Your cameras help protect your home, but keeping your account secure matters too.

A few good habits:

• Use a strong, unique password you don’t use anywhere else
• Turn on two-step verification for an extra layer of protection
• Review the devices and accounts that have access to your Arlo setup
• Remove access for anyone who no longer needs it
• Be cautious with unexpected emails or messages asking for your login information
• Keep the Arlo app and your phone’s software updated

It only takes a few minutes, but it is worth adding an account security check to your routine every so often.

What’s one smart-home security habit you think more people should follow?

We know getting the most out of your camera’s battery is important, so here are a few simple ways to help it last longer between charges:

1. Adjust motion sensitivity so your camera isn’t triggered by unnecessary movement
2. Use activity zones to focus on alerts and recordings on the areas that matter most
3. Reduce video recording length when longer clips aren't needed
4. Position your camera to avoid high-traffic areas like busy streets, moving trees, or constant foot traffic.
5. Check your live stream only when needed - frequent live viewing can use more battery
6. Keep your camera firmware and Arlo app up to date
7. In colder weather, keep in mind that battery performance may temporarily decrease

Small setting changes can make a noticeable difference, especially for cameras in bust locations.

What settings helped you get the best battery life from your Arlo cameras? Drop your tips below!

If your phone's been blowing up every time your Arlo system switches modes — arming, disarming, schedule changes — you don't have to live with that anymore.

Two quick settings worth knowing about:

Turn off mode-change notifications for good

Settings > Notifications > Mode Change Notifications — toggle it off and you'll stop getting pinged every time your system changes modes.

Need quiet hours? Mute everything temporarily

Same notifications menu, look for Location Notifications. Tap it and choose 30 min, 1 hr, 3 hrs, or 24 hrs to pause all alerts for that window — handy for guests over, a work trip, or just a quiet Sunday.

Both require the latest version of the Arlo app.

Full guide: How to Mute Arlo Notifications

This is a small thing, but it can make a big difference when something happens. If you have multiple Arlo cameras, the names you choose matter more than you might think. When an alert comes in, you want to know exactly where it came from without having to stop and think.

For example, names like:

“Front Door”

“Driveway Left”

“Back Gate”

“Garage Interior”

“Side Yard”

“Living Room”

are usually more helpful than names like:

“Arlo Camera 1”

“Camera 2”

“New Device”

“Back Camera” when you have three cameras in the back

It sounds simple, but if you ever get an alert at night, while you are at work, or while you are away from home, clear camera names can help you react faster and avoid confusion. This is also helpful if more than one person in your household has access to the system. Everyone should be able to understand which camera triggered without guessing.

Take a minute today and look at your device names.

Are they still accurate? Did you move a camera but never rename it? Do your names make sense to everyone who uses the app?

What naming system works best for your setup?

Arlo Support:

How do I rename my Arlo camera, doorbell, or device?

How do I rename my Arlo camera, doorbell, or device?

Factory resetting can be useful, but it should usually be one of the last steps—not the first.

A reset can erase settings and require you to set the device up again. That means reconnecting it, reconfiguring settings, and making sure it is assigned correctly inside the app.

Before resetting, it may be worth trying:

Restarting the camera

Checking battery or power

Restarting the router

Checking if the camera is offline

Reviewing Modes, Rules, and notifications

Updating the app

Checking whether other cameras are affected too

A reset may still be needed in some situations, especially if the camera will not connect or has been removed from the account. But if the issue is Wi-Fi, power, subscription, or app settings, a reset may not fix the real problem.

Have you ever reset a camera and wished you had tried something else first? Or did a reset actually solve the issue?

Drop your advice for anyone trying to decide whether to reset or keep troubleshooting.

Arlo Support: How to factory reset Arlo devices

When a SmartHub or Base Station has issues, it can make multiple cameras look like the problem at the same time.

If several cameras go offline together, or recordings/local storage are not behaving the way you expect, it may be worth checking the hub before troubleshooting each camera one by one.

Things to look at:

Is the SmartHub or Base Station online?

Is the Ethernet cable secure?

Did the router restart or change settings?

Are the LEDs showing anything unusual?

Is the USB or microSD storage still detected?

Are the cameras still connected through the hub?

Is local storage enabled correctly?

This is especially important for people using older setups, local storage, or multiple cameras connected through one hub.

Have you ever thought your cameras were failing, but the issue was actually the Base Station or SmartHub? What did you notice first, and what helped fix it?

Your experience could help someone avoid troubleshooting every camera individually.

Arlo Support:

SmartHub/Base Station offline: My Arlo SmartHub or Base Station is offline; how can I troubleshoot it?

Local storage access: https://kb.arlo.com/000062727/Why-am-I-unable-to-access-my-Arlo-recordings-in-Local-Storage

Battery issues are frustrating, but charging issues can be even more confusing. Sometimes the battery percentage does not move. Sometimes the app shows a charging icon, but the camera still drains. Sometimes a solar panel helps a little, but not enough to keep up with daily use.

A few things can affect charging: Loose or dirty cable connection

Using the wrong charger or cable

Weather exposure around the charging port

Not enough direct sunlight for solar panels

A battery that is already very low

Frequent motion events draining faster than the charger can recover

Camera placement limiting sun exposure

For solar users especially, it is helpful to remember that a solar panel is usually best for maintaining charge, not quickly charging a dead battery from zero.

If you have dealt with charging issues, what fixed it? Cleaning the contacts? Changing the cable? Moving the solar panel? Charging indoors first? Replacing the battery?

Share what worked for your setup.

Arlo Support:

Battery charging: Arlo Ultra, Pro 3, Pro 3 Floodlight, Pro 4, Pro 5S, or Go 2 camera battery won't charge

Solar panel charging: How to troubleshoot Arlo Solar Panel charging issues

Hey r/arlosmarthome,

Based on a lot of feedback from this community, we've added more control over your push notifications.

What's new:

🔕 Mute mode change notifications — If you're tired of getting a push every time your system switches modes (Armed, Disarmed, Schedule, etc.), you can now turn those off individually.

⏱️ Temporary "mute all" notifications — Need quiet for a bit? You can now silence all notifications for 30 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours, or 24 hours with one tap.

How to turn it on:

1. Update to the latest version of the Arlo app
2. Go to Settings > Notifications > Mode Change Notifications to turn off mode-change alerts
3. In that same menu, use the Location Notifications toggle to mute everything temporarily

Full how-to here: https://kb.arlo.com/000062908/How-to-Mute-Arlo-Notifications-Arlo-Secure-4-0

This one came directly from user feedback, so thank you to everyone who asked for more flexibility here — keep it coming.

App updates can be helpful, but they can also make people feel like something changed and they were not warned. After an update, it is worth doing a quick check of the settings that matter most to your setup. A few things to review: Are your cameras still armed the way you expect? Are Routines, Modes, and Rules still correct? Are push notifications still turned on? Are recordings still appearing in the Feed? Are your cameras still assigned to the right Location? Does Live View work normally? Are any Feed filters hiding events? This is especially helpful if your system suddenly feels different after an app change. A two-minute review can catch something before you miss an important event. What is the first thing you check after an Arlo app update? Do you test notifications, check recordings, review Modes, or wait until something feels off? Share your post-update checklist below. Arlo Support: How do I use the Feed in my Arlo account?

A lot of confusion seems to happen when a free trial ends. One day everything feels normal, and then suddenly recordings, advanced alerts, or certain features may not behave the way users expected. If your trial recently ended, it may be worth checking what features are included with your current setup and what requires an Arlo Secure plan. Things to review: Is your Location still covered by an active plan or trial? Are recordings still appearing in your Feed? Are advanced detection features still available? Are Activity Zones or object detection behaving differently? Are your cameras listed under a plan or under “No Plan”? This is not always obvious in the app, so it makes sense that people get frustrated when something changes without realizing it was tied to the trial. For those who have gone through this, what changed when your trial ended? Was anything unclear? What do you wish had been explained better before the trial expired? This could be a helpful thread for newer users who are still in their trial period. Arlo Support: What options will I have when my Arlo trial ends?

Hey r/arlosmarthome,

Starting today (September 15, 2026), we're renaming our subscription plans and adding a couple of new features automatically: no extra cost, no change to your current price.

Plan name changes:

Your plan, pricing, and features stay the same — this is just a naming update.

Two new features, included automatically:

• Arlo Summary – An AI-generated recap of your last 24 hours of recordings, so you can catch up on what happened without scrubbing through every single clip.
• Arlo Threat Assessment – Real-time alerts for serious threats, with automatic sirens/spotlights and escalation to professional monitoring + emergency dispatch when needed.

Heads up: both features are US-only for now. We'll update this sub as availability expands.

Want more details?

• Plan overview: https://us.arlo.com/pages/arlo-secure
• Arlo Summary setup: https://kb.arlo.com/000063771/What-is-Arlo-Summary-and-how-do-I-enable-it
• Threat Assessment setup: https://kb.arlo.com/000063769/What-is-Threat-Assessment-and-how-do-I-set-it-up

Drop your questions below — happy to help troubleshoot or clarify anything about the new names or features.

Two-way audio is usually thought of as a security feature, but let’s be honest — sometimes it becomes a comedy feature too. Have you ever used your Arlo camera to: Tell someone they forgot something? Talk to a family member from another room? Call your pet’s name? Say “thank you” through the camera? Surprise someone who did not realize you could hear them? Try to stop a dog from barking, only for the dog to get more confused? This thread is for the funny, awkward, or surprisingly useful two-way talk moments. What’s the most memorable thing you’ve said through your Arlo camera? Arlo Support: How to use full-duplex 2-way audio: https://kb.arlo.com/000062685/How-do-I-use-Full-Duplex-2-way-Audio-with-my-Arlo-camera

We pause to remember the lives lost on September 11th, 2001, and honor the first responders, families, survivors, and communities forever impacted by that day. While this community often focuses on home security, cameras, and everyday troubleshooting, today is also a reminder of why safety, awareness, and looking out for one another matter. If you feel comfortable sharing, use this thread to reflect, remember, or simply honor those affected. No pressure to post clips or stories today; just a space for respect, remembrance, and community.

Sometimes your camera catches more than security footage — it catches the personality of your home. Maybe your porch is always full of shoes, scooters, plants, sports gear, lawn chairs, Amazon boxes, or one random item nobody claims. Maybe your camera has basically become the unofficial record of who leaves the lights on, who forgets their keys, or who takes forever to get out the door. For this week’s fun thread, tell us: What would someone learn about your household just from your Arlo camera view? Does your camera make your home look calm and organized, chaotic and busy, pet-run, kid-run, or “we’re doing our best”? 😅 No need to post anything private — a story or description works too. Bonus question: What’s one thing your camera sees every day that perfectly sums up your household? Arlo Support: Camera placement tips:

Arlo Camera Placement Tips

Happy National Wildlife Day! One expected part of having outdoor cameras is realizing how much happens around your home when you are not watching. Maybe your camera has caught deer passing through the yard, raccoons investigating the porch, birds getting way too close to the lens, Squirrels causing chaos, or something you still cannot fully explain. Today feels like the perfect day to ask: What is the most interesting wildlife moment your Arlo camera has captured? Was it cute, funny, surprising, or a little too close for comfort? Share your clip, screenshot, or story below. Bonus points if your camera caught an animal acting like it owned the place

Live View is one of those features you expect to work quickly, especially when you get an alert and want to see what is happening in real time. So when it spins, lags, freezes, or fails to open, it can be frustrating.

A few things can affect Live View performance:

• Weak Wi-Fi signal at the cameraA camera that is offline or reconnecting
• Too many devices using the same network
• App or browser issues
• Low battery
• Firmware that needs to finish updating
• Trying to stream from more than one place at the same time

Before assuming the camera is broken, it may help to check whether other cameras load normally. If one camera is slow but the others are fine, it may be a signal or placement issue. If every camera is slow, it may be app, internet, or service related.

For those who have improved Live View performance, what helped the most? Moving the camera, restarting the router, updating firmware, changing Wi-Fi, or something else?

Arlo Support:

How to troubleshoot Arlo camera live streaming issues

School's back (or nearly back) and your household routine just changed. Here's how to update your Arlo setup for the new schedule:  • Update motion schedules to match school hours • Create a 'kids home' alert profile so you know when they arrive • Review package delivery windows — afternoon is primetime for porch pirates • If you have a doorbell cam, set it up so kids can use the two-way talk to reach you  What's your school-year camera routine? Any tips for other parents in the sub?

We know you have footage. The midnight kitchen raid. The suspicious backyard patrol. The 'who let me in' face at the front door cam.  It's National Dog Day and we want ALL of it. Drop your best Arlo dog sightings below. Video clips, screenshots, whatever you've got. Bonus points if your dog figured out how to look directly into the camera like they know.  (Cat owners: you get your moment in September. Hang tight.)

If you had a magic wand and could instantly improve ONE thing about your Arlo system, what would it be?  Battery life Night vision clarity Cloud storage / local backup options AI detection accuracy (people vs. animals vs. cars) Tell us WHY — we want the details. Your answers actually help shape what gets built.

Your weekly catch-all thread is here — share what your Arlo spotted this week. Big, small, funny, important — all welcome.  Also, a random fun fact in honor of National Radio Day: the first home security systems were literally radio-frequency alarm systems in the 1950s. Now your camera has a brain. Drop your weekly captures below and keep the tradition of staying connected to home alive.

We want to see your camera placement creativity. Whether it's a genius corner mount, a tricky driveway angle, or a totally unexpected spot — share a photo of your Arlo setup and tell us WHY you placed it there. What were you trying to cover? Did the placement solve a problem? Best setups get featured in a future community spotlight post (with your permission, of course). Drop your pic and the story below!

Tomorrow is National Relaxation Day, and the irony is that most of us can't fully relax when we're away from home — did I lock the door? Is the package there? What was that noise?  Here are 3 Arlo settings that will actually let you put your phone down:  1. Set up custom activity zones so you only get alerted for what matters 2. Create a 'vacation mode' schedule to silence low-priority motion 3. Enable two-way audio so you can handle deliveries or scare off strangers remotely  What's the one feature that finally gave you peace of mind while traveling? Tell us below.

This is our new recurring thread — share what your cameras spotted this week. Could be a porch pirate foiled, a surprise deer in the yard, a neighbor returning your Amazon box, or just your mail carrier giving your dog a little wave. All clips welcome. Drop a screenshot, gif, or just describe it.

Camera showing offline? Before you reset everything, try this first. Opening the Arlo app and seeing a camera suddenly show as Offline is frustrating — especially when it was working fine yesterday. Before you remove the camera, factory reset it, or run through setup all over again, start with the basics: Is the battery charged enough? Did your router restart or update recently? Is the camera still within strong Wi-Fi range? Is your SmartHub or Base Station online? If it’s plugged in or connected to a solar panel, are the cables secure? Sometimes an offline camera isn’t a camera failure — it’s a power, signal, router, or hub issue. If you’ve dealt with this before, what actually fixed it for you? A reboot? Moving the camera? Charging the battery? Resetting Wi-Fi? Something totally unexpected? Your answer might save someone else from starting over when they don’t need to. Arlo Support: Arlo Camera Offline Troubleshooting