What to Do When You Can't Find Your Tapo Camera on the Tapo App

TC34, TC40, TC40GW, TC41, TC42, TC43, TC46, TC47, TC50 KIT, TC53, TC55, TC60, TC65, TC70, TC71, TC72, TC72P2, TC73, TC74, TC80, TC80 KIT, TC82, TC82 KIT, TC85, TC85 KIT, TC90 KIT, TC90G KIT, TC92 KIT, TC93D KIT, TCA41, TCA72, TCB72, TCB82, TCW34, TCW61, TCW90 KIT, Tapo C100, Tapo C101, Tapo C103, Tapo C104, Tapo C110, Tapo C110P2, 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 C217, Tapo C21A, Tapo C220, Tapo C222, Tapo C225, Tapo C230, Tapo C236, Tapo C245D, Tapo C246D, Tapo C250, Tapo C260, Tapo C310, Tapo C310P2, Tapo C320WS, Tapo C325WB, Tapo C400, Tapo C400 KIT, Tapo C400S2, Tapo C401, Tapo C401 KIT, Tapo C402, Tapo C402 KIT, Tapo C403, Tapo C403 KIT, Tapo C410, Tapo C410 KIT, Tapo C411, 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 C710, Tapo C720, Tapo C840
02-21-2020 276,937

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 camera is not showing on the app after setup, the cause is usually a Wi-Fi connection issue, a DHCP or DNS configuration problem, or a cloud connectivity issue. It is also possible that the camera is listed under a different Home or Room in the Tapo app. This guide walks through several troubleshooting steps to help identify and resolve the issue, including a mobile hotspot test to isolate whether the problem is with the camera or the router's Wi-Fi network.

Key Takeaways

  • If the Tapo camera's LED light blinks red slowly, it has not connected to Wi-Fi. Resetting the camera to factory defaults and reconfiguring it is the recommended first step.
  • The router's DHCP server must be enabled for the camera to obtain an IP address. If the camera is connected to Wi-Fi but not visible in the app, checking the router's DHCP client list can confirm whether the camera has been assigned an IP.
  • If the camera appears in the app only when the phone is on the same Wi-Fi network, the camera may be unable to reach the cloud server. Checking for firewalls or security software blocking the connection is recommended.
  • Changing the router's DNS server to a public DNS (such as 8.8.8.8) can resolve cloud connectivity issues in some cases.
  • Using a mobile hotspot to configure the camera is a useful diagnostic step. If the camera works with a hotspot but not the router's Wi-Fi, the issue lies with the router's network settings.

Getting Your Tapo Camera to Show Up on the Tapo App

If your Tapo camera does not appear in the Tapo app after setup, try the following troubleshooting steps.

Step 1: Check the Camera's Wi-Fi Connection

If you configured your camera over Wi-Fi, check whether it has successfully connected to the router. Check the System light on your camera to verify the Wi-Fi connection status. For most Tapo cameras, a slowly blinking red LED indicates the camera has not connected to Wi-Fi. For HomeKit-compatible cameras, a slowly blinking blue LED indicates the same issue. If the camera cannot connect properly, we recommend resetting it to factory default settings as per the User Guide, then reconfiguring it.

Step 2: Check Your Router's DHCP Settings

Check that the DHCP server on your router is enabled. If the camera has already connected to the router properly, you will see the device in your router's client list. If you are unsure how to do this, contact your router manufacturer's support.

Step 3: Check Your Homes and Rooms in the Tapo App

Check whether you have created multiple Homes or Rooms in the Tapo app. Switch to the correct Home and look for your camera under All Devices.

Switch to the correct Home and find your device under the All Devices tab.

Step 4: Check for Firewall or Security Software Blocking the Connection

Connect your smartphone to the same Wi-Fi network as your camera, then check whether you can see it in the Tapo app. If you can see it, that means the camera fails to connect to the cloud for unknown reasons, and you cannot access it remotely. In this case, verify if any firewall or security settings are blocking the connection to the Cloud Server. Temporarily disable any antivirus, firewall, or security software to check if it is blocking the connection.

Step 5: Try Changing the Router's DNS Server

Using a public DNS server may improve the connection. Try changing your router's DNS server to 8.8.8.8. If you don't know how to do this, please contact your router's customer support.

Step 6: Test Your Tapo Camera Using a Mobile Hotspot

To rule out issues with the router's Wi-Fi network, use a mobile hotspot to configure and test the camera. Here are the steps for using a mobile hotspot to test the Camera's configuration:

Have two phones available. Use Phone A to create a hotspot, and use Phone B to download the Tapo app and complete the setup.

  • On Phone A, disable Wi-Fi and enable only mobile data.
  • On Phone A, navigate to phone settings and access the "Personal Hotspot" or "Mobile Hotspot" option, ensuring that the "Mobile Hotspot" feature is activated. Please make sure the created hotspot operates on a 2.4GHz network.
  • Set a unique name and password for the hotspot — different from your router's Wi-Fi — to avoid any confusion during setup.
  • On Phone B, download the Tapo app. Follow the app's instructions to add the device and complete the remaining setup steps.

Still Can't Find Your Tapo Camera? Contact TP-Link Support

If the issue persists after completing all of the above steps, contact TP-Link technical support with the following information.

  • Your TP-Link ID or cloud account.
  • The model number of your TP-Link Cam and its MAC address.
  • The model number of the host router.
  • Whether you have tried all the suggestions listed above or not. If yes, what are the results?