General Questions about the Tapo Camera

Q1. 1 What kind of devices and OS version is the Tapo App compatible with?

A: Any mobile device running iOS 10 or above, Android 5 or above.

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

Q1.2 Can you also use a SIM card for the camera?

A: No, the camera does not work with a SIM card.

Q1.3 What encryption types do the cameras support?

A: The Tapo cameras support WPA or WPA2 encryptions. No encrypted Wi-Fi is also supported.

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

Note: Tapo cameras do support hidden SSIDs.

Q1.4 What are the frequencies used for Tapo Cams? Does the Tapo Cam use the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band?

A: Tapo camera only supports 2.4Ghz.

Q1.5 What do the various LED colors mean on the Tapo Cam?

A: The Tapo Cam has an LED on the front, you can know the current status of the camera from the LED.

For Tapo C100 V1, Tapo C200 V1

For other Tapo Cameras

Q1.6: How do I turn on or off the green LED on the front of the 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 for the LED option.

Q1.7: Does the Tapo camera work with SmartThings?

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

Q1.8 Does the Tapo camera work with an IPv6 address?

A: No, the camera only supports IPv4

Q1.9 Can I use the Tapo camera without the Tapo app and without an account?

A: No, the camera needs to work with the Tapo App and surely an account to log in.

Q1.10 Can you use and activate Tapo Camera without WiFi?

A: It only supports recording in this situation. All the recordings will be saved automatically on the SD card. When the camera is placed in a non-Wi-Fi room, customers are not allowed to watch the live view or change the camera settings as it shows offline on the Tapo app.

How to achieve that: Set up the camera with a normal wireless network>>insert an SD card into the camera>>enable 24 hours recording feature>>unplug the camera, and bring it into a room without Wi-Fi signals>>power it on >>the light is Blinking red slowly>>Done.

Q1.11 Can you rotate the camera 360 degrees?

A: For C200/C210, The 360° Horizontal，114° Vertical

Q1.12 How to change the wireless network?

A: You could change the wireless network by resetting the camera and reconfiguring it.

Q1.13: What should I do if Tapo C310 still shows Tapo_Cam_XXX default WiFi 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 will be gone. However, if the Ethernet cable is disconnected, the camera will enter setup mode again with status led flashing amber and green and start to broadcast Tapo_Cam XXX Wi-Fi again.

Q2.1 Do I have to use an SD card for the Tapo camera to record if motion is detected?

A: Yes, the camera needs to use an SD card as storage space to save recordings. We also intend to add the cloud storage feature with the Tapo Care services in the further: https://www.tp-link.com/tapocare/

Q2.2 Does recording overwrite the oldest footage?

A: Yes, you could enable the loop recording feature on the Tapo App to overwrite the oldest footage

Q2.3 Does the Tapo camera make photos if movement is detected?

A: No, the Tapo camera will start recording once movement is detected, it doesn't support capturing pictures when motion is detected. We do intend to add the feature of Rich Notifications with Snapshots in the Tapo Care Plan in the further:https://www.tp-link.com/tapocare/

Q2.4 Can I choose where to store the recordings of my Tapo C200 camera?

A: Nope, users cannot choose the location or path to save and store recordings. The motion-detected recordings and continuous local recordings are saved in the SD card, while the manually recorded clips or pictures are saved in Memory of the app, which will occupy the phone memory.

The recordings in Memory can be shared, downloaded, or deleted on the Tapo App directly, however, the recordings saved in the SD card cannot be shared, downloaded, or deleted directly from the Tapo App. Users will need to put the SD card into a computer (with an SD card reader) or phone to delete the corresponding recordings, they can format the SD card on the Tapo App if they want to delete all recordings completely.

Q2.5. How to export/share videos from 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, Download.

Q2.6 Does the Tapo camera support manual recording?

A: Manual recording function is available when watching the Live view or playback of the camera on Tapo App. Click on the record icon, and the manual recording will be on. Users can view the recorded clips in the Memory list on Tapo App.

Q2.7 How can I view 24-hour recordings on the Camera app?

Note: Micro SD card is needed for 24-hour recording and it’s required to format the Micro SD card on the Tapo App.

A: On the Camera or Live View page, tap the gear icon to enter the Camera Settings page. Toggle on to enable the Local Recording function and set the Recording Schedule for Continuous Recording (24-hour Recording) as needed. On the Live View page, tap Playback to view all recordings. Drag the timeline and you can view recordings whenever and wherever you are.

Q2.8 How to delete recordings from SD cards through the Tapo App?

A: Please navigate to Camera Settings by hitting the gear button on the top-right of the camera APP and tap Format/Initialize on the SD card settings 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.

Q2.9 What if the Tapo camera is too sensitive or not sensitive for motions?

A: If you feel your Tapo camera is too sensitive, please navigate to the Camera Settings page on the App, then tap Detection & Alerts, where you can find Motion Sensitivity settings to change the sensitivity of the detection to a lower/higher level.

Q2.10. 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.

Q3.1 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. 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.

Q3.2 Can I view multiple Tapo cameras at the same time?

A: Users can view multiple Tapo cameras at the same time. All Tapo cameras will list on the Camera page of the Tapo App and you are allowed to view all of them by just sliding up and down. Most importantly, you can add up to 32 Tapo cameras in the Live View window totally and you will be able to view 4 of them in the same window each time.

Q3.3 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 2 different accounts at most and these two accounts can only access live view and playback.

Each camera supports up to 2 simultaneous video streams. You could use up to 2 devices to live view the camera at the same time using the Tapo App or the RTSP. You could view the playback on only one device using the Tapo App at the same time

Q3.4: Why can’t I use Tapo Care, SD 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 are using an SD card and Tapo Care at the same time, the NVR(RTSP/ONVIF) will be disabled.

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

Q3.5: 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 somehow low bandwidth environment when viewing the camera remotely, we set the video resolution to LQ (360P) by default.

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

If you view the camera locally, that is your monitoring phone and the camera is connected to the same Wi-Fi, it will be HQ all the time once you choose it.
For the remote live view, as long as you don't kill 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

Q4.1 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 and 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 cameras via a spoken command, and you can refer to this link to know the commands the camera support.

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.

Q4.2 How to 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 Live View of the Tapo Camera on the Tapo App or sync the camera screen to devices like Echo show, fire TV, etc.

Or users may use third-party software to view and manage the camera, and here is the detailed instructions.

Q4.3 Will the Tapo camera 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.

Q5.1 Can we change the video quality of the Tapo camera when watching the video with Echo Show or Fire TV?

A: Nope. We cannot change the video quality of the Tapo camera when watching the video with Echo Show or Fire TV.

Q5.2 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 live view or recorded videos of the Tapo camera, try below troubleshooting steps.

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.

Q5.3 What can I do if the video recordings from the SD card cannot be played on a computer?

A: The SD card will be divided into multiple folders automatically once formatted on the Tapo App, and all of the folders will be named as xxxxxxxx_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.

Default folder or clip cannot be played:

Q6.1 How many Tapo cameras can be managed by one account?

A: There is no quantitative limit on the cameras that can be set up or controlled by one account on the Tapo App.

Q6.2 How secure is this camera?

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.

Q6.3 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.

Q6.4 Can I bind/use the Tapo Camera with my current Kasa Cam/NC Cam account?

A: Yes, users can use the same account to log in to Tapo App and manage the Tapo camera.

Q6.5 How do I change my login email address on Tapo App for the Tapo camera?

A: If you want to change the login email address on 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, then you will be able to see all the cameras bound to the new account.

But please note if your Tapo cameras have already been bound to the previous account, you will need to remove those cameras first from the old account and bind them to the new one, here is the guide for unbinding them from the old account.

Q6.6 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.

Q6.7 Does Tapo Cam monitor 24/7?

A: Yes, Tapo Cam monitors 24/7, users can enable either Continuous Recording or Motion Detection on the Camera Settings-Local Recording page.

*Note: Your camera must be powered on and NOT in Privacy Mode for the monitoring to take place.

Q6.8 What is Privacy Mode?

A: With Tapo Cam’s Privacy Mode you can enable or disable 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.

Q6.9 Can I turn my Tapo camera on or off from my mobile phone?

A: Unfortunately, it doesn’t support turning on/off the camera on the Tapo App at present. If you want to turn on/off the camera, you need to switch it off manually or you may just plug the camera into a smart plug like Tapo P100 and set a schedule to turn it on/off automatically.

Or you can disable streaming and recording of video and audio with Tapo Cam's Privacy Mode, but please note that when you select this option your camera will not record audio or video, and you will not receive any event notifications.

Q6.10 How can I delete my Tapo Camera’s cloud account?

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

Q6.11 Can I add or manage the Tapo camera on the Kasa app?

A: Nope. Tapo cameras, which can only be managed or monitored by the Tapo App, are designed to be different from Kasa Cams in functionality and marketing. Users can watch Live View of the Tapo camera on the Tapo App or sync the camera screen to devices like the Echo show, fire TV, etc.

Or users may click here to play the RTSP stream from the Tapo camera on a PC with third-party software or applications.

Q6.12 Must the Tapo App be opened to receive notifications?

A: It depends on the phone model and its OS. For iOS, you can still receive notifications when the Tapo App is closed, while you may not be able to receive notifications on some Android phones if the Tapo App is closed.

Q6.13 Does C200 support cloud storage?

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

Currently, it is only available for a few regions and limited Models.

Q6.14 Is it secure to save the wireless credentials on the Tapo App when I try to set up the Tapo Cam on the Android phone?

A: Sure, data security comes first. We save the wireless SSID and password in the private libraries of the Tapo App, which won't be exposed to anyone else, in case of users forget their wireless password and may fail to link up their cameras. However, if you do worry about the security, you may just uncheck the "save password" option when you add the camera on the Tapo App.

Q6.15 What should I do if the camera stops working after I change the Wi-Fi name or password, or just change a new router?

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.

Q6.16 Can I turn off the IR LED of my Tapo camera in Night Mode?

A: Nope. The IR LED cannot be turned off when the camera is in Night Mode. We do not recommend pointing the camera directly at a glass window at night since the IR light that comes up may reflect light and will result in a fuzzy or poor image.

If you want to turn off the IR LED at night, please switch the camera view to Day Mode.