Arlo Cameras Not Recording: How To Fix [2023]

With impressive features like Geofencing and 24/7 surveillance, Arlo Cams are some of the best deals you can't miss. But what if your Arlo Cam can't do the one thing it excels at - record videos?

Ever since I first got my hands on an Arlo 2, I have been astonished by the features and the subsequent updates and upgrades Arlo came out with.

Although issues and occasional roadblocks are a given with Monitoring Cams, failing to record is an outright concern. Nonetheless, I did figure out what went wrong with my Arlo Cam.

If your Arlo Camera is not recording, check the batteries and ensure that the Camera is Armed and Motion Detection is ON. Check for network issues and try turning OFF various feature settings on the Cam, like Activity Zones and Zoom. Also, check if Arlo Subscription is active.

Check out this detailed troubleshooting guide to fix this issue on Arlo Cams:

Check the Batteries on Arlo Camera

As we all know, all electronic devices require power to operate, either through a powered source or an exhaustible source like a battery.

And Arlo Cams operate on batteries and wired supply.

If you don't have power, then no dice.

Hence, the first to check when things start to go south on Arlo Cams is the battery.

Accessing the battery compartment on Arlo Cams can vary from model to model.

Sure, you won't have an issue with models like Arlo Go or Arlo Essential Video Doorbells. All you have to do is to remove the battery compartment shield to access the battery.

However, with models like the Ultra and the Pro series, you'll have to press a specialized button to eject the Camera module and access the battery compartment.

Regardless of how you access the batteries, once you get your hands on them, either recharge them or replace them with fresh ones.

Also, check for physical deformities like wear and tear on them before reapplying them.

After reinserting the battery, the Cam will blink Blue.

Power Cycle Arlo Cam and Base Station

In a similar vein as checking the battery situation on Arlo Cams, you might as well perform a power cycle test while you're at it.

Power cycling an Arlo Cam is pretty much rebooting it but in a more efficient way.

When you power cycle an electronic gadget, you also deplete static charges from the system internals. Thus, making the device more efficient.

It's best to power cycle the Base Station (if you have one), too.

Here's how to do so:

1. Remove the batteries from the Arlo Cam. With Arlo Base Station, unplug the power supply from the device.

2. Leave the devices to rest for a few seconds.

3. Reapply the batteries and plug the power supply back into the Base Station.

Power ON the devices in about 30 seconds. Check for the issue now.

Check for Issues with the Network

Arlo Cams can detect and record motion without an active Arlo subscription. But if you prefer to store the clips in the cloud, you'll need one.

And for storing and recording clips to the cloud, you'll need a stable and sturdy connection to the network.

Arlo Cams do not require a lot of networking resources to operate. Here's what it takes in terms of networking speeds for Arlo Cams to record and store clips online:

Arlo Model	Network Speed (Upload)
Ultra Series	3 Mbps+
Pro (Pro 3 and later)	2 Mbps+
Essential Video Doorbell	2 Mbps+
Other models	1 Mbps+

As evident from the table, Arlo Cams require at least 3 Mbps upload speed for transferring clips to the Cloud servers.

Even though it's best to use Arlo Cams with speeds well over the recommended limit, falling short of the minimum speed requirement will render clip transfers void.

Coupled with other issues like blooming latency and subpar signal strength, it's no surprise the recording doesn't appear on the Arlo app.

When in doubt, run a speed test on the network and check the status of the various networking parameters for inconsistencies.

Once the test is complete, check the status of the networking parameters like network speed, latency, and signal strength.

If you notice a disparity in these parameters, better refresh the network.

Power cycling the Router should do the trick:

Power Cycle the Router/Modem

As with Arlo Cams, you may want to refresh the Router/Modem every once in a while to avoid issues.

Power cycling the Router/Modem would be ideal for network issues.

Follow these steps to do so:

1. Unplug the power supply from the Router/Modem.

2. Press and hold the various buttons on the Router for a couple of seconds. Repeat this step a couple of times.

3. Plug back in the power cable.

Power ON the Router/Modem after about 30 seconds.

Run the speed test once again on the network. If the parameters seem stable, connect the Arlo Cam/Base Station and check for the issue now.

Configure Motion Detection on Arlo Cam

Motion detection forms the core of everything associated with event recording on Arlo.

If Motion detection isn't configured or disabled on your Arlo Cam, the Cam won't record.

And so, it's only imperative to check, enable, and configure Motion detection on your Arlo Cam.

Follow these steps to enable Motion Detection on your Arlo Cam:

1. Open the Arlo app and tap on the Mode option.

2. Select the Camera or the Base Station to which the Camera is connected.

3. Tap the Edit icon next to the Mode (Armed/Schedule/Geofencing).

4. On the Rules tab, tap on the Edit icon next to the Rule set for your Cam.

5. Toggle ON the Detects Motion tile. Also, toggle ON the Record Video tile.

6. Tap Save to complete the setup.

Check for the issue now.

Perform a Motion Detection Test

Even if you have enabled Motion detection on your Arlo Cam, it doesn't necessarily mean that the Cam will record all the events.

For that, you'll have to fine-tune the Motion detection sensitivity.

Motion sensitivity determines how sensitive the Camera will be to detecting motion. Higher the sensitivity, the more likely the Cam will detect motion.

Albeit, misappropriating this feature will lead to false triggers from even the slightest motion activities, like the rustling of leaves or a car in motion.

And so, to get the best result out of the Motion detection feature, Arlo has implemented a trial-and-error sort of test on the Arlo app called the Motion detection test.

Here's to access this feature on the Arlo app:

1. Open the app and tap open the Settings tab.

2. Select My devices.

3. Choose your Arlo Cam.

4. Then select Device Utilities.

5. Tap on the Motion Detection Test option.

6. Adjust the Slider to check whether the Cam detects motion. The blinking Amber LED indicates that the Cam has detected motion.

Reformat the Local Storage on Arlo

As mentioned earlier, Arlo Cams can record and save clips on the cloud and local storage.

And one reason why Arlo Cams can stop recording and saving clips is because of a faulty local storage device.

Even if Arlo is quite accommodating with local storage requirements with support for USB devices with space of up to 2 Tb, the format has to be suitable for them to work.

Arlo devices support local storage devices in the FAT32 format.

But, as an additional assurance of a job well done, it's better to format the USB device from a PC.

And as a start, eject the USB device safely from the Arlo Base Station:

1. Open the Arlo app and tap open the Settings tab.

2. Select My devices and tap on the Base Station to which the USB is mounted.

3. Under the Local Storage tab, tap open the Storage Settings option.

4. Select Safely Eject USB Device.

Wait for the confirmation, and then unplug the USB drive.

Now, follow these steps to format the USB drive:

1. Plug the USB drive into your PC.

2. Open This PC or the File Explorer app on your PC.

3. Right-click on the USB drive tile.

4. Click on Format.

5. Set the File System option to FAT32.

6. Click Start to initiate the format.

Once completed, safely eject the USB drive and install it on the Base Station. Check for the issue now.

Factory Reset Arlo Cam

Lastly, let's factory reset the Arlo Camera if the issue persists.

Factory resetting Arlo devices will inevitably restore all network preferences and user settings once and for all.

In doing so, you get a clean slate to start over again.

Also, factory resetting the Arlo Cam is a known fix for most issues on the device, like the Arlo Cam offline issue.

Without any further ado, here's how to do so:

1. Locate the Sync/Reset button on the Cam. On most models, the Sync button will be next to the battery compartment.

With the Arlo Go lineup, you can find the Sync button beneath the Camera module.

2. Press and hold the Sync button until it blinks Blue.

The reset will take about 30-45 seconds to complete.

Once the reset is complete, log into the Arlo app and remove the Cam. Here's how to do so:

1. Open the app and tap on the Settings tab.

2. Select My devices and choose the disabled Arlo Cam.

3. Tap on Remove Device and select Yes.

Now, add the Arlo Cam again to the app to complete the reset.

Final Thoughts

Issues with monitoring Cams are common. Whether from network-related issues or other minor issues associated with the features, Arlo Cams pack all the necessary tools and fixes to resolve these issues.

But Arlo Cam not recording is a problem of the highest severity, and solving this issue can take a toll on you.

The fixes mentioned here will help you overcome this issue unless it is a hardware issue.

If that's the case, best contact Arlo support for further assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did my Arlo camera stop detecting motion?

Arlo Cams will stop detecting motion if and when it runs out of battery. You may also want to check and reposition the Camera to detect motion more efficiently.

How do I get my Arlo camera to record all the time?

To enable continuous recording on Arlo Cams, purchase a Continuous Video Recording (CVR) plan for your Cam. It comes in either 14-day or 30-day subscription intervals. To do so, go to Settings> Subscriptions> Edit Account> Upgrade Now.

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