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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteTo improve Arlo motion alerts, first frame the camera to exclude irrelevant movement, then draw a tight Activity Zone and tune the motion-sensitivity setting with Arlo’s test. Start the test at Low and raise it until the camera detects your movement; the test does not save the setting, so adjust the slider separately. If recordings are useful but alerts are excessive, filter notifications rather than lowering detection sensitivity.
What to change first when Arlo sends unwanted alerts
Start with the scene, not the sensitivity slider. A camera pointed at a road, waving branches, or a flag will keep seeing irrelevant movement; lowering sensitivity may also make it miss the motion you care about.
- Re-aim the camera. Keep traffic and other recurring movement out of the field of view where practical. Arlo recommends mounting at least 7 feet (2 meters) high, angling slightly downward, and placing the camera 10–15 feet (3–4.5 meters) from expected movement. Its guidance says side-to-side motion is easier to detect than movement directly toward or away from the camera, and identifies 5–20 feet (1.5–6 meters) as the best detection area. These are manufacturer recommendations, not guarantees for every installation. See Arlo’s motion-sensitivity guidance.
- Draw a tight Activity Zone. Include the doorway, walkway, gate, or other area that matters, and leave out streets and moving foliage. Arlo says only part of a person or object needs to enter the zone to register. Zone availability and limits vary by camera: some models support three zones and others five, and the feature may require AC power or a subscription. Check Arlo’s Activity Zone instructions for your model.
How to set motion sensitivity with the test
Arlo’s test gives you a repeatable starting point, but its test level and the saved motion-detection setting are separate. Start at Low, test your usual movement, then set the slider in the mode or rule that actually controls the camera.
- In the Arlo Secure App, open Devices and select the camera.
- Open the camera’s settings, then Default Mode Settings and Motion Detection Test. Menu names and paths can vary by app version and model.
- Begin at Low. Walk across the camera’s view from 5–10 feet away and raise the test level until the camera LED blinks. Arlo documents this as a test procedure, not a universal final sensitivity value.
- Exit the test and adjust the Motion Detection slider in the applicable mode or rule. The test itself does not save the setting.
- Try the setting with the kinds of movement you need to detect. If routine movement is missed, raise sensitivity; if irrelevant movement still triggers detection after framing and zoning, lower it incrementally.
There is no single correct slider value for every camera: the scene, model, and movement to capture all matter. A setting that is too low can prevent useful motion from triggering a recording. Arlo’s current instructions are in its motion-sensitivity FAQ.
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Check how Activity Zones interact with the camera
If a zone seems inaccurate, turn off Auto Zoom & Tracking while using Activity Zones; Arlo says tracking can affect zone accuracy. If you digitally zoom on a compatible 2K or 4K camera to crop out distractions, note Arlo’s warning that the camera will not record in 2K or 4K while digitally zoomed. Review Arlo’s Activity Zone troubleshooting guidance before relying on either behavior.
Also distinguish cloud event handling from local storage: Arlo notes that local storage may save all video regardless of an Activity Zone. A zone should not be assumed to filter every recording destination.
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Reduce alerts without losing useful recordings
When the camera is detecting motion you want recorded but notifying you too often, change notification behavior instead of reducing detection sensitivity.
- Smart Notifications: Per-camera category controls can filter alerts for people, vehicles, animals, and other motion. Arlo says recordings for categories you turn off can still appear in the Feed. Smart Notifications require a subscription according to Arlo support; check the feature for your model and plan in Arlo’s Smart Notifications instructions.
- Mode or notification rules: Edit the rules for when alerts are sent, or use a custom mode that records without sending notifications. Check every mode in which the camera is active so a rule in one mode does not leave alerts enabled in another.
Choose the fix that matches the problem
| Change | What it changes | Useful when | Trade-off or limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Re-aim the camera | Removes irrelevant areas from the view | Traffic, neighbor-facing views, or recurring movement in the scene | Redraw Activity Zones after repositioning. |
| Activity Zone | Limits cloud event saving or notifications to the selected image area | You need activity from a doorway, walkway, or gate | Model, power, and plan requirements vary; local storage may save all video regardless of zone. |
| Lower sensitivity | Reduces triggering from weaker or smaller motion | Alerts continue after you have corrected framing and zones | Too low a setting can miss motion; use the test and check actual needed movement. |
| Smart Notification categories | Filters which types of motion generate alerts | You want some categories of alerts but not others | Subscription required according to Arlo support; recordings can still appear in the Feed. |
| Mode or notification rules | Changes when notifications are sent | You want recordings but fewer alerts at particular times | Review each active mode and rule. |
If alerts or recordings arrive late
A delayed event can be a connectivity problem rather than a sensitivity problem. Check the camera’s signal strength on its device card, reduce interference, and keep the camera at least 6 feet (2 meters) from the router or SmartHub, following Arlo’s setup guidance. Arlo Go cellular models also need adequate mobile signal. Weak Wi-Fi, SmartHub, or base-station signal can delay recordings even when motion detection occurs.
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