Create the Camera Account
RTSP and ONVIF stay locked until the camera has its own local login. In the Tapo app, tap the camera, open its settings with the gear icon, and choose Advanced Settings → Camera Account. Set a username and password and save. Your TP-Link ID keeps working in the Tapo app; the Camera Account is only for local connections.
Two more things stop the stream: Privacy Mode, which turns the camera's video off entirely, and a camera that is on a different network from your phone. If the Camera Account option is missing from Advanced Settings, that model does not offer RTSP.
Tapo RTSP addresses
| Stream | Address |
|---|---|
| High quality | rtsp://camera-ip:554/stream1 |
| Low quality | rtsp://camera-ip:554/stream2 |
| ONVIF | port 2020 |
| Login | the Camera Account username and password |
stream1 carries the camera's full resolution, 1080p to 2K or more depending on the model; stream2 is a small copy that suits grids and mobile data. The app's TP-Link preset fills in stream1.
ONVIF, pan and tilt
Tapo's ONVIF service runs on port 2020 and accepts only the Camera Account. Many Tapo models do not announce themselves to a network scan; IP Camera Viewer also checks port 2020 when scanning, but if the camera still does not appear, add it by address, since nothing is lost that way. Pan-tilt models such as the C200 and C210 generally accept ONVIF pan and tilt commands, so the app's PTZ controls (Pro) can move them once ONVIF is reachable.
Tapo models without a stream
Tapo's battery cameras and video doorbells are built to sleep between events and generally offer no RTSP or ONVIF; the Camera Account menu is missing on them. The same goes for cameras that connect only through a Tapo hub. For these, the Tapo app is the only viewer. Mains-powered indoor and outdoor Tapo cameras are the ones that work with other apps.
If a camera's Camera Account stops working after a firmware update, check the camera's advanced settings in the Tapo app for any new third-party or compatibility option and make sure it is on.
TP-Link VIGI
VIGI is TP-Link's business range and is built for recorders and third-party software, so RTSP and ONVIF are available without a separate Camera Account. The stream paths match Tapo, /stream1 and /stream2 on port 554, and the login is the device's admin account set up in the VIGI app or the camera's web page. VIGI cameras answer ONVIF scans, so they usually appear on their own.
Troubleshooting
- Authentication Failed: you used your TP-Link ID. Use the Camera Account, and re-create it if you are unsure of the password.
- Camera Unreachable: Privacy Mode is on, the IP address changed, or the phone is on a guest network.
- Stream drops on weak Wi-Fi: use stream2; Tapo cameras are often far from the router on 2.4 GHz.
- Not found by scanning: normal for Tapo. Add it by address with the TP-Link preset.
Frequently asked questions
Do Tapo cameras support RTSP?
Mains-powered Tapo cameras do, once you create a Camera Account in the Tapo app. Battery cameras and doorbells generally do not.
How do I enable RTSP on a Tapo camera?
In the Tapo app, tap the camera, open its settings, then Advanced Settings → Camera Account, and create a username and password. RTSP and ONVIF then accept that login.
What is the RTSP URL for a Tapo camera?
rtsp://camera-ip:554/stream1 for high quality and /stream2 for low quality, with the Camera Account username and password, not your TP-Link ID.
Why doesn't my Tapo camera show up when I scan?
Many Tapo models do not announce themselves on the network, and ONVIF answers only on port 2020 with the Camera Account. Add the camera by its IP address with the TP-Link preset instead.
Can I keep using the Tapo app with RTSP turned on?
Yes. The Camera Account only adds a local login. The Tapo app, its cloud features and other phones keep working alongside IP Camera Viewer.
Download the app and test it with your camera
Scan the QR code or open the App Store link to try IP Camera Viewer & Monitor with your RTSP or ONVIF camera.