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C225 suddenly requires internet access for ANY communication with Tapo app

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C225 suddenly requires internet access for ANY communication with Tapo app

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C225 suddenly requires internet access for ANY communication with Tapo app
C225 suddenly requires internet access for ANY communication with Tapo app
2025-03-04 00:35:59 - last edited 2025-04-09 02:54:28
Tags: #Device Connectivity #Tapo App Related
Model: Tapo C225  
Hardware Version: V2
Firmware Version: 1.0.12 (latest)

I've used Tapo C225 for a few days and while I was willing to tolerate having to connect the device to the internet at the beginning to set it up, now, after some offline use, it turns out I need to keep both the cam and the app connected to the internet to do anything. Why can't they communicate over the local network? I'm completely opposed to sending any private data (including configs and video streams) to TP-Link cloud. I kindly ask that TP-Link start respecting their users privacy.

 

As for reproduction steps, initially I was able to set up the camera and Tapo App on the factory-installed firmware (v1.0.4). Then I updated the cam to the latest firmware (v1.0.12). Then I was able to use the app and cam for a bit over the local network, without internet access. Then I started experiencing some bugs that made me pull my hair out and shall be reported separately. Finally I decided to reinstall the Tapo app on my iPad and to factory reset the camera. And after that they never were able to talk to each other again without the router allowing them internet access. Which is ridiculous.

 

Please fix this ASAP.

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#1
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Re:C225 suddenly requires internet access for ANY communication with Tapo app-Solution
2025-03-04 11:13:48 - last edited 2025-04-09 02:54:28

  @PowerUser2025 

Hi,
Have you reconfigured the camera to bind it to your TP-Link account after you factory reset it? Typically, if you factory reset the camera, it will unbind to your TP-Link account, and you can't control it via the Tapo app.


If you have set it up again and bind it to your account, but blocked the internet connection, please confirm the following information for the reported issue.
  1. What's the LED status on the camera? Is it connected to your router's Wi-Fi and has a valid IP address but does not have internet?
  2. Is your phone connected to the same Wi-Fi as the camera? Please turn off the mobile data on your phone and check if it can ping the camera's IP address successfully.
  3. Is the camera displayed offline status on the Tapo app?

 

Best Regards

>> Smart Home: Introduction to Common Smart Action Scenarios for Tapo Cameras >> Tapo Camera Day/Night Mode Selection Guide: Best Settings Recommendations for Different Scenarios >> What should I do if my Tapo camera triggers false detection? >> Enhance Your Tapo App Experience: Introduction to Several Practical Features
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Re:C225 suddenly requires internet access for ANY communication with Tapo app-Solution
2025-03-04 11:13:48 - last edited 2025-04-09 02:54:28

  @PowerUser2025 

Hi,
Have you reconfigured the camera to bind it to your TP-Link account after you factory reset it? Typically, if you factory reset the camera, it will unbind to your TP-Link account, and you can't control it via the Tapo app.


If you have set it up again and bind it to your account, but blocked the internet connection, please confirm the following information for the reported issue.
  1. What's the LED status on the camera? Is it connected to your router's Wi-Fi and has a valid IP address but does not have internet?
  2. Is your phone connected to the same Wi-Fi as the camera? Please turn off the mobile data on your phone and check if it can ping the camera's IP address successfully.
  3. Is the camera displayed offline status on the Tapo app?

 

Best Regards

>> Smart Home: Introduction to Common Smart Action Scenarios for Tapo Cameras >> Tapo Camera Day/Night Mode Selection Guide: Best Settings Recommendations for Different Scenarios >> What should I do if my Tapo camera triggers false detection? >> Enhance Your Tapo App Experience: Introduction to Several Practical Features
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Re:C225 suddenly requires internet access for ANY communication with Tapo app
2025-03-04 18:01:23 - last edited 2025-03-04 18:03:51

  @Solla-topee 

0) I don't remember, but if it was required during set up then obviously I had to. If not, then not. Why would I, if there was no such step.

Right now I connected both devices to the internet for a moment and looked at the settings of the C225 in the Tapo app and I don't see any UI to verify that it's linked to the TP-Link account or to set it. So I'm not sure the camera can actually be linked to the TP-Link account. However the Tapo app itself of course is linked to the account as this is required during setup.

 

1) When not connected to the internet, the C225 LED is slowly blinking red. Yes, it's connected to the router wifi and has a valid IP address. (Otherwise it wouldn't be able to talk to the Tapo app when I enable the internet on the router. ;))

 

2) Yes, it's the same wifi network and same frequency (2.4GHz). The iPad has no mobile data, it's wifi only. It can only connect to the internet when I allow it on the router. 

Per your request I have disabled the internet and was able to ping the camera from the iPad.

 

3) C225 status indication doesn't work correctly on the Tapo app. 

 

When internet is disabled for both devices (but they remain connected to the local network), the Tapo app sometimes shows the C225 as available and sometimes the camera will disappear completely from the list of devices. However, even in the case when it's shown as available, when I tap on the camera in the Tapo app, there is no communication. (The camera UI loads, but there's a spinner running for some time and then it fails and offers to try again.)

 

When I enable the internet only for the iPad (but keep it blocked for the C225), I see the C225 as offline in the Tapo app. (Then if I cut the internet again and reload the app, it still shows the C225 as offline. So clearly it's showing state from memory and not from actual connectivity test.)

 

 

 

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Re:C225 suddenly requires internet access for ANY communication with Tapo app
2025-03-05 10:20:26

  @PowerUser2025 

Hi,
1. The camera will bind to your TP-Link account automatically after you set it up successfully via the Tapo app.
 
2. Can you reproduce the reported issues, such as fail to load the camera's live feed, camera disappear from the Tapo app, and camera state offline on the Tapo app when iPad has internet access? If so, please reproduce the issues on the Tapo app and record them, then send us the videos for analysis. Please also collect the app log after reproduce the issues.
How to get the log of Tapo app
 

You can upload the videos to your cloud server(such as Google Drive), generate a link to download them and send me(@Solla-topee) the link via a private message.
 

3. Please send me the camera's MAC address via a private message.

 

Best Regards

>> Smart Home: Introduction to Common Smart Action Scenarios for Tapo Cameras >> Tapo Camera Day/Night Mode Selection Guide: Best Settings Recommendations for Different Scenarios >> What should I do if my Tapo camera triggers false detection? >> Enhance Your Tapo App Experience: Introduction to Several Practical Features
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