Tapo Camera "Recording Failed" Error? Here’s How to Fix It
The TP-Link Tapo range of cameras offers an affordable and effective way to monitor your home. A core function of these cameras is their ability to record footage, either locally to a microSD card or to the cloud with a Tapo Care subscription. When you see a "Recording Failed" error or notice that footage is missing, it undermines the camera's primary purpose.
This guide will walk you through the most common causes of recording failures on Tapo cameras and provide clear, actionable steps to get your camera recording reliably again.
## Understanding the Two Types of Recording
Your Tapo camera can record in two ways, and it's important to know which one you're using:
- Local Recording: Saves video clips directly onto a microSD card that you insert into the camera. This is the most common method.
- Cloud Recording: Requires a Tapo Care subscription. It uploads and saves video clips to TP-Link's secure cloud servers when motion is detected.
The troubleshooting steps can differ depending on which method is failing.
## Part 1: Troubleshooting Local microSD Card Recording
This is where most recording issues occur. The problem usually lies with the microSD card itself or the camera's settings.
### Step 1: Check Your MicroSD Card's Health and Compatibility
The SD card is the most common point of failure. Security cameras are very demanding on them.
- Use a High-Quality Card: Do not use cheap, unbranded cards. You must use a Class 10 or UHS-1 (U1) rated microSD card. For best results, choose a "High Endurance" card from a reputable brand like SanDisk, Samsung, or Kingston, as these are specifically designed for continuous recording.
- Check the Card's Status: In the Tapo app, go to your camera's settings and find the "microSD Card" or "Storage & Recording" menu. If the app shows "SD Card Error" or "Not Initialised," there's a problem.
- Test the Card: If possible, remove the card from the camera and insert it into a computer. If the computer cannot read the card, the card is dead and must be replaced.
### Step 2: Format the MicroSD Card in the Tapo App
Formatting erases the card and prepares it with the correct file system. You should always do this through the app, not on a computer.
- Open the Tapo app and select your camera.
- Tap the gear icon in the top right to go to Camera Settings.
- Select "Storage & Recording".
- Tap on "Format" or "Initialise" in the microSD Card section.
- Confirm the action. The process will erase everything on the card.
### Step 3: Configure Recording Settings Correctly
- Enable Loop Recording: This is essential. Go to "Storage & Recording" and make sure the "Loop Recording" toggle is turned ON. This allows the camera to automatically overwrite the oldest recordings when the card is full. If this is off, recording will stop once the card's capacity is reached.
- Set a Recording Schedule: In the recording settings, you can set a schedule. Ensure you have "Continuous Recording" or "Motion Detection" enabled for the times you want the camera to be active. A misconfigured schedule can make it seem like the camera isn't recording.
## Part 2: Troubleshooting Tapo Care Cloud Recording
If your clips are not saving to the cloud, the issue is usually related to your subscription or internet connection.
- Verify Your Subscription: Go to the "Tapo Care" section in the app's main menu. Ensure your subscription is active and, crucially, that it has been applied to the correct camera. It's possible to have a subscription but not have it assigned to any device.
- Check Your Internet Connection: Cloud recording requires a stable internet connection with sufficient upload speed. If your camera's Wi-Fi connection is weak or intermittent, it may fail to upload the clips. Check the camera's signal strength in its settings.
- Enable Cloud Recording for Motion: Ensure that motion detection is enabled for the camera and that the option to store motion-triggered clips to the cloud is active within the Tapo Care settings.
By methodically checking the health of your storage medium, verifying your settings in the Tapo app, and ensuring a stable connection, you can resolve the vast majority of "Recording Failed" errors and restore your peace of mind.