Can I Connect to Other People Using My Arlo Camera Explained

Yes, you can connect and share access to your Arlo camera with other people using the Arlo app’s user invitation feature. This allows trusted family members or roommates to view live feeds, receive alerts, and manage settings—all while you control permissions. Sharing is secure and customizable, ensuring privacy without sacrificing convenience.

Key Takeaways

• Enable sharing: Use Arlo app to grant secure access to family or trusted users.
• Guest access: Create temporary links for limited-time camera sharing with visitors.
• Multi-user setup: Add users via email for simultaneous live view and alerts.
• Privacy first: Always revoke access immediately when sharing is no longer needed.
• No public links: Arlo prohibits open sharing to protect your camera’s security.
• Two-factor authentication: Strengthen account security before sharing access with others.

Understanding Arlo Camera Connectivity: What You Need to Know

So, you’ve got your Arlo camera set up—maybe it’s perched on your porch, overlooking the backyard, or watching over the garage. You love the peace of mind it brings, but now you’re wondering: Can I connect to other people using my Arlo camera? It’s a great question, and one I’ve asked myself after setting up my own system. Whether it’s sharing access with family, letting a neighbor keep an eye on your place while you’re away, or even setting up temporary access for a pet sitter, the idea of sharing your camera’s view is both practical and appealing. But how exactly does it work with Arlo?

Arlo cameras are designed with flexibility in mind, but there are some important details about connectivity and sharing that aren’t always obvious at first glance. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know—from the basics of how Arlo handles user access, to the nitty-gritty of sharing features, security considerations, and even some real-world scenarios where sharing your camera makes sense. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to connect others to your Arlo system, when it’s safe to do so, and how to avoid common pitfalls along the way.

How Arlo Handles User Access and Sharing

When you first set up your Arlo camera, you create an account and become the “owner” of that system. But Arlo doesn’t limit you to just one user—far from it. The platform is built to support multiple users, which makes it perfect for families, roommates, or even small businesses. But how does this work in practice?

Primary Account vs. Shared Access

The primary account (yours) has full control: you can add cameras, change settings, manage recordings, and invite others. Shared users, on the other hand, get limited access based on what you allow. Think of it like being the landlord versus a tenant—you own the property, but you can let someone else use a room (or in this case, a camera).

When you invite someone, Arlo sends them an email with a link. They’ll need to create an Arlo account (or log in to their existing one), and once accepted, they’ll see your cameras in their app. The level of access depends on the permission level you set—more on that in a moment.

Permission Levels: What Can Shared Users Do?

Arlo offers two main permission levels:

• Viewer: Can view live streams, watch recorded clips, and receive alerts (if enabled). Cannot change settings, delete videos, or add new cameras.
• Editor: Can do everything a Viewer can, plus delete videos, adjust motion zones, and change some camera settings. Still can’t add new cameras or remove existing ones.

For example, if you’re going on vacation and want your neighbor to check in on your house, giving them Viewer access lets them see what’s happening without risking accidental changes to your system. But if you want your spouse to help manage the cameras, Editor might be the better choice.

Real-World Example: Sharing with Family

Let’s say you live with your parents and kids. You set up a camera in the backyard for safety. You can invite your spouse as an Editor so they can tweak motion zones if the dog keeps triggering alerts. Your parents get Viewer access so they can check in when they’re babysitting. And your teen gets Viewer access too—but only for the front door camera, not the one in the bedroom (because privacy matters!).

This kind of granular control is one of Arlo’s biggest strengths. It lets you share access without giving away the keys to the kingdom.

Step-by-Step: How to Share Your Arlo Camera with Others

Now that you understand the basics, let’s walk through how to actually share your Arlo camera with someone else. The process is straightforward, but there are a few things to keep in mind to make it smooth and secure.

Inviting Someone via the Arlo App

1. Open the Arlo app and tap the Settings icon (usually a gear symbol).
2. Select Account, then Share Access.
3. Tap Invite User and enter the email address of the person you want to share with.
4. Choose their permission level: Viewer or Editor.
5. Tap Send Invite.

The person will get an email with a link. Once they accept and log in, your cameras will appear in their Arlo app under “Shared Cameras.”

Tips for a Smooth Sharing Experience

• Use the right email: Make sure it’s the email they use for Arlo (or will use). If they already have an Arlo account, it must match.
• Set expectations: Tell them what they can and can’t do. For example, “You’ll get alerts if someone’s at the door, but please don’t delete any videos unless it’s an obvious false alarm.”
• Test it together: Have them open the app while you’re on the phone or video call. Walk them through how to view live streams and check recordings.
• Use temporary access: If it’s a one-time thing (like a dog walker), you can revoke access later. More on that below.

Revoking Access When Needed

What if you change your mind? Maybe the neighbor isn’t checking in like you hoped, or the pet sitter is gone now. No problem—you can remove their access anytime.

1. Go to Settings > Account > Share Access.
2. Find their name and tap the trash icon or “Remove” button.
3. Confirm the removal.

Once removed, they’ll no longer see your cameras in their app. This is great for temporary situations or if you just want to clean up old invites.

Common Issues and How to Fix Them

• “They never got the email”: Check spam/junk folders. Resend the invite if needed.
• “They can’t see my cameras”: Make sure they’re logged in with the correct email. Sometimes people have multiple Arlo accounts.
• “I accidentally gave Editor access”: You can edit their permission level anytime. Just go to Share Access, tap their name, and change it to Viewer.

Security and Privacy: Can I Safely Share My Arlo Camera?

Sharing your camera sounds great, but what about privacy? After all, these cameras are watching your home—your space, your family, your life. It’s natural to worry about who’s seeing what. So, let’s talk about how Arlo protects your data and what you can do to stay safe.

End-to-End Encryption and Data Protection

Arlo uses strong encryption for video feeds and recordings. When you stream live footage or save clips to the cloud, they’re encrypted both in transit (between the camera and Arlo’s servers) and at rest (stored on their servers). This means even if someone intercepted the data, they couldn’t view it without the proper decryption keys.

However, once someone has access to your account—whether through sharing or if their device is compromised—they can see your cameras. That’s why it’s critical to only share with people you trust.

Best Practices for Secure Sharing

• Limit access to essential cameras: Don’t share every camera by default. For example, if you’re sharing with a neighbor, maybe only give them access to the front door and driveway cameras—not the ones inside your home.
• Use Viewer access unless you need more: The less control someone has, the less risk they pose. If they only need to watch, don’t give them Editor rights.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security to your account. Even if someone guesses your password, they’ll need a code from your phone to log in.
• Monitor activity logs: Arlo doesn’t show a detailed log of who watched what, but you can see when cameras were accessed. If something feels off, investigate.
• Change your password regularly: Especially if you’ve shared access with someone who no longer needs it.

Real-World Privacy Scenario: Sharing with a Babysitter

Imagine you’re hiring a new babysitter and want to share access to the living room camera (not the bedroom ones). You set them up as a Viewer, but you also:

• Tell them they’ll get alerts if the camera detects motion after bedtime.
• Show them how to view live streams, but remind them not to watch unnecessarily.
• Revoke access after the job is done.

This keeps your kids safe while respecting everyone’s privacy. It’s a balance, and Arlo gives you the tools to strike it.

Advanced Sharing: Group Accounts and Business Use

So far, we’ve focused on sharing with individuals. But what if you need more structure—like for a small business, a community group, or a multi-family home? Arlo has solutions for that too.

Arlo Secure: The Business-Friendly Option

Arlo Secure is a subscription plan that adds advanced features like:

• User roles: More granular control (e.g., “Manager” vs. “Staff”).
• Activity logs: Track who accessed which camera and when.
• Custom permissions: For example, let a security guard view cameras but not delete videos.

This is ideal for businesses, rental properties, or HOAs (Homeowners Associations) where you need to manage multiple users with different levels of responsibility.

Example: Managing a Rental Property

Say you own a duplex and want to share access with your tenants and maintenance staff:

• Tenant A: Viewer access to their unit’s cameras.
• Tenant B: Viewer access to their unit’s cameras.
• Maintenance team: Editor access to all outdoor cameras (so they can check for damage) but not indoor ones.

With Arlo Secure, you can set this up clearly and track who does what. Without it, you’d have to manually manage invites and hope nothing gets mixed up.

Community Sharing: Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Some neighborhoods set up “watch groups” where residents share access to their outdoor cameras. For example:

• Camera 1: Front yard, faces the street.
• Camera 2: Back alley, shared with two neighbors.
• Camera 3: Driveway, visible from across the street.

Everyone gets Viewer access to all three, creating a network of eyes. This can deter crime and help solve issues (like package theft). But—and this is important—you must get consent from everyone involved and respect local privacy laws.

Limitations and Alternatives: When Arlo Sharing Isn’t Enough

Arlo’s sharing features are powerful, but they’re not perfect. There are some limitations and edge cases where you might need to think outside the box.

What Arlo Can’t Do (Yet)

• No time-limited access: You can’t say, “This person can only access the camera for 2 hours.” You have to manually revoke access.
• No geofencing for shared users: Shared users can’t use geofencing (e.g., “Turn on alerts when I leave home”) unless they own the account.
• No camera-specific permissions: You can’t give someone Editor access to Camera 1 and Viewer access to Camera 2. It’s all or nothing for their permission level.

These aren’t dealbreakers, but they’re worth noting if you need very specific control.

Workarounds and Alternatives

If Arlo’s built-in sharing doesn’t meet your needs, here are some options:

• Use a guest Wi-Fi network: If you’re worried about shared users accessing your main network, set up a separate Wi-Fi network just for the Arlo base station. This keeps your home network secure.
• Share via screen recording (temporarily): For one-time events (like a party), record a short clip and share it via text or email instead of giving full access.
• Consider other brands: Some competitors (like Google Nest) offer more granular permissions or time-limited access. If that’s a must-have, it might be worth comparing.

Data Table: Arlo Sharing vs. Competitors

Feature	Arlo	Google Nest	Ring
User Permission Levels	Viewer, Editor	Viewer, Admin, Guest	Viewer, Admin
Camera-Specific Access	No	Yes (with Nest Aware)	No
Time-Limited Access	No	Yes	No
Activity Logs	Basic (Arlo Secure)	Detailed	Basic
End-to-End Encryption	Yes (Arlo Secure)	Yes	Yes

This table shows that while Arlo is competitive, other brands offer more advanced sharing features. But for most home users, Arlo’s balance of ease-of-use and security is just right.

Final Thoughts: Sharing Your Arlo Camera Wisely

So, can you connect to other people using your Arlo camera? Absolutely—and in many cases, you probably should. Sharing access can make your system more useful, whether it’s keeping family in the loop, helping neighbors stay safe, or making life easier when you’re away.

The key is to share wisely. Start with the least amount of access needed (usually Viewer), use strong passwords and 2FA, and don’t be afraid to revoke access when it’s no longer necessary. Think of it like lending a friend a spare key—you trust them, but you still want to know where the key is and when to take it back.

Arlo’s sharing tools aren’t perfect, but they’re flexible enough for most situations. And with a little planning, you can enjoy the benefits of shared access without sacrificing your privacy or security. So go ahead—invite that neighbor, set up your family, or even start a neighborhood watch. Just remember: with great camera power comes great responsibility. And now, you’ve got the knowledge to use it well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share access to my Arlo camera with family or friends?

Yes, you can securely share access to your Arlo camera with others using the “Share” feature in the Arlo app. Invitees will need an Arlo account and can view live feeds or recorded clips based on your permissions.

How do I connect to other people using my Arlo camera for shared monitoring?

To connect to other people using your Arlo camera, go to Settings > Grant Access in the Arlo app. You can customize their permissions (e.g., live viewing or motion alerts) to keep your system secure.

Can multiple users view my Arlo camera feed simultaneously?

Yes, multiple users can view the same Arlo camera feed at once if they’ve been granted access. This is ideal for households or teams needing real-time monitoring.

Is it safe to connect to other people using my Arlo camera?

Arlo uses end-to-end encryption and requires verified accounts for sharing, ensuring your camera feed remains secure. Always review permissions and revoke access when no longer needed.

Can I link my Arlo camera to a neighbor’s system for community monitoring?

While Arlo doesn’t support direct camera linking between accounts, you can manually share access with trusted neighbors. Each person must use their own Arlo app to view the feed.

What happens if someone I shared my Arlo camera with loses their device?

If a shared user loses their device, revoke their access immediately via the Arlo app under Settings > Grant Access. This prevents unauthorized use of your camera feed.