With the Device Sharing feature, you can invite your family and friends with TP-Link accounts to manage the smart devices together. Below are some frequently asked questions about the Device Sharing feature.

Note: You can refer to the instructions in What is TP-Link ID, and how to create a TP-Link ID? to register a TP-Link account if needed.
 

Q1: How many TP-Link accounts can I share my Tapo device with?

 

A: Tapo Cameras, Doorbells, and Robot Vacuums can be shared with up to five (5) TP-Link accounts. Other Smart Home Devices can be shared with up to eight (8) TP-Link accounts.

 

Q2: What permissions does a shared account have for the Tapo cameras?

A: Shared accounts can access features like Live View, Talk, Voice Call, Pan/Tilt Control, and SD Card Video. However, they cannot access Tapo Care cloud storage or change other camera settings.

Shared Doorbells will also provide Quick Response and Ring/Call features.

 

Q3: How can I share my device, and how can I stop sharing it?

To share your device: 

• Go to the Tapo app > Me > Device Sharing page, and select a device to share.
• Alternatively, go to the Tapo app > Home tab > your device settings page to find the Device Sharing feature.

 

To stop sharing your device:

• Navigate to the Tapo app > Me > Device Sharing page, select the device, and delete the shared accounts.
• You can also go to the Tapo app > Home tab > your device settings page, find the Device Sharing feature, then delete the shared accounts.
   

For the detailed instructions, please refer to How to share my Tapo Smart Devices with family
 

Q4: What should I do if I fail to share my Tapo device? For example, see a prompt like "network unstable, please try again later".

A: Try the following troubleshooting steps:
    1. Ensure the Tapo app is up to date. If not, uninstall it and download the latest version from the Google Play or App Store.

    2. Confirm that your phone and the Tapo device have an active internet connection, and check if you can control the Tapo device remotely. If not, reboot your router and Tapo device, then try again. For more troubleshooting, refer to the thread What to do if I can't control my Tapo cameras on the Tapo app?

    3. Ensure the email address you entered during the sharing process is a TP-Link account. If not, refer to the instructions to register a TP-Link account.

Q5: How can I remove the TP-Link accounts listed on the Share Device page?

 

A: When sharing your Tapo device, you may see some TP-Link accounts listed on the Share Device page (as shown in the figure below). These TP-Link accounts are historical entries from previous device shares. 

The listed TP-Link accounts can help you quickly fill in the invitee's TP-Link account. For example, after you click a listed account, it will be immediately filled in the "Enter TP-Link ID" field.
If you want to delete these listed TP-Link accounts, you can do so by uninstalling the Tapo app.

 

Q6: Can I share my Kasa cameras with other TP-Link accounts?

A: Not all Kasa cameras support the Device Sharing feature. If your Kasa camera's firmware is up to date, but it does not support this feature, we suggest paying attention to the camera's firmware release notes on our official website to find out whether this feature has been added in later firmware versions.

If your Kasa camera does support Device Sharing, refer to the following instructions to share the camera.
Share Kasa Devices through Tapo App
 

Q7: Why do I get a "Continue" prompt when viewing the camera's live feed on a phone logged into a Shared account after a certain period?

A: For security reasons and to prevent potential issues, currently, the Tapo App, logged in with a Shared account of the camera, cannot directly transmit video data from a camera within the local network. Instead, it needs to relay the data through our cloud server. Considering the need to effectively manage cloud service resources and ensure a stable monitoring experience, there is a time limit set for continuous live streaming via our cloud server.

If you need to play the video continuously, please ensure that your mobile phone and the camera are on the same network, and that the Tapo App is logged in with the Owner account of the camera. This will enable the Tapo App to establish a direct connection with the camera within the local network.

If you still receive the relevant prompt, please refer to the following FAQ for further troubleshooting: Why can't I view the live stream of the Tapo camera continuously?
 

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