How to Set Up Arlo Security Cameras

Arlo's security cameras are some of the best in the business, and setting them up is a cakewalk. Here are 7 easy steps to help y'all set upwards your new Arlo camera like a pro.

1. Download the Arlo app

The Arlo app walks y'all through the setup process and allows you to accommodate camera settings. You lot tin't install a camera without the app. One time you download the app, create an account and outset adding your offset photographic camera by choosing your model from the list.

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two. Turn on your Arlo camera

Wire-free 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 photographic camera, follow the instructions for installing the battery in the photographic camera housing. The battery has grooves on the bottom to foreclose you from installing it upside down.

Afterwards inserting the battery, close up the camera's case and cheque the LED on the front. If the light is an amber color, connect it to the included charging cablevision. If it's flashing blue, y'all can skip charging and move on to the next stride.

Wired models: Find an outlet

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

three. Connect your Arlo camera to Wi-Fi

Arlo App Wi-Fi Disclaimer

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Once your camera has power, follow the Arlo app'due south instructions for connecting it to your Wi-Fi network. Enter the proper name and password for your wireless network, and the app will create a QR code for the camera to scan. Wait for the camera to chime after scanning the code. Be aware that Arlo cameras do non work with five GHz Wi-Fi networks. Instead, y'all'll need a two.4 GHz network.

4. Place your Arlo camera

Choose your mount

Install your Arlo camera around 6 to 7 feet above the ground. This is the all-time vantage point for capturing video footage and motion detection without being also difficult to accomplish.

Shelf

The Arlo Essential Indoor and the Arlo Q (its predecessor) are the only Arlo cameras with congenital-in stands that work well when placing the cameras on a shelf. While most other Arlo cameras can residuum on a shelf, you won't have many choices for pointing them towards the activity without a mountain.

Magnetic mount

Arlo Pro 4 with magnetic mount

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Y'all can apply a magnetic mount with any Arlo Ultra or Arlo Pro photographic camera. This mount attaches to the wall with a single screw, a drywall ballast, and a plastic stopper that clips into the back.

Outdoor mountain

Employ one of Arlo's outdoor mounts for meliorate security if yous're placing a camera outdoors. These mounts use a spiral to secure the camera in place. They're not easy to accept off the wall compared to magnetic mounts. Arlo also recommends using these mounts if you need to identify a photographic camera higher than half-dozen.5 feet.

5. Adjust your Arlo camera'due south view

Although most Arlo cameras accept a wide field of view to capture tons of activeness, you tin can adjust the camera for a amend view, assuasive for more accurate movement detection, notifications, and recording.

Camera positioning

Arlo App Camera Positioning

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Using Arlo's Camera Positioning setting, y'all can adjust the camera'due south view in near real-time with very lilliputian lag. This setting tells the camera to send video quickly (unremarkably at a lower quality) so you don't need to await equally long for the live view to catch upwardly with your adjustments.

  1. Navigate to the Settings card in the Arlo app.
  2. Select My Devices and choose the camera you want to adapt.
  3. Select Device Utilities and so Photographic camera Positioning.
  4. Suit the camera while looking at the Arlo app to ensure it sees all the areas you want.

Field of view

Arlo app video mode

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Like the Arlo Pro 4, some Arlo cameras let yous change the field of view or how wide an expanse in front end of the camera is. Mostly, you want a wider view outdoors, where there aren't walls blocking your view. In contrast, cull a narrower view indoors, where it's unnecessary to record wider than your walls allow, which saves video bandwidth.

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

Motility zones

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

Passive motion zones

The motion sensor on many Arlo cameras has two zones by default. The bottom zone takes up two-thirds of the video and is more than sensitive, while the smaller top zone is less sensitive overall. You can run across the top zone as a greyed-out expanse in the camera positioning bill of fare.

By positioning the photographic camera with the height third roofing the street, you can prevent 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.

Adaptable move zones

Arlo app activity zones

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

  1. Go to the Settings carte du jour in the Arlo app.
    1. Consider logging in on a web browser instead, since adjusting the zones can be harder on a small smartphone screen.
  2. Select My Devices and choose the camera you desire to adapt.
  3. Cull 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.

half dozen. Test your Arlo camera's motion detection

Arlo cameras rely exclusively on motility detection to know when to start recording a video clip. You tin can examination the motility detection's 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 yous're testing.
  3. Select Device Utilities and and so Motion Detection Test.
  4. This way tells the camera'southward LED light to blink amber when there'southward motility.
  5. Motility around the area you want the camera to monitor to run into if it catches all your activity.
  6. Adjust the move sensitivity slider if the camera is too sensitive or non sensitive plenty.
    • The sensitivity setting isn't universal—adjust your arming modes to lucifer as needed.

vii. Arm your Arlo

Arming an Arlo camera tells it to commencement sending notifications and recording video clips (if y'all have an Arlo Secure subscription or set up up local storage). It's besides an excellent way 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: you lot manually arm using the app
  • Schedule: prepare specific times for the camera to record—especially helpful at night
  • Geofencing: camera arms and disarms based on your location
  • Custom mode: you can adjust 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. All the same, you need a base of operations station on 4K models like Arlo Ultra 2 and older models similar Arlo Pro 3 and Arlo Pro two. You tin use a base station with any Arlo cam to add local video storage.

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

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

You can add together other users through the Arlo app:

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

Arlo cameras neglect to connect for diverse reasons:

  • The camera is too far from your wireless router.
  • The photographic camera isn't on the same network equally your mobile device during setup.
  • The camera is incompatible with your 5 GHz wireless network. Make sure you lot're using a 2.4 GHz wireless network.
  • The photographic camera doesn't accept your network's current login credentials. Bank check that you used the correct network name and countersign.
  • The photographic camera didn't scan the QR code correctly when setting upwards Wi-Fi. Re-scan the lawmaking and listen for an audible chinkle.
  • The camera timed out before connecting to your network. Press the sync button to kickoff the sync process once more.

What you tin't practise without internet

  • View live video
  • Employ ii-fashion audio
  • Adapt camera settings
  • Save videos to cloud storage

What you lot can do without internet

  • Record videos using local storage (if you gear up it up using a base of operations station).
  • View footage on when your phone's on the same network. But you demand to turn on Direct Storage Access in the Arlo app beginning.

Yes, you must use an Ethernet cable to connect your Arlo base of operations station to your router. At that place should be one in the box.

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John Carlsen

Written by

John Carlsen

John is a technology journalist specializing in smart home devices, security cameras, and domicile security systems. He has over nine years of experience researching, testing, and reviewing the latest tech—he was the Smart Home Editor for Top Ten Reviews and wrote for ASecureLife before joining SafeWise as a Staff Writer in 2022. John holds a Bachelor'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 notwithstanding to complete.

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