Do Tapo Matter Smart Switches Require Cloud Account For LOCAL ONLY Operation?

Third party integrations
, ,
1

Trying to understand / figure out if TP-Link Tapo Matter smart switches can be used LOCAL ONLY without a TP-Link cloud account and without access to the Internet.

Have read the TP-Link Smart Home / Home Assistant Integration webpage ( TP-Link Smart Home - Home Assistant )

I find the following statements unclear / confusing.

“Since these devices use the same TP-Link Cloud Account for authorization, they work with this integration as well. If your device is a newer Kasa or Tapo device it will require your TP-Link cloud username and password to authenticate for local access.”

Compared to the following statement:

“The integration connects locally to the devices without going via the TP-Link cloud.”

Making things more confusing while adding a Tapo Matter switch to Home Assistant I was asked for my TP-Link Cloud user name and password. Why ask for user name and password if this was controlled local only?

Can someone provide clarification on this.

2

I believe that once you have registered the account through tapo then it works locally without the cloud?
not sure how that works with automations

3

I just added mine to HA by scanning the QR code with the HA companion. No Tapo app was required. Try resetting the device(s) and try again w/o getting the TP-Link app involved.