General Questions about Tapo Cameras

Part 1：Installation Related

Q: Which devices and OS versions are the Tapo App compatible with?

A: Any mobile device running iOS 11.0 or above, Android 5.0 or above. (Note: The required or minimum OS version will be updated in line with future app updates. We recommend periodically checking for the most up-to-date information on Google Play or App Store regarding the OS requirements needed to run the Tapo App)

Note: Currently, there is no plan to support additional operating systems such as Windows phone, Kindle, or Kindle Fire. The Tapo App is only available on mobile devices and not computers.

Q: Can you also use a SIM card for the camera?

A: No, Tapo cameras do not work with a SIM card.

Q: What encryption types are supported by Tapo Cameras?

A: The Tapo cameras support WPA or WPA2 encryptions.

WEP, Portal, WPA/WPA2-enterprise, or WPA3-only network is not widely supported.

Note: Tapo cameras support hidden SSIDs.

Q: What wireless frequencies are used for Tapo Cams?

A: Tapo cameras only support the 2.4 GHz band

Q: How do I read the colors on the LED on a Tapo Camera?

A: The following is a list of what the lights mean on your Tapo Camera:

For Tapo C100 V1, Tapo C200 V1:

System LED Colors	Status
Solid Red	Starting up
Blinking Red And Green	Ready for setup
Blinking Green Slowly	Connecting to Wi-Fi
Solid Green	Connected to Wi-Fi
Blinking Red	Camera Resetting
Blinking Green Quickly	Camera Updating

For Other Tapo Cameras:

System LED Colors	Status
Solid Red	Starting up
Blinking red and green	Ready for setup
Blinking Red Slowly	Connecting to Wi-Fi
Solid Amber	Connected to Wi-Fi
Blinking Red Quickly	Camera Resetting
Blinking Green Quickly	Camera Updating

Q: How do I toggle the LED on the front of a Tapo camera?

A: If you want to turn on or off the green LED on the front of the Tapo camera, navigate to your camera settings page and look for the LED option.

Q: Do Tapo cameras work with SmartThings?

A: No, Tapo cameras are only compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Currently, there is no plan to add support for Samsung SmartThings or IFTTT.

Q Do Tapo cameras support an IPv6 address?

A: No, the camera only supports IPv4

Q: Can I use a Tapo camera without the Tapo app and without an account?

A: No, Tapo cameras require the Tapo app and a TP-Link ID account.

Q: Can you use and activate Tapo Cameras without Wi-Fi?

A: Tapo cameras can be used when wireless is offline or unavailable. However, the cameras must be initially set up and configured with a Wi-Fi connection. You will also need to insert and format a MicroSD card. *You will not be able to access the live view of a camera that is offline.

Q: Can you rotate the camera 360 degrees?

A: Stick cameras like the Tapo C100 have a ball and socket joint on the base and can be manually rotated 360 degrees. Pan Tilt cameras like the Tapo C210 can be rotated 360 degrees via the pan/tilt control in the Tapo app.

Q: How do I change the wireless network?

A: Currently the only way to change wireless networks is to reset the camera and reconfigure it.

Q: What should I do if Tapo C310 still shows Tapo_Cam_XXX default Wi-Fi whilst connected via Ethernet Cable?

A: Please check if the Ethernet cable is still properly connected to the camera. After setting up the camera through Ethernet in the APP, the camera's default Wi-Fi SSID should disappear. However, if the Ethernet cable is disconnected, the camera will enter setup mode again with the status led flashing amber and green and start to broadcast Tapo_Cam XXX Wi-Fi again.

Part 2: Motion Detection Related

Q: Do I have to use an SD card for the Tapo camera to record if motion is detected?

A: No. Tapo Cameras can record activity either via a cloud subscription (sold separately) or by recording to an installed and formatted MicroSD card. The choice is up to you.

Q: What happens when my MicroSD card is full?

A: By enabling the loop feature, the oldest recording will automatically be overwritten when room is needed on the MicroSD card.

Q: Do Tapo cameras take photos if movement is detected?

A: If you subscribe to the Tapo Care service, you will be able to use the advanced function “Rich Notifications with Snapshots”. This will take a snapshot each time movement is detected.

Q: How do I record on a Tapo Camera?

A: Tapo Cameras offer two recording options MicroSD local storage and Tapo Care cloud storage. Local storage is stored on an inserted and formatted MicroSD card, and Cloud Storage is stored on our secure cloud servers.

Q: How do I export/share videos from the TAPO app?

A: Please find the videos under Memory and click on the videos that you need to export/share; then, you will see the Share and Download options.

Q: Do Tapo cameras support manual recording?

A: Yes, go to your camera’s live view and look for the record button. Tap once to begin recording. Tap again to stop.

Q: How can I view 24-hour recordings on the Camera app?

Note: This requires a MicroSD card to be inserted and formatted and 24/7 recording enabled

A: Tap on the desired camera from the main page in the Tapo app. Tap on Playback and Download. You will see a timeline. If the activity was detected, you would see callouts below the timeline. Tap on one of these to be taken to that part of the timeline and review the clip

Q: How do I delete recordings from the MicroSD cards through the Tapo App?

A: Please navigate to the camera’s Device Settings page on the Tapo app and tap Format on the Storage & Recording>microSD Card page if you want to delete all recordings. Or you may need to put the SD card into a computer (with an SD card reader) or phone to delete the corresponding recordings.

Q: How do you adjust the sensitivity settings on a Tapo Camera?

A: Navigate to the camera’s Device Settings page on the Tapo app, then tap Detection, where you can find the Detection Types (such as Motion Detection, Person Detection, etc.), click on the detection type you want to enable, and then change the sensitivity of the detection to a lower/higher level.

Q: What is the Motion Detection Distance

A: The specific value of detection distance cannot be given since it is related to more factors like the size of the object, the range of movement, and the sensitivity of the camera. Please see the specifications for our camera to see the maxim distance of detection.

Part 3：Live View related

Q: Who can view my camera and video recordings?

A: Only the individuals who have signed into the associated Tapo camera account can view your camera and clips. You may also share a specific camera with another Tapo account through the share feature.

All video streams and activities associated with your Tapo Cam are private and can only be viewed by those signed into the Tapo Camera or had the authority to access your SD card.

*Note: We recommend that you never share your account information with anyone.

Q: Can I view multiple Tapo cameras at the same time?

A: Yes, you can add up to 32 Tapo cameras to the Live View list, and you can view 4 of them simultaneously in the same window.

Q: Can multiple accounts/devices view the Tapo camera at the same time?

A: Currently, each camera can be controlled or managed by only one account on the Tapo App. You can share it with 5 different accounts at most, and these five accounts can only access live view and playback features of the camera.

Each camera also supports up to 2 simultaneous video streams. You could use up to 2 devices to view the live feed of the camera simultaneously using the Tapo App or via RTSP. You may also only view the playback of a camera using one Tapo app at a time.

Q: Why can’t I use Tapo Care, MicroSD card, and NVR at the same time?

A: Due to the limited hardware performance of the camera itself, Tapo Care works best with one of the NVR or SD card recordings.

If you use an SD card and Tapo Care simultaneously, the NVR(RTSP/ONVIF) will be disabled.

To restart the recording on the NVR, please remove the SD card from the camera.

Q: What if the image is not clear when watching Live View remotely?

For the HQ and LQ issue, we are sorry that to ensure a smooth Live View in a low-bandwidth environment when viewing the camera remotely, we set the video resolution to LQ (360P) by default.

If you have a high bandwidth, you may switch to HQ (1080P) manually on the Live View page.

If you view the camera locally, that is, your monitoring phone, and the camera is connected to the same Wi-Fi, it will default to HQ streaming quality.
For remote live view, as long as you don't close the app, it will be the same option you quit last time (kill the app and open it again, and it will become LQ). If you need to have the HQ live view all the time, please lock the APP to keep it running in the background.

Part 4：ONVIF & RTSP Related

Q: How can I use Tapo Cameras with Chromecast?

A: To use Tapo cameras with Google Assistant, you need a Google Chromecast, a Google Home Hub, or any smart display that supports Chromecast (such as a TV with built-in Chromecast). After configured, you can watch the live feed from any Tapo camera via a spoken command, and you can refer to this link to know the commands the camera supports.

Currently, the Tapo cameras don’t support the “camera on/off” command due to possible security risks. For example, an intruder could potentially shut off your cameras with a simple command.

Watching the live feed of Tapo cameras through Google Assistant will use your internet traffic as it’s a Cloud-to-Cloud service. In consideration of your extranet traffic and performance, the live feed will stop after 5 minutes. However, you can ask Google to show the camera again if you want to continue streaming.

Q: How do I view a Tapo camera on a computer? Can it be viewed via a web browser?

A: Currently, we don’t have camera control software for a PC, nor can we view the Tapo camera directly on the web. We can only watch a Live View of the Tapo Camera on the Tapo App or sync the camera screen to devices like Echo Show, Fire TV, etc.

Users may use third-party software to view and manage the camera, and here are the detailed instructions.

Q: Do Tapo cameras work with NAS or NVR/DVR?

A: The Tapo camera supports the standard ONVIF protocol (Profile S), so it will work with NVR/DVR or NAS devices that support the standard ONVIF protocol as well.

Part 5：Audio & Video Related

Q: Can I change the video quality of a Tapo camera when watching the video with Echo Show or Fire TV?

A: No, it is not possible to change the video quality of the Tapo camera when watching the video with Echo Show or Fire TV.

Q: What can I do if the audio from the Tapo camera sounds a bit muffled?

A: If the audio is muffled or there is noise/echo when watching the Tapo camera's live view or recorded videos, try the troubleshooting steps below.

1. Relocate the camera in case there is any other device that may have interference with it.

2. Move and put the phone much farther away from the camera or at least put them in two different rooms and test the two-way audio again.

Q: What can I do if the video recordings from the MicroSD card cannot be played on a computer?

A: Once formatted on the Tapo App, the MicrosSD card will automatically be divided into multiple folders, each named xxxxxx_000000_tp00001.mp4, xxxxxxxx_000000_tp00002.mp4, and so on. This folder or clip cannot be played or opened as there is no recording in it. The recorded videos will fill in these folders one by one.

Part 6: Other Questions

Q: How many Tapo cameras can be managed by one account?

A: There is no quantitative limit on the number of cameras that can be set up or controlled by one account on the Tapo App. However, Tapo Care is only available to a maximum of 10 cameras on one account. If you would like Tapo Care for more cameras, you will need another account.

Q: How secure are Tapo Cameras?

A: Data security is important to us, and we understand that it is essential for your peace of mind. We use industry-standard AES 128-bit encryption with SSL/TLS to encrypt the camera data, ensuring your home security.

Q: What's the bandwidth required for the Tapo camera to work properly?

A: The recommended bandwidth for each camera will vary due to different camera types and resolutions. The upload bandwidth for each camera would be around 5Mbps to stream a live feed or upload videos. Please ensure your network meets this requirement and, if necessary, adjust the resolution accordingly to stay within the upstream limit.

Most importantly, however, the actual streaming experience would be affected by the surrounding wireless interference and the signal strength, even when the bandwidth is enough. In this case, it’s suggested to eliminate possible wireless interference (like Bluetooth devices, USB 3.0 devices, cordless phones, and microwave ovens) or place the camera closer to the router.

Q: Can I bind/use the Tapo Camera with my current Kasa Cam or NC-series Camera accounts?

A: TP-Link Apps and services use a universal login referred to as a TP-Link ID. This account can be used across all TP-Link apps and services. However, Tapo cameras cannot be managed by the Kasa or TPCamera apps.

Q: How do I change my login email address on the Tapo App?

A: If you want to change the login email address on the Tapo App, please click on ‘Me’ on the bottom menu of the Tapo App and just hit Log out. Then, Log in again and type in your new email address and password, and you will be able to see all the cameras bound to the new account.

Note: If your Tapo cameras have already been bound to the previous account, you will need to remove them from the old account and bind them to the new one. Here is the guide for unbinding them from the old account.

Q: Can I use my Tapo camera anywhere if there is no internet?

A: You can use the camera or watch the live view without an internet connection, but please ensure both your phone and the camera are connected to the same wireless network. The Local storage with the SD card will still work, and users can view the saved recordings through Playback.

Note: Notification or any other service associated with the TP-Link Cloud will not work if there is no internet access.

Q: Do Tapo Cameras monitor 24/7?

A: All wired-powered Tapo cameras support 24/7 continuous recording.

Note:

A microSD card is required to enable the Continuous Recording feature.
Your camera must be powered on and NOT in Privacy Mode for the monitoring to take place.
Battery-powered cameras do not support 24/7 recording.

Q: What is Privacy Mode?

A: Privacy Mode enables or disables streaming and recording of video and audio. When you enable this option, your camera will not record audio or video, and you will not receive any event notifications.

Q: How can I delete my Tapo Camera’s cloud account?

A: Refer here to submit a request to delete your Tapo Camera account.

Q: Can I add or manage the Tapo camera on the Kasa app?

A: No. Tapo cameras can only be managed or monitored by the Tapo App.

Q: Must the Tapo App be opened to receive notifications?

A: To receive notifications, they must be enabled in the Tapo App and within your phone or tablet’s push notification settings

Q: Do Tapo Cameras support cloud storage?

A: Yes, Tapo camera does support the cloud storage feature with the Tapo Care services: https://www.tp-link.com/tapocare/

Q: What should I do if the camera stops working after I change the Wi-Fi name or password on my Router or change my router entirely?

A: After you change the Wi-Fi name or password, the camera will be disconnected from the router as it cannot automatically recognize the new SSID or password. You need to reset and reconfigure the camera. As for a new router, as long as it shares the same 2.4G wireless network name, password, and security model with the old router, the camera should be connected to the new router automatically. If not, please reset and reconfigure it.

Q: Can I turn off the IR LED of my Tapo camera in Night Mode?

A: No. The IR LED cannot be turned off when the camera is in Night Mode.

Q: Do Tapo cameras support POE capabilities?

A: No. You have to use the supplied power adapter.

Q: Do Tapo cameras support Zoom?

A: Tapo cameras support two digital zoom functions

Pinch to zoom
Double tap

Q: Can I rotate the image on my Tapo Camera

A: Tapo cameras support an inverted image feature. This feature allows a user to flip the image 180 degrees.