How to Enable and Disable Privacy Mode on Tapo and Kasa Cameras

TC40, TC40GW, TC41, TC43, TC46, TC53, TC55, TC60, TC65, TC70, TC71, TC72, TC72P2, TC73, TC74, TC80, TC82, TC82 KIT, TC85, TC90G KIT, TCA41, TCA72, TCB72, TCB82, TCW61, 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 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 C232, Tapo C236, Tapo C310, Tapo C310P2, Tapo C320WS, Tapo C325WB, Tapo C400, Tapo C400S2, Tapo C410, Tapo C410 KIT, Tapo C411 KIT, Tapo C420, Tapo C420S1, Tapo C420S2, Tapo C420S4, Tapo C425, Tapo C460 KIT, Tapo C500, Tapo C501GW, Tapo C510W, Tapo C51A, Tapo C520WS, Tapo C52A, Tapo C530WS, Tapo C560WS, Tapo C615G KIT, Tapo C720

02-25-2020 307,249

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.

Privacy Mode is a feature on Tapo and Kasa cameras. For example, if you have a camera in your living room and do not want to be monitored or recorded, you can enable Tapo privacy mode on the camera. When active, it prevents the camera from streaming or recording video or audio. This page covers three ways to use the feature: via the Live View page, via camera Device Settings in the Tapo app, and using the physical privacy button on select models.

Key Takeaways

When Privacy Mode is enabled on a Tapo or Kasa camera, it stops streaming and recording both video and audio.
Privacy Mode can be toggled on or off directly from the camera's Live View page in the Tapo app.
Privacy Mode can also be enabled or disabled from the camera's Device Settings page in the Tapo app.
Select Tapo camera models, such as Tapo C125 and Tapo C225, support a physical privacy button. Pressing it lowers a shield over the lens or rotates the lens away for complete privacy.

Steps to Enable and Disable Privacy Mode

Method 1: Via Camera Live View

Go to the camera's Live View page and tap the Privacy Mode icon to enable or disable it. You can also tap Exit Privacy Mode from the live view screen to disable Privacy Mode.

Tap Privacy Mode in camera live View page. Tap Exit Privacy Mode.

Method 2: Via Camera Device Settings

On the camera live view page, tap the gear icon in the top right to enter Device Settings, then turn on or off the Privacy Mode.

Tap the camera device card from Tapo app Home page. Tap the gear icon in the top right corner from the camera Live View page. Enable or Disable the privacy mode from the camera Device Settings page.

Method 3: Via Cemera Physical Button

Some Tapo camera models, such as Tapo C125 and Tapo C225, feature a physical privacy button. Pressing this button either lowers a privacy shield over the lens or automatically rotates the lens out of view, ensuring complete privacy.

Tapo C125 camera with its physical privacy button pressed, showing the privacy shield lowered to cover the lens for enhanced privacy. Tapo C225 camera with its physical privacy button pressed, showing the lens rotated to hide for enhanced privacy.

To learn more about each function and configuration, please visit the Download Center to download the manual for your product.