How To Fix Arlo Camera Not Detecting Motion?

The inability of your Arlo camera to detect motion not only disrupts your surveillance system but also poses a potential threat to your property’s safety.

Without timely alerts, you might miss out on crucial events, putting your home or business at risk.

However, fear not! I understand the frustration that comes with such a situation and in this blog post, I’ve gathered eight practical solutions to address the issue of your Arlo camera not detecting motion.

So, if you’re wondering why your motion alerts have gone silent, or if you’re simply seeking proactive solutions to keep your security device in top-notch condition, you’re in the right place.

Let’s dive into the fixes and reclaim the peace of mind your surveillance system promises.

8 Ways To Fix Arlo Camera Not Detecting Motion.

In this chapter, you will find the promised eight tips that will help you solve your motion detection problem. Read them carefully until you find the right solution that will get your device working seamlessly once again.

Tip 1: Enable Motion Detection Feature.

When activated, the motion detection feature allows your Arlo camera to actively scan its surroundings for any movement or activity.

This feature is the fundamental function that enables your camera to identify and capture events. If it’s disabled, your device essentially becomes passive, not actively monitoring its environment for potential security concerns.

So the first thing to do when you notice that your device isn’t detecting events happening around your home is to check whether this function is enabled. If it’s not, make sure to activate it.

Here are The steps to follow in order to enable motion detection:

1. Launch the Arlo Secure App or log in to your Arlo account at my.arlo.com.
2. Tap or click Mode.
3. Tap or click the Arlo device whose mode you want to edit. If you are using a SmartHub or Base Station, you must select the SmartHub or Base Station and not the cameras.
4. Tap or click the pencil icon next to the mode that you want to edit. You can select modes based on your schedule or location by using the Schedule or Geofencing modes.
5. In the Rules section, tap or click the pencil icon next to the rule that you want to edit. If the mode that you are editing only has one rule, the rule is preselected for you in the Arlo app.
6. Select the check box next to Detects Motion to enable motion detection.
7. Tap or click Save
8. Activate the Mode.

Tip 2: Increase Motion Sensitivity.

Motion Sensitivity refers to how responsive your camera is to detected movements. Increasing sensitivity makes the device more responsive to even subtle motions.

If your cam is not capturing certain motions, it could be due to low sensitivity.

Increasing this setting ensures that the camera is tuned to detect a broader range of movements, minimizing the chances of missing important events.

Note: Excessively increasing motion sensitivity will increase the likelihood of receiving too many false alarms.

Here are the instructions to follow in order to boost sensitivity:

1. Launch the Arlo Secure App.
2. Tap Mode.
3. Select the device you want to adjust.
4. In the Armed section, tap the pencil icon.
5. In the Rules section, tap the pencil icon for the rule you want to edit.
6. Tap the pencil icon next to Motion is detected.
7. Move the slider to decrease or increase motion sensitivity.
8. Tap Save.
9. Tap Edit Mode.
10. Tap Done.

Tip 3: Make Sure Notifications are Enabled.

Sometimes, your camera adeptly detects various movements, yet no alerts are received despite these detections.

The root of this issue usually lies within the settings, specifically with the notification option being disabled.

To address this, make sure to enable notifications to begin receiving alerts promptly when your Arlo camera detects activity around your house.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Launch the Arlo Secure App or log in to your Arlo account at my.arlo.com.
2. Tap or click Mode and select the Arlo device for which you want to set up notifications.
3. Tap or click the pencil icon next to the mode that you want to change. Inside the Edit Mode screen, the collection of rules that make up that mode displays.
4. Tap or click the pencil icon next to the rule for which you want to set up notifications.
5. Under Alert, select the check box next to Push Notification to receive push notifications on your mobile device.
6. Tap or click Save.

Tip 4: Adjust The Camera Position.

Improper camera placement can result in blind spots or obstructions, hindering the camera’s ability to effectively detect motion.

So, by adjusting the camera’s position, you ensure that it has a clear view of the monitored area, maximizing its coverage and improving its chances of capturing all relevant movements within the specified range.

Here are some best practices for where to install and how to position your camera:

1. Do not install the security camera too close to tall shrubs.
2. Do not install the camera too close to a light.
3. Don’t position your camera too high or too low.

Tip 5: Charge Your Arlo Camera.

For battery-powered cameras, this involves making sure the camera’s batteries are sufficiently charged.

Why is this important?

Low battery levels can compromise device performance, including its ability to detect and record motion.

Charging your battery ensures that it performs to its full potential and makes it more reliable in detecting motion and sending timely alerts, preventing possible lapses in your security monitoring.

Tip 6: Power Cycle Your Cam.

Power cycling involves restarting the camera by either unplugging it (for wired versions) or removing and reinserting the batteries (for battery-powered versions).

Power cycling helps refresh the camera’s internal systems, resolving temporary software glitches that may be stopping the gadget from detecting any motion.

This trick is easy to implement and can fix underlying bugs that may be causing disruptions on your device, returning it to peak performance.

Tip 7: Update The App and The Firmware.

Another solution to consider is updating both the Arlo app and camera firmware to the latest versions.

By keeping your app and firmware up to date, you ensure that your Arlo camera operates with the latest improvements. This proactive measure minimizes the risk of software-related problems, including those impacting motion detection.

To update the Arlo app, head to your device’s app store (Google Play or the App Store), search for “Arlo,” and hit the update button if available.

To update your Arlo Ultra, Pro 3, Pro 2, Pro, or Wire-Free firmware manually:

1. Launch the Arlo app or log in to my.arlo.com.
2. Tap or click Settings > My Devices.
3. Select the camera that you want to update.
4. Tap or click Device Info > Firmware > Update.
   • Warning: Do not open the battery door or remove the battery while an Arlo camera is updating and installing firmware.
5. Wait for the camera firmware update to complete.
6. While the firmware is downloading, the LED on the camera blinks alternating blue and amber.
7. After this, the camera’s LED turns off for about one to two minutes while the camera installs the firmware.
   • After the camera firmware update finishes, the camera syncs to the base station again and the LED blinks blue rapidly.
8. Repeat steps 5–7 for each camera that you want to update.

To update your Arlo Q, Q Plus, or Go firmware manually:

1. Launch the Arlo app or log in to my.arlo.com.
2. Tap or click Settings > My Devices.
3. Select the camera that you want to update.
4. Tap or click Device Info > Firmware > Update.
   • Warning: Do not disconnect your camera, open the battery door, or remove the battery while the firmware update is in progress.
5. Wait for the firmware update to complete.
   • The camera’s LED blinks amber and blue while the firmware is downloading and installing. After the firmware is installed, the camera reboots and the LED is off.
   • When the LED lights again and the pattern stops changing, your camera is available to stream.
   • Note: If you turn off your Arlo Go camera’s LED in the camera settings, the LED does not blink to show that a firmware update is in progress.
   • While the LED is turned off, always make sure that you can view your camera live from the Arlo app or a web browser before interrupting power to the camera.
   • If you remove the battery or otherwise interrupt power while a firmware update is in progress, your camera might become unusable.

Tip 8: Reset The Camera.

Resetting the camera erases potential configuration issues that may be hindering motion detection. It’s a last-resort solution when other troubleshooting steps fail.

How this can Help?

A reset provides a clean slate for your camera. By reverting it to its default settings, you eliminate potential glitches or misconfigurations, offering a fresh start that can resolve persistent issues with motion detection.

Note: Remember that this step will delete all the data inside the device and you’ll have to reconfigure your preferences after the reset.

Here’s how to reset your camera:

1. Unmount your camera and find the sync button.
2. If you have Pro 3, Pro 4, Floodlight, Ultra and Go 2 models, Release the camera from the camera housing to access the sync button.
3. If you have Essential Wire-Free, Pro, Pro2, and other models, Find the sync button on the camera housing.
4. Press and hold this button until the camera LED begins blinking amber (blinks 3 times).
5. Launch the Arlo app or log in to this website.
6. Tap Settings, then “My Devices” and select your camera.
7. Choose “Remove Device”, the “Yes” to confirm.
8. Back to the Devices page and choose “Add New Device”.
9. Select Cameras and follow the prompts to connect the camera to your WiFi network, base station, or SmartHub.
10. If needed, insert the camera back into its camera housing until it clicks back into place.

Final Words.

By understanding the purpose and significance of each solution, you can approach the troubleshooting process more effectively.

These tips collectively address different aspects of motion detection, ensuring a comprehensive strategy to resolve issues with your Arlo camera’s performance.