How to Fix Annoying Lag on Your Netgear Arlo Camera
There are few things more frustrating than trying to check your security camera's live stream only to be met with a spinning loading wheel, a choppy picture, or a significant delay. This "lag" can make it difficult to see what's happening in real-time and can even cause you to miss important moments. If you're experiencing lag with your Netgear Arlo camera system, the root cause is almost always related to your network connection. This guide will help you diagnose and fix the common causes of video lag.
What Causes Lag in Your Netgear Arlo Security Camera?
Understanding the journey your video stream takes is key to finding the bottleneck. The video travels from your Arlo camera, to your Arlo Base Station, through your router, over the internet to Arlo's servers, and finally back down to your phone. A slowdown at any point in this chain can cause lag.
Poor Wi-Fi Signal Strength
The connection between the Arlo camera and its Base Station is crucial. If the camera is too far away, or if the signal has to pass through thick walls (brick, concrete) or sources of interference (like a microwave or cordless phone), the connection will be weak. This forces the camera to send a lower-quality, laggy stream.
Slow Internet Upload Speed
This is one of the most overlooked causes. Your internet plan has both a download and an upload speed. While most people focus on download speed for streaming movies, your Arlo camera relies on upload speed to send its video feed to the cloud. If your upload speed is too low, or if other devices on your network are uploading large files, your camera will struggle to send a smooth stream.
Network Congestion
If you have many devices connected to your Wi-Fi network all using the internet at the same time (e.g., streaming 4K TV, online gaming, video calls), it can create congestion that slows down the connection for your Arlo system.
Step-by-Step Guide to Reducing Camera Lag
Follow these steps to improve your camera's streaming performance.
Step 1: Test Your Internet Upload Speed
Use a free online speed test tool on a computer or phone connected to your home Wi-Fi. Pay close attention to the upload speed result. As a general rule, you need at least 1-2 Mbps of upload speed per camera that is streaming at the same time. If your upload speed is very low (e.g., under 5 Mbps) and you have multiple cameras, this is likely a major cause of your lag.
Step 2: Check the Camera's Connection Status
The Arlo app gives you a direct reading of the Wi-Fi signal strength between the camera and the Base Station.
- Open the Arlo app.
- Go to Settings > My Devices and select the camera that is lagging.
- Scroll down to the NETWORK section. You should see a signal strength indicator.
- If you have only one or two bars, the signal is weak. Try moving the camera closer to the Base Station or relocating the Base Station to a more central position in your home.
Step 3: Adjust Video Quality Settings
You can trade a little bit of picture quality for a big improvement in smoothness.
- In the camera's settings within the Arlo app, go to Video Settings.
- Change the setting from "Best Video" to "Optimised" or "Best Battery Life".
- This reduces the resolution and bitrate, demanding less from your network connection. This can often be the quickest and most effective fix for lag.
Step 4: Optimise Your Wi-Fi Network
- Reboot Your Router: Unplug your internet router and the Arlo Base Station for 60 seconds, then plug them back in. This can clear temporary network issues.
- Reduce Interference: Try to keep your Arlo Base Station away from other major electronic devices.
- Use a Wired Connection: Ensure your Arlo Base Station is connected to your router with an Ethernet cable, not over Wi-Fi, for the most stable connection.