I am seeing this same issue. It sucks as I really need the on/off status for triggering some routines. TP-Link… any fix coming for this any time soon????

  @HelpFixDecoApp  - yes. I verified before I posted that I was on the most updated firmware according to the app.

making the short cut does not help me either. I am wanting to use the stats of a switch being on to trigger other lights to turn on through Alexa.

I can't do that through there though since the only option it shows for the switch is Tap instead of On or Off...

 what I don't understand is through Google Home and Smart Thing... these same switches have the On/Off capability.... it's only through Alexa that they don't.

  @drdoom 

The shortcuts workaround mentioned appear to only “CONTROL” the Tapo devices in the Tapo App (which is not the issue which... is reading Status Changes to Trigger and Event). 

Controlling them from Alexa or the Tapo App is not the issue with them, but rather being able to “READ” the Switches STATUS CHANGES for use in TRIGGERING Alexa ROUTINES.  (Device Status Changed to “Turned ON” or “Turned OFF” or “Single Tap on Switch”).  The only status passed to Alexa appears to be the “Single Tap on the Switch” status?????  Neither of the On/Off states are passed to Alexa???

Example of an Alexa Routine: 

• When Switch One’s status changes to “ON” then turn my Fire TV on…    
• When Switch One’s status changes to “OFF” then turn my Fire TV OFF…  (just examples for simplicity).

You can see and use these statuses in Scenes/Automation Routines in the Tapo App (which tells me that they are available and present and it is not a Switch Firmware Issue), these Status Change Events are just NOT presented/present in the “Tapo Skill” data sent to interface with Alexa for triggering purposes.  A really big bug in your Alexa Skill in my opinion as you advertise these as Alexa Compatible.

Maybe you should consider working to make switches compatible with another Vendor’s Skill / Application (like SmartLife)?  Never had any issues with anything I’ve ever interfaced with the SmartLife Skill/App from Alexa and many devices support the SmartLife interface.

Screen shot of Device Change Options for Tapo Switch in Alexa Routine below....  (No Turned On or Turned Off Options??????)

  @Wayne-TP 

I already tried that. Same thing. Even as a switch it still has main button and tap as the only options.

  @drdoom 

And yes, I bought a lot of TAPO switches and dimmers, of three different models and confirm that all of the following do the exact same thing...  whether specified as a switch or light.

These are the models that I have which do not work as "triggers" in Alexa Routines.

TAPO S500 - Wall Switch

TAPO S500D - Wall Dimmer 

TAPO S515D - 3 Way Wall Dimmer Set

It is clearly an issue with the TAPO Alexa Skill and not the hardware!

  @drdoom those are the same 3 models of switches that I purchased as well.

 I'm in complete agreement that this is an issue/glitch with the Tapi Alexa skill and not the hardware as when I look at the device itself in Alexa I can see On or Off status. It's just when I try to use it for routines that I see the Main button Tap as the only option.