Is Your Tapo Camera Reporting 'Storage Full'?
One of the most common issues users face with Tapo cameras is a notification or error message stating that the local microSD card storage is full. When this happens, your camera may stop recording new footage altogether, leaving your property unmonitored and defeating the purpose of having a security camera.
The good news is that this is usually not a fault with the camera but simply a settings adjustment that needs to be made. This guide will explain why this happens and how to easily fix it for good.
Symptoms of a Full Storage Card
- You receive a "Storage Full" or "SD Card Full" notification from the Tapo app.
- The camera has stopped recording any new video footage.
- When you check the playback timeline, you can see old footage, but no new recordings are appearing.
- The live view for the camera works fine, but all recording functions have ceased.
How to Manage a Full SD Card and Prevent It From Happening Again
The solution is to enable a single, crucial feature and to know how to properly maintain your storage card.
1. Enable Loop Recording (The Essential Fix)
By far the most common reason for a "Storage Full" error is that Loop Recording is disabled. This feature is the key to continuous, hands-off recording.
- What it does: When Loop Recording is turned on, the camera will automatically delete the oldest recorded footage on the microSD card to make space for the new footage. This creates a continuous "loop," ensuring the camera never has to stop recording.
- How to enable it:
- Open the Tapo app and select the camera you want to configure.
- Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner to open the settings.
- Select "microSD Card".
- You will see a toggle switch for "Loop Recording". Make sure this is switched to the ON position.
Once enabled, you should never receive a "Storage Full" error again, as the camera will now manage its own storage space automatically.
2. Format the microSD Card
If enabling loop recording doesn't immediately solve the problem, or if you want to start with a clean slate, formatting the card is the next step. Formatting erases all data and can clear up any file corruption that may be preventing the camera from writing new data.
- How to format:
- Navigate to the same "microSD Card" settings page mentioned above.
- Tap the "Format" option.
- Confirm that you want to proceed. Warning: This will permanently erase all video currently on the card.
It's good practice to format your SD card every few months to keep it in optimal condition.
3. Use the Right Type of microSD Card
For security cameras that are recording 24/7, the type of microSD card you use matters.
- Standard Cards: These are designed for devices like phones or digital cameras, where data is written infrequently. They can wear out quickly under the constant strain of a security camera.
- High-Endurance Cards: Look for cards specifically labelled as "High-Endurance" or "For Video Monitoring". These are built to withstand the constant write/rewrite cycles of a surveillance camera, making them far more reliable and less prone to errors and corruption over time. Using one of these can prevent many storage-related issues.
By ensuring Loop Recording is active and using a high-quality card, you can set up your Tapo camera for reliable, long-term recording without ever having to worry about the storage filling up.