How to Set Up Arlo Security Cameras

Arlo'southward security cameras are some of the best in the concern, and setting them upwardly is a cakewalk. Here are seven easy steps to help you set up 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. Once you download the app, create an account and offset adding your beginning camera past choosing your model from the list.

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2. Turn on your Arlo camera

Wire-free models: Insert and charge battery

Inserting battery in Arlo Pro 4

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When y'all outset the setup procedure 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 foreclose you from installing it upside down.

After inserting the battery, close up the photographic camera's instance and cheque the LED on the front. If the light is an bister color, connect it to the included charging cable. If it'southward flashing blue, you can skip charging and move on to the side by side step.

Wired models: Discover an outlet

Wired Arlo cameras need to be within six feet of an outlet. You tin buy optional power cables for wireless models in lengths of 8 and 25 feet. Arlo also sells solar panel chargers that work with its outdoor cameras.

three. Connect your Arlo photographic camera to Wi-Fi

Arlo App Wi-Fi Disclaimer

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One time your camera has ability, follow the Arlo app's instructions for connecting information technology to your Wi-Fi network. Enter the name and password for your wireless network, and the app will create a QR code for the camera to browse. Wait for the photographic camera to chime later on scanning the code. Be aware that Arlo cameras exercise not work with 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks. Instead, you'll need a 2.iv GHz network.

4. Place your Arlo camera

Cull your mountain

Install your Arlo photographic camera around 6 to vii feet above the ground. This is the best vantage point for capturing video footage and motion detection without beingness too hard to reach.

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 most other Arlo cameras can residual on a shelf, you won't take many choices for pointing them towards the action without a mount.

Magnetic mount

Arlo Pro 4 with magnetic mount

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Yous tin use a magnetic mount with any Arlo Ultra or Arlo Pro camera. This mountain attaches to the wall with a unmarried spiral, a drywall ballast, and a plastic stopper that clips into the back.

Outdoor mountain

Use one of Arlo's outdoor mounts for better security if you lot're placing a camera outdoors. These mounts use a screw to secure the camera in place. They're non easy to take off the wall compared to magnetic mounts. Arlo also recommends using these mounts if you need to place a camera higher than 6.5 anxiety.

5. Accommodate your Arlo camera's view

Although near Arlo cameras take a wide field of view to capture tons of activity, y'all can adjust the camera for a improve view, allowing for more than accurate motion detection, notifications, and recording.

Camera positioning

Arlo App Camera Positioning

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

  1. Navigate to the Settings menu in the Arlo app.
  2. Select My Devices and cull the camera you want to adjust.
  3. Select Device Utilities and then Photographic camera Positioning.
  4. Suit the camera while looking at the Arlo app to ensure information technology sees all the areas y'all want.

Field of view

Arlo app video mode

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Like the Arlo Pro four, some Arlo cameras let you modify the field of view or how wide an area in front of the photographic camera is. Mostly, you want a wider view outdoors, where there aren't walls blocking your view. In contrast, choose a narrower view indoors, where it'due south unnecessary to tape wider than your walls let, which saves video bandwidth.

  1. Navigate to the Settings menu in the Arlo app.
  2. Select My Devices and cull the photographic camera you lot want to adjust.
  3. Choose Video Settings and and so Video Way.
  4. Find a fashion that fits your camera's surroundings.

Motion zones

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

Passive motility zones

The move 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. Yous can encounter the pinnacle zone as a greyed-out area in the camera positioning bill of fare.

Past positioning the camera with the top third covering the street, you can foreclose passing vehicles from setting off the sensor as often. 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 camera to a power outlet, you lot can create custom motility zones that record activity in those areas.

  1. Become to the Settings menu in the Arlo app.
    1. Consider logging in on a spider web browser instead, since adjusting the zones can be harder on a small smartphone screen.
  2. Select My Devices and cull the camera you lot want to suit.
  3. Choose Activity Zones.
  4. Hit the plus sign + to add a zone.
  5. Adjust the zone to cover an area (like a window or stairway).
  6. Name the zone for future reference.

6. Test your Arlo camera'south motion detection

Arlo cameras rely exclusively on motion detection to know when to starting time recording a video clip. Yous can test the motion detection'southward 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 and then Motion Detection Test.
  4. This fashion tells the camera's LED low-cal to glimmer bister when at that place'south motion.
  5. Movement effectually the area you want the camera to monitor to see if information technology catches all your activity.
  6. Suit the motility sensitivity slider if the camera is too sensitive or not sensitive plenty.
    • The sensitivity setting isn't universal—adjust your arming modes to match as needed.

7. Arm your Arlo

Arming an Arlo camera tells it to start sending notifications and recording video clips (if you have an Arlo Secure subscription or prepare local storage). It'south too an excellent fashion to protect your privacy. We recommend arming your camera whenever you 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: yous manually arm using the app
  • Schedule: set specific times for the camera to record—especially helpful at night
  • Geofencing: camera artillery and disarms based on your location
  • Custom mode: you tin adjust how the camera reacts when armed

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FAQ

Newer Arlo security cameras similar Arlo Essential, Arlo Pro 4, and Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight don't require a base station. Still, you lot need a base station on 4K models like Arlo Ultra 2 and older models like Arlo Pro iii and Arlo Pro 2. Yous can employ a base station with any Arlo cam to add together local video storage.

Yes, you can utilise Arlo cameras without a subscription. These features are complimentary:

  • Viewing live video (but no cloud storage)
  • Two-manner sound
  • Notifications (but no smart notifications)
  • Local storage (if using a base of operations station)

Yous can add other users through the Arlo app:

  1. From the Settings menu: choose Grant Admission and tap the Add selection.
  2. Enter the name and electronic 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 account access in the Arlo app.
    • Y'all can adjust permissions to adapt each user's needs and responsibilities.
    • If you have multiple cameras, you can limit access to specific cameras.

Arlo cameras neglect to connect for diverse reasons:

  • The camera is as well far from your wireless router.
  • The camera isn't on the same network every bit your mobile device during setup.
  • The camera is incompatible with your 5 GHz wireless network. Make certain you're using a ii.4 GHz wireless network.
  • The camera doesn't have your network'south current login credentials. Cheque that you lot used the correct network proper noun and password.
  • The photographic camera didn't scan the QR lawmaking correctly when setting up Wi-Fi. Re-scan the code and listen for an aural chime.
  • The camera timed out before connecting to your network. Press the sync button to start the sync process again.

What you can't do without internet

  • View alive video
  • Utilize two-fashion audio
  • Adapt camera settings
  • Save videos to cloud storage

What you tin can do without internet

  • Record videos using local storage (if you set up it up using a base station).
  • View footage on when your phone's on the same network. But you need to turn on Directly Storage Admission in the Arlo app first.

Yes, you must utilize an Ethernet cablevision to connect your Arlo base station to your router. There should exist one in the box.

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John Carlsen

Written past

John Carlsen

John is a engineering announcer specializing in smart home devices, security cameras, and habitation security systems. He has over nine years of experience researching, testing, and reviewing the latest tech—he was the Smart Home Editor for Summit Ten Reviews and wrote for ASecureLife earlier joining SafeWise as a Staff Writer in 2020. John holds a Bachelor'due 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 still to complete.

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