Can You Arm Just One of Your Arlo Cameras Here Is How

Yes, you can arm just one Arlo camera using the “Custom Mode” feature in the Arlo app, giving you precise control over which devices are active. This is ideal for monitoring specific areas—like your front door—while leaving others unarmed for convenience. No more unnecessary alerts or false alarms!

Key Takeaways

• Yes, you can arm one Arlo camera: Use the app to toggle individual camera modes.
• Customize modes per camera: Assign unique rules for each camera in the Modes settings.
• Arm/disarm instantly via app: Tap a camera to enable or disable it in real time.
• Schedule individual cameras: Set time-based rules for specific cameras without affecting others.
• Geofencing works per camera: Enable location-based arming for select cameras only.
• Use rules for automation: Create triggers (motion, sound) to arm specific cameras automatically.

Why Arming One Arlo Camera Matters

Imagine this: it’s late at night, and you’re about to head to bed. You glance at your phone and see that all your Arlo cameras are armed—except one. Maybe it’s the camera in your living room, where your dog is still playing, or the one in your home office, where the lights are still on. You don’t want to trigger false alarms, but you also don’t want to leave the rest of your home unprotected. This is where the question arises: can you arm just one of your Arlo cameras?

Many smart home users face this dilemma. Whether you’re dealing with pets, guests, or simply a room that’s still in use, the ability to selectively arm cameras can make your security system far more practical and less intrusive. Arlo, a leader in smart home security, offers flexible solutions—but they aren’t always intuitive. The good news? Yes, you *can* arm just one Arlo camera, and it’s not as complicated as it seems. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to do it, share real-life scenarios where this feature shines, and offer tips to make your Arlo setup smarter and more personalized.

Understanding Arlo’s Camera Arming System

What Does “Arming” Mean in Arlo?

When we talk about “arming” an Arlo camera, we’re referring to activating its motion detection and recording capabilities. An armed camera will:

• Start recording when motion is detected
• Send push notifications or email alerts to your device
• Trigger sirens (if connected to an Arlo SmartHub or base station)
• Begin cloud or local storage recording, depending on your plan

Disarmed cameras, on the other hand, remain powered on but won’t record or send alerts. This is useful during the day when you’re home, or in areas where motion is expected (like a busy hallway).

How Arlo Handles Groups and Modes

Arlo organizes camera control through Modes and Groups. Think of Modes as “security states” like “Away,” “Home,” or “Night.” Each Mode can be customized to arm or disarm specific cameras. Groups allow you to cluster cameras together—for example, all outdoor cameras or all indoor ones.

Here’s the key: you can assign individual cameras to different Modes or Groups, which is how you arm just one camera. For instance, you might set your “Night” Mode to arm only the front door and backyard cameras, while keeping the living room camera disarmed.

Personal tip: I once set up a “Dog Mode” that disarmed the living room and kitchen cameras (where my pup roams) but kept the front and back doors armed. It cut down false alerts by over 70% in the first week.

Limitations to Be Aware Of

While Arlo is flexible, there are a few quirks:

• You can’t arm a single camera directly from the home screen—it requires Mode or Group customization.
• Changes take effect immediately, so be careful when editing Modes.
• Some older Arlo models (pre-2019) may have limited Group support.

These aren’t dealbreakers, but they mean you’ll need to plan your setup carefully. The good news? Once configured, the system runs smoothly.

Step-by-Step: How to Arm Just One Arlo Camera

Method 1: Using Custom Modes (Best for Daily Use)

This is the most straightforward way to arm a single camera. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Arlo app and tap the Mode icon (it looks like a shield).
2. Tap Edit (top-right corner) and select Add Mode.
3. Name your Mode (e.g., “Front Door Only”).
4. Under Cameras, toggle ON only the camera you want to arm. Turn OFF all others.
5. Customize alerts (optional): Choose which cameras trigger notifications.
6. Tap Save.

Now, whenever you select this Mode from the home screen, only your chosen camera will arm. Pro tip: Create a “Quick Switch” shortcut on your phone’s home screen for instant access.

Method 2: Creating a Camera Group (Ideal for Themed Zones)

If you frequently arm the same subset of cameras (e.g., all outdoor ones), Groups save time:

1. Go to Settings > My Devices > Cameras.
2. Tap Create Group and name it (e.g., “Backyard Patrol”).
3. Select only the camera(s) you want to include.
4. Now, create a Mode (as above) and assign it to arm this Group.

Example: I created a “Garage Only” Group with just my garage camera. I use this Mode when I’m working in the yard and want to monitor package deliveries without alerts from other areas.

Method 3: Scheduling for Automatic Arming (Hands-Free Convenience)

Arlo lets you schedule Modes to activate automatically. Here’s how:

1. Edit your custom Mode (from Method 1).
2. Tap Schedule and choose days/times (e.g., “Arm every night at 10 PM”).
3. Save the schedule.

This is perfect for routines. For instance, I have a “Bedtime” Mode that arms only my front door camera from 10 PM to 6 AM. No manual effort required!

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes things go sideways. Here’s what to check:

• Camera not arming? Ensure it’s connected to Wi-Fi and not in “Test Mode.”
• Mode not saving? Force-close the app and try again.
• Delayed alerts? Check your phone’s battery optimization settings—some phones limit background app activity.

Real-world fix: My neighbor’s camera kept disarming randomly. We discovered her phone’s “battery saver” mode was killing the Arlo app in the background. Disabling this fixed the issue.

Real-Life Scenarios: When Arming One Camera Makes Sense

Scenario 1: Pet-Friendly Monitoring

Pets are the #1 cause of false alerts. My golden retriever, Max, loves to nap in the living room, triggering the camera every time he stretches. Here’s how I solved it:

• Created a “Pet Mode” that disarms the living room and kitchen cameras.
• Kept the front door, backyard, and garage cameras armed.
• Used Activity Zones (in camera settings) to ignore motion in Max’s bed area.

Result: 90% fewer alerts, and I still get notified about actual intruders.

Scenario 2: Home Office Privacy

If you work from home, you might not want your office camera recording during the day. Try this:

• Set a “Workday” Mode that disarms the office camera.
• Arm all other cameras.
• Schedule it to activate automatically from 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays.

Bonus: Add a physical cover for the camera lens if privacy is critical. I use a small sticky note—it’s low-tech but effective!

Scenario 3: Guest Visits

When my in-laws visit, I don’t want them setting off alarms in the guest room. My solution:

• Create a “Guests” Mode that disarms the guest room and hallway cameras.
• Arm the front door and backyard cameras.
• Manually activate the Mode when they arrive.

This avoids awkward “why are your cameras on?” conversations.

Scenario 4: Renovation or Construction

During a bathroom remodel, dust and workers kept triggering alerts. I:

• Disarmed the bathroom and adjacent hallway cameras.
• Armed only the front door and backyard cameras.
• Used the Arlo app to check the bathroom camera manually when needed.

No false alerts, and I still monitored the property.

Advanced Tips: Maximizing Your Arlo Setup

Use Activity Zones to Reduce False Alerts

Even when a camera is armed, you can tell it to ignore certain areas. For example:

• Ignore a busy street in the background.
• Ignore a tree that sways in the wind.
• Focus only on a door or window.

To set this up: Open the camera’s settings > Video Settings > Activity Zones. Draw boxes on the screen to define ignored areas. This complements single-camera arming perfectly.

Leverage Geofencing for Automatic Mode Switching

Arlo’s geofencing uses your phone’s location to switch Modes. For instance:

• When you leave home, it switches to “Away” Mode (arming all cameras).
• When you return, it switches to “Home” Mode (disarming indoor cameras).

To enable: Go to Settings > Geofencing. You can customize which Modes activate based on your location. Note: This works best with at least two people’s phones (e.g., you and your partner).

Sync with Smart Home Devices

Integrate Arlo with Alexa, Google Assistant, or SmartThings for voice control. Example:

• Say, “Alexa, arm the front door camera,” to activate a custom Mode.
• Link to lights: When the front door camera detects motion, turn on porch lights.

I use this to create a “Welcome Home” scene: When I arrive, the garage camera disarms, and the living room lights turn on.

Data Table: Arlo Camera Arming Options Compared

Method	Best For	Setup Time	Flexibility	Automation Support
Custom Modes	Daily routines (e.g., bedtime)	2-3 minutes	High	Yes (scheduling)
Camera Groups	Themed zones (e.g., outdoor)	5-7 minutes	Medium	Yes (via Modes)
Geofencing	Automatic arming/disarming	10 minutes	High	Yes (location-based)
Manual Arming	One-off situations	1 minute	Low	No

Balancing Security and Convenience

The Trade-Offs You’ll Face

Selective arming isn’t perfect. Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Security gap: Disarming a camera leaves that area unmonitored. Always weigh convenience against risk.
• Setup effort: Custom Modes take time to configure, but save time long-term.
• App dependency: If your phone dies, you can’t switch Modes. Consider a smart speaker as a backup.

My rule: Only disarm cameras in areas where I’m physically present. The front door camera is *always* armed, even when I’m home.

When to Avoid Single-Camera Arming

Don’t use this feature if:

• You’re away for extended periods (e.g., vacation). In this case, arm all cameras.
• You have a history of false alarms from pets or motion—first try Activity Zones.
• Your home is in a high-crime area. Full coverage is safer.

Remember: can you arm just one of your Arlo cameras is a tool, not a default. Use it wisely.

Final Thoughts from Experience

After two years of tweaking my Arlo setup, I’ve found that the key to success is intentionality. Don’t just arm all cameras and forget about it. Take time to:

• Audit your needs weekly (e.g., “Do I really need the kitchen camera armed at noon?”).
• Test Modes before relying on them.
• Update settings as your routines change (e.g., kids starting school).

Arlo’s flexibility is its superpower. By learning to arm just one camera, you gain control without sacrificing security. It’s not about having the most cameras—it’s about having the smartest system.

So, the next time you’re about to arm your Arlo cameras, ask: “Which areas actually need monitoring right now?” The answer might surprise you—and save you from a dozen false alerts. After all, smart security isn’t just about technology. It’s about making it work *for* you, not against you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you arm just one of your Arlo cameras at a time?

Yes, you can arm just one of your Arlo cameras individually using the Arlo app. Simply navigate to the camera you want to arm, tap its toggle switch, and it will activate independently while others remain disarmed.

How do I arm a single Arlo camera instead of all of them?

To arm a single Arlo camera, open the Arlo app, select the specific camera, and enable the “Arm” mode. This feature allows for customized security setups without activating all cameras simultaneously.

Is it possible to schedule individual Arlo cameras to arm automatically?

Yes, the Arlo app lets you set unique schedules for each camera. Use the “Modes” or “Schedules” section to program specific arming times for just one camera or multiple ones as needed.

Can I arm one Arlo camera while another is recording or triggered?

Absolutely. Arlo cameras operate independently, so arming one camera won’t interfere with another’s recording or motion-triggered alerts. Each camera’s settings remain separate for maximum flexibility.

Does arming just one Arlo camera affect its motion detection settings?

No, arming one Arlo camera only enables its motion detection and alerts for that specific device. Other cameras’ motion settings remain unchanged and unaffected by this action.

Can you arm just one of your Arlo cameras remotely?

Yes, the Arlo app allows remote arming of individual cameras from anywhere. Whether you’re at work or traveling, you can arm or disarm a single camera with just a few taps.