How to Fix No Sound and Audio Quality Issues on Your Tapo Camera or Doorbell

This guide explains how to get the audio working correctly on Tapo cameras and doorbells. Common issues include: Tapo camera no sound in playback recordings, and no sound during two-way communication. The cause may be device settings, microphone or speaker configuration, network conditions, or the physical installation environment.

Key Takeaways

• No sound in playback recordings is often caused by the Record Sound toggle being disabled in Device Settings.
• Check if the microphone volume slider on the Live View page is turned up. It controls the camera's mic sensitivity for both live view and recordings.
• Video recordings only capture ambient sounds and the visitor's voice, not your voice speaking through the Tapo app. Devices filter out audio from the camera's speaker to prevent feedback.
• For two-way talk issues, check your phone’s settings: Media volume is up, Silent Mode is off, and the Tapo app has Microphone and Speaker permissions.
• Obstructions such as dirt, dust, or moisture trapped in the microphone hole can cause muffled or absent audio. Clean and dry the area gently if needed.
• A weak network connection can cause audio lag or loss during live view and two-way talk. Check signal strength via Device Settings > Device Info > Signal Strength/RSSI.

Before You Begin

• Both the camera/doorbell firmware and Tapo app version are up-to-date.
• The mobile device has a stable network connection.

How to Fix No Sound on Your Tapo Camera or Doorbell

Scenario 1: No Sound in Playback Recordings

Step 1. Enable Record Sound

Navigate to camera Device Settings > Storage & Recording and ensure the Record Sound toggle is enabled. If this is off, the camera will not capture any audio during recording.

Step 2. Test Local Playback

If you hear no sound within the app, download the recording to your phone’s local gallery. Try playing it using a Third-party Media Player or transfer it to a Computer to check if the audio tracks are present. This helps determine if the issue is caused by the Tapo app's playback interface or a compatibility issue with your phone's player, rather than a missing audio track in the file itself.

Step 3. Adjust Camera Microphone Volume

Go to the Live View page, tap the Speaker icon, and ensure the Microphone slider is turned up. This slider controls the sensitivity of the camera's mic for both live viewing and recordings.

Note: Video recordings only capture ambient sounds and the visitor’s voice. This is because the device has built-in Noise Reduction and Echo Cancellation features. To prevent high-pitched "howling" or feedback between the microphone and speaker, the system automatically filters out the audio coming from the camera’s speaker. Consequently, your own voice from the Tapo app will not be included in the final recording.

Scenario 2: No Sound in Two-Way Talk

Case 1: Cannot Hear the Visitor’s Voice on the Phone Side

Step 1. Check phone and device volume settings.

Make sure your phone’s media volume is turned up and adjust the microphone volume if needed. Also confirm that the camera/doorbell’s speaker and microphone volumes are set high in the Tapo app > Live View > Talk page.

Step 2. Check for microphone obstructions.

Inspect the front and sides of the camera or doorbell. Check for dirt, dust, or debris blocking the small Microphone hole. Clean it gently if necessary. Keeping the microphone hole clean ensures sound waves are not muffled by debris or moisture.

Note: If there was recent rain, moisture may be trapped in the hole. Wipe the area and dry it gently with a hairdryer if needed.

Step 3. Check phone audio settings.

Ensure your phone is not in Silent Mode. Turn up the Media Volume and ensure you have granted the Tapo app all necessary permissions for Speaker and Audio.

Step 4. Verify network stability.

A weak connection can cause audio lag or loss. Check the camera's signal strength in the Tapo app via Device Settings > Device Info > Signal Strength/RSSI. For detailed network troubleshooting, please refer to: What should I do if Tapo smart devices keeps losing connection or going offline?

Case 2: Visitor Cannot Hear the Owner's Voice From the Device Side

Step 1. Test the device speaker.

Press the doorbell button or trigger a test event to verify that the device produces a chime or sound. This confirms if the physical Speaker is functioning. To isolate whether the problem is a physical hardware failure of the speaker or a software/network transmission issue.

Step 2. Check phone microphone.

Ensure your phone’s physical microphone is working normally, e.g., try a voice memo or a regular call. Also check whether a Bluetooth headset is connected, as it may be capturing your audio instead.

Step 3. Grant app permissions.

Ensure the Tapo app has been granted Microphone Permission in your phone’s system settings. Without this, your voice cannot be transmitted.

Step 4. Verify network connection.

A weak connection can cause audio lag or loss. Check the camera's signal strength in the Tapo app via Device Settings > Device Info > Signal Strength/RSSI. For detailed network troubleshooting, please refer to: What should I do if Tapo smart devices keep losing connection or going offline?

If the issue persists after trying the steps above, contact TP-Link technical support with the following information:

• Model number and OS version of your mobile device.
• Tapo app version.
• MAC address of your camera/doorbell.
• Related videos to show the problem.

To learn more about each function and configuration, please visit the Download Center to download the manual for your product.