Your Definitive Guide to Stopping Arlo False Alerts
Receiving a constant flow of notifications for swaying trees, passing cars, or the neighbour's cat can be frustrating and drains your camera's battery. The key to a useful and reliable Arlo security system is customising its settings to intelligently distinguish between routine activity and events that truly warrant your attention. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to eliminate false alerts.
We'll focus on three core areas: adjusting sensitivity, defining specific monitoring zones, and leveraging Arlo's powerful AI features to make your notifications smarter.
## Understanding the Source of False Positives
Arlo cameras detect motion in two ways: some models use passive infrared (PIR) sensors that detect heat and movement, while others use pixel-based analysis to see changes in the video frame. Both methods can be fooled by common environmental factors.
Common Triggers:
- Moving Foliage: Tree branches, bushes, and plants blowing in the wind.
- Changing Light: Shadows moving across your garden as the sun changes position, or headlights from cars at night.
- Public Areas: People walking on a public footpath or cars driving down a road in the camera's view.
- Insects and Animals: From spiders building webs over the lens to pets and other wildlife.
- Heat Sources: Vents from tumble dryers or central heating systems can trigger PIR sensors.
## Step-by-Step Solutions for Accurate Notifications
Follow these steps within the Arlo Secure app to take control of your alerts.
### 1. Calibrate Motion Sensitivity
This is your first and simplest adjustment. The default setting is often higher than necessary.
- Open the Arlo app and select the camera you want to adjust.
- Tap on the Settings icon (gear symbol).
- Go to Motion Detection.
- You will see a Motion Sensitivity slider. Try reducing the setting by 10-15%.
- Save the changes and monitor the camera's behaviour. If you still get too many alerts, reduce it further. If you miss important events, increase it slightly. Finding the perfect balance may take a day or two of observation.
### 2. Create Custom Activity Zones
This is one of the most powerful features for reducing false alerts. Activity Zones tell your camera to only pay attention to motion inside a specific area that you define.
- In the camera's Settings, go to Activity Zones.
- You will see your camera's live view with a grid. Tap to create a new zone.
- Drag the corners of the box to draw a zone that covers only the area you are interested in. For example, draw it around your doorway and path, but exclude the public pavement and the road.
- You can create multiple zones. Be precise. This will stop any motion outside of these boxes from triggering a recording or notification.
### 3. Leverage Arlo Smart AI Notifications
If you have an Arlo Secure subscription, you have access to AI-powered detection. This allows the system to analyse what is causing the motion and filter your notifications accordingly.
- Go to your camera's Settings and tap on Smart Notifications.
- Here, you can choose what you want to be notified about. For a front door camera, you might only want to receive alerts for People. For a driveway camera, you might select People and Vehicles.
- By turning off notifications for Animals and All Other Motion, you can dramatically cut down on irrelevant alerts from pets, birds, or swaying trees.
### 4. Optimise Camera Placement
- Angle: Point the camera downwards slightly to focus on your property and reduce the amount of sky or distant background traffic it can see.
- Stability: Ensure the camera is mounted securely. A camera that can be shaken by the wind will create its own motion and trigger false alerts.
- Cleanliness: Regularly wipe the camera lens to remove any dust, water spots, or spiderwebs that could interfere with its view.
By combining these four strategies, you can transform your Arlo system from a source of constant interruptions into a smart, efficient security tool that respects your time and attention.