Arlo modes and rules are additional features that tell your Arlo camera system what to do in different situations. Based on a trigger, your Arlo camera may perform a task like record video for a said duration, send notifications upon motion detection and more. If you have been looking for information on the Arlo camera modes and rules, and how to activate them using the Arlo app or the my.arlo.com setup wizard, this blog is for you.
Before we start
Arlo Modes are predefined functionalities governed by a set of rules which are actually parameters set so a said action could take place. This gives you complete control over how and when your cameras should respond to varied triggers. For instance, you might be practising yoga in your living room and you don’t want to be disturbed by the motion alerts. Or, you want to turn on a different mode when away from your home, how would you make all that happen. This is where Arlo modes and rules come in- letting you manage things effectively.
What Arlo Modes are available?
When working with your Arlo camera, there are three specific modes that are available. These include:
- Arm or Disarm Devices
- Scheduling
- Geofencing
Arm or Disarm Devices
Arlo cameras can be armed to trigger notifications on detecting sound or motion. When such a thing happens, the camera will record video for 10 seconds by default and upload it to your Arlo cloud account. You can access these recordings later by signing in to your myArlo account. Use the default web address my.arlo.com to sign in to Arlo setup page.
On the other hand, Disarmed Arlo cameras will not trigger any response upon sound or motion detection. Consequently, no videos will be recorded and no notifications will be sent.
To arm or disarm your Arlo camera, here are some steps you can follow:
- Launch the Arlo app or login to the my.arlo.com setup page.
- Tap or click on the Mode button and select the Arlo camera.
- Now, tap on the pencil icon next to Armed/Disarmed and tap on the Done button.
Scheduling
Scheduling lets you communicate to your Arlo system when to enter a mode/modes for what duration. For instance, you can turn your indoor Arlo cameras on and off during certain times of the day and night, but leave the outdoor camera working, or vice versa. Arlo cameras are preconfigured to enable recording from 08:00am to 05:00pm Monday to Friday.
Here are some steps you can follow to customize the schedule for your Arlo camera:
- Launch the Arlo app or login to the Arlo account using my.arlo.com web address.
- Tap or click on the Mode button and select a camera.
- Tap or click on the Schedule button now and tap on the Pencil icon. You can also click on the > icon to Schedule.
- Once you do, the Schedule page will load itself.
- Tap or click on the Add button and the Add Schedule button will appear.
- You can now add or remove the days and time for the new schedule.
- Once specified, tap Done and the scheduling will be done.
Geofencing
Geofencing is somewhat similar to the Scheduling option. It tells your Arlo camera when to switch modes. However, in contrast to Scheduling, Geofencing works by utilizing the location-based data collected from your GPS-enabled mobile device. Whenever the mobile phone is outside the defined area or zone, the Arlo camera will switch modes automatically. This implies that when you get back into the zone, the Armed mode will deactivate, automatically.
Arlo Rules
Arlo modes can be configured to create a custom mode. If you choose to create one, you can do so by defining certain rules which will tell your Arlo camera setup what to do while the mode is active. Each of these modes can consist of one or more than one rule and provides detailed instructions to your Arlo cameras.
Here are some rules you can set for your custom Arlo modes:
Trigger Device
This device is your Arlo camera which will detect motion or sound.
Trigger
Triggers can be actions that force the trigger device to perform an action. You can adjust the Arlo camera’ sensitivity to triggers to avoid false alarms and notifications. With some models of Arlo cameras like Ultra, Q Plus and Q cameras, you can even specify activity zones.
Devices
If one camera in your house detects motion, or sound, it can act as a trigger for the second Arlo camera in your home. For example, if the camera at your backyard detects motion, the cameras at the front door or main gateway will also start recording activity.
Action
Arlo camera will record videos, or take snapshots whenever the camera detects a trigger . If the camera includes a siren, it will blow off as well.
Notifications
Arlo cameras can notify you about the trigger through mobile notifications or email alerts or both. You can choose to share these emails with friends, or family or anyone you trust.
Whenever you create a new mode, you can add the rules to the trigger, motion or audio settings, actions, recording settings and notifications as per your preference. Login to the my.arlo.com web setup wizard to do that.