C420 not switching to night mode
After the last firmware update, my 4 C420 cameras stopped switching to night mode automatically when insufficient light. Setting is to AUTO and unless i trigger the night mode then camera just sees darkness.
Video&Display Settings-->Night Mode Settings set to SMART.
any advice, please?
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Hi,
You can try removing the battery from the camera and reinserting it to reboot the camera, then check if it works fine.
If the same phenomenon occurs, please send us a screenshot of the camera's live view page when insufficient light is present (set video mode to Auto). Then, set the video mode to Day mode. Does the camera display the same live view page? Please also set the video mode to Night mode and send us a screenshot of the live view page.
Best Regards
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Hi,
You can try removing the battery from the camera and reinserting it to reboot the camera, then check if it works fine.
If the same phenomenon occurs, please send us a screenshot of the camera's live view page when insufficient light is present (set video mode to Auto). Then, set the video mode to Day mode. Does the camera display the same live view page? Please also set the video mode to Night mode and send us a screenshot of the live view page.
Best Regards
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@MDDW Mine hasn't worked properly since new. When left in 'auto' it will just stay in whatever mode it was in last - day or night. I've even shone a big torch right in the sensor and it wouldn't shift from night to day mode.
Firmware updates to either the camera or the hub haven't fixed it. There are many reports of this exact issue in this forum but somehow TP-Link doesn't seem to recognise there's a problem. Very, very unimpressed.
Fixing this issue should have been a priority a year ago, TP-Link.
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Hi,
When the camera is set to Auto mode on its live view page, day/night mode switching is based on environmental lighting conditions, and we need detailed information to determine whether the camera is working properly. In your situation, it would be appreciated if you could provide the following information.
1. What's the model number, hardware, and firmware versions of your camera and hub?
2. Please send us a screenshot of the camera's live view page when insufficient light is present (set video mode to Auto), but the camera does not auto switch to night mode.
Best Regards
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@Solla-topee you make this same reply to EVERYONE who reports a problem. Then they send you the evidence, but what do you DO about it? Nothing. This has been going on since the C420 has been released, as far as I can tell.
Please read what I actually wrote. When the camera is in night mode and set to auto, I can shine a bright torch directly into the camera and it STILL will not switch to day mode. Even after several minutes of full direct light.
This is a bug. Not environmental conditions. Not a "blame the customer" opportunity. A BUG. Please finally DO something and FIX it.
Tapo C420 v 1.0
Firmware version 1.4.1 build 20250912 rel. 65176
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Hi,
Thank you for the information you provided and for the test you conducted. However, the phenomenon you encountered is uncommon with the Tapo C420 and is not a known firmware issue. Based on your testing, I think the camera's failure to automatically switch between Day/Night mode in Auto Mode may be hardware-related. Therefore, I previously requested more detailed information for further assessment.
We highly value your user experience. In your situation, you can contact the retailer or the local support team to confirm whether the camera is still under warranty.
Best Regards
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I had this issue from new (cameras purchased 2024). The firmware never got fixed and had many back-and-forth emails which they recomended swapping it out by sending it back to Amazon. i think one camera they said that the lux sensor wasn't giving the best reading.
In the end I just kept it as I know others have the same issue. The issue is that the cameras don't 'auto switch' and stay kinda stuck in their last mode. By dipping in and out of the paticular camera you can jump start it and get it to change modes (day or night) but it is frustrating. Just one small square of light coming though a window stops the IR from coming on.
I personally feel that it's a bug as the lux sensor isn't adjustng the IR sensor properly. I'm not sure if it's down to them being battery devices and they go into a 'sleep' mode but then again I have the wireless D230 doorbell camera which never exhibits this behaviour.
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@MrWilks I agree. All we seem to get from the TP Link reps is "blame the user" or "return the hardware, although we know you can't because the warranty has expired so tough luck."
I used to have a Tapo C100 - the original el cheapo camera - overlooking the exact same view and it never had a problem telling between night and day.
It's clearly a bug - too many people have it to be a random hardware failure. The challenge with these guys is getting them to accept that it IS a bug. I've just about given up.
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@Solla-topee please, for God's sake, read the messages in this and many other threads. It's not hardware related. It's not user related. It's a BUG. FIX IT. PLEASE.
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Hi,
I understand the phenomenon you're experiencing with the Tapo C420. However, based on our testing, the C420 with Video Mode set to "Auto" correctly switches between Day and Night modes. It's hard to say the reported phenomenon is caused by a firmware bug. We are happy to help identify and resolve the issue, but we'll need your cooperation to do so.
Please provide the following information so we can help to investigate further:
1) The Tapo C420 V1's latest firmware is v1.4.2. If your camera is not running this version, please update it first.
2) Please send me (@Solla-topee) your camera's MAC address via a private message.
3) Set the camera's Video Mode to "Auto," then provide a time window(date, time, and time zone) when the camera failed to switch modes — for example, a period during bright daylight when the camera remained in Night mode, or a period after dark when it remained in Day mode. Please confirm that lighting conditions were appropriate (i.e., well-lit for Day mode, dark for Night mode).
4) Enable the Diagnostic feature on the Tapo hub. After the reported phenomenon occurs, collect the log file and let us know if you have done so.
How to get the log of Tapo Camera
Thank you for your cooperation.
Best Regards
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