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automation when you leave a location

automation when you leave a location

automation when you leave a location
automation when you leave a location
2025-07-04 07:38:54 - last edited 2025-07-31 11:36:35
Model: Tapo C120  
Hardware Version:
Firmware Version:

The camera obeys the set automation sometimes and sometimes not. The camera should turn on when my phone leaves the home address, but it doesn't always do so. What's the reason?

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#1
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1 Accepted Solution
Re:automation when you leave a location-Solution
2025-07-07 06:23:19 - last edited 2025-07-31 11:36:35

  @Homespy 

Hi,
You can refer to the following instructions to troubleshoot if the automation entry does not work sometimes.
What can I do if the Smart Action/Automation doesn't take effect as expected?
 

Please confirm the following information if the phenomenon remains.
  1. Please describe the detailed configurations of the automation entry.
  2. If the automation entry does not work again, please record the date, time, and time zone, then send them to me. On the Smart tab, please tap the Page icon at the top right corner to see the smart action histories, and send me a screenshot of the failed automation entry.
  3. Please send me (@Solla-topee) the camera's MAC address via a private message.
 

Best Regards

>> What to do if the Detection feature is not working on the TP-Link Camera. >> Enhance Video Clarity: Troubleshooting Tips for Improving Camera Video Quality. >> General questions about the TP-Link camera's Pan & Tilt feature.
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#2
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7 Reply
Re:automation when you leave a location-Solution
2025-07-07 06:23:19 - last edited 2025-07-31 11:36:35

  @Homespy 

Hi,
You can refer to the following instructions to troubleshoot if the automation entry does not work sometimes.
What can I do if the Smart Action/Automation doesn't take effect as expected?
 

Please confirm the following information if the phenomenon remains.
  1. Please describe the detailed configurations of the automation entry.
  2. If the automation entry does not work again, please record the date, time, and time zone, then send them to me. On the Smart tab, please tap the Page icon at the top right corner to see the smart action histories, and send me a screenshot of the failed automation entry.
  3. Please send me (@Solla-topee) the camera's MAC address via a private message.
 

Best Regards

>> What to do if the Detection feature is not working on the TP-Link Camera. >> Enhance Video Clarity: Troubleshooting Tips for Improving Camera Video Quality. >> General questions about the TP-Link camera's Pan & Tilt feature.
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#2
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Re:automation when you leave a location
2 weeks ago

Ik having this exact issue since switching from the Pixel 8 to the Pixel 10 Fold. 

 

Automation only worked when I managed to force it somehow but never again after that. 

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#3
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Re:automation when you leave a location
2 weeks ago

  @VesNL 

Hi,
You can try deleting the automation entries, then re-adding them, and check if the new entries work fine.
If the same phenomenon persists, please refer to this post for troubleshooting.
Best Regards

>> What to do if the Detection feature is not working on the TP-Link Camera. >> Enhance Video Clarity: Troubleshooting Tips for Improving Camera Video Quality. >> General questions about the TP-Link camera's Pan & Tilt feature.
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#4
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Re:automation when you leave a location
a week ago - last edited a week ago

  @Solla-topee  I've already attempted it by deleting the automations. 

Also did a data/cache erase and uninstall and reinstall of the app. 

 

Please confirm the following information if the phenomenon remains.
  1. There is Return Home and Go away automation. 

Go home is set to a location that I must leave and then it disabled privacy mode on the selected camera. 

Return home is when I enter the area it turns on privacy mode on the selected camera


  2. If the automation entry does not work again, please record the date, time, and time zone, then send them to me. On the Smart tab, please tap the Page icon at the top right corner to see the smart action histories, and send me a screenshot of the failed automation entry.

 

I've added a screenshot from the Google Home where my automation for light (LIFX) is triggered by the location to turn on on the 24th. I had to manually set my house to leave in Tapo a few hours later. 

 

I've also done test on the days after. The 25th, 26th and 27th. Leaving around 9:00 GMT +1/CET and returning around 16:00 GMT +1/CET.

 

 


  3. Please send me (@Solla-topee) the camera's MAC address via a private message.

PM sent
 

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#5
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Re:automation when you leave a location
a week ago

  @VesNL 

Hi,
When (date, time, and time zone) was the last time the "Return Home" or "Go Home/Go Away" automation entry (used to turn camera privacy mode on/off) failed to take effect as expected? If possible, please provide data from the last 3-4 days.
Best Regards

>> What to do if the Detection feature is not working on the TP-Link Camera. >> Enhance Video Clarity: Troubleshooting Tips for Improving Camera Video Quality. >> General questions about the TP-Link camera's Pan & Tilt feature.
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#6
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Re:automation when you leave a location
Friday

  @Solla-topee here you go

 

December 3rd

 

16:40 (leave home)

17:33 (return home)

 

December 4 

 

6:24 (leave home)

19:25 (return home)

 

December 5 

 

11:00 (leave home)

17:58 (return home)

 

All times in CET

 

Nohing happened

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#7
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Re:automation when you leave a location
Monday

  @VesNL 

Hi, 
In your situation, please go to your new phone(Pixel 10 Fold) > Settings page to find the Battery and Location options, then ensure the Tapo app is set to "No restrictions" under battery saver, the location permission is set to "Always allow", and "Precise location" is enabled for the Tapo app. 
In the Tapo app >Smart tab > Automation page, please ensure "This Phone/Tablet" is enabled in the trigger of the "Arriving home" and "Leaving home" automation entries.
Then test whether the automation entries in the Tapo app work properly.

 

If the same phenomenon persists, please confirm the following information.
  1. What do you mean by "Automation only worked when you managed to force it"? Please explain the specific steps you took to make the automation entries in the Tapo app take effect.
  2. When the automation entries work, whether the location/GPS icon appears on your phone, and when they do not work, whether the location/GPS icon disappears?

 

Best Regards

>> What to do if the Detection feature is not working on the TP-Link Camera. >> Enhance Video Clarity: Troubleshooting Tips for Improving Camera Video Quality. >> General questions about the TP-Link camera's Pan & Tilt feature.
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#8
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