@DonB2 

I'm not sure if i understand your setup. Do you mean that one Tapo P115 is plugged into a switch outlet, which is also wired to a light? So when you turn off that switch via its physical button, both the smart plug and the light are powered off?

If that's the case, what happened should be expected. Automations will only work when the smart device is online. If you turn on the plug by restoring its power, the smart plug will still be offline at that moment, so this change in status will not trigger any associated automations.

DonB2 wrote

  @Wayne-TP You are correct about the setup.  I had since figured offline doesn't mean OFF to the devices. Thanks for the confirmation.
 

What I intended to do probably would work with a Tapo light switch but my light switch box is not neutral wired. 

  @DonB2 

Well, a smart bulb is another great option to consider. One important thing to keep in mind: for any smart bulb to work as intended, you should stop using the original wall switch to control it. If the smart bulb is turned off at the wall switch, it loses power and can’t respond to your automations or app commands.

For the existing wall switch, you have two options:

1. Remove it: Take out the switch and cover the opening with a blank wall plate to prevent accidental use.
2. Make it smart: Replace it with a smart button (Tapo S200B or S200D). You can then program it in the app to control the bulb via automation.