How to Fix a Blurry, Hazy, or Out-of-Focus Arlo Camera
A blurry video feed from your Arlo security camera can make it difficult to see the important details you need. Whether the image is slightly soft, completely out of focus, or looks foggy, the issue compromises your security. Fortunately, the cause is often a simple, physical problem that is easy to fix.
This guide will focus specifically on troubleshooting blurriness, which is different from pixelation caused by a poor connection. Follow these steps to restore a sharp, clear picture to your Arlo camera.
## The Essential First Step: A Perfectly Clean Lens
Before investigating any other possibility, you must ensure the camera's lens is perfectly clean. This is the cause of blurry video more than 90% of the time.
- Action: Meticulously Clean the Lens
- Take a close look at your camera's lens. On an outdoor camera, it's likely covered in a thin layer of dust, dried rain spots, or pollen.
- Use a high-quality, dry microfibre cloth (the type used for cleaning eyeglasses).
- Gently wipe the lens in a circular motion. Don't apply too much pressure, but be thorough.
- Check the live feed on the Arlo app. If the image is improved but not perfect, repeat the cleaning. A tiny, almost invisible smudge can have a big impact on sharpness.
Important: Do not use paper towels, tissues, or your shirt to clean the lens, as these materials can be abrasive and cause micro-scratches.
## Troubleshooting Environmental and Placement Issues
If a thorough cleaning doesn't completely solve the problem, the issue could be related to the camera's environment.
### 1. Check for Moisture and Condensation
A foggy or hazy appearance, especially on an outdoor camera, often points to moisture. This can happen when there are rapid changes in temperature and humidity.
- Action: If you suspect condensation has formed inside the lens housing, the best course of action is to bring the camera indoors to a warm, dry location for 24-48 hours. This allows any trapped moisture to evaporate naturally. To prevent this, try to install cameras in a slightly sheltered location (e.g., under an eave) where they are not exposed to direct, driving rain.
### 2. Optimise Night Vision Performance
A blurry night vision feed is a common complaint. This is often caused by 'IR bounce-back'. The camera's infrared (IR) LEDs, which illuminate the scene at night, can reflect off nearby surfaces and overwhelm the camera's sensor.
- Action:
- Check that there are no close objects directly in front of the camera, like a wall, a downspout, or the eaves of your roof.
- If the camera is looking out through a window, turn off the IR lights in the app's settings and use an external motion-activated light instead. The IR will just reflect off the glass, making the image blurry and washed out.
- Ensure the camera's silicone skin or any third-party housing is not partially covering the lens or IR sensors.
### 3. Review Camera Positioning
Arlo cameras have a fixed-focus lens, designed to keep a wide area in focus. However, positioning can still affect perceived sharpness.
- Action:
- Distance: The further away an object is, the less detail the camera can capture. If you need to identify faces or number plates, the camera must be positioned close enough to do so effectively.
- Lighting: While Arlo cameras are excellent in low light, a well-lit scene will always produce a sharper, more detailed image. Adding a motion-activated floodlight can dramatically improve both daytime and nighttime clarity.
By focusing on these physical and environmental factors—starting with a perfectly clean lens—you can resolve almost any issue of a blurry or out-of-focus Arlo camera.