Tapo Camera ONVIF and RTSP Common Questions Answered

RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) is used to deliver live video streams from your camera to third-party software and devices. ONVIF is an industry standard that allows cameras to work with compatible Network Video Recorders (NVRs), NAS systems, and software clients regardless of brand. This page covers the most common questions about using Tapo camera RTSP and ONVIF features. Most wired Tapo cameras support both protocols and are compatible with NVRs, NAS devices, and third-party software clients. For a full setup walkthrough, see How to View Tapo Camera on PC, NAS, or NVR Using RTSP/ONVIF.

Key Takeaways

• Most Tapo cameras (excluding battery-powered models) support RTSP and ONVIF Profile S, making them compatible with NVR and NAS systems.
• Tapo cameras use ONVIF Service Port 2020 and RTSP Service Port 554.
• The standard RTSP stream URLs are rtsp://[IP Address]/stream1 (high quality) and rtsp://[IP Address]/stream2 (low quality).
• Tapo Care, SD card recording, and NVR/NAS/ONVIF software cannot all be used simultaneously. Only two of the three can run at the same time.
• ONVIF Profile S does not support two-way audio. It covers video and audio streaming, network configuration, event handling, and PTZ control.
• For remote RTSP access, a VPN is the recommended approach. Using port forwarding to expose a camera to a public IP address long-term is not advisable due to security risks.

ONVIF and RTSP Common Questions

Q1: Which Tapo Cameras Support RTSP and ONVIF Protocols?

Most Tapo cameras, except for battery-powered models, support the RTSP and ONVIF (Profile S) protocols, ensuring compatibility with various NVR and NAS systems.

For battery-operated cameras and doorbells, only select models—specifically the Tapo D235, D225, and TD25—support RTSP streaming when connected via a hardwired setup with a jumper cable and the "always-on mode" activated. Other models, such as the Tapo C410, C420, C425, and D230, do not support RTSP streaming due to limitations in their battery and electronic design.

Q2: Can I Use Tapo Care, SD Card, and RTSP/ONVIF For Streaming Or Video Recordings At The Same Time?

Only two of these three options can run at once: Tapo Care, SD card recording, and NVR/NAS/ONVIF software. The camera's hardware cannot support all three simultaneously.

For example, if you are already using an SD card and Tapo Care for recording, the NVR/NAS/ONVIF software recording will be disabled automatically. To restore NVR/NAS recording, remove the SD card from the camera.

Note: When using an SD card and Tapo Care together, the camera stores detection video clips on both the SD card and Tapo Care simultaneously. Not all third-party platforms support recording. For example, VLC supports streaming only.

Q3: What Are The Common Clients For RTSP And ONVIF?

RTSP: VLC, PotPlayer, and most ONVIF clients (including NVRs and NAS) come with an embedded RTSP player

ONVIF: iSpy, Agent DVR, Blue Iris, ONVIF Device Manager, TinyCam Monitor, Scrypted, NVR, and NAS

Q4: What Kind Of Onvif Profile Does Tapo Camera Support?

ONVIF Profile S.

Q5: How Do You Create Or Change The Camera Account On The Tapo App?

You may refer to How to manage the camera account on the Tapo app

Q6: What Ports Are Used By The Tapo Camera for RTSP/ONVIF?

ONVIF Service Port: 2020 and RTSP Service Port: 554

Q7: What is the URL of the RTSP live stream for Tapo Cameras?

• For high quality stream1: rtsp://IP Address/stream1
• For low quality stream2: rtsp:// IP Address/stream2

But note that the URLs used by dual-lens cameras are different; take C246D and C840 as examples:

Wide-angle Lens:

• For high quality stream1: rtsp://IP Address/stream1
• For low quality stream2: rtsp:// IP Address/stream2

Telephoto Lens:

• For high quality stream1: rtsp://IP Address/stream6
• For low quality stream2: rtsp:// IP Address/stream7

In some software, the URL needs to add the port to access the live stream, the default port is 554:

• For high quality stream1: rtsp://IP Address:554/stream1
• For low quality stream2: rtsp:// IP Address:554/stream2

Q8: Why Isn't Two-Way Audio Working on Third-Party ONVIF Platforms?

The ONVIF standard includes multiple profiles, and the Tapo Camera only supports Profile S. This profile does not include 2-way audio. Profile S only covers basic functionalities such as video/audio streaming, network configuration, event handling, and PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) control.

Q9: How Can I Watch The Live Stream Of The Tapo Camera On Third-Party Platforms Remotely From Another Network?

Two methods are available for remote access: setting up a VPN or using your router's port forwarding feature.

With VPN, your remote device connects securely to your home network before accessing the camera stream. This is the recommended method, as RTSP/ONVIF protocols are not highly secure, and exposing the camera to a public IP address long-term via port forwarding is not advisable.

With port forwarding, external devices connect directly to your network's public IP to reach the camera. If you use this method, the RTSP URLs are:

• High quality: rtsp://[network WAN IP]:[External Port]/stream1
• Low quality: rtsp://[network WAN IP]:[External Port]/stream2

The external port is the one configured in your router's port forwarding settings.

Q10: Why Can't I View The Live Stream Of The Tapo Camera On Third-Party Platforms From The External Network, Even Though I Set Up Port Forwarding?

Step 1. Make sure the camera’s RTSP stream is working on the local network. If not, refer to Q13. If local network access is normal but external network access fails, it is usually related to port forwarding settings or the network environment.

Step 2. Make sure you entered the correct WAN IP address in the RTSP URL. If you are unsure how to check, contact Router support or your ISP.

Step 3. Check the port forwarding settings in the router.

If you need to set up port forwarding for different cameras, assign different External Ports to each, and keep the Internal Port at 554.

It is possible that the External Port you selected is already occupied, causing streaming to fail. You can also try using a different External Port.

Step 4. Check the firewall settings.

Step 5. If the problem persists, it is recommended to contact router support to check the port-forwarding settings and overall performance.

Q11: What Should I Do If The ONVIF Clients Can’t Find The Tapo Camera?

Step 1. Ensure that the camera is connected to the same local network as the ONVIF client.

Step 2. Use the ping command to check if you can reach the camera. If the ping fails, you may need to check your network setup.

Step 3. Look for any settings that may cause isolation, such as VLAN or AP isolation, which could prevent the camera from communicating with the ONVIF client.

Step 4. Based on the URL provided by the ONVIF client, try to add the camera manually.

Note: Profile S does not require devices to be discovered across different subnets. Tapo cameras can be discovered on the same subnet.

Q12: What If The Onvif Client Successfully Detects The Tapo Camera, But Authentication Fails?

Step 1. Ensure Tapo Camera is set up and the Camera Account is enabled. If you are not sure how to create a camera account, please refer to How to manage the camera account on the Tapo app.

Step 2. Make sure you have entered the correct Camera Account in the ONVIF client.

Q13: What Should I Do If the RTSP Client Cannot Open the Tapo Camera RTSP Stream On The Local Network? For Example, VLC Shows An Error Message Or Keeps Loading Without Displaying Any Video.

Step 1. Make sure the camera is online. Use the ping command to check if you can reach the camera. If the ping fails, you may need to check your network setup.

Step 2. Check that the RTSP URL is correct, and try entering the full URL. Refer to Q7.

Step 3. Try resetting your Tapo Camera account and removing any special characters.

Step 4. Turn off other devices that are accessing the stream, like phones or tablets.

Step 5. Try to switch the RTSP URL from stream1 to stream2.

Step 6. Restart the camera.

If the issue is still the same, contact TP-Link technical support and provide the information below for our support to look into further:

• Model number and hardware version of your camera.
• Detailed information about the ONVIF client and a screenshot of the error message
• Troubleshooting results of the above steps.

Q14: What Should I Do If The ONVIF Client Can't Receive Detection Notification Or Pan & Tilt The Camera?

Step 1. Ensure all related functions in the Tapo APP are operational well.

Step 2. Confirm that the ONVIF settings are correct.

Use alternative ONVIF clients to perform a comparison test. If issues persist across clients, the problem may lie with the camera.

If the issue is still the same, contact TP-Link technical support and provide the information below for our support to look into further:

• Model number and hardware version of your camera.
• Detailed information about the ONVIF client
• Troubleshooting results of the above steps.

Q15: Why Is My RTSP Stream Resolution Lower Than Expected?

For some models, like the C310, the resolution of Stream 1 (rtsp://IP Address/stream1) is determined by the video quality setting in the Tapo app. If you find that the resolution of Stream 1 is lower than the camera's maximum supported resolution, try changing the video quality setting to "Best Quality" in the Tapo app.

Q16: What Should I Do If There Is No Or Very Little Sound When Watching The Live Stream Using Rtsp/Onvif?

If you find that there is no or very little sound when using RTSP/ONVIF to watch the live stream, please adjust the camera microphone settings in the Tapo app.