Question 1

What to do if the Tapo Robot Vacuum shows an overlapping/slanted/distorted map

Accepted Answer

When the robot vacuum shows an overlapping, slanted, or distorted map, it may "get lost," leading to issues such as not cleaning properly, failing to return to charge, or bumping into things, which greatly affects the user experience.

Why do robot vacuums develop overlapping/slanted/distorted maps?

This issue typically occurs due to the following factors.

1. Environmental interference

The vacuum gets trapped circling chair legs or slips on wet surfaces, causing “ghost maps” (phantom overlapping layouts).

Common triggers: U-shaped chairs, wet floors/carpets.

2. Human intervention conflicts

Physically relocating the robot vacuum or obstacles mid-cleaning creates errors in mapping.

Common triggers: moving furniture mid-cleaning, carrying the robot vacuum between floors or rooms with similar layouts during cleaning.

How to avoid creating overlapping/slanted/distorted maps

Certainly, some methods can avoid this issue. To minimize the occurrence of this problem, please refer to the following suggestions.

1. Make sure the charging dock is correctly placed against the wall, with no obstacles within 0.5m (1.6ft) on the sides and 1.5m (4.9ft) in front.

A recommended placement for the charging dock with clear space requirements

2. Regularly maintain the LiDAR sensor.

1) For Tapo RV30 series and RV30 Max series, please check if there is any hair or paper debris stuck in the LiDAR sensor and clean it.

Location of the LiADR sensor of the RV30 series and RV30 Max series.

2) For Tapo RV20 series and RV20 Max series, please use a soft cloth to gently wipe the LiDAR sensor.

Location of the LiADR sensor of the RV20 series and RV20 Max series.

3. Avoid using it on damp carpets.

4. Do not frequently move large objects like boxes, tables, and sofas unless necessary.

5. Avoid manually dragging the robot vacuum during cleaning.

6. If the robot vacuum struggles to cross thresholds or chair legs, consider removing the mop or adding spacers to improve its obstacle-crossing ability.

7. If the robot frequently gets stuck in narrow areas or under sofas, consider adding No-Go Zones. For more details, please refer to Feature 3 of the How to optimize and edit Map of Tapo Robot Vacuum.

8. If there are similarly laid-out rooms or long corridors, consider placing some objects to enhance the robot's recognition ability.

What to do if the Tapo Robot Vacuum has an overlapping/slanted/distorted map?

There’s no need to worry too much. If this issue occurs, please refer to the following suggestions to fix it.

1. Create a New Map and Use the Lock Map Feature

1) Create a new map by the path: Tapo App > Robot Vacuum > Map > Map Management > Click the "+" icon.

Showing the add icon to create a new map.

2) After creating the correct new map, please lock it by the Path: Tapo App > Robot Vacuum > Map > Map Management > Lock Map. For more details, please refer to step 3 of How to create a complete Map of Tapo Robot Vacuum.

Note: Tapo RV30 series do not support this feature.

2. Create a New Map and Use the Backup & Restore Feature (for Tapo RV30 Series)

1) Create a new map by the path: Tapo App > Robot Vacuum > Map > Map Management > Click the "+" icon.

2) After creating the correct new map, please back it up by the path: Tapo App > Robot Vacuum > Map > Map Management > Click “Map Backup & Restore”. If the issue occurs again, go to the same path and restore the map in one tap. For more details, please refer to step 4 of the How to create a complete Map of Tapo Robot Vacuum.

Question 2

How to set a static IP for your Tapo Camera/Doorbell

Accepted Answer

Setting a static IP address for Tapo cameras/doorbells ensures reliable and uninterrupted operation while also ensuring reliable and uninterrupted use of your cameras/doorbells across your entire network. For continuous streaming via RTSP, connecting to an ONVIF-compatible system, or saving video to a NAS, setting a static IP for your Tapo camera/doorbell is highly recommended.

Note: Not all models support setting Static IP. This feature is unavailable for:

- Certain old models including C100/C200/TC60/TC70, hardware version 1.0 and 2.0.

- Battery-powered cameras and doorbells.

Support may vary by model and firmware version.

Refer to the following instructions to set up a static IP for your camera/doorbell.

1. Open your Tapo app, choose the camera/doorbell, and navigate to Device Settings > Advanced Settings > Network Settings > Static IP.

Guidance image for setting up static IP

2. In the Network Settings menu, you will see the device’s existing DHCP settings. Toggle the Static IP button to edit the device's network address fields.

3. Once toggled, enter the network address information for your device’s IP address, mask, gateway, and DNS settings, then tap Save. If configured correctly, the device will reconnect to the network using its new static IP configuration.

Note: If a static IP is incorrectly configured, it is possible that your device will not be able to reconnect to the network and will require a complete factory reset. As a result, it is important to consider whether or not you need a static IP or if an IP reservation will suffice.

Question 3

Can I cut the Tapo/Kasa strip?

Accepted Answer

Q1: Can I cut the Light Strip to fit my installation?

A1: Yes, The Light Strips have cut marks, allowing you to cut them to the desired length for your installation. However, the cut-off part is usually not reusable.

Note: Ensure the light strip is disconnected from power before cutting.

Q2: After cutting the Light strip, can I connect the excess part cut off to another controller for normal use?

A2: No. Currently, TP-Link does not sell the light strip controller separately. What’s more, Third-party controllers are not fully compatible with Tapo/Kasa light strips, which may prevent the strip from powering on or being controlled.

Q3: What can I do with the excess part of the Light strip after cutting?

A3: Generally, the excess part cut-off cannot be reused, so please be careful before cutting.

If you accidentally cut it to the wrong length, you can still reconnect the cut part using a connector or attach it to another strip of the same model. You can tap here for more guidance about using a connector.

Note: The total length of a light strip must not exceed 5 meters.

(1) Exceeding this length may cause the overall brightness of the strip to dim.

(2) For the L930 and L920 models, the parts beyond 5 meters cannot change colors properly.

Question 4

How to create 3D Map in the Tapo App for Pad

Accepted Answer

Security, lighting, power, switches, and environmental controls—every household device is neatly displayed on a 3D map. With home status instantly visible, intuitive control from a single screen ensures effortless use by everyone in the family.

Step1: Download the 3D Floor Plan

1. Open the Home page of your Tapo APP

2. Click on the cube icon (3D vivid view) in the top right corner

3. Download the Plan

Display the Home icon, cube icon, and download button position in the Tapo app.

Step2: Choose the way to generate the map

Method1: Draw Manually

Method 2: Map by Robot Vacuum (You can choose this method if you have a robot vacuum that supports the mapping function.)

Display the draw manually button and map by robot vacuum button position in the Tapo app.

Step3: Generate the Map

Method1: Draw Manually

1. Follow the instructions in the Tapo App to learn how to create the floor plan of your sweet home.

2. Customize the floor plan (rooms and doors), choose the furniture, and drag the smart home devices that are bonded to your account to the place you want.

Display the Floor plan button in the Tapo APP; we can customize the room and door settings on the left side of this page.

Display the furniture button in the Tapo APP; we can add more furniture on the left side of this page.

Display the devices button in the Tapo APP; we can add smart home devices on the left side of this page.

3. Save the settings: Click the save button on the top right corner and enjoy the 3D map.

Display the whole 3D map that you created.

Method2: Map by Robot Vacuum

1. Choose a robot vacuum.

2. Choose a Map from the robot vacuum and the floor plan will be generated automatically.

Display the map of the robot vacuum and a generate floor plan button that you can click.

Display the map of the house, which is the same as the map on the robot vacuum you chose before.

3. Customize the floor plan (rooms and doors), choose the furniture, and drag the smart home devices that are bound to your account to the place you want.

4. Save the settings: Click the save button on the top right corner and enjoy the 3D map.

How to add the 2nd or more floors

Click on the Floor button and add it. Choose the way to create the new floor. Don’t forget to save the settings.

Display the location of the floor button and add button to add more floors.

Display the location of 3 ways to create a new floor map by robot vacuum, draw manually or duplicate floor.

Question 5

How to use the Home feature and Room feature in the Tapo App

Accepted Answer

This feature allows you to customize your smart home experience, making it simple to control different devices based on where they are located. Whether you have multiple properties or just want to keep your living spaces organized, setting up Homes and Rooms helps streamline your smart device management.

For Home Feature:

1: Open the Tapo app and tap the “My Home” icon. Select “Home Settings” from the menu.

Display the location of the home settings icon.

2. Tap the “+” icon to create a new home.

Display the location of the add button.

3. Create a name for the home and tap “Save”.

Display the name position of the home.

4. Add rooms directly or add them later.

Display a pop-up window where we can choose to add rooms now or add them later.

For Room Feature:

1. Open the Tapo app and tap the “hamburger” icon. Select “Room Settings” from the menu.

Display the position of the room settings.

2. Tap “Add Rooms” to create a new room for your devices.

Display the add rooms button position.

3. Select or enter a name for the room and tap “Save”.

Display the name position of the room.

4. Choose the devices you want to add to this room and tap “Add to This Room” to complete the process.

Display the devices that we can add to the room.

5. Return to the home page, and you'll see the new room listed in the menu, along with your devices inside it.

Display the devices and rooms that we have set up on the home page of the Tapo APP.

Question 6

How to use the Home feature and Room feature in the Kasa App

Accepted Answer

This capability enables you to personalize your smart home setup, facilitating the management of various devices according to their specific locations. Regardless of whether you own several properties or are simply aiming to maintain order in your living areas, establishing Homes and Rooms will enhance the efficiency of your smart device control.

For Home Feature:

1. Open the Kasa app and tap the “arrow symbol”. Select “Home Settings” from the menu.

Display the location of the home settings icon.

2. Tap the “Add a Home” icon to create a new home.

Display the location of add a home button

3. Create a name for the home and tap “ADD”.

Display the name position of the home.

4. Add rooms directly or add them later.

Display a pop-up window where we can choose to add rooms now or add them later.

For Room Feature:

1. Open the Kasa app and tap the “hamburger” icon.

Display the position of the room settings.

2. Tap “Add Rooms” to create a new room for your devices.

Display the add rooms button position.

3. Select or enter a name for the room and tap “ADD”.

Display the name position of the room.

4. Select the devices you want to add to this room, then tap “Add to This Room” to finish the process.

Display the devices that we can add to the room.

5. Return to the home page, and you'll see the new room listed in the menu, along with your devices inside it.

Display the devices and rooms that we have set up on the home page of the Kasa APP.

Question 7

How can I prevent my camera battery from swelling?

Accepted Answer

Battery swelling, also known as battery bloating, is a condition where a battery physically expands or bulges due to internal pressure. This can occur for several reasons and poses potential risks. To extend the life of your batteries and reduce the risk of battery swelling, you can follow these tips:

1. Avoid Overcharging.

It’s not recommended to leave your devices plugged in for extended periods once they are fully charged. Overcharging can cause the battery to heat up and potentially swell.

2. Monitor Temperature.

Keep your cameras and batteries in a cool, dry place. Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can damage batteries and cause them to swell. Avoid leaving devices in direct sunlight.

3. Use the original charger.

Use chargers that came with the package. Using incompatible chargers can lead to overcharging or incorrect voltage, damaging the battery.

4. Regularly Check for Damage.

Inspect your batteries for any signs of damage, such as leaks or bulging. If you notice any issues, replace the battery immediately.

5. Store Batteries Properly.

If you're not using a battery for an extended period, store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Partially charge the battery before storing it to help maintain its health.

6. Replace Old Batteries:

Over time, batteries degrade and become less efficient. Replace your batteries periodically to ensure they are functioning optimally and to prevent potential issues like swelling.

If you need further assistance, click here to contact our support team.

Question 8

How to set privacy zone for your Tapo Camera

Accepted Answer

The Privacy Zones feature allows you to define a specific area that can't be viewed or monitored to protect your privacy. The purpose of the Private zones is to prevent some areas from being recognized.

Note: The settings apply only to the current camera view. When the camera is rotated, the camera view changes and the settings will not apply.

Step 1: Launch Tapo App, and pick the camera you would like to edit by selecting it to enter the live view.

Step 2: Tap the Device Settings> Video& Display> Privacy Zones.

Display the Video & Display position in the app. Display the Privacy Zones position in the app.

Step3: Enable Privacy Zones, and click on the arrow symbol to edit.

Tap the arrow symbol to customize the Privacy zones.

Step 4: Add zone and drag the corners of the privacy zones to adjust it.

Personalize privacy zones by adding and clearing. Then save the changes.

You can customize the zone and clear it in the app.

Get to know more details of each function and configuration please go to Download Center to download the manual of your product.

Question 9

How to connect Tapo Wi-Fi Cameras/doorbells with Tapo Hub

Accepted Answer

Tapo Hub now offers Wi-Fi backup and Hub storage for some Wi-Fi cameras and doorbells, making your hub the centerpiece of your home security system. Refer to the following article for a list of Hub-compatible devices: Tapo Smart HomeBase (Tapo H500) Compatible Device List

If your camera/doorbells support this feature, please upgrade the firmware to the latest and refer to the information below for configuration.

Note: Currently, only the Tapo H200 and H500 support this feature.

Wi-Fi Backup

With the Wi-Fi Backup feature, Tapo Hub can now work as a Wi-Fi extender/Access Point, providing Wi-Fi Backup functionality for Tapo Cameras and doorbells. Once enabled, the Tapo Camera and doorbells will automatically connect to the device (hub/router) with the strongest signal and seamlessly switch to another device if the Wi-Fi connection is interrupted.

Here are the steps to configure Wi-Fi Backup:

1. Connect your hub to the same Local Area Network (the simplest way is to connect to the same router).

2. Tap Device Settings > Network Connection > Wi-Fi Backup to turn on the Wi-Fi Backup feature.

3. Select the appropriate Hub AP for your Tapo Camera.

4. Once the setup is complete, the Tapo Camera will automatically connect to the device (Hub/Router) with the strongest signal.

Steps to set Wi-Fi Backup from Camera’s settings.

Hub Storage

With the Hub Storage feature, you can now directly store the videos of your camera/doorbell on a Tapo Hub with extended storage functionality within the same local network. This feature ensures that even if the camera is stolen, video footage can still be accessed from the hub’s storage.

Note: There is a limit to the number of cameras that can connect to Hub Storage; refer to the following article for details: How many devices can connect to a Tapo Hub at the same time?

Here are the steps to configure Hub Storage:

1. Ensure your camera's connected router and your hub are within the same local area network.

2. Tap Device Settings > Storage & Recording > Local Storage > Storage Location, then select the hub where you want the videos to be stored.

3. Tap Save in the top right corner to complete the configuration.

Steps to set Hub storage in the camera’s Device settings.

Connected Devices

With the Connected Devices feature, you can configure both Wi-Fi Backup and Hub Storage in one place. You can not only set up a new device but also connect existing Wi-Fi devices.
1. Ensure the Camera and Hub are connected to the same local area network.

2. Tap Hub > Connected Devices, then tap the "+" icon in the top right corner and select "Connect Existing Devices."

3. After discovering and adding the device to the hub, tap the corresponding device to manage both Wi-Fi Backup and Storage Location settings.

Steps to set Wi-Fi Backup and Hub storage settings from hub’s settings.

Question 10

How secure are Tapo devices?

Accepted Answer

Our Global Certifications

Tapo is committed to data security and compliance, holding ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 certifications. These certifications demonstrate our adherence to international standards for information security management and personal information management.

Data Encryption

Tapo employs AES 128-bit encryption and TLS 1.2 protocols to protect sensitive information, such as camera videos and user identity data. AES 128-bit encryption offers robust protection using a 128-bit key, making unauthorized access nearly impossible. TLS 1.2 ensures secure internet connections, maintaining data confidentiality and integrity while resisting eavesdropping and tampering.

Account Security

To enhance user account security, Tapo implements a Two-Step Verification mechanism. This requires an additional verification step beyond just a username and password, safeguarding user credentials and preventing unauthorized access.

Making Your Account More Secure: Introducing Two-Step Verification (2FA) for the Tapo App

Comprehensive Data Defense

Tapo partners with AWS to leverage top-tier security services, including DDoS protection and Web Application Firewalls (WAFs), to protect against data attacks. Additionally, we have disaster recovery measures in place to quickly restore data in case of corruption or loss, and we conduct regular security audits to monitor data access and identify potential breaches.

Secure Cameras, Private Life

Tapo provides a full range of cameras designed to secure your home while also protecting your personal information. Our solutions ensure both safety from threats and privacy for your data.

1) Secure Local & Cloud Storage

Keeps up to 512GB of footage stored continuously on a microSD card (not included) or choose our Tapo Care Cloud subscription service, which not only saves your 30-day video history but also provides additional benefits such as activity notifications with snapshots.

What Type of MicroSD Card Does Tapo Camera Support?

General Questions about Tapo Care

2) Privacy Mode

Set your Tapo camera to privacy mode and the camera’s lens will be blocked from recording your privacy moments.

How to Use the Privacy Mode of My Tapo Cameras

3) Set Privacy Zone

Set up blocked areas for your cameras in the Tapo app to prevent recording private spaces, such as your bed. Record only areas that need to be monitored, such as doorways and windows, to ensure your privacy is not leaked.

How to set privacy zone for your Tapo Camera

All FAQ