Have you tried out the new smart action features for your Tapo camera?  With the new 1.3.0 firmware released on Tapo C310 V1, now you could automate your Tapo smart plugs or smart bulbs when the camera detects a motion using the Tapo Automation function  or enable Privacy Mode for multiple cameras together with one tap by Tapo Shortcut. Let’s take a first look at this new feature!

What is New for Tapo camera Smart Action?

1. Motion detection as Trigger -> Camera Motion-Triggered Smart action 
2.  Privacy Mode as Action -> Schedule Privacy mode in automation/ Privacy mode shortcut 

What is Motion-Triggered Automation or Privacy Mode Shortcut in the Tapo app?

Motion-Triggered Automation utilizes the Tapo camera Motion Detection feature to turn on or off your other Tapo devices like a Tapo smart lightening or Tapo smart plugs when the camera senses a motion.

Privacy Mode Shortcut allows you to enable or disable Privacy mode for a camera or a group of cameras via a single tap.

Here are some triggers available with Tapo cameras that you can select to control your smart light or smart plug
Visit here to check the full Tapo Device Trigger & Action list.
 

Triggers: when motion is detected by Tapo camera

1) Motion Detected

2) Line-Crossing /Area Intrusion/Camera Tempering Detected
3) Person Detection (for models that support AI Detection or cameras subscribed to Tapo care)

Actions: when a trigger happens, then execute the below actions
1) Control Tapo device:
Turn on or turn off Tapo smart plug or bulb
Set brightness or color temperature for Tapo bulb etc,
2) Enable or Disable Privacy mode
3) Active a Shortcut or Automation: run another Shortcut or Automation event

* Optional auto-off can be set up with 'On' duration settings in the Shortcut to turn off the Smart Plug, Bulb, or Switch certain minutes after it’s been turned on. Please refer to QA-Q4 below for details. 

1. Motion-Triggered Automation ( set up the camera as a trigger) 

2. Privacy Mode Shortcut 

What Does Tapo Camera Smart Action Do--Examples and Scenarios Included!

With Tapo motion-triggered automation, you can make use of the motion detector on the camera and make your life smarter.

Examples of Camera Motion-Triggered Automation scenarios:

When the car drives in on the driveway, turn on the garage light.
       (Trigger: camera detects motion -> Action: turn on tapo bulb)

When someone comes back home, turn on the porch light for 5 mins.
       (Trigger: camera detects person -> Action: run Shortcut -> Shortcut: turns on Tapo smart bulb for 5 mins with ‘On’ duration settings)

Turn the power on to the night light when the camera detects someone walking by at the night.
       (Trigger: camera detects motion/ person ->Action: turn on smart plug)

Examples of Camera Privacy Mode Shortcut scenarios:

Schedule Privacy Mode 

Trigger: when at a specific time ; Action : turn on privacy mode 

When you  come back home, enable privacy mode for a batch of Tapo cameras with one tap 

With IOS Shortcut, when arriving home, enable privacy mode for cameras, when leaving home, disable privacy mode (*iOS device required) 

(Trigger: Location in IOS Shorcut > Action: turn on camera privacy Mode)

More scenarios that wait for you to explore.

Set Up Smart Action for your Tapo camera

Note: for now only Tapo C310 V1 (with 1.3.0 firmware and later firmware) and the upcoming model Tapo C420  have implemented this feature;  for other camera models, please keep an eye on the future firmware release.

Visit the FAQ below to learn detailed steps on how to set up automation/Shortcuts for your Tapo camera: 

How to create Smart Action (automation or a shortcut) for my Tapo device

Q&As:

Q1. How many Automation and Shortcuts entries can I set up in the Tapo App? 

A1：  In total 64 Automation and Shortcut rules you can set up in the Tapo APP.

Q2. What are the Tapo cameras that support being used as a trigger in Tapo automation? When will other Tapo cameras support the motion-triggered smart action?

Note: For other camera models, the estimated date is not yet confirmed, it is recommended to keep an eye on the future firmware release.

Q3. Can I use ‘Motion Cleared’ (the camera does not detect a motion for a period of time) or other activities of cameras as the triggers for Tapo Camera?

A3: No, only Tapo camera detection options like motion detection, line crossing, person detection, etc. can be set up as camera triggers in Tapo Automation. For other triggers or actions, you could start a feature request thread here for feature request collection and further evaluation.

Q4. How to do an Auto OFF (turn on the device for a time period and then automatically turn it off) for my smart plug or plug when setting up Motion-Triggered automation? 

A4: When creating Shortcuts, select Tapo smart device as an action, when set up turn on/off the device, set up ‘On’ Duration there to turn on/off smart device for a certain period of time.

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