Tapo C210 Pan/Tilt Home Security Wi-Fi Camera User Guide

About This Guide

This guide provides a brief introduction to the Pan/Tilt Home Security Wi-Fi Camera and the Tapo app, as well as regulatory information. Features available in Tapo may vary by model and software version, and Tapo availability may vary by region. All images, steps, and descriptions in this guide are examples and may not reflect your actual Tapo Camera experience.

Conventions:

Teal Text: Key information, including management page text such as menus, items, and buttons.
Underlined Teal Text: Hyperlinks that redirect to a website.
Note: Ignoring this type of note might result in a malfunction or damage to the device.

More Info:

Specifications: https://www.tapo.com
Technical Support and troubleshooting: https://www.tapo.com/support/
Setup video: https://www.tp-link.com/support/setup-video/#cloud-cameras

Introduction

The smart camera helps you stay connected to what matters when you are away from home. Receive notifications with video clips whenever your camera detects motion.

Smooth Pan and Tilt: 360° horizontal range.
3MP High-Definition: Provides greater sharpness and clarity.
Advanced Night View: Visual distance of up to 30 ft even at night.
Live View: Monitor from anywhere, anytime.
Two-Way Audio: Communicate with built-in microphone and speaker.
Sound and Light Alarm: Trigger light and sound effects to deter unwanted visitors.
Privacy Mode: Shut down surveillance to protect your privacy.
Sharing: Share moments with family and friends.
Safe Storage: Store up to 256 GB on a microSD card (purchased separately), equal to 512 hours (21 days) of footage.

Appearance

The Pan/Tilt Home Security Wi-Fi Camera features a system LED, lens, microphone, speaker, DC power port, RESET button, and a microSD card slot.

System LED Status:

Solid red: Starting up
Blinking red and green: Ready for setup
Blinking red slowly: Connecting to Wi-Fi
Solid amber: Connected to Wi-Fi
Solid green: Connected to TP-Link Cloud server
Blinking red quickly: Camera resetting
Blinking green quickly: Camera updating

Components:

Microphone: Built-in internal microphone. Do not insert objects into the hole.
Speaker: Sound output for the camera.
DC Power Port: Connect the provided power cord.
RESET Button & microSD Card Slot: Located behind the tiltable camera lens. Press and hold the RESET button for at least 5 seconds to reset the camera. Insert a microSD card and initialize it in the Tapo app for local recording.

Set Up Your Camera

Step 1. Download Tapo App

Download the Tapo app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, or by scanning the provided QR code.

Step 2. Log In

Open the app and log in with your TP-Link ID. Create an account if you don't have one.

Step 3. Add Your Camera

Tap the '+' button in the app and select your camera model.

Step 4. Configure Camera

Follow the app instructions to configure your camera and add it to your home network.

Step 5. Place Camera

Place your camera on a flat surface or mount it on a wall or ceiling using the provided mounting template and screws.

Note: Affix the camera base with screws before securing the camera.

1. Mark Position

Use the mounting template to mark the desired camera position. For wall mounting, drill two holes through the designated circles.

2. Mount Base

Affix the camera base using the screws. For wall mounting, insert anchors into the holes and use screws to secure the base over the anchors.

3. Secure Camera

Attach the camera to the base and rotate to secure it.

Power Up & Check the LED

Plug in your Tapo device and wait about 30 seconds until the LED blinks red and green. Keep your phone or tablet close to the Tapo device throughout the setup. If the LED is not blinking red and green, refer to the troubleshooting steps.

Setup using Amazon Frustration-Free Setup

What is Amazon Frustration-Free Setup?

Amazon Frustration-Free Setup (FFS) simplifies connecting Tapo smart devices by reducing the need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords. To use this feature:

Ensure your Tapo device supports Amazon FFS.
Have an Amazon FFS-enabled Alexa device or router.
Have saved your Wi-Fi information to Amazon via Alexa.
Ensure your Tapo device and router are on the same network as your Alexa device.

LED Indications during Amazon Frustration-Free Setup:

Blinking orange and green: Ready for setup
Blinking orange: FFS setup in progress
Solid green: Working properly

If the LED does not turn solid green, you can add the Tapo device manually by pressing the Reset button once and following the app instructions.

How to use Amazon Frustration-Free Setup with Tapo devices:

Open the Amazon Alexa app. Tap the hamburger icon (☰) and select 'Skills & Games'.
Search for 'Tapo' and select it.
Tap the 'ENABLE' button.
Log in with your TP-Link ID that is bound to your Tapo device and tap 'Authorize'. A confirmation message will appear upon successful linking.
Plug in your Tapo device. The setup will complete automatically within two minutes.

If the device appears on the Home page in the Tapo app, it's successfully associated with your Amazon account and joined your Wi-Fi network. If not, try manual setup.

Main Camera Controls

Once your camera is set up, it will be listed on the home page of the Tapo app. You can view and manage your camera from anywhere.

Home Page

This page lists all added cameras. Tap a camera to view it directly or go to 'Camera Preview' > 'Manage' to enter the Live View page.

Live View

Talk: Communicate using the built-in microphone.
Pan & Tilt: Rotate the camera to monitor different angles.
Privacy Mode: Temporarily disable surveillance for privacy.
Alarm: Enable to receive motion detection alerts.
Playback & Memory: View recordings and saved moments.
Screenshot: Capture a still image of the current view.
Multi-Screen: View live feeds from multiple cameras simultaneously.
Camera Settings: Access detailed camera settings.
Day/Night Mode: Switch between day and night vision modes.
Full Screen: Expand the live view to full screen.
Volume: Adjust the audio volume.
Record: Manually start or stop recording.

Camera Settings

On the Live View page, tap to access Camera Settings. Here you can change the camera name, customize detection settings, set recording schedules, manage notifications, define activity zones, and more.

Me Page

On the 'Me' page, you can edit your account information, view saved camera moments, access FAQs, and explore other Tapo app features. This includes account info, camera memory, voice control setup, device sharing, firmware updates, notifications, camera preferences, help & feedback, and about information.

Pan & Tilt Control

On the Live View page, tap 'Pan & Tilt' to access the control interface. Use the on-screen controls to move your camera.

Pan & Tilt Settings: Adjust the degree of movement for each tap.
Vertical Cruise: Enables continuous vertical movement (up and down).
Horizontal Cruise: Enables continuous horizontal movement (left and right).
Mark Position: Save a specific camera position for quick recall.

Motion Detection

Motion detection alerts you to important activity. With a microSD card inserted, the camera records clips when motion is detected. Without an SD card, you will only receive notifications. Initialize the SD card in the app before use.

Navigate to Camera Settings and tap 'Detection & Alerts'.
Enable 'Motion Detection'. It is recommended to also enable 'Notifications' to receive alerts.
Customize 'Camera Alarm' settings: choose the 'Alarm Type' (Sound/Light), 'Alarm Sound' (e.g., Siren/Tone), and set an 'Alarm Schedule' (e.g., All Day or Custom Schedule).
Define 'Activity Zones': The camera will only detect motion within these custom zones. The entire view is covered by default.
Adjust 'Motion Sensitivity' (Low/Normal/High) as needed. Higher sensitivity leads to more recordings and notifications.
Set the 'Recording Schedule' for motion detection.
On the Live View page, tap 'Playback' to view recordings. Motion detection recordings are indicated by orange sections on the timeline.

Note: A microSD card is required for recordings. Initialize it in the app before use.

24-hour Recordings

A microSD card is required for 24-hour (Continuous) recording. Initialize the SD card in the app before use.

On the Live View page, tap the settings icon (⚙️) to enter Camera Settings.
Toggle on 'microSD Recording' and set the 'Recording Schedule' for Continuous Recording.
On the Live View page, tap 'Playback' to view recordings. Continuous recordings are indicated by blue sections on the timeline.