How to Fix Arlo Camera Video Freezing and Lagging
There are few things more frustrating than trying to view your Arlo camera's live stream, only to have the video freeze, stutter, or lag. The same goes for recorded clips that are choppy and unwatchable. When your video feed is unreliable, it compromises your ability to see what's happening at your property.
The good news is that Arlo video freezing is almost always a network-related issue. This guide will help you pinpoint the bottleneck and take the necessary steps to achieve a smooth, stable video stream.
## Step 1: Test Your Internet Upload Speed
This is the most critical and often overlooked step. While most people know their download speed, video cameras rely on upload speed to send footage from your home to the Arlo cloud servers. If this is too slow, the video data gets stuck, causing freezes.
- How to Test: On a computer or phone connected to the same network as your Arlo system, go to any popular speed test website (like Speedtest.net or Fast.com) and run a test. Pay close attention to the "UPLOAD" result.
- What You Need:
- For one Arlo camera: You need a bare minimum of 1 Mbps of upload speed.
- For multiple cameras: Arlo recommends at least 3-4 Mbps of upload speed, and more if you have many cameras streaming simultaneously.
- What to Do If It's Too Slow: If your upload speed is below these recommendations, you will experience freezing. You'll need to contact your internet service provider (ISP) to inquire about upgrading your plan to one with a higher upload speed.
## Step 2: Check the Wifi Signal to the Camera
Even with a fast internet plan, a weak wifi connection between the Arlo camera and your router or SmartHub will cause video to freeze.
- Check Signal in the App: In the Arlo app, go to your camera's Device Settings > Network. You should see a signal strength indicator. For smooth video, you need three full bars. One or two bars will almost certainly lead to performance issues.
- Troubleshoot a Weak Signal:
- Move the camera closer to your wifi router or Arlo SmartHub.
- Move your router to a more central location in your home.
- Remove any thick walls or large metal objects from the path between the camera and router/SmartHub.
- Consider installing a wifi mesh system or a range extender to provide a stronger signal to the camera's location.
## Step 3: Lower the Video Quality
If your network is struggling, you can reduce the amount of data the camera tries to send, which can often solve freezing issues. This is a good temporary solution while you address the underlying network problems.
- Open the Arlo app.
- Go to Settings > My Devices and select the camera that is freezing.
- Tap on Video Settings.
- You will see a setting for video quality or resolution. If it's set to "Best," try lowering it to "Good" or "Balanced." This will reduce the video resolution slightly but significantly decreases the required upload bandwidth.
## Step 4: Power Cycle Your Entire System
A simple reboot can clear temporary software glitches or network conflicts.
- Unplug your Arlo SmartHub/Base Station (if you have one).
- Unplug your main wifi router.
- Wait for 60 seconds.
- Plug your router back in and wait for it to fully restart.
- Plug your SmartHub/Base Station back in and wait for its lights to turn solid green or blue.
- If the camera is still freezing, remove the battery from the camera for about 15 seconds, then reinsert it.
By addressing your upload speed, ensuring strong wifi signal strength, and optimising your settings, you can eliminate video freezing and enjoy the clear, reliable stream you expect from your Arlo system.