local network. The Bridge is the thing that connects those two worlds.
There are two types of Bridge, and they can be used separately or together.
Desktop Bridge
A Desktop Bridge is the Iris desktop application running on a Mac or Windows computer. When that computer is on the same network as your cameras, it acts as a relay — it finds the cameras on the local network and passes that information up to your Studio in the cloud.
This is the most common type of Bridge. You install the Iris app on a computer, sign in, link it to your Studio, and it handles the rest. As long as the app is running and the computer is online, your Studio can see and control the cameras on that network.
A few things to know about Desktop Bridges:
They run on macOS (Apple Silicon) and Windows (64-bit).
The computer needs to be on the same local network as your cameras for automatic discovery.
If the Iris app is closed or the computer goes to sleep, the Bridge goes offline and your Studio loses its connection to those cameras until the app is running again.
Some features, like Auto-Tracking, require a Desktop Bridge to be online — they can't run through an Embedded Bridge alone.
Iris Enabled Embedded Bridge
An Iris Enabled Embedded Bridge is different. Instead of running on a separate computer, Iris is built directly into a supported camera or hardware device. The camera itself acts as the Bridge — no additional computer needed.
This simplifies the setup significantly. You link the camera to your Studio using the camera's web interface, enter your credentials, and you're connected. The camera handles the connection on its own, and you can access it from anywhere as long as it has internet.
A few things to know about Embedded Bridges:
No separate computer or Iris desktop app is required.
The camera connects to your Studio directly over the internet.
If the camera sits idle for a while, it may enter a low-power state, but it restarts automatically — no action needed.
Embedded Bridges are only available on supported Iris Enabled devices. Not every camera has this capability built in yet, but we’re working on it!
How They Work Together
You're not limited to one type and one type only. A single Studio can have multiple Embedded Bridges linked at the same time, and you can mix one Desktop Bridge and multiple Embedded Bridges freely. For example, you might have a Desktop Bridge on a production computer discovering several standard cameras on a local network, while an Iris Enabled camera at a remote location connects directly to the same Studio through its own Embedded Bridge.
Each Bridge operates independently. If one goes offline, the others keep working. Your Studio shows the status of every linked Bridge so you always know what's connected and what isn't.
When to Use Which
Scenario | Best fit |
You have standard cameras and a computer on the same network | Desktop Bridge — install the Iris app on the computer and let it discover your cameras |
You have an Iris Enabled camera and want the simplest setup possible | Embedded Bridge — link the camera directly, no computer needed |
You need Auto-Tracking | Desktop Bridge required — Auto-Tracking doesn't run through Embedded Bridges alone |
You're managing cameras across multiple locations | Both — use Desktop Bridges where you have local production computers, and Embedded Bridges for remote Iris Enabled cameras |
You want to minimize hardware | Embedded Bridge — fewer devices to manage since the camera handles its own connection |
What a Bridge Is Not
It's worth clarifying what a Bridge doesn't do:
A Bridge is not a camera. It's the connection layer between your cameras and your Studio. A Desktop Bridge is a computer running the Iris app. An Embedded Bridge is the Iris software inside a supported camera — but the Bridge function is specifically the part that connects the camera to the Studio, not the camera functionality itself.
A Bridge does not store your recordings. Recording is handled by the Studio and its associated storage, not by the Bridge.
A Bridge does not require a permanent static IP or special network configuration beyond being on the same local network as your cameras (for Desktop Bridges) or having internet access (for Embedded Bridges).