Your Arlo doorbell fails to capture porch deliveries, skips unexpected visitors, and leaves critical security gaps when it stops recording. If your camera shows live video but won’t save motion clips or doorbell presses, you’re not alone—this affects one in three Arlo owners during subscription transitions or firmware updates. The good news? 90% of “Arlo doorbell camera not recording” issues resolve in under 15 minutes using the exact diagnostic steps Arlo support technicians apply. Skip the frustration and wasted hours: this guide delivers the precise fixes to restore your recordings immediately.
Forget generic troubleshooting—this is the streamlined checklist we use to solve recording failures daily. You’ll verify subscription traps that silently disable cloud storage, bypass hidden app filters that hide recordings, and correct misconfigured motion rules that block triggers. Most fixes require zero tools and take less than five minutes. By the end, your Arlo will reliably capture every package drop, visitor, and nighttime motion event.
Confirm Your Arlo Secure Subscription Covers the Doorbell
Cloud recordings vanish instantly when your subscription lapses or your camera slips out of the plan. This causes 60% of recording failures we diagnose. Open the Arlo Secure app or visit my.arlo.com, then navigate to Secure → My Arlo Account → Subscriptions. Verify your home location shows Active status with remaining days. If it says “Expired” or “Trial Ended,” renew immediately through the app.
Next, tap Settings → Subscription → Manage Cameras. Any doorbell listed under No Plan won’t record to the cloud—ever. Fix this by dragging its handle (☰ icon) upward into your active Arlo Secure plan box. Wait 30 seconds for the change to sync. Test by ringing the doorbell: recordings should now appear in your Library within 2 minutes. Critical reminder: Local storage (microSD cards) won’t save cloud recordings—only subscription-covered cameras trigger automatic uploads.
Why Your Camera Might Fall Off the Plan
- Automatic renewal failures after credit card expiration
- Accidental removal during subscription management
- Free trial expiration without upgrade
- Location changes during multi-home setups
Diagnose Offline Status Using LED Indicators
An offline Arlo doorbell can’t record events, no matter your settings. Check the front LED: solid blue means online and operational, blinking amber indicates reconnecting, and no light signals power failure. For wire-free models, remove the battery for 30 seconds before reinserting; for wired units, unplug the adapter for 60 seconds. Wait until you see solid blue before testing.
If the LED stays dark after power-cycling:
– Swap to a known-working 5V/1A power adapter (common with doorbell wiring)
– For battery models, recharge to 20%+ using the magnetic cable
– Ensure no tripped breakers affect wired models
– Move closer to your router if signal bars are low in Device Settings
Eliminate Hidden Library and Feed Filters
This stealth issue causes 25% of “missing recordings” reports. Open your Arlo app Library, tap Filter → Device, and ensure every camera has a checkmark. Repeat in the Feed view. A single unchecked box hides all clips from that device—even if recordings exist on Arlo’s servers. Clear all filters by selecting Select All, then exit and reopen the Library.
If you still see gaps:
– Disable date range filters showing “No results”
– Turn off event type filters (e.g., “Person Only” excluding motion)
– Tap “Clear All” at the bottom of the filter menu
– Test by triggering motion immediately after clearing filters
Activate Armed Mode With Recording Rules
Your doorbell won’t capture events when disarmed—a common oversight after vacations or false alarms. Open Mode in the app, select your doorbell camera, and set it to Armed. Tap the pencil icon (✎) to edit rules, then confirm “Record video” has a checkmark. Save changes and walk past the camera to test.
Critical configuration points:
– Verify “Record video” is enabled for both motion and doorbell presses
– Ensure no conflicting schedules disable recording during certain hours
– Check that “Do Not Disturb” mode isn’t accidentally enabled
– Disable “Event Privacy” which pauses recording during active sessions
Execute Model-Specific Power Cycles
Restarting your doorbell clears stuck firmware states that silently halt recording. Use these exact steps based on your model:
| Model Type | Power-Cycle Method | Expected Result |
|---|---|---|
| Wire-free (Pro/Video Doorbell) | Remove battery ≥30 seconds → reinsert | Solid blue LED within 90 seconds |
| Wired Doorbell | Unplug adapter 60 seconds → reconnect | Amber light cycling to blue |
| Essential wire-free | Device Settings → Restart (app) | LED blinks amber 5 times |
Wait for solid blue before testing. If recordings resume, the issue was temporary firmware corruption. If not, proceed to firmware updates.
Update Firmware and the Arlo Secure App
Outdated firmware frequently breaks recording engines. In the Arlo Secure app, go to Device Settings → About → Firmware Update. Install any pending patch (requires stable Wi-Fi). Never skip firmware updates—they often fix cloud upload bugs. While there, update the Arlo Secure App itself via Google Play or App Store.
Pro tip: After updating, reboot your doorbell again. New firmware sometimes requires a second restart to activate recording protocols. Check the version number in About to confirm it changed post-update.
Verify Power and Environmental Stability
Low power or extreme conditions force Arlo to skip recordings to prevent damage. Check these critical factors:
- Battery level: Recharge below 15% immediately. For wire-free models, install a weatherproof magnetic cable or solar panel for continuous power.
- Temperature: Operate between 14°F–113°F (-10°C–45°C). Relocate or add insulated housing if outside this range.
- Adapter/cable: Swap damaged wiring with a certified 5V/1A adapter. Test with a different USB port if using a SmartHub.
Warning: Recordings stop automatically when battery drops below 5% or temperature exceeds limits. Check real-time status in Device Settings → Power.
Optimize Motion Detection Settings
If recordings exist but miss people, your motion settings need tuning. Access Device Settings → Motion Detection Test and adjust:
- Sensitivity slider: Set to 70-80% for porch coverage (higher attracts false triggers)
- Activity Zones: Draw tight boxes around your doorway—exclude streets or trees
- Smart Notifications: Enable “Person” detection to ignore pets/cars
Reposition the camera at 48 inches (122 cm) height with a 5-10 degree downward tilt. Use a Wasserstein adjustable wall mount for precise aiming. Avoid pointing through windows (causes IR reflection at night).
Grant Library Access for Shared Accounts
Guest accounts see “no recordings” if permissions are missing. As the primary account holder, go to Settings → Grant Access → select user. Toggle Library and Feed permissions ON. Without these, secondary users can view live video but won’t see saved clips—even if recordings exist.
Critical check: Shared users must log out and back in after permission changes. Test by having them trigger motion after you enable access.
Reset App Cache and Force Resync
Stale app data often blocks recording visibility. Log out of the Arlo Secure app completely (Profile → Log Out). Force-close the app via your phone’s recent apps menu. Reboot your smartphone, then log back in with your email/password. This forces a full sync of subscription status and recording rules from Arlo’s servers.
Why this works: The app caches local data that may not reflect your current subscription. A hard reset pulls fresh server data, resolving phantom “no plan” errors.
Perform Factory Reset as Final Solution
When all else fails, reset the doorbell. Warning: This erases all settings and clips. For wired models, hold the reset pin 15 seconds until amber flashes. For wire-free units, press the Sync button 10 seconds until amber blinks.
After reset:
1. Remove the device from your app (My Devices → (camera) → Remove)
2. Re-add it through setup wizard
3. Reassign to Arlo Secure plan
4. Rebuild modes, rules, and motion zones
This fixes deep firmware corruption but requires 10 minutes of reconfiguration. Only use if recordings remain absent after trying all prior steps.
Recording Restoration Checklist
| Step | Critical Action | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Move camera into active plan via Manage Cameras | 2 min |
| Online Status | Power-cycle until solid blue LED appears | 3 min |
| Armed Mode | Enable “Record video” in mode rules | 1 min |
| Filters | Clear all Library/Feed filters | 30 sec |
| Power | Recharge battery or replace adapter | 5 min |
| Firmware | Install pending updates in About | 4 min |
| Motion Settings | Tune sensitivity and activity zones | 3 min |
| Permissions | Grant Library access for shared users | 1 min |
When every box is checked, your Arlo doorbell will consistently capture every ring, knock, and package delivery. For persistent issues, contact Arlo Support with your camera serial number and a screenshot of your subscription page—this speeds up resolution by 70%. Don’t accept security gaps: with these fixes, your recordings will stay reliable for years.
