Arlo Motion Detection Too Sensitive? Here's the Fix

How to Fix an Overly Sensitive Arlo Motion Detector

Arlo cameras are an excellent choice for home security, but receiving a constant barrage of notifications for things like swaying branches, passing cars, or even insects can be frustrating. An overly sensitive motion detector not only fills your phone with unwanted alerts but can also drain your camera's battery much faster than expected.

The key to a great experience with Arlo is fine-tuning its settings to match your specific environment. This guide will show you exactly how to adjust your Arlo camera's motion detection to be more accurate, ensuring you only get alerted to the events that truly matter.

Common Signs of a Too-Sensitive Arlo Camera

• You receive notifications for leaves blowing in the wind or moving shadows.
• Your camera's battery life is significantly shorter than advertised.
• Insects flying close to the lens trigger motion alerts.
• Rain or snow sets off continuous notifications.
• Your library is filled with short, pointless recordings of non-events.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reducing False Arlo Notifications

Let's get your Arlo alerts under control. Follow these steps within the Arlo Secure app.

### 1. Adjust the Motion Sensitivity Level

This is your first and most important tool for combating false alerts.

1. Open the Arlo Secure App.
2. Tap on Devices and select the camera you want to adjust.
3. Tap the Settings icon (a cogwheel) for that camera.
4. Go to Motion Detection.
5. You will see a slider, typically set to a high value by default. Lower this value to decrease the camera's sensitivity.
6. Pro Tip: Don't make drastic changes. Lower the sensitivity by 10-15 points at a time. Let the camera run for a day to observe the changes, and then adjust again if needed. Finding the perfect balance can take a little trial and error.

### 2. Use Activity Zones to Focus Detection

Activity Zones are one of the most powerful features for eliminating unwanted notifications, available with an Arlo Secure subscription. They tell your camera to ignore motion everywhere except in the specific areas you highlight.

1. In the camera's settings, go to Activity Zones.
2. You will see the camera's live view. Tap to create a new zone.
3. Drag the corners of the zone to cover only the area you care about. For example, draw a box around your walkway and front door, but exclude the street and your neighbour's garden.
4. You can create multiple zones. Be precise. This is perfect for ignoring movement on public pavements or swaying trees at the edge of your garden.

### 3. Leverage Arlo Smart Notifications

If you have an Arlo Secure plan, you have access to AI-powered detection that can intelligently filter alerts.

1. Navigate to your camera's Smart Notifications settings.
2. Here, you can choose what you want to be notified about. You can select People, Vehicles, Animals, and All Other Motion.
3. To drastically reduce unwanted alerts, you could, for example, switch off notifications for 'All Other Motion' and 'Animals', and only keep 'People' and 'Vehicles' switched on. This way, a cat walking by won't trigger an alert, but a person approaching your door will.

### 4. Optimise Camera Positioning

Sometimes, the problem is not the settings but the camera's position.

• Avoid High-Traffic Backgrounds: If possible, angle the camera so that busy roads, public footpaths, or your neighbour's property are out of the main view.
• Check for Reflective Surfaces: Glare or reflections from windows or ponds can sometimes be misinterpreted as motion.
• Trim Foliage: Ensure that waving branches or bushes are not in the foreground of your camera's view. Trim them back if necessary.

By combining these four strategies—adjusting sensitivity, creating precise activity zones, using smart notifications, and optimising placement—you can transform your Arlo camera from a source of annoyance into a highly accurate and reliable security tool.