Camera losing connectivity on record

[Kev000]

Description

Camera only records for 5 seconds

Reproduction Steps

Run action record on hd stream (direct) for 90 seconds. Recorded file is only for 5 seconds. The timestamp is also displaying earlier than the time of running the action. Camera is c425 model.

Expected behavior

Expect to find a file with 90 seconds of recording with the correct timestamp. Restarting home assistant and running the actions first time works as expected but fails thereafter.

If applicable, add error logs.

Logger: homeassistant.components.stream.stream.camera.front_camera_hd_stream_direct
Source: components/stream/init.py:491
integration: Stream (documentation, issues)
First occurred: 21:32:57 (3 occurrences)
Last logged: 22:14:55

Error from stream worker: Error demuxing stream (EXIT, Immediate exit requested, pipe:45)
Error from stream worker: Error demuxing stream (EXIT, Immediate exit requested, pipe:30)
Error from stream worker: Error demuxing stream (EXIT, Immediate exit requested, pipe:81)

Device Firmware

1.2.26 build 250822 rel.59929n

Integration Version

7.0.2

Using stream component

Yes

Does camera work via official integrations?

Yes

Camera has all attributes filled out in developer tools

Yes

HASS Environment

VM on ZimaOS

Search for similar issues

Yes

Additional information

This integration works great. Thank you for the development and time you have put into this. Just can't get the stream to stay connected for more than 5, sometimes 7 seconds 😟

[JurajNyiri]

Is this with or without using stream from HA enabled in integration settings?

[Kev000]

I have tried both. Result is the same. I have also tried a different device (HAOS on rockpi) and the result is the same (actually a bit longer on video length- up to 17 seconds).

When I click on the HD Stream (Direct) within the integration page, the camera loads and holds connection. Timestamp is also correct.

[JurajNyiri]

That is strange. What this integration does both for record, and stream functionality is the same. It passes a stream to HA to handle in whatever way it needs to. Are you sure the stream works as expected and there are no drops etc?

[JurajNyiri]

Have you restarted when you switched the setting? Restart is required when switching it.

[Kev000]

Yep, tried restarting. I have 2 cameras and I have each separate camera with different settings. One uses home assistant stream and the other does not. Both cameras have the same result.

I did a test this morning and what I discovered was bizarre. I stood in front of the camera and ran the action to record. When I viewed the short 5 seconds recording, I was not in the images!

It's not that the timestamp is incorrect. It like it is recording old footage from before I send the action to record?

I will attach a screenshot of the action that I am running.

[andreswhr]

I have the same issue in my C425 too, since I purchased it in august or so.
The camera somehow buffers old recordings and almost never records real time in HA.

Taking snapshots (photos) with the camera works fine though, but as for video, I have an automation that records video and sends it over my Telegram bot. It always sends videos from 20-25 minutes earlier so I had to disable it.

I've tried disabling everything in the Tapo Application, tried both, Stream from HA both enabled and disabled, no luck. I even tried blocking the camera internet connection in case it was somehow the tapo app interfering with my recordings. No luck aswell.

I'm willing to do any tests required, or collect logs as necessary, just hit me up in this thread and I'll be happy to help.

Kind regards,
Andrés

[shoopdasheep]

I have the "similar" issue on HAOS Core 2026.3.1 running in as ZVM on Zimaboard 2
I have an automation supposed to run when a person is detected. It will capture a snapshot and then start recording, both from the HD Direct stream. The snapshot is created but the video is never created and the automation is stuck at the recording step.
I see no errors in the logs right now but I remember seeing these messages at some point in my logs : Error from stream worker:

Error demuxing stream (EXIT, Immediate exit requested, pipe:45)
Error from stream worker: Error demuxing stream (EXIT, Immediate exit requested, pipe:30)
Error from stream worker: Error demuxing stream (EXIT, Immediate exit requested, pipe:81)

Currently my automation is not recording the videos but only the snapshot
Here's my automation config :
`alias: Record on detect
description: ""
triggers:

• trigger: state
  entity_id:
  • binary_sensor.tapo_c232_540a_person_detection
    for:
    hours: 0
    minutes: 0
    seconds: 1
    to:
  • "on"
    from: null
    conditions: []
    actions:
• action: camera.snapshot
  metadata: {}
  data:
  filename: >-
  /media/Recordings/Person-Detection_{{ now().strftime("%Y%m%d-%H%M%S")
  }}.jpg
  target:
  entity_id: camera.tapo_c232_540a_hd_stream_direct
• action: notify.persistent_notification
  metadata: {}
  data:
  message: Person Detection Recording triggered
• action: camera.record
  metadata: {}
  data:
  filename: >-
  /media/Recordings/Person-Detection_{{ now().strftime("%Y%m%d-%H%M%S")
  }}.mp4
  duration: 30
  target:
  entity_id: camera.tapo_c232_540a_hd_stream_direct
  mode: single
  max_exceeded: silent`

When I replace hd_stream_direct with only hd_stream, it works ... and also at some point the hd_stream_direct has worked too and was less laggy than the hd_stream (reason why I want to stick with the hd_stream_direct)
I've restarted HAOS a few times but no luck ... still stuck

EDIT : Nevermind ... I think it's performance issue due to overhead of direct stream... tried to compare my CPU usage while viewing the HD Stream and the HD Direct stream ... with HD stream my CPU is at 35% and with HD Direct stream it's pegged at 99% ... I had read that the HD Direct was heavy on the CPU but damn ...