How to Fix Up Arlo Security Cameras

John Carlsen

Staff Author, Security & Smart Home

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Arlo's security cameras are some of the best in the business, and setting them up is a breeze. Here are seven easy steps to help y'all ready upwardly your new Arlo camera like a pro.

  • Camera Prophylactic: Help Preclude Your Cameras from Being Hacked

1. Download the Arlo app

The Arlo app walks you through the setup process and allows you to suit camera settings. You can't install a camera without the app. Once you download the app, create an account and start calculation your offset camera by choosing your model from the list.

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2. Turn on your Arlo photographic camera

Wire-free models: Insert and charge battery

Inserting battery in Arlo Pro 4

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When you start the setup procedure on a wire-free Arlo photographic camera, follow the instructions for installing the bombardment in the photographic camera housing. The battery has grooves on the bottom to prevent yous from installing it upside down.

After inserting the battery, close upward the camera'southward example and check the LED on the front. If the light is an amber color, connect it to the included charging cable. If it's flashing blue, yous tin skip charging and move on to the next stride.

Wired models: Find an outlet

Wired Arlo cameras need to exist within 6 anxiety of an outlet. You can buy optional power cables for wireless models in lengths of 8 and 25 feet. Arlo likewise sells solar panel chargers that work with its outdoor cameras.

3. Connect your Arlo camera to Wi-Fi

Arlo App Wi-Fi Disclaimer

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One time your camera has power, follow the Arlo app'southward instructions for connecting it to your Wi-Fi network. Enter the name and password for your wireless network, and the app will create a QR code for the photographic camera to browse. Wait for the camera to chime afterward scanning the code. Be aware that Arlo cameras practice not piece of work with 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks. Instead, you'll need a ii.4 GHz network.

4. Place your Arlo camera

Choose your mount

Install your Arlo photographic camera around vi to 7 feet above the footing. This is the best vantage point for capturing video footage and motility detection without being too difficult to accomplish.

Shelf

The Arlo Essential Indoor and the Arlo Q (its predecessor) are the simply Arlo cameras with born stands that work well when placing the cameras on a shelf. While most other Arlo cameras can rest on a shelf, y'all won't have many choices for pointing them towards the action without a mount.

Magnetic mount

Arlo Pro 4 with magnetic mount

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You lot can use a magnetic mount with any Arlo Ultra or Arlo Pro camera. This mount attaches to the wall with a unmarried screw, a drywall anchor, and a plastic stopper that clips into the back.

Outdoor mount

Employ one of Arlo'south outdoor mounts for better security if y'all're placing a photographic camera outdoors. These mounts use a spiral to secure the photographic camera in place. They're not piece of cake to take off the wall compared to magnetic mounts. Arlo besides recommends using these mounts if you need to place a camera higher than 6.5 feet.

5. Adjust your Arlo camera's view

Although virtually Arlo cameras have a wide field of view to capture tons of activity, yous tin can conform the camera for a better view, assuasive for more accurate motion detection, notifications, and recording.

Camera positioning

Arlo App Camera Positioning

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Using Arlo's Camera Positioning setting, yous tin conform the camera's view in near existent-time with very little lag. This setting tells the photographic camera to transport video quickly (usually at a lower quality) so you don't demand to look as long for the live view to catch upwards with your adjustments.

  1. Navigate to the Settings menu in the Arlo app.
  2. Select My Devices and choose the photographic camera yous want to adjust.
  3. Select Device Utilities and so Camera Positioning.
  4. Adjust the camera while looking at the Arlo app to ensure it sees all the areas you desire.

Field of view

Arlo app video mode

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Similar the Arlo Pro four, some Arlo cameras allow y'all change the field of view or how wide an area in forepart of the camera is. Generally, y'all want a wider view outdoors, where in that location aren't walls blocking your view. In dissimilarity, choose a narrower view indoors, where it's unnecessary to record wider than your walls permit, which saves video bandwidth.

  1. Navigate to the Settings menu in the Arlo app.
  2. Select My Devices and choose the camera you want to conform.
  3. Choose Video Settings and then Video Manner.
  4. Find a way that fits your photographic camera's surroundings.

Motion zones

Move zones tell Arlo security cameras what to ignore when deciding to tape. Arlo employs motion zones in 2 ways: passive and adaptable.

Passive movement zones

The motion sensor on many Arlo cameras has two zones by default. The lesser zone takes up two-thirds of the video and is more than sensitive, while the smaller elevation zone is less sensitive overall. You can see the peak zone every bit a greyed-out surface area in the camera positioning bill of fare.

By positioning the camera with the top third covering the street, you can prevent passing vehicles from setting off the sensor as oft. This setting works without an Arlo Secure deject subscription and doesn't require a continuous power supply.

Adaptable movement zones

Arlo app activity zones

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If y'all pay for an Arlo Secure Plan and connect your camera to a power outlet, you can create custom motility zones that record action in those areas.

  1. Become to the Settings bill of fare in the Arlo app.
    1. Consider logging in on a spider web browser instead, since adjusting the zones can be harder on a minor smartphone screen.
  2. Select My Devices and cull the photographic camera yous want to arrange.
  3. Choose Activity Zones.
  4. Hit the plus sign + to add a zone.
  5. Conform the zone to encompass an area (like a window or stairway).
  6. Name the zone for futurity reference.

6. Test your Arlo camera's motion detection

Arlo cameras rely exclusively on motility detection to know when to offset recording a video clip. You can test the motion detection'south effectiveness and adjust its sensitivity using the Arlo app:

  1. Navigate to the Settings bill of fare in the Arlo app.
  2. Select My Devices and choose the camera y'all're testing.
  3. Select Device Utilities and and then Movement Detection Examination.
  4. This mode tells the camera's LED low-cal to glimmer amber when at that place'due south motility.
  5. Move around the area you want the camera to monitor to run into if it catches all your action.
  6. Conform the movement sensitivity slider if the camera is too sensitive or non sensitive enough.
    • The sensitivity setting isn't universal—conform your arming modes to lucifer equally needed.

7. Arm your Arlo

Arming an Arlo camera tells it to starting time sending notifications and recording video clips (if you lot accept an Arlo Secure subscription or fix up local storage). It's as well an first-class way to protect your privacy. We recommend arming your camera whenever y'all leave the house or go to bed.

Arlo offers five arming modes:

My Arlo Arming Modes

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  • Disarmed: no recording or notifications
  • Armed: you manually arm using the app
  • Schedule: set specific times for the camera to record—especially helpful at night
  • Geofencing: camera arms and disarms based on your location
  • Custom mode: yous tin accommodate how the camera reacts when armed

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FAQ

Newer Arlo security cameras like Arlo Essential, Arlo Pro 4, and Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight don't require a base station. Still, you lot demand a base station on 4K models like Arlo Ultra 2 and older models like Arlo Pro three and Arlo Pro two. You tin use a base station with whatsoever Arlo cam to add together local video storage.

Yes, yous can use Arlo cameras without a subscription. These features are complimentary:

  • Viewing live video (but no deject storage)
  • Two-way audio
  • Notifications (just no smart notifications)
  • Local storage (if using a base station)

You lot tin add other users through the Arlo app:

  1. From the Settings menu: choose Grant Access and tap the Add together pick.
  2. Enter the proper noun and e-mail address of the person you want to add together to your Arlo camera.
  3. The new user volition receive an email to verify their business relationship access in the Arlo app.
    • You can conform permissions to conform each user's needs and responsibilities.
    • If you accept multiple cameras, you can limit access to specific cameras.

Arlo cameras fail to connect for various reasons:

  • The photographic camera is too far from your wireless router.
  • The photographic camera isn't on the aforementioned network every bit your mobile device during setup.
  • The camera is incompatible with your five GHz wireless network. Make sure you're using a two.4 GHz wireless network.
  • The camera doesn't take your network's current login credentials. Check that y'all used the correct network proper noun and countersign.
  • The camera didn't scan the QR lawmaking correctly when setting up Wi-Fi. Re-scan the code and listen for an audible chime.
  • The photographic camera timed out before connecting to your network. Press the sync button to start the sync process once more.

What you can't practise without internet

  • View live video
  • Use two-way audio
  • Adjust camera settings
  • Relieve videos to cloud storage

What yous tin exercise without internet

  • Tape videos using local storage (if you set information technology up using a base station).
  • View footage on when your phone'due south on the same network. But you need to plough on Directly Storage Admission in the Arlo app showtime.

Yes, you must employ an Ethernet cablevision to connect your Arlo base of operations station to your router. There should be one in the box.

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John Carlsen

Written by

John Carlsen

John is a engineering science journalist specializing in smart habitation devices, security cameras, and dwelling house security systems. He has over nine years of feel researching, testing, and reviewing the latest tech—he was the Smart Habitation Editor for Top Ten Reviews and wrote for ASecureLife earlier joining SafeWise as a Staff Author in 2022. John holds a Bachelor'south degree in Communications, Journalism emphasis from Utah Valley University. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, photography, cooking, and starting countless DIY projects he has yet to complete.

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