Netgear Arlo Camera Missing Features? Here Is How to Fix It

Guide to Missing Features on Your Netgear Arlo Camera

Netgear's Arlo brand of security cameras is known for its wireless, weather-proof designs and robust features. However, you might set up your new camera and find that key functionalities you were expecting, such as cloud recordings or smart alerts for people, are nowhere to be found.

This guide explains the most common reason for this: the Arlo Secure subscription plan, and walks you through how to ensure all your camera's features are activated.

The Arlo Secure Subscription: Unlocking Premium Features

The single biggest reason for "missing" features on an Arlo camera is the distinction between the free basic service and the paid Arlo Secure subscription. When you first buy a camera, it often comes with a free trial of Arlo Secure. When this trial expires, the camera reverts to the basic service, and many features are disabled.

Here is a comparison of what you get:

Basic Service (Without Subscription):

• Live video streaming from your cameras.
• Basic motion notifications to your phone.
• Local storage (if you have a compatible Arlo SmartHub or Base Station with a USB drive or SD card inserted).
• No cloud storage of video recordings.

Arlo Secure Subscription (Paid):

• Cloud Video History: All motion-triggered recordings are saved to the cloud for 30 days (or longer on higher tiers), so you can review them anytime.
• Smart Object Detection: The camera uses AI to identify what caused the motion, allowing you to get specific alerts for:
  • People
  • Vehicles
  • Packages
  • Animals
• Customisable Activity Zones: You can draw specific zones in the camera's view to monitor, reducing false alarms from background movement.
• Interactive Notifications: You can take action (like sound the siren or call a friend) directly from a notification on your phone's lock screen.

If you are unable to view past recordings in the app's library or cannot find the settings for Activity Zones, it is almost certain that you do not have an active Arlo Secure subscription.

How to Activate and Configure All Features

If you have a subscription but still feel something is missing, follow these steps.

1. Verify Your Subscription Status

First, confirm that your Arlo Secure plan is active and applied to the correct cameras.

• How to Check:
  1. Open the Arlo app.
  2. Tap on Settings > Subscription.
  3. You will see your current plan and can manage which devices are covered.

2. Update Firmware and App

New features are often delivered via software updates. Ensure both your camera and your app are running the latest versions.

• Camera Firmware: In the app, go to Settings > My Devices, select your camera, and tap Device Info > Firmware. It will check for updates.
• Arlo App: Go to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) and check for updates to the Arlo app.

3. Configure Smart Notifications and Zones

Once you have a subscription, you need to tell the app what you want to be notified about.

• How to Configure:
  1. In the Arlo app, tap on the Mode tab.
  2. Select the base station or camera you want to configure and tap the pencil icon next to the active mode (e.g., "Armed").
  3. Tap the pencil icon next to the rule for your camera.
  4. Under the "IF" section, ensure "Motion is detected" is checked.
  5. Under the "THEN" section, ensure "Push Notification" is checked.
  6. Now, you should see options for "Smart Notifications." Here you can select the specific object types (People, Vehicles, etc.) you want to be alerted about.
  7. To configure Activity Zones, go to the camera's Video Settings menu.

4. Check Your Camera Model's Specifications

Remember to have realistic expectations based on your hardware. An older Arlo Pro 2 will not have the same advanced AI features or 4K video quality as a new Arlo Ultra 2. Always check the official product page for your specific model to see its list of supported features.