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    How to Install and Use Arlo Security Cameras

    Learn how to set up Arlo wire-free security cameras, adjust motion settings, view footage, and share access with family members.

    5 min read 6 stepsApril 20, 2026Verified April 2026
    1

    Download the Arlo app and create your account

    ~23s
    Search for "Arlo" in the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) and install the free app. Open it and tap "Create Account" — you will need an email address and a password. Arlo will send a verification email; click the link in that email before continuing. Your Arlo account is what ties your cameras, recordings, and settings together, so use an email address you check regularly.
    2

    Set up the SmartHub or connect directly to Wi-Fi

    ~34s
    If your Arlo system includes a SmartHub, plug the hub into your router using the included Ethernet cable (a cable that carries internet signal), then plug the hub into power. Open the Arlo app, tap "Add Device," and select "SmartHub." The app will find it automatically if it's on the same network as your phone. If your camera connects directly to Wi-Fi (check your model's box), select the camera model instead and enter your Wi-Fi password when prompted.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: Place the SmartHub near your router, not in a remote room — a closer connection means a stronger signal to your cameras.

    3

    Sync your camera to the hub

    ~23s
    Press the Sync button on the SmartHub and then the Sync button on the camera within 10 seconds of each other. The camera's LED light will flash to confirm it's connected. In the Arlo app, the camera will appear in your device list. Name it something descriptive — "Front Door," "Backyard Gate," or "Driveway" — so you immediately know which camera you're looking at when an alert comes in.
    4

    Choose the best placement for coverage

    ~33s
    Mount the camera 7 to 10 feet off the ground for the widest field of view. Aim it so that people walking toward the camera move across the frame rather than directly toward it — motion detectors are more sensitive to side-to-side movement than to someone walking straight at the lens. Avoid pointing the camera into direct sunlight or at a bright light source, which can wash out the image and trigger false motion alerts.

    Warning

    Do not mount outdoor cameras pointing directly at a neighbor's property or public sidewalk without first understanding your local privacy laws — requirements vary by state.

    5

    Adjust motion sensitivity and activity zones

    ~27s
    In the Arlo app, go to your camera's settings and find "Motion Settings." The sensitivity slider controls how much movement is needed to trigger a recording — lower it if you are getting too many alerts from wind, passing cars, or insects flying close to the lens. If you have an Arlo Secure subscription, you can also draw Activity Zones — specific areas of the camera's view that trigger recordings — so a tree moving in the background does not count.
    6

    Share camera access with family members

    ~33s
    In the Arlo app, go to "Settings," then "Grant Access," and enter a family member's email address. They will receive an invitation to create their own Arlo account (free) and accept access to your cameras. Once accepted, they can view live footage and receive motion alerts on their own phone without needing your login credentials. You can remove their access at any time from the same menu.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: Set up "Schedules" in the Arlo app to turn motion recording on automatically at night and off during the day when you are home — this reduces unnecessary recordings and saves battery life.

    You Did It!

    You've completed: How to Install and Use Arlo Security Cameras

    Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

    Arlo makes wireless security cameras that run on rechargeable batteries — no power cable needed, which means you can place them almost anywhere: above the garage door, pointing at the front porch, or covering a side gate. The cameras are designed to handle rain, snow, and heat, so outdoor use is fully supported. Arlo cameras record video when motion is detected and send an alert to your phone within seconds.

    Most Arlo cameras connect to a small device called the SmartHub (or directly to your home Wi-Fi router, depending on the model). The SmartHub is a white box that plugs into your router with a network cable and acts as a bridge between the cameras and the internet. Some newer Arlo cameras skip the hub entirely and connect directly to Wi-Fi. Either way, you manage everything through the free Arlo app.

    Arlo offers a free plan that stores motion-triggered video clips in the cloud for 30 days, limited to a small number of cameras. Arlo Secure is the paid subscription ($13/month or $130/year per camera) that adds person, package, vehicle, and animal detection — so instead of getting an alert every time a leaf blows by, you only get alerted when a person approaches. Even without a subscription, the cameras work and store footage.

    This guide covers setting up your first Arlo camera, choosing the best placement, adjusting sensitivity, and sharing access with family so others can check the cameras too.

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    How to Install and Use Arlo Security Cameras — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure