How to Check and Fix an Unstable Tapo or Kasa Network Connection

DLW10, TC34, TC40, TC40GW, TC41, TC42, TC43, TC46, TC47, TC50 KIT, TC53, TC55, TC60, TC65, TC70, TC71, TC72, TC72P2, TC73, TC74, TC80, TC82, TC82 KIT, TC85, TC85 KIT, TC90 KIT, TC90G KIT, TC92 KIT, TC93D KIT, TCA41, TCA72, TCB72, TCB82, TCW61, TD20, TD21, TD23, TD25, TDB21, TL13E, TL31, TL33, TL61-10, TL61-5, TL62-5, TL63-5, TP11, TP15, Tapo A100, Tapo A200, Tapo A201, Tapo A202, Tapo C100, Tapo C101, Tapo C103, Tapo C104, Tapo C110, Tapo C110P2, Tapo C110P4, Tapo C111, Tapo C113, Tapo C120, Tapo C125, Tapo C200, Tapo C200C, Tapo C200P2, Tapo C201, Tapo C202, Tapo C206, Tapo C207, Tapo C210, Tapo C210P2, Tapo C211, Tapo C212, Tapo C216, Tapo C21A, Tapo C220, Tapo C222, Tapo C225, Tapo C230, Tapo C236, Tapo C245D, Tapo C246D, Tapo C260, Tapo C310, Tapo C310P2, Tapo C320WS, Tapo C325WB, Tapo C400, Tapo C400S2, Tapo C401 KIT, Tapo C402, Tapo C402 KIT, Tapo C403, Tapo C403 KIT, Tapo C410, Tapo C410 KIT, Tapo C411 KIT, Tapo C420, Tapo C420S1, Tapo C420S2, Tapo C420S4, Tapo C425, Tapo C425 KIT, Tapo C460, Tapo C460 KIT, Tapo C465, Tapo C500, Tapo C501GW, Tapo C510W, Tapo C51A, Tapo C520WS, Tapo C52A, Tapo C530WS, Tapo C545D, Tapo C560WS, Tapo C575D, Tapo C610 KIT, Tapo C615F KIT, Tapo C615G KIT, Tapo C630 KIT, Tapo C645D KIT, Tapo C660 KIT, Tapo C665G KIT, Tapo C668B KIT, Tapo C675D KIT, Tapo C720, Tapo C840, Tapo D130, Tapo D205, Tapo D210, Tapo D230S1, Tapo D235, Tapo DL100, Tapo DL110, Tapo H100, Tapo H110, Tapo H200, Tapo H500, Tapo L430C, Tapo L430P, Tapo L510B, Tapo L510E, Tapo L520E, Tapo L530B, Tapo L530BA, Tapo L530E, Tapo L530EA, Tapo L531E, Tapo L535B, Tapo L535E, Tapo L536E, Tapo L550, Tapo L610, Tapo L630, Tapo L730-6, Tapo L900-10, Tapo L900-20, Tapo L900-5, Tapo L920-10, Tapo L920-5, Tapo L930-10, Tapo L930-5, Tapo P100, Tapo P100M, Tapo P105, Tapo P105A, Tapo P110, Tapo P110M, Tapo P115, Tapo P115M, Tapo P116M, Tapo P125, Tapo P125M, Tapo P135 KIT, Tapo P210M, Tapo P300, Tapo P304M, Tapo P306, Tapo P316M, Tapo P400M, Tapo P410M, Tapo P430M, Tapo RV10, Tapo RV10 Lite, Tapo RV10 Plus, Tapo RV20, Tapo RV20 Max, Tapo RV20 Max Plus, Tapo RV20 Mop, Tapo RV20 Mop Plus, Tapo RV20 Plus, Tapo RV30, Tapo RV30 Max, Tapo RV30 Max Plus, Tapo RV30 Plus, Tapo RV30C, Tapo RV30C Mop, Tapo RV30C Plus, Tapo RV50 Pro Omni, Tapo RVA100, Tapo RVA101, Tapo RVA102, Tapo RVA103, Tapo RVA104, Tapo RVA105, Tapo RVA200, Tapo RVA202, Tapo RVA300, Tapo RVA301, Tapo RVA400, Tapo RVA410, Tapo RVA411, Tapo RVA500, Tapo S110E, Tapo S112, Tapo S200B, Tapo S200D, Tapo S210, Tapo S220, Tapo S310D, Tapo S500, Tapo S500D, Tapo S505, Tapo S505D, Tapo S515, Tapo S515D KIT, Tapo T100, Tapo T110, Tapo T150, Tapo T30 KIT, Tapo T300, Tapo T31 KIT, Tapo T310, Tapo T315

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Recent updates may have expanded access to feature(s) discussed in this FAQ. Visit your product's support page, select the correct hardware version for your device, and check either the Datasheet or the firmware section for the latest improvements added to your product. Please note that product availability varies by region, and certain models may not be available in your region.

If your Tapo or Kasa smart device is showing a slow-loading screen, delayed live view, or a dropped connection, an unstable network is often the cause. This guide walks you through three diagnostic steps: checking your device's Wi-Fi signal strength (also called RSSI), testing the connection delay between your device and phone using a Ping command, and following a checklist of fixes to improve stability. Work through each step in order to identify and resolve the issue.

Key Takeaways

This guide covers three parts: checking the signal strength (RSSI) of your Tapo or Kasa device, testing the delay between your device and phone with a Ping command, and following the troubleshooting steps to improve connection stability.
You can check the Wi-Fi signal strength of your Tapo or Kasa device in the app under Device Settings > Device Info.
A signal stronger than -50 dBm is considered strong, between -70 dBm and -50 dBm is good to average, and below -70 dBm is poor.
If your signal strength is good but you are still experiencing issues, checking the delay between your device and phone using the Ping command can help identify the root cause.
If many data packets are lost during the Ping test or the delay exceeds 100ms, your network connection is likely unstable and needs attention.

Part 1: Check Your Tapo or Kasa Device Signal Strength

If your device is connected wirelessly to a Wi-Fi network, you can check the received signal strength on the app.

In the Tapo app Home page, tap the Device Card to enter the status page, then tap the settings icon in the top right to enter Device Settings > Device Info. Tap the Wi-Fi icon to view the RSSI value.

Signal strength ratings are as follows:

Strong: more than -50 dBm
Good to Average: between -70 dBm and -50 dBm
Poor: less than -70 dBm

Tap the Wi-Fi icon in the Device Info page. Check the RSSI value of the device.

Part 2: Test the Connection Delay Between Your Device and Phone

Due to different network topologies and wireless interference, we still need to check the actual delay between the smart device and the phone via the Ping command if there is a connection issue (such as slow loading, unstable issue, etc.).

Here we use the APP “Network Analyzer” as an example.

Step 1: Install the test app “Network Analyzer” on your phone.

For Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.techet.netanalyzerlite.an

For iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/network-analyzer/id562315041

Step 2: Check the IP address of the smart device you want to test on the Tapo APP.

You can find the smart device's IP address on the Device Settings > Device Info page.

Find the IP Address of your Tapo or Kasa device on the App Device Info page.

Step 3: Ping the IP address.

Open the “Network Analyzer” app, go to Tools > Ping, enter the camera's IP address, then tap Start.

Input the IP Address of your Tapo or Kasa device on the Network Analyzer app Tools page.

Step 4: Check the test results.

If your test results indicate that many data packages are lost, it means your network is unstable.

If the data package delay is over 100ms, accessing to your device can be relatively slow.

Check the Ping results and confirm the package delay.

Part 3: How to Fix an Unstable Tapo or Kasa Connection

If your signal strength or Ping results indicate an unstable connection, the steps below are common starting points. For full step-by-step directions on each item, see What if Tapo Smart Devices Keep Losing Connection or Going Offline? — that guide covers these fixes in detail and includes additional options not listed here.

Quick-reference checklist:

Check the device power supply.
Ensure both the device firmware and the Tapo app are up to date.
Reboot the router and Tapo device, and check if the smart device reconnects.
Optimize device placement.
Expand Wi-Fi coverage.
Reduce Wi-Fi interference.
Assign a unique static IP to each device through the Tapo app (for cameras and doorbells) or your router settings.