A security camera that works with a standalone micro SD card is primarily designed to store motion-activated recordings or short video clips of movements with local storage, which offers a cost-effective alternative to subscription-based cloud storage. However, users may run into issues like the SD card not being recognized or formatted by the camera App, the camera being unable to overwrite recordings, or the SD card becoming full and stopping recording.

This article offers key insights into choosing a microSD card, identifying fake microSD cards to avoid potential issues and more.

Compatibility List of microSD Cards We’ve Tested

microSD Card Buying Tips

Verify Fake microSD Cards

Maximum Recording Hours

Compatibility List of microSD Cards We’ve Tested

Notes:

• The information listed in the compatibility table is based solely on our lab test results. This indicates that the SD cards have been tested for compatibility with the camera, but the stability depends on the quality of each card.
• MicroSD cards use flash memory technology, which has a limited number of write cycles. Each data write operation wears down the flash memory chips. We recommend choosing high-endurance SD cards specifically designed for video surveillance and continuous read/write operations.
• Based on our lab test results, sorry to tell you that the ADATA (A1, V10) and Samsung (256 GB, EVO plus U3, V30, A2, SDXC1) are not supported by any Tapo/Kasa cameras.

microSD Card Buying Tips

Key specifications to consider:

1. Try to choose High/Max/Pro Endurance microSD cards as they are designed for continuous recording and re-recording, offering greater stability and reliability in recording and storage.
2. Regular SD cards are typically designed for digital cameras and may not be suitable for continuous recording. They are not recommended for use with dash cams, home monitoring, or security systems.
3. The capacity varies by camera model and hardware version. For specific information about supported capacities, please refer to the specific product’s page on our official website.

*Comparison of microSD card Speed Class ratings

Buying tips:

• Always make sure to buy from an authorized seller. Be careful about cheap SD cards. Do not buy used or refurbished SD cards.
• Due to the diversity of quality of the microSD card, we cannot guarantee the microSD card you purchased would be 100% compatible with our Tapo/Kasa camera. We recommend you test the microSD card instantly after your purchase. We are not obliged to offer any RMA or help to troubleshoot your microSD card. To verify fake microSD Cards, please refer to Verify Fake micoSD Cards part.
• Pay attention to the Operating Temperature of the SD card, which can usually be found in the Specifications.
• microSD cards have a limited read and write lifespan. Replace microSD cards once every few years to reduce potential failure. Select High/Max Endurance microSD cards specifically designed for your home security cameras or dash cam to ensure stable performance of the camera.
• Based on our lab test results, sorry to tell you that the ADATA (A1, V10) and Samsung (256 GB, EVO plus U3, V30, A2, SDXC1) are not supported by any Tapo/Kasa cameras.

Verify Fake microSD Cards

Refer to How to verify fake micro SD vards for detailed information.

Maximum Recording Hours

Notes:

1. The recording durations in the table are estimated based on the average video bitrate measured in the laboratory. The actual recording duration in usage may vary depending on factors such as scene complexity, proportion of dynamic scenes, frame rate settings, and the resolution supported by the camera model.
2. With Loop Recording enabled, the microSD card will automatically overwrite the previously recorded videos from the beginning when it becomes full.