How to Set Arlo Security Cameras

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

1. Download the Arlo app

The Arlo app walks you through the setup process and allows you to adjust camera settings. You tin can't install a camera without the app. One time yous download the app, create an account and start adding your first camera past choosing your model from the list.

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2. Plough on your Arlo camera

Wire-complimentary models: Insert and charge battery

Inserting battery in Arlo Pro 4

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

After inserting the battery, close up the camera'due south instance and check the LED on the forepart. If the light is an amber color, connect it to the included charging cable. If it'south flashing blue, you can skip charging and move on to the next step.

Wired models: Find an outlet

Wired Arlo cameras demand to be inside 6 anxiety of an outlet. Y'all can buy optional power cables for wireless models in lengths of 8 and 25 feet. Arlo too sells solar panel chargers that piece of work with its outdoor cameras.

iii. Connect your Arlo camera to Wi-Fi

Arlo App Wi-Fi Disclaimer

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Once your photographic camera has ability, follow the Arlo app's 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. Look for the camera to chinkle afterwards scanning the code. Exist aware that Arlo cameras do not work with 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks. Instead, you'll need a 2.4 GHz network.

4. Place your Arlo photographic camera

Cull your mountain

Install your Arlo camera effectually 6 to vii feet above the ground. This is the best vantage signal for capturing video footage and motion detection without being too difficult to accomplish.

Shelf

The Arlo Essential Indoor and the Arlo Q (its predecessor) are the but Arlo cameras with built-in stands that work well when placing the cameras on a shelf. While almost other Arlo cameras can rest on a shelf, you lot 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 utilise a magnetic mount with any Arlo Ultra or Arlo Pro camera. This mount attaches to the wall with a unmarried screw, a drywall ballast, and a plastic stopper that clips into the back.

Outdoor mount

Use one of Arlo's outdoor mounts for better security if you're placing a camera outdoors. These mounts use a screw to secure the camera in place. They're not piece of cake to take off the wall compared to magnetic mounts. Arlo also recommends using these mounts if you lot demand to place a photographic camera higher than half-dozen.5 feet.

v. Adjust your Arlo camera'southward view

Although most Arlo cameras have a broad field of view to capture tons of activeness, you can arrange the camera for a improve view, allowing for more authentic motion detection, notifications, and recording.

Camera positioning

Arlo App Camera Positioning

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Using Arlo'due south Photographic camera Positioning setting, you can adjust the camera's view in nigh real-time with very picayune lag. This setting tells the camera to send video speedily (usually at a lower quality) and then you don't demand to wait as long for the alive view to catch upward with your adjustments.

  1. Navigate to the Settings menu in the Arlo app.
  2. Select My Devices and cull the photographic camera y'all want to arrange.
  3. Select Device Utilities and then Photographic camera Positioning.
  4. Adjust the photographic 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 4, some Arlo cameras allow you change the field of view or how wide an area in front of the camera is. More often than not, you want a wider view outdoors, where there aren't walls blocking your view. In dissimilarity, choose a narrower view indoors, where information technology's unnecessary to record wider than your walls allow, which saves video bandwidth.

  1. Navigate to the Settings carte in the Arlo app.
  2. Select My Devices and choose the camera you want to suit.
  3. Choose Video Settings and and then Video Mode.
  4. Notice a fashion that fits your photographic camera'southward environs.

Move zones

Motion zones tell Arlo security cameras what to ignore when deciding to record. Arlo employs movement zones in 2 means: passive and adjustable.

Passive movement zones

The movement sensor on many Arlo cameras has 2 zones by default. The bottom zone takes up two-thirds of the video and is more sensitive, while the smaller pinnacle zone is less sensitive overall. Yous can run across the top zone as a greyed-out area in the camera positioning menu.

By positioning the camera with the height tertiary covering the street, you tin prevent passing vehicles from setting off the sensor as oftentimes. This setting works without an Arlo Secure cloud subscription and doesn't require a continuous power supply.

Adjustable motion zones

Arlo app activity zones

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If you pay for an Arlo Secure Plan and connect your photographic camera to a ability outlet, you can create custom motion zones that record action in those areas.

  1. Go to the Settings menu in the Arlo app.
    1. Consider logging in on a web browser instead, since adjusting the zones can be harder on a small-scale smartphone screen.
  2. Select My Devices and choose the photographic camera you want to adjust.
  3. Choose Activeness Zones.
  4. Hit the plus sign + to add a zone.
  5. Adjust the zone to cover an area (similar a window or stairway).
  6. Proper noun the zone for future reference.

6. Test your Arlo photographic camera's motion detection

Arlo cameras rely exclusively on motion detection to know when to commencement recording a video clip. Y'all can examination the move detection'due south effectiveness and adjust its sensitivity using the Arlo app:

  1. Navigate to the Settings menu in the Arlo app.
  2. Select My Devices and choose the camera you're testing.
  3. Select Device Utilities so Motion Detection Examination.
  4. This mode tells the camera's LED light to blink bister when at that place's motion.
  5. Motion around the area you want the camera to monitor to see if it catches all your activity.
  6. Adjust the motion sensitivity slider if the camera is also sensitive or not sensitive enough.
    • The sensitivity setting isn't universal—suit your arming modes to lucifer every bit needed.

7. Arm your Arlo

Arming an Arlo photographic camera tells it to start sending notifications and recording video clips (if y'all have an Arlo Secure subscription or prepare up local storage). It's also an fantabulous mode to protect your privacy. Nosotros recommend arming your camera whenever y'all leave the house or go to bed.

Arlo offers 5 arming modes:

My Arlo Arming Modes

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  • Disarmed: no recording or notifications
  • Armed: yous manually arm using the app
  • Schedule: prepare specific times for the photographic camera to record—specially helpful at night
  • Geofencing: camera artillery and disarms based on your location
  • Custom way: you 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 iii Floodlight don't require a base of operations station. Still, you need a base station on 4K models like Arlo Ultra 2 and older models like Arlo Pro 3 and Arlo Pro 2. You can use a base of operations station with any Arlo cam to add local video storage.

Yes, you lot can use Arlo cameras without a subscription. These features are free:

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

Y'all can add other users through the Arlo app:

  1. From the Settings menu: choose Grant Access and tap the Add option.
  2. Enter the name and email address of the person you want to add to your Arlo photographic camera.
  3. The new user will receive an email to verify their account access in the Arlo app.
    • You tin can adjust permissions to conform each user'due south needs and responsibilities.
    • If you take multiple cameras, you can limit access to specific cameras.

Arlo cameras fail to connect for diverse reasons:

  • The camera is as well far from your wireless router.
  • The camera isn't on the same network as your mobile device during setup.
  • The camera is incompatible with your 5 GHz wireless network. Make sure you're using a 2.4 GHz wireless network.
  • The camera doesn't have your network's current login credentials. Check that you lot used the correct network proper noun and password.
  • The photographic camera didn't scan the QR lawmaking correctly when setting upward Wi-Fi. Re-scan the code and listen for an audible chinkle.
  • The camera timed out before connecting to your network. Press the sync button to starting time the sync procedure over again.

What y'all tin't do without internet

  • View live video
  • Utilise ii-style audio
  • Adjust camera settings
  • Save videos to deject storage

What you can practice without internet

  • Record videos using local storage (if you ready it upwards using a base station).
  • View footage on when your phone'southward on the same network. But you need to plow on Direct Storage Admission in the Arlo app first.

Yes, you must use 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 applied science announcer specializing in smart home devices, security cameras, and home security systems. He has over nine years of experience researching, testing, and reviewing the latest tech—he was the Smart Domicile Editor for Pinnacle Ten Reviews and wrote for ASecureLife earlier joining SafeWise equally a Staff Author in 2020. John holds a Available's 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 nonetheless to complete.

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