This Article Applies To:

The Tapo camera features Smart Mode.

The Smart Mode option is on the camera's Device Settings > Video & Display > Night Mode Settings page.

Phenomenon Description:

In theory, when Smart Mode is selected, the camera will turn on the spotlight when it operates in night mode and an event is detected, and it will remain on until no event is detected. 

However, in fact, the spotlight is only turned on for a few seconds when an event is detected. After the spotlights turn off for a few seconds, the camera's live view becomes almost entirely dark for a few seconds. Then, the infrared light or spotlight comes on again.

Workaround:

For the reported phenomenon, we recommend sending an email to the forum support team with the following information for further assistance.

>> For users from the United States, send the email to forumsupport.usa@tp-link.com. Click to Join TP-Link Community - US Site
>> For users from other countries and regions, send the email to support.forum@tp-link.com.

Subject: [Forum Escalation][ID 841882] In Smart mode, the camera's spotlight only turns on for a few seconds when an event is detected
Forum Nickname: [User Provided]
Thread URL:  https://community.tp-link.com/en/smart-home/forum/topic/841882, and the link to your original post
Model&Version: [User Provided]
Description: [User Provided]
  1. Describe the phenomenon you experience.
  2. A video showing the reported phenomenon.
  3. The camera's MAC address. You can find the camera's MAC address on its Device Settings > Device Info page.

More Articles:

How to configure the Spotlight Settings of the Tapo cameras
Starlight Night Vision: higher-quality image in low-light conditions
What to do if the Detection feature is not working on the TP-Link Camera?