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Updated August 27, 2026. Tapo cameras can now be added through TP-Link Smart Home, Home Assistant’s official integration. HACS may still provide advanced controls for some models, but it is no longer the only route and should not be the automatic first recommendation.
Never forward ports 443, 554, or 2020 from the Internet to a camera. References to those ports for control, RTSP, or ONVIF mean local network or inter-VLAN traffic, not WAN port forwarding.
Three ways to add a Tapo camera
| Method | Strengths | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Official TP-Link Smart Home | UI setup, Home Assistant maintenance, local control | First choice for supported models. |
| Tapo: Cameras Control through HACS | May expose model-specific advanced controls | Only when you need a missing feature; do not run both integrations. |
| RTSP or ONVIF | Standard video and recorder compatibility | For an NVR, Frigate, or other video workflow. |
Prepare the camera in the Tapo app
- Update firmware and create a DHCP reservation for the camera.
- Open advanced settings and create or enable the camera account. This may be different from your TP-Link account password.
- Enable Third-Party Compatibility in Tapo Lab or device settings when required by that firmware.
- Confirm that Home Assistant can reach the camera IP. If cameras are isolated in a VLAN, allow only the required local traffic.
Recommended method: official integration
- Open Settings → Devices & services → Add integration.
- Search for Tapo or TP-Link Smart Home. Home Assistant may also discover it automatically.
- Provide the requested credentials and IP. Enable live view only after configuring the camera account.
- Inspect the entities. Depending on the model, you may get video, privacy mode, pan/tilt, detection, siren, and other controls.
- Assign a clear name and area, test live view, and verify that the camera reconnects after a Home Assistant restart.
Support depends on exact hardware and firmware. Check the current official list before purchasing; documented families include several C100, C120, C210, C220, C225, C325WB, C520WS, C720, TC65, and TC70 models, but hardware revisions can differ.
When HACS still makes sense
The community Tapo: Cameras Control integration can expose functions not yet available in the official integration. Use it only after identifying a specific gap. Back up first and remove or disable the other integration: two integrations opening sessions to one camera can cause conflicts.
A HACS integration is maintained separately from Home Assistant Core. Review its repository, release activity, and open issues before relying on it for security automation.
RTSP, ONVIF, and recording
RTSP provides a video stream, while ONVIF can add discovery and events on supported hardware. See our RTSP URL guide. Tapo Care, a microSD card, and a local NVR solve different problems; adding a camera does not turn Home Assistant into a continuous recorder.
Security and privacy
- Use a unique camera-account password and keep it out of screenshots, YAML examples, and repositories.
- Isolate cameras only if you can maintain the firewall rules they need.
- Never expose RTSP or ONVIF directly to the Internet; use a VPN or authenticated remote-access system.
- Block cloud access only after testing which local functions and updates remain available.
- Define retention for microSD, cloud, and NVR recordings.
Common problems
- Authentication fails: enable third-party compatibility and recreate the camera account; do not confuse local and TP-Link credentials.
- No video: verify camera account, IP, codec, and duplicate integrations.
- Discovery fails: add by IP, inspect mDNS/VLAN rules, and reserve the address.
- Entities unavailable: verify the exact model and firmware against the current support list.
- High latency: use a substream when available and avoid unnecessary transcoding.
Which method should you choose?
Start with the official integration. Add HACS only for a specific missing control, and use RTSP/ONVIF when a standard stream or NVR is the actual goal. This keeps dependencies understandable and troubleshooting manageable.
Primary source: official TP-Link Smart Home documentation.
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