How to Fix Your Netgear (Arlo) Camera When the Video Freezes
A frozen video feed from your Netgear or Arlo security camera can be frustrating, leaving you without a clear view of your property. This common issue, which includes stuttering, constant buffering, and a completely stuck image, typically points to a problem with the wireless connection at some point between the camera and your phone. This guide will help you troubleshoot the issue systematically.
Understanding the Arlo Connection Chain
For most Netgear Arlo systems, there are two critical wireless links:
- Camera to Base Station: The individual camera communicates wirelessly with the Arlo Base Station.
- Base Station to Router: The Base Station is usually connected via an Ethernet cable to your router, but its ability to send data is dependent on your internet service.
A problem at either of these points can cause video to freeze.
Step-by-Step Solutions for a Smoother Video Feed
Work through these steps to find and fix the cause of the video freezing.
1. Check the Camera's Signal Strength
The most common point of failure is a weak connection between the camera and the Base Station.
- Open your Arlo app.
- Navigate to "Settings" > "My Devices" and select the camera that is having issues.
- Look for the Wi-Fi icon or signal strength indicator. You should see a number of bars, similar to the signal on your mobile phone.
- If you only have one or two bars of signal, the camera is too far from the Base Station. The weak link will cause video to drop out and freeze.
- Solution: Move the camera closer to the Base Station, or move the Base Station to a more central location in your home.
2. Test Your Internet Upload Speed
The video from your cameras has to be uploaded to the internet before you can view it. If your internet plan's upload speed is too slow, the video will buffer.
- Using a computer or phone connected to the same network, go to a speed testing website.
- Run the test and pay close attention to the "Upload Speed" result.
- As a general rule, you need about 2 Mbps of upload speed for each camera that you want to stream simultaneously in HD. If your upload speed is low (e.g., less than 5 Mbps) and you have multiple cameras, this is likely the cause.
- Solution: Contact your internet service provider to inquire about a plan with a higher upload speed.
3. Power Cycle Your Equipment
Restarting your network hardware can clear temporary glitches that cause performance issues.
- Unplug your Arlo Base Station from power.
- Unplug your main home Wi-Fi router.
- Wait for 60 seconds.
- Plug the router back in first and wait for it to fully restart.
- Plug the Arlo Base Station back in and wait for its lights to become stable.
- Test the video stream again.
4. Adjust Video Quality Settings
Streaming in the highest quality uses the most bandwidth. Reducing the quality can often lead to a more stable stream, especially if your internet connection is slow.
- Open the Arlo app and go to the settings for the problematic camera.
- Find the "Video Settings" or "Power Management" mode.
- Change the setting from "Best Video" to "Optimized" or "Best Battery Life".
- This will lower the video resolution slightly, but it will demand less from your network and can often solve freezing issues immediately.
By checking the camera's placement, your internet speed, and your app settings, you can eliminate the frustrating problem of a freezing video feed.