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To set up a new Arlo camera, install the Arlo Secure App, sign in, charge the camera, select the exact model under Devices, and connect it either directly to compatible Wi-Fi or to an Arlo SmartHub/Base Station. Arlo Ultra and Pro 3 cameras require a SmartHub or Base Station; many Essential wire-free cameras and Pro 4 and later models can connect directly to a router.
Because Arlo setup varies by model and generation, identify your camera before following the steps below. Do not mount it until pairing, firmware updates, live view, and notifications work successfully.
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Before you begin
- Install or update the Arlo Secure App.
- Sign in to an Arlo account or create one.
- Charge the camera battery or connect the camera to power.
- Have your Wi-Fi network name and password ready. They are case-sensitive.
- Use a phone or tablet with Wi-Fi enabled.
- Enable Bluetooth and grant the Arlo app Bluetooth permission if your model uses Bluetooth-assisted pairing, including the Essential Security Camera 3rd Gen and Pro Security Camera 2K, 6th Gen.
- Keep the camera, phone, and router close together during direct Wi-Fi setup.
- Have an Ethernet cable and SmartHub/Base Station ready when your model requires one.
- Confirm that the intended Arlo account Location is selected in the app.
Most Arlo devices initially use a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection. The Arlo Wi-Fi guidance identifies model-specific exceptions; for example, a Pro 5S can use 5 GHz only after its initial installation on 2.4 GHz is complete. If your router combines both bands under one network name, temporarily separating the bands or disabling band steering may make setup easier.
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Does your Arlo camera need a SmartHub or Base Station?
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| Camera family | Direct Wi-Fi | SmartHub/Base Station |
|---|---|---|
| Arlo Ultra and Ultra 2 | No under the standard setup path | Required |
| Arlo Pro 3 | No | Required |
| Arlo Pro 4 and later | Generally supported | Optional, depending on model and features |
| Arlo Essential wire-free cameras | Generally supported | Optional |
| Essential Security Camera 3rd Gen | Supported through its product-specific app flow | Available in the app |
| Indoor wired, doorbell, floodlight, LTE, and legacy models | Model-specific | Model-specific |
This is a family-level guide, not a universal compatibility chart. Newer products such as the Essential Security Camera 3rd Gen, specialized cameras, and older models may use different screens or requirements. Select the exact model shown on the camera or packaging and follow the product-specific prompts in the app. Arlo’s current Secure 4.0 setup guide lists the supported model branches.
Set up the camera in the Arlo Secure App
- Open the Arlo Secure App and sign in.
- Tap Devices.
- Check the selected Location. This determines where the new camera will appear in your account.
- Tap the Add Device control. Depending on the app version, it may be displayed as an icon or an image button.
- Tap Cameras or Choose From Device List.
- Choose the camera family, such as Ultra Series, Pro Series, or Essential Series.
- Select the exact camera model.
- Follow the prompts for charging, battery installation, pairing, and network selection.
- Connect directly to Wi-Fi or choose Connect with SmartHub, depending on the model.
- Give the camera a recognizable name, such as “Front Door” or “Jobsite Entrance.”
- Install firmware updates when the app offers them.
App labels can vary slightly by phone, app release, and camera generation. The model-specific instructions shown inside the app take priority over a generic menu path.
Connect a supported camera directly to Wi-Fi
This is generally the simplest option for compatible Essential wire-free and Pro 4-or-newer cameras.
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- In the app, open Devices, tap Add Device, choose Pro Series or Essential Series, and select the exact model.
- Complete the battery and charging prompts.
- Choose your Wi-Fi network and enter its password exactly, including capitalization and special characters.
- Keep the phone and camera within reliable router range while the app searches for the camera.
- Wait for the camera to appear online, then complete the naming and remaining setup prompts.
A successful discovery normally leaves the camera listed in the correct Location with an online status. If the camera is found indoors but goes offline at the intended mounting point, the permanent location may be outside the router or mesh node’s reliable coverage.
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Set up an Arlo SmartHub or Base Station
Connect the hub first
- Open Devices in the Arlo Secure App.
- Tap Choose From Device List.
- Select Base Station/Hub.
- Connect the SmartHub or Base Station to your router with an Ethernet cable.
- Connect the power adapter.
- Turn on an older base station if it has a physical power button.
- Wait for the indicator lights to reach the state shown in the app, then finish the prompts.
The order matters: connect the hub to the router with Ethernet before powering it on. Arlo’s hub setup instructions warn that powering it first can interfere with network discovery.
Pair the camera to the hub
- Place the camera approximately 3–6 feet from the SmartHub/Base Station.
- In the app, open Devices and tap Add Device.
- Choose Cameras, then select the correct family and model.
- Tap Connect with SmartHub.
- Select the existing hub or tap Add New SmartHub.
- Follow the model-specific pairing instructions. Some cameras begin syncing automatically when a battery is inserted, so do not repeatedly press buttons unless the app instructs you to.
Ultra and Pro 3 cameras cannot use the normal direct-router setup path; they must be paired through a compatible SmartHub or Base Station.
Special steps for the Essential Security Camera 3rd Gen
The Essential Security Camera 3rd Gen uses a Bluetooth-assisted pairing flow. Use its product-specific path instead of assuming it will behave like an older Essential model.
- Open the app, tap Devices, and tap Add Device.
- Allow the app to identify the camera, or choose Cameras > Essential Series > Battery Cameras > Essential Security Camera (3rd Generation).
- Confirm that the camera has the pairing button on top.
- Turn on Bluetooth and allow the Arlo app to use it.
- Press and hold the pairing button for up to 3 seconds.
- Wait for the LED to flash blue, then tap Continue.
- Choose direct Wi-Fi or Connect with SmartHub.
- Enter the Wi-Fi credentials if using direct Wi-Fi.
- Name the camera and complete firmware, placement, and mounting prompts.
Arlo’s current 3rd Gen instructions specifically check that the app is up to date and that Bluetooth permission is enabled.
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Finish setup before mounting
Do not treat a completed pairing screen as the end of installation. Before drilling or attaching the mount:
- Install any available firmware update.
- Confirm the camera appears in the correct Location and remains online.
- Open live view and check the image, framing, and night vision.
- Test two-way audio if the model supports it.
- Trigger motion and confirm that an event or notification arrives.
- Test the siren or spotlight only if your model includes those controls.
- Check battery status and charging behavior.
- Place the camera temporarily at the intended position and repeat live-view and motion tests.
- Mount it where the view does not invade bedrooms, bathrooms, neighboring property, or other areas where privacy is expected.
Arlo describes its wire-free cameras as weather-resistant, but the Essential Indoor Camera is an exception. Do not mount an indoor-only model outdoors. For indoor cameras with a physical privacy shutter, use it when the camera should not be recording; features are not identical across all indoor models.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fix common Arlo setup problems
The app cannot find the camera
- Confirm that you selected the exact model, not merely the same product family.
- Make sure the phone is connected to the intended 2.4 GHz network.
- Re-enter the Wi-Fi password carefully.
- Move the phone, camera, and router closer together.
- Charge the camera.
- Enable Bluetooth and Bluetooth permission for models that require it.
- Temporarily disable a VPN or restrictive network setting if it may be blocking local discovery.
- Restart the app and phone.
- Restart the router if other devices are also having connectivity problems.
- Retry using the model-specific setup path before resetting the camera.
SSID and password accuracy, 2.4 GHz connectivity, and proximity are especially important for Essential setup. Arlo documents these checks in its Essential camera manual.
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- Increase your phone’s screen brightness.
- Hold the phone at the distance shown by the app.
- Avoid glare and reflections.
- Clean the camera lens and keep the camera steady.
- Try a different angle without placing the phone in direct light.
- Use an alternate pairing method if the app provides one.
Not every Arlo model uses the same QR-code step, so do not force a QR workflow that the product-specific setup does not request.
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The camera will not connect to Wi-Fi
Verify that the phone is on 2.4 GHz, the network password is exact, and the camera is close to the router. Guest networks, client isolation, aggressive band steering, and weak signal can prevent discovery even when other devices appear online. If your router uses one name for both bands, temporarily create or select a dedicated 2.4 GHz network for setup.
The camera will not sync to the hub
Confirm that the hub is online, the correct account Location is selected, and the camera is approximately 3–6 feet from the hub. Recheck the exact model flow and button instructions. If the camera was partially configured or previously paired, remove it from the account only when appropriate and repeat setup.
The camera worked until I changed routers or the Wi-Fi password
Do not immediately delete a working camera. Use the app’s Wi-Fi-change flow described in Arlo’s network-change guidance. For wire-free cameras, Arlo says the battery should be at least 30% charged before changing Wi-Fi. A factory reset is a later recovery step, not the first response.
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A used or returned camera may still be linked to another Arlo account. Hardware reset alone should not be assumed to resolve account ownership. If the app says the camera is already registered, the previous owner may need to remove it from their account. Transfer requirements can vary by model, so use the exact product support path or contact Arlo Support.
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When and how to factory-reset the camera
Reset only after checking the model, account, network, and normal re-add process. Resetting erases configuration and requires you to repeat setup.
For several models—including Pro 3, Pro 4, Pro 5, Pro 3 Floodlight, Ultra, Ultra 2, and Go 2—Arlo’s current guidance says to hold the Sync button for approximately 15 seconds until the LED begins blinking blue, then release it. Confirm the LED blinks amber three times. The reset may take 15–45 seconds. Holding the button for more than 30 seconds can require waiting about one minute before trying again.
For the Pro Security Camera 2K, 6th Gen and Ultra Security Camera 4K, 3rd Gen, the reset timing is approximately 10 seconds; release when the LED begins blinking blue. These timings are not universal. Check Arlo’s model-specific reset instructions, remove the device from the Arlo account when instructed, and then repeat the app setup.
Do you need an Arlo Secure subscription?
No subscription is implied merely by pairing the camera or using basic functions such as setup and live view. A plan may be needed for cloud video history, advanced person/vehicle/animal detection, package detection, smart activity zones, extended recordings, or professional monitoring, depending on the model and plan.
Arlo’s U.S. plan page currently lists these price signals, shown as annual-billing monthly equivalents: Plus for one camera at approximately $7.99/month, Plus for unlimited cameras at approximately $17.99/month, and Premium for unlimited cameras at approximately $24.99/month. Prices, promotions, taxes, billing terms, features, and availability can change; verify the current Arlo Secure plans before subscribing.
When to use a different Arlo guide
Use a product-specific Arlo support guide if you are setting up an Arlo doorbell, floodlight, indoor wired camera, Go/LTE model, legacy camera, or a newly released model whose name does not match the app’s general Ultra, Pro, or Essential paths. Start at the official Arlo Support center and search for the exact model. This avoids applying the wrong hub, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi-band, reset, or mounting instructions.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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