How to Set Up Arlo Security Cameras

John Carlsen

Staff Writer, Security & Smart Home

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Arlo'south security cameras are some of the best in the business, and setting them up is a breeze. Here are seven easy steps to aid you set up your new Arlo photographic camera like a pro.

  • Photographic camera Condom: Help Forestall Your Cameras from Being Hacked

ane. Download the Arlo app

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

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2. Turn on your Arlo camera

Wire-gratuitous models: Insert and charge battery

Inserting battery in Arlo Pro 4

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When you start the setup process on a wire-complimentary Arlo camera, follow the instructions for installing the bombardment in the photographic camera housing. The bombardment has grooves on the bottom to preclude you lot from installing it upside down.

After inserting the battery, close up the camera's case and bank check the LED on the front. If the low-cal is an amber color, connect it to the included charging cable. If it'southward flashing blueish, you tin skip charging and motion on to the next stride.

Wired models: Find an outlet

Wired Arlo cameras need to exist within half-dozen 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.

iii. Connect your Arlo camera to Wi-Fi

Arlo App Wi-Fi Disclaimer

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In one case your camera has power, follow the Arlo app'south instructions for connecting information technology to your Wi-Fi network. Enter the proper name and password for your wireless network, and the app volition create a QR lawmaking for the camera to browse. Wait for the camera to chinkle after scanning the lawmaking. Be aware that Arlo cameras do non piece of work with five GHz Wi-Fi networks. Instead, you'll need a 2.4 GHz network.

4. Place your Arlo camera

Cull your mount

Install your Arlo camera around 6 to vii feet above the basis. This is the best vantage point for capturing video footage and motility detection without beingness likewise difficult to reach.

Shelf

The Arlo Essential Indoor and the Arlo Q (its predecessor) are the only Arlo cameras with built-in stands that work well when placing the cameras on a shelf. While almost other Arlo cameras tin can residual 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

Paradigm: John Carlsen, SafeWise

Y'all tin utilise a magnetic mount with whatever Arlo Ultra or Arlo Pro camera. This mountain attaches to the wall with a single screw, a drywall ballast, and a plastic stopper that clips into the back.

Outdoor mount

Utilise one of Arlo'south outdoor mounts for better security if yous're placing a camera outdoors. These mounts apply a screw to secure the camera in place. They're not piece of cake to take off the wall compared to magnetic mounts. Arlo as well recommends using these mounts if you need to place a photographic camera college than 6.5 feet.

v. Adjust your Arlo camera's view

Although most Arlo cameras take a wide field of view to capture tons of activity, y'all can adapt 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 Photographic camera Positioning setting, you can suit the photographic camera's view in about real-time with very petty lag. This setting tells the camera to send video quickly (usually at a lower quality) then you don't need to await as long for the live view to grab up with your adjustments.

  1. Navigate to the Settings card in the Arlo app.
  2. Select My Devices and choose the camera you desire to accommodate.
  3. Select Device Utilities so Camera Positioning.
  4. Adapt 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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Similar the Arlo Pro four, some Arlo cameras allow y'all change the field of view or how wide an surface area in front of the camera is. Generally, you lot 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 allow, 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 adjust.
  3. Choose Video Settings and and so Video Way.
  4. Find a style that fits your camera's surround.

Move zones

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

Passive motion zones

The motion sensor on many Arlo cameras has two zones by default. The bottom zone takes upward 2-thirds of the video and is more sensitive, while the smaller peak zone is less sensitive overall. You can meet the peak zone as a greyed-out area in the camera positioning menu.

By positioning the photographic 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 cloud subscription and doesn't crave a continuous power supply.

Adjustable movement 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 tin 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 tin be harder on a pocket-size smartphone screen.
  2. Select My Devices and choose the camera you want to adjust.
  3. Choose Action Zones.
  4. Hit the plus sign + to add a zone.
  5. Adjust the zone to embrace an surface area (like a window or stairway).
  6. Name the zone for future reference.

6. Test your Arlo photographic camera's motion detection

Arlo cameras rely exclusively on movement detection to know when to kickoff recording a video prune. You can examination the move detection'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 cull the photographic camera you're testing.
  3. Select Device Utilities and and so Movement Detection Exam.
  4. This way tells the camera's LED light to blink bister when there's move.
  5. Move around the surface area you want the camera to monitor to see if it catches all your action.
  6. Adjust the motion sensitivity slider if the camera is too sensitive or not sensitive enough.
    • The sensitivity setting isn't universal—adjust your arming modes to match equally needed.

7. Arm your Arlo

Arming an Arlo camera tells it to commencement sending notifications and recording video clips (if you have an Arlo Secure subscription or set up local storage). It'due south likewise an excellent way to protect your privacy. Nosotros recommend arming your camera whenever you lot exit the house or get to bed.

Arlo offers 5 arming modes:

My Arlo Arming Modes

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  • Disarmed: no recording or notifications
  • Armed: y'all manually arm using the app
  • Schedule: set specific times for the camera to tape—especially helpful at nighttime
  • Geofencing: photographic 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 iv, and Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight don't crave a base station. Still, you demand a base of operations station on 4K models like Arlo Ultra 2 and older models like Arlo Pro 3 and Arlo Pro 2. You can use a base station with any Arlo cam to add together local video storage.

Yeah, y'all can utilise Arlo cameras without a subscription. These features are free:

  • Viewing live video (only no cloud storage)
  • Two-way audio
  • Notifications (merely 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 proper noun and email address of the person you desire to add to your Arlo camera.
  3. The new user volition receive an e-mail to verify their account access in the Arlo app.
    • You can adjust permissions to conform each user'southward needs and responsibilities.
    • If you lot have multiple cameras, yous can limit access to specific cameras.

Arlo cameras neglect to connect for various reasons:

  • The photographic camera is too far from your wireless router.
  • The photographic camera isn't on the same network as your mobile device during setup.
  • The camera is incompatible with your v GHz wireless network. Brand certain you're using a 2.4 GHz wireless network.
  • The camera doesn't take your network'south electric current login credentials. Check that yous used the correct network proper noun and password.
  • The photographic camera didn't scan the QR code correctly when setting up Wi-Fi. Re-scan the code and listen for an aural chime.
  • The photographic camera timed out earlier connecting to your network. Press the sync button to outset the sync procedure again.

What you lot tin can't do without internet

  • View live video
  • Use two-way sound
  • Conform photographic camera settings
  • Salve videos to cloud storage

What yous tin can do without net

  • Tape videos using local storage (if you set it upwards using a base of operations station).
  • View footage on when your phone's on the same network. Merely y'all need to plow on Direct Storage Admission in the Arlo app first.

Yes, you must use an Ethernet cable to connect your Arlo base station to your router. There 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 home security systems. He has over nine years of experience researching, testing, and reviewing the latest tech—he was the Smart Domicile Editor for Elevation X Reviews and wrote for ASecureLife before joining SafeWise as a Staff Writer in 2022. John holds a Available'southward 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 withal to complete.

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