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Current status: Amazon Cloud Cam is no longer a usable security-camera service. Amazon shut down Cloud Cam and its companion apps on December 2, 2022, and AWS now describes every version as end-of-life, unsupported and affected by an insecure-pairing issue. AWS says Cloud Cam should not be used. See the Amazon shutdown notice and AWS security bulletin.
The November 2017 update remains worth documenting as a historical product change. It added software image flipping for upside-down installations, an in-app audio mute for live viewing and clip playback, and manual control of the camera’s infrared night-vision LEDs.
What the November 2017 Cloud Cam update added
Amazon said the first major Cloud Cam software update would roll out through updated iPhone and Android apps. The contemporary report was published November 30, 2017, but no exact app version, menu path or camera-firmware requirement was established.
Image orientation for upside-down and ceiling mounting
Owners could mount the indoor camera upside down and flip the live-view image in software. This corrected an inverted picture; it did not add a physical ceiling bracket, change the lens coverage or make Cloud Cam weatherproof.
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- ENDLESS POWER FROM SOLAR ENERGY: Just 45 minutes of direct sunlight powers the camera for a full day of use, while the built-in battery lasts up to 180 days on a single charge during cloudy days. Solar charging requires temperatures above 32°F.△
- EASY WIRE-FREE INSTALLATION: Place the Tapo SolarCam C402 KIT where you need it without relying on nearby outlets. Install the camera and solar panel together or separately using the included 13 ft cable for flexible placement.
- PRIORITIZE WHAT MATTERS: Set activity zones to monitor specific areas for motion or people. Free person and motion detection helps reduce unwanted alerts and notifies you when activity is detected.
- VERSATILE VIDEO STORAGE: Store footage locally via a microSD card (up to 512GB)* or via cloud with a Tapo Care cloud subscription. Tailor your security to suit your needs, whether indoor or outdoor, you have the storage option you need.
- FULL-COLOR 1080P, DAY AND NIGHT: See clearly in low light with a large-aperture lens and built-in spotlights. Capture full-color night vision up to 30 ft away to monitor for possible intruders or motion.
Audio silence while viewing
The released control muted sound in the app while watching a live stream or playing a recorded clip. Amazon initially described the change as disabling audio recording, then corrected that description: disabling audio during recording was described as a later feature, and available reporting does not verify that it ever shipped.
Manual infrared night-vision control
The app gained a switch for the infrared LEDs used for night vision. Owners could turn the LEDs off when they caused reflections through glass or produced unwanted illumination, then turn them back on when infrared light was needed.
These details come from GeekWire’s November 2017 report.
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- 【2K High Definition】Capture every detail inside your home with crystal-clear 2K high definition video with this indoor security camera. Easily see what your baby is holding or what your pet is playing with. Connects via 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Band
- 【Up, Down, All Around】This Pan/Tilt IP camera see everything across an entire room or walkway with the 360° horizontal and 114° vertical range pan/tilt field of view.
- 【Secure Local or Cloud Storage】Save footage continuously on up to a 512 GB microSD card (not included) or subscribe to Tapo Care for cloud storage which saves 30-day video history and provides additional benefits such as motion tracking, baby crying detection, and more. [Before purchasing a microSD card, please check the TP-Link website FAQ to ensure compatibility with your device.]
- 【Detection & Instant Notification】Get instant push notifications when motion, person or baby crying is detected, there is no additional fee to use it as a baby camera monitor. Discern from notifications that matter, so you'll know if its your pet playing around or if someone is actually there.
- 【Works w/ Alexa & Google Assistant】Fully compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, use your simple voice command to view Tapo indoor security camera live stream on Echo Show or Google Chrome Cast with a screen. Easily get your home security footage up on a larger TV display.
Why the controls mattered in practice
Ceiling installations
Before the orientation option, an upside-down camera produced an inverted feed. The software fix made higher placement practical for monitoring a room or entry area, but the installation still needed a stable surface, a nearby outlet and sensible cable routing.
- Power: Cloud Cam was a plug-in indoor camera, not a battery model.
- Wi-Fi: A ceiling location could worsen reliability if the router signal was weaker there.
- Coverage: Flipping the picture did not widen or otherwise change the field of view.
- Environment: Amazon’s launch material described freestanding or mounted indoor use, not outdoor weather exposure.
Infrared and windows
Infrared light can bounce off window glass and wash out or obscure a nighttime image. Turning the LEDs off could reduce that reflection when sufficient visible light was available. The trade-off is straightforward: in a genuinely dark room, disabling infrared illumination can make the picture nearly black.
Audio privacy
Muting playback is not the same as disabling the microphone or preventing audio from being stored. The three functions are distinct:
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- 【Up, Down, All Around】This Pan/Tilt IP camera see everything across an entire room or walkway with the 360° horizontal and 114° vertical range pan/tilt field of view.
- 【Detection & Instant Notification】Get instant push notifications when motion, person or baby crying is detected, there is no additional fee to use it as a baby camera monitor. Discern from notifications that matter, so you'll know if someone is there.
- 【Secure Local or Cloud Storage】Save footage continuously on up to a 512 GB microSD card (not included) or subscribe to Tapo Care for cloud storage which saves 30-day video history and provides additional benefits such as motion tracking, baby crying detection, and more. [Before purchasing a microSD card, please check the TP-Link website FAQ to ensure compatibility with your device.]
- 【Night Vision up to 30 Ft.】Never miss a thing that goes on, even at night thanks to the integrated IR system on this indoor camera which provides 30 feet of night vision.
- 【1080P Full HD】Capture every detail inside your home with crystal-clear 1080P Full HD video with this indoor security camera. Easily see what your baby is holding or what your pet is playing with. Connects via 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Band
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Playback/live-view mute | Stops sound coming from the viewer’s app. |
| Microphone disable | Prevents the camera from capturing audio. |
| Audio-recording disable | Stores clips without an audio track. |
The 2017 report confirms the first control and says recording control was forthcoming; it does not establish the later feature’s release or location in the app.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhat Cloud Cam offered at launch
Amazon introduced Cloud Cam in October 2017 as a 1080p Full HD indoor camera with night vision, two-way audio and 24/7 livestreaming. Cloud Cam apps were available for iOS and Android, with Fire OS support later. Alexa viewing worked through Echo Show, Echo Spot, Fire TV and Fire tablets, and the Key Edition supported Amazon Key workflows.
| Launch item | Historical detail |
|---|---|
| Single camera | $119.99 at the October 2017 launch |
| Two cameras | $199.99 at launch |
| Three cameras | $289.99 at launch |
| Free clip history | Previous 24 hours for up to three cameras |
| Paid plans | $6.99, $9.99 or $19.99 per month, depending on storage duration and camera count |
Those prices and features are historical launch information, not current offers. See Amazon’s October 2017 announcement.
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- 【Motion Detection & Instant Notification】Get instant push notifications when motion, person or baby crying is detected, there is no additional fee to use it as a baby camera monitor. Discern from notifications that matter, so you'll know if its your pet playing around or if someone is actually there. Connects via 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Band
- 【2-Way Audio w/ Built In Siren】Never truly leave home with the built-in 2-way audio. Use as a pet camera with phone app to comfort your pet from anywhere in the world. Keep your family safe with cameras for home security indoor by warding off intruders.
- 【Night Vision up to 40 Ft.】Never miss a thing that goes on, even at night thanks to the integrated IR system on this indoor camera which provides 40 feet of night vision.
- 【1080P FHD】Capture every detail inside your home with crystal-clear 1080P high definition video with this indoor security camera. Keep your camera performing at its best by keeping the firmware updated through the Tapo App.
- 【No Subscription Storage Option】Store recordings on a microSD card at no cost (up to 512GB, sold separately) or subscribe to Tapo Care's cloud storage.
What happened to Cloud Cam
Amazon ended Cloud Cam and its companion apps on December 2, 2022. Customers were told to download recordings before the shutdown because video history would be deleted. Cloud Cam Key Edition also stopped functioning as a Zigbee hub for compatible locks and Amazon Key workflows. Amazon directed eligible customers toward Blink and Ring during the shutdown process, but those historical offers should not be treated as available today.
In June 2025, AWS documented an insecure-pairing issue affecting all Cloud Cam versions. The bulletin identifies the products as end-of-life and no longer actively supported, and advises that they should not be used. A unit that still powers on is not therefore a functioning or safe security camera.
What to use instead in 2026
Do not buy a used Cloud Cam. Choose a currently supported camera based on storage, ecosystem and privacy requirements rather than the old Cloud Cam feature list.
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- 【Stunning 4K UHD & 8x Zoom】 Capture tiny details and record 4K ultra-clear videos day & night with the Anona 4K indoor camera, say goodbye to 2K or 3K. The professional-grade lens and 8X zoom bring distant details into sharp focus, so you never miss some wonderful moments.
- 【AI Person/Pet/Crying Detection 】Thanks to the AI algorithms, Anona pet/baby camera is able to detect pets, person, and baby crying. And you will receive a notification from the phone app immediately. Keep track of your loved ones even when you are busy.
- 【Ultra-Smooth 360° Pan & 110°x Tilt】Just pan the camera in 360° or tilt it in 110° to see all around.One indoor security camera covers every angle. The auto-tracking feature will detect a moving object, follow it, and record it.
- 【Faster Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 】Anona wifi cameras adopts the latest Wi-Fi 6 for data transmission - much faster and more smooth & stable than Wi-Fi 4. Dual-band Wi-Fi enables you to switch between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi for the best signal.
- 【Safer Local or Cloud Storage 】Opt to Anona Cloud to save videos on our cloud storage encrypted by AES-128, a highly secure and efficient encryption algorithm. If you prefer local recordings, just insert an up to 512 GB microSD card (not included) to the indoor cameras for home. 2 storage choices - you decide.
| Option | Best fit | Important qualifications |
|---|---|---|
| Blink Mini and current Blink cameras | Alexa and Amazon households wanting a compact plug-in indoor camera | Blink advertises a plan at $6.99 per month; regional pricing and features vary. See Blink plans and the subscription FAQ. |
| Ring Indoor Cam | Households already using Ring doorbells, Ring Alarm or the Ring app | Ring’s page has displayed time-limited bundle promotions, including a $49.99 offer observed against a $79.98 reference price. Check Ring Protect plans for current terms. |
| Wyze Cam v4 | Budget-focused buyers seeking lower-cost subscription options | Wyze listed Cam v4 from $44.98 and Cam Plus at $2.99 monthly; annual Cam Plus pricing was listed as $29.99 from March 2026. Prices and promotions can change. |
Before choosing, check whether the camera supports local storage, works without a subscription, offers microphone or privacy-shutter controls, and integrates with the smart-home platform you already use. A playback mute button alone does not guarantee that audio is not being recorded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the 2017 update disable Cloud Cam audio recording?
No confirmed evidence supports that interpretation. The released feature muted audio during live viewing and recorded-clip playback; Amazon said disabling audio during recording would come later, but the later release is not documented here.
Can I use an old Cloud Cam if it still turns on?
No. Cloud Cam service ended in 2022, and AWS says all versions are end-of-life, unsupported and affected by insecure pairing. AWS advises against using the product.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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