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Yes, Tapo D225 can record 24/7, but only in its hardwired Always-On setup. For the straightforward local-storage route, you also need a compatible microSD card and a continuous recording schedule. Battery-only operation saves events instead. The important buying catch is the chime: enabling Always-On requires bypassing your existing wired chime.
CHECK THE WIRING FIRST
Tapo D225
Continuous local video with compatible wiring, a bypassed chime and Always-On Mode.
Should you buy D225 for continuous recording?
If your goal is to look back at an ordinary moment when no alert fired, buy for a continuous archive rather than just motion clips. A doorbell can be hardwired yet still be configured to save only events. The power supply, operating mode and recording schedule all need to match.
| Your installation | D225 decision |
|---|---|
| Compatible wiring; willing to replace the old chime’s job | A practical candidate for local 24/7 recording |
| No wiring, or no permission to alter it | Buy only if event clips meet your needs |
| Must keep the traditional wired chime working | Do not choose D225 specifically for continuous recording |
| Need a full-day archive stored in the cloud | Tapo Care does not supply that recording mode |
Our recommendation is to settle the wiring and chime decision before comparing discounts. A cheap doorbell that needs unexpected electrical work can cost more than another model that suits the entrance. This guide covers the US Tapo D225, not a promise that every Tapo doorbell behaves the same way.
What equipment is actually required?
The US D225 specifications list on-device microSD storage up to 512GB, with the card sold separately, and an included indoor Tapo chime. You do not need to buy a separate recording hub for the microSD setup covered here.
Power: TP-Link’s D225 installation guide specifies 8–24V AC and a 10VA minimum. Its newer power-mode guidance recommends a transformer rated over 10VA. Treat the first as the published minimum, not assurance that every old doorbell circuit will sustain Always-On operation.
Check the transformer rating and the load already connected to it. Tapo warns that more than one Always-On doorbell on the same transformer can cause battery drain even when its rating exceeds 10VA. A transformer label alone does not establish adequate power at your door.
Have a qualified installer assess an unknown circuit or any transformer replacement. Follow the exact manufacturer wiring diagrams and shut off circuit power before work. Do not connect the doorbell directly to household mains voltage or improvise a bypass from a general buying guide.
The chime trade-off is easy to miss
Tapo’s model-family FAQ distinguishes battery event recording from continuous recording in hardwired Always-On Mode. The installation guide requires the old chime to be bypassed for that mode. The old wall chime will no longer perform its normal ringing job in this configuration; use the included Tapo chime for the indoor alert.
That is a meaningful purchase constraint for a house with a cherished mechanical chime, a difficult-to-access chime box or a rental agreement that restricts electrical changes. If keeping the existing chime is nonnegotiable, do not buy this model on the assumption that wiring it gives you both features.
For a broader comparison of recording locations and installation trade-offs, see our local-storage doorbell guide. Check each alternative’s own chime rules; another wired model is not automatically compatible with your existing chime.
Always-On is only part of the setup
After the supported installation, check both power mode and storage settings. TP-Link’s continuous-recording guide explains the app workflow: enable Local Recording, open Recording Schedule and assign Continuous Recording to the hours you need. For round-the-clock coverage, include every day and hour. Menu wording can vary with app and firmware versions.
Then open Playback & Download and use the SD-card recording view, rather than judging the result from cloud event clips. Choose a quiet time with no detected movement and confirm it plays back. Repeat after dark and after a normal restart. A live picture proves the camera is reachable now, not that yesterday’s video was saved.
Keep pre-roll separate in your decision. D225 advertises up to four seconds of video before an event in its Always-On features. That short lead-in helps explain an alert, but it is not a substitute for a continuous archive. You should be able to retrieve a period that never generated an event.
Storage: capacity is not a guaranteed number of days
Choose an endurance-rated card intended for repeated video writes. TP-Link’s microSD compatibility guide recommends endurance cards for continuous use and lists minimum Class 10/U1/V10 performance. Stay within D225’s documented capacity and check current card compatibility before ordering.
Do not assume a 512GB card guarantees a month of footage. Retention changes with recording settings, scene complexity, usable capacity and the amount of video being written. With Loop Recording enabled, older material is replaced as storage fills. Check the oldest playable date after the system has been running, and export important footage before it is overwritten.
A useful planning calculation is daily storage in decimal GB ≈ average stored Mbps × 10.8. For illustration, a constant total 4 Mbps would use about 43.2GB per day. A nominal 256GB card would hold roughly 5.9 days before formatting and other overhead. This is arithmetic, not a measured D225 bitrate or retention result.
The card sits in the outdoor device, so theft of the doorbell can also remove its local archive. If keeping recordings indoors is your priority, compare storage architectures before buying. Our security-camera microSD guide explains card selection; it does not turn a local card into an off-device backup.
Subscription costs and the complete shopping list
The required recording subscription is $0 for the local microSD route. Tapo Care is optional. The current Tapo Care FAQ explicitly says it does not offer 24-hour continuous cloud recording. Paying for cloud event storage does not make a battery-powered D225 record all day.
Compare the total installed price, not just the doorbell listing: D225 kit + compatible endurance card + any necessary transformer or wiring work + installation labor. Confirm the kit includes its indoor chime. Do not add a hub or cloud plan just because an online bundle offers one.
For example, two doorbells with a $30 price difference can reverse positions once one needs $100 of installation work. Those are illustrative amounts, not current D225 quotes. Obtain the electrical-work cost first if you cannot verify the existing installation. Keep optional cloud-event backup separate from the cost of obtaining local continuous recording.
Our buying verdict
Buy D225 for this job when you have a suitable hardwired installation, accept the chime bypass and are comfortable managing local storage. Its battery option is useful flexibility, but it is not the route to a full-day archive. If you cannot meet those conditions, choose based on the recording mode your installation can actually support.
For other recording approaches, compare our continuous-recording camera guide. Whichever system you choose, verify recorded playback instead of relying on the words “24/7” in a listing.
Frequently asked questions
Can Tapo D225 record continuously on battery power?
No. Its documented battery mode records triggered events. Continuous recording requires the supported hardwired Always-On configuration and recording setup. A larger card or paid cloud plan does not remove that power requirement.
Can I keep my existing chime and still get 24/7 recording?
Not in the documented D225 Always-On installation. The existing chime must be bypassed. Plan to use the included Tapo chime for indoor alerts, or choose a different setup after verifying its specific chime compatibility.
Do I need Tapo Care or a separate hub?
Neither is required for the D225 on-device microSD workflow described here. Buy a compatible card separately. Tapo Care adds optional cloud-event services, not a full-day continuous cloud archive; check its current offer only if those separate features matter to you.
Will D225 keep recording continuously if the power fails?
Do not count on it. Tapo ties continuous recording to hardwired Always-On operation and warns that insufficient power can make the doorbell leave that mode. An internal battery is not evidence of uninterrupted 24/7 recording during an outage.
Why can live view work while the continuous timeline is missing?
Live view and saved footage are different functions. Check Always-On status, card health, Local Recording and the weekly recording schedule. In playback, select SD-card recordings rather than cloud events. If power is insufficient, address the installation instead of buying a subscription.
How we select
Researched October 30, 2026 using TP-Link and Tapo’s exact-model product, installation, power-mode, recording, microSD and cloud-service documentation. We compared three purchase constraints: power, indoor chime behavior and where the archive is stored. The storage example and installed-cost comparison are illustrative calculations, not measurements or quotations.
This is a research-based buying guide, not a hands-on test. We checked the exact-model manufacturer image and linked retailer destination. We have not tested wiring, reliability, image quality or recording duration. Sources are linked alongside the claims; verify your regional model, firmware, kit contents and installation requirements before buying.