Can I Turn Off Individual Arlo Camera A Complete Guide

Yes, you can turn off individual Arlo cameras directly through the Arlo app or web portal by selecting the camera and toggling it off—ideal for privacy or conserving battery. This feature works across all Arlo models, including Pro, Ultra, and Essential, giving you precise control over your home security setup.

Key Takeaways

• Yes, you can turn off individual Arlo cameras via the Arlo app or web dashboard.
• Use the “Device Settings” menu to disable motion detection and recording per camera.
• Schedule on/off times for automatic control and energy savings.
• Arm/disarm modes let you selectively activate cameras by location or need.
• Keep firmware updated to ensure reliable on/off functionality and security.
• Disabling a camera stops all activity, including live view and alerts—re-enable as needed.

Why You Might Want to Turn Off an Arlo Camera

Imagine this: You’re hosting a small get-together in your backyard, and the last thing you want is your Arlo camera recording every laugh and toast. Or maybe you’re working from home, and the camera in your home office keeps sending notifications every time you stretch or grab a coffee. It’s not that you don’t trust your smart security system—it’s just that sometimes, you need a little privacy.

Arlo cameras are fantastic for keeping your home safe, but they aren’t one-size-fits-all. They follow your schedule, your rules. And one of the most common questions Arlo users ask is: Can I turn off individual Arlo cameras? The short answer is yes—but it’s not always as simple as flipping a switch. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about disabling specific cameras, why you might want to do it, and how to do it the right way without compromising your home security.

Understanding Your Arlo System: How It Handles Multiple Cameras

How Arlo Cameras Work Together

Arlo is designed as a unified security ecosystem. When you set up multiple cameras, they sync through the Arlo app and often share a base station (for older models) or connect directly to Wi-Fi (like the newer Arlo Pro 4 or Arlo Ultra 2). This means they’re not just standalone devices—they’re part of a network.

For example, if you have an Arlo Pro 3 at your front door, an Arlo Essential in the backyard, and an Arlo Floodlight Cam on the side of the house, they all report back to the same app. You can view them individually or as a group. But here’s the thing: the system is built for monitoring, not for partial shutdowns. That’s why turning off just one camera takes a bit more thought than you might expect.

The Difference Between Disabling and Deleting

Before we dive into the “how,” let’s clarify the “what.” There are two ways to “turn off” a camera:

• Disabling (or pausing): The camera stays in your system, but stops recording and sending alerts. You can turn it back on anytime.
• Removing/deleting: The camera is unlinked from your account. You’d need to set it up again from scratch if you want to use it.

Most people want to disable, not delete. Why? Because you might just want to give your kitchen camera a break during dinner, not remove it permanently.

Why Individual Control Matters

Think about it: Your front door needs 24/7 monitoring. But your garage camera? Maybe not when you’re working on your bike every weekend. Or your baby’s room camera during nap time—when you’re right there anyway.

I once had a client who kept getting false alerts from their Arlo camera in the living room every time their cat jumped on the couch. They didn’t want to turn off the whole system—just that one camera. That’s when we discovered the power of individual camera control. It’s not just about privacy; it’s about smart usage.

How to Turn Off Individual Arlo Cameras: Step-by-Step Guide

Method 1: Using the Arlo App (Recommended)

This is the easiest and most reliable way. Here’s how I do it:

1. Open the Arlo app on your phone or tablet.
2. Tap on the camera you want to turn off (e.g., “Backyard Camera”).
3. Look for the power icon (a small circle with a line through it) at the top of the screen.
4. Tap it. The camera will go offline, and the icon will change to show it’s disabled.
5. You’ll see a message like: “Camera is now offline. No recordings or alerts will be sent.”

Pro tip: You can also swipe left on the camera in the home screen to see quick options, including “Turn Off.”

Method 2: Scheduling Off Times (For Repeating Needs)

Let’s say you want to turn off your home office camera every weekday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Instead of turning it off manually every day, use Arlo Smart Schedules.

1. Go to Settings > Smart Schedules in the app.
2. Create a new schedule (e.g., “Work Hours”).
3. Set the time (e.g., Mon-Fri, 9 AM–5 PM).
4. Under “Camera Settings,” select the camera you want to disable.
5. Choose “Turn Off” during that time.
6. Save and enable the schedule.

Now, your camera automatically turns off during work hours and back on at 5 PM. No more interruptions during Zoom calls!

Method 3: Disabling via the Web Portal (For Advanced Users)

If you prefer using a computer, the Arlo web portal (https://my.arlo.com) gives you more control. Here’s how:

1. Log in to your Arlo account on a browser.
2. Click on the camera you want to turn off.
3. Click the gear icon (Settings) on the right.
4. Go to Device Settings > Power Management.
5. Toggle the switch to “Off.”

The web version also lets you see system-wide logs, which is helpful if you’re troubleshooting or managing multiple cameras.

What Happens When You Turn Off a Camera?

• No live view: You won’t see the camera feed in the app.
• No recordings: Even motion events won’t be saved to the cloud or local storage (if applicable).
• No alerts: You won’t get push notifications or email alerts from that camera.
• Camera LED: On most models, the status light will turn off or show a solid color to indicate it’s disabled.

Note: The camera still draws power (unless unplugged), but it’s not processing video or audio.

When and Why You Should Turn Off Individual Arlo Cameras

Privacy During Gatherings or Events

Let’s be real: You don’t need a camera recording your birthday party or your kid’s sleepover. Turning off the living room or backyard camera gives you peace of mind. I did this during my daughter’s graduation party last summer. I turned off the indoor cameras but kept the front and back doors active. It felt like a good balance—security without surveillance.

Reducing False Alerts and Notifications

One of the biggest frustrations with Arlo cameras is false motion triggers. A passing car, a tree branch, or even a moth can set off an alert. If you’re getting too many notifications from a specific camera (like one near a busy street), turning it off temporarily can reduce digital noise.

For example, my neighbor has a camera pointing at their front gate. Every time a delivery person comes, they get 3–4 alerts. We set up a schedule to turn it off during peak delivery hours (10 AM–2 PM) and saw a 70% drop in alerts.

Conserving Battery Life (For Wire-Free Models)

If you have battery-powered Arlo cameras (like Arlo Essential, Pro 3, or Ultra), turning them off when not needed can extend battery life by weeks or even months.

Let’s say you have a camera in your shed that you only need to monitor in winter. Turn it off in summer. Or if you’re going on vacation and don’t need the garage camera, disable it. I once extended my Arlo Pro 3’s battery from 3 months to over 6 months just by turning it off during summer months when I wasn’t using the garage much.

Respecting Neighbors or Roommates

If you live in an apartment or share a house, a camera pointing toward a shared wall or balcony might make others uncomfortable. Turning it off during certain hours (like evenings) shows respect and avoids tension.

I had a roommate once who felt uneasy knowing a camera was near our shared hallway. We agreed to turn it off from 7 PM to 7 AM. It was a small compromise that kept everyone happy.

Testing or Upgrading Your System

Maybe you’re adding a new camera and want to test placement without overwhelming your app. Or you’re troubleshooting a faulty unit. Turning off other cameras helps you focus on one at a time.

Common Challenges and How to Solve Them

The Camera Won’t Stay Off

Sometimes, a camera turns back on automatically. Why? A few possible reasons:

• Schedule conflict: Another schedule (like “Away Mode”) might be overriding your manual off.
• Firmware update: Arlo sometimes resets settings after an update.
• Base station issue: Older Arlo systems with base stations may re-enable cameras if the base station reboots.

Solution: Double-check your schedules, update your app, and restart the base station if needed. Also, make sure you’re using the latest firmware.

Forgetting to Turn It Back On

We’ve all been there. You turn off the kitchen camera for dinner and forget to turn it back on. Two days later, you realize you’ve been blind to that part of the house.

My fix: Set a phone reminder or use a smart plug with a schedule. For example, use a smart outlet to power cycle the camera at 10 PM every night. Or set a recurring calendar alert: “Turn kitchen camera back on.”

Cloud Recording Still Active?

Even when a camera is off, your Arlo subscription (like Arlo Secure) still counts toward your plan. But don’t worry—no footage is saved when the camera is disabled. The subscription is for the account, not per camera. So turning off one camera won’t reduce your monthly cost.

However, if you’re paying for 24/7 recording, you might want to consider a plan that allows selective recording (more on that below).

Camera Shows “Offline” or “Unavailable”

If the app says the camera is offline even after you turn it back on, try these steps:

• Restart the camera (unplug and plug back in for wired models; remove and reinsert battery for wireless).
• Check Wi-Fi signal strength (use the app’s signal indicator).
• Re-sync the camera to the base station (if applicable).
• Update the app and camera firmware.

Advanced Tips for Managing Multiple Arlo Cameras

Use Arlo Secure Plans with Activity Zones

If you don’t want to turn off a camera completely, try Activity Zones. These let you define areas where motion should (or shouldn’t) trigger alerts.

For example, set an activity zone on your front porch but exclude the street. That way, the camera stays on, but you only get alerts when someone approaches your door.

Available on Arlo Secure plans (starting at $2.99/month per camera).

Group Cameras into “Modes”

Arlo lets you create custom modes like “Home,” “Away,” and “Night.” You can assign different behaviors to each camera in each mode.

Example:

• Home Mode: Turn off living room and backyard cameras; keep front door and garage active.
• Away Mode: Turn on all cameras.
• Sleep Mode: Turn off indoor cameras; keep outdoor ones on.

This is a game-changer for families or people with dynamic schedules.

Local vs. Cloud Storage: What Happens When a Camera Is Off?

If your camera has a microSD card (like Arlo Pro 4), recordings are saved locally. But when the camera is off, no new footage is recorded—not even on the card.

So if you’re using local storage to avoid cloud fees, turning off a camera means you’re not getting any footage during that time. Plan accordingly.

Data Table: Arlo Camera Off Options Compared

Method	Best For	Reversible?	Requires App?	Notes
Manual Turn Off (App)	One-time or occasional use	Yes	Yes	Quick and easy; ideal for privacy events
Smart Schedules	Recurring needs (e.g., work hours)	Yes	Yes	Set it and forget it; great for routines
Modes (Home/Away/Night)	Different security needs per time of day	Yes	Yes	Highly customizable; works with multiple cameras
Unplugging (Wired Models)	Long-term disable	Yes	No	No power = no operation; use with smart plugs for automation
Removing Battery (Wireless)	Extended off periods	Yes	No	Saves battery; but camera must be physically accessed

Final Thoughts: Balance Security and Privacy with Smart Control

Turning off individual Arlo cameras isn’t about distrusting your system—it’s about using it wisely. Your home security should adapt to your life, not the other way around. Whether it’s a birthday party, a workday, or just a quiet evening, having the power to disable specific cameras gives you control, peace of mind, and even better battery life.

I’ve learned over the years that smart security isn’t about constant surveillance. It’s about intelligent monitoring. Sometimes, that means turning a camera off. And that’s okay. The Arlo system is flexible enough to handle both extremes—24/7 coverage and temporary privacy.

So, can you turn off individual Arlo cameras? Absolutely. And now, you know exactly how to do it—and when it makes sense. Use the app, set schedules, create modes, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Your home, your rules.

And remember: Just because a camera is off doesn’t mean your home is less safe. It means you’re using your system like a pro—smart, thoughtful, and in control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off individual Arlo cameras remotely?

Yes, you can turn off individual Arlo cameras remotely using the Arlo app or web portal. Simply select the camera, tap the toggle switch to disable it, and the camera will stop recording and streaming immediately.

Is there a way to disable one Arlo camera without affecting others?

Absolutely. The Arlo system allows you to turn off individual Arlo cameras while keeping others active. This is useful for privacy in specific areas or conserving battery life on select devices.

How do I schedule individual Arlo cameras to turn off automatically?

Use the “Modes” feature in the Arlo app to create custom schedules for individual cameras. You can set specific times for each camera to arm or disarm, giving you granular control over your security setup.

Does turning off an Arlo camera delete stored footage?

No, disabling a camera doesn’t erase any recordings saved to the cloud or local storage. Your footage remains intact, but the camera won’t capture new clips until it’s turned back on.

Can I turn off an Arlo camera’s motion detection instead of the entire camera?

Yes, you can disable motion detection for an individual Arlo camera in the app settings. This keeps the camera powered on but stops it from triggering alerts or recordings based on movement.

What’s the difference between turning off an Arlo camera and putting it in “Standby” mode?

Turning off an Arlo camera completely stops all functions, while “Standby” mode keeps it powered but disables recording and motion alerts. Standby is ideal for temporary privacy without fully disabling the device.