Arlo Not Recording at Night? Here’s Why (And How to Fix It)

Your Arlo camera works great during the day. But at night? It goes silent. No motion clips. No alerts. Just darkness.

This is a common issue — and it’s almost always fixable. Here’s how to solve it and make sure your camera doesn’t miss a thing after sunset.

1. Check If Night Vision Is Turned On

First, make sure Night Vision is enabled.

Open the Arlo app
Go to Settings → Devices
Select your camera
Toggle “Night Vision” ON

Without it, the camera can’t see anything in the dark — even if motion happens.

2. Add a Small Light Source Nearby

Arlo’s motion sensor works best when there’s at least a little contrast. Total darkness can cause it to miss movement.

Try adding a small porch light, solar light, or motion-activated bulb nearby. It helps the sensor “see” better at night.

3. Reposition the Camera

Arlo uses a PIR sensor that detects side-to-side movement better than motion coming straight at it.

Mount the camera at 6–7 feet high
Angle it slightly downward
Face it across a pathway or open space — not directly at people

4. Adjust Motion Sensitivity

At night, the sensor may need higher sensitivity. Here’s how to adjust it:

In the app, go to Modes → Armed → Your Camera
Edit the Rule → Increase Motion Sensitivity to 85–90%

Test it by walking through the area at night to see if it records.

5. Check Cloud or Local Storage Limits

If you’re using cloud storage, check that you’re not out of space. If using local storage, make sure the USB or SD card is working properly.

6. Update the Firmware

Software bugs can sometimes affect night vision or motion recording.

Open the Arlo app
Go to Settings → My Devices
Select your camera → Check for firmware updates

Final Thoughts

Don’t let your Arlo camera miss nighttime activity. A few quick changes can make all the difference.

Most of the time, it’s just a matter of tweaking settings, improving placement, or adding a bit of light.

💡 Need help with your Arlo setup? Book a free consultation — it’s quick, free, and we’ll walk you through it.

🔍 Want more helpful guides? Visit our Smart Security Devices section.

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