Can You Turn Arlo Cameras On and Off Manually A Complete Guide

Yes, you can turn Arlo cameras on and off manually using the Arlo app or the physical button on select models, giving you instant control over recording and privacy. This feature is ideal for conserving battery life or ensuring privacy when needed, though settings may vary slightly depending on your camera model and subscription plan.

Key Takeaways

• Yes, you can manually power Arlo cameras on/off using the sync button or app controls.
• Use the Arlo app for remote manual control of camera status from anywhere.
• Physical sync button toggles power instantly—press and hold for 2 seconds.
• Schedule automatic on/off times to reduce manual adjustments and save battery.
• Disable motion detection manually to pause recordings without powering off.
• Check LED indicators for real-time status to confirm on/off state quickly.

Can You Turn Arlo Cameras On and Off Manually? A Complete Guide

Imagine this: you’re at home, enjoying a quiet evening, when suddenly you hear a noise outside. You check your Arlo camera app and see nothing. Then, just as quickly, it turns on, recording the moment. While this is great for security, you might wonder—can you turn Arlo cameras on and off manually?

If you’re like most smart home users, you value both convenience and control. Arlo cameras are known for their sleek design, easy setup, and advanced features like motion detection and night vision. But one question keeps coming up: Can you manually control when your Arlo camera is on or off? 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 manually turning your Arlo cameras on and off, including the different methods, when they work best, and what limitations you should be aware of. Whether you’re trying to save battery, respect privacy, or just want more control, this guide has you covered.

Understanding Arlo Camera Operation Modes

Before we dive into manual controls, it’s important to understand how Arlo cameras operate. Unlike traditional security cameras that are always on, Arlo devices are designed to be smart and energy-efficient. Most Arlo models, especially battery-powered ones like the Arlo Pro 3, Arlo Ultra, and Arlo Essential, use motion detection as their primary trigger. This means they’re typically in a low-power “sleep” mode and only wake up when motion is detected or a recording is triggered.

Standby vs. Active Mode

Arlo cameras have two main states: standby and active. In standby mode, the camera is powered on but not recording. It’s listening for motion, sound, or a manual trigger. When something happens—like a person walks by—the camera switches to active mode, records a video clip, and sends a notification to your phone. This design helps extend battery life, especially for wireless models.

But here’s the catch: even in standby, the camera is technically “on.” It’s just not actively streaming or recording. This leads many users to ask: Can I completely turn it off? And the answer is nuanced. You can’t just press a physical button on the camera to power it down—unless you’re willing to remove the battery or unplug it (more on that later). However, Arlo offers several software-based ways to control when your camera is active, which we’ll explore in the next sections.

Why Would You Want to Manually Control Your Arlo?

There are several real-life scenarios where manual control makes sense:

• Privacy concerns: You don’t want your camera recording inside your home or during family gatherings.
• Battery conservation: If your camera is in a high-traffic area, it might trigger too often, draining the battery. Manually turning it off during certain hours can help.
• Reducing false alerts: Pets, trees blowing in the wind, or passing cars can trigger unnecessary recordings. Turning the camera off temporarily reduces clutter in your feed.
• Scheduled downtime: Maybe you want your backyard camera off during your kid’s birthday party, but back on at night.

Understanding these needs helps explain why manual control is such a common request—and why Arlo has built multiple ways to achieve it.

How to Manually Turn Arlo Cameras On and Off Using the App

The most user-friendly way to manually control your Arlo camera is through the Arlo app. Available for iOS and Android, the app gives you real-time control over your devices, schedules, and settings. Here’s how to do it step by step.

Step-by-Step: Using the Arlo App

1. Open the Arlo app and log in to your account.
2. Tap on the cameras tab at the bottom.
3. Select the camera you want to control (e.g., “Front Door” or “Backyard”).
4. You’ll see a large thumbnail of the camera’s last recorded image.
5. Tap the power icon (usually looks like a small circle with a line) in the top-right corner.
6. Choose “Turn Off” to disable the camera. It will no longer detect motion or record.
7. To turn it back on, tap the same icon and select “Turn On”.

Pro tip: When you turn off a camera, it stays in standby mode but won’t respond to motion. It will, however, still appear in your app and can be turned back on instantly. This is great for short-term privacy, like when you’re having a backyard BBQ.

Using the Dashboard View for Multiple Cameras

If you have several Arlo cameras, you can control them all at once using the dashboard view. Here’s how:

• Go to the Cameras tab.
• Tap the three dots (menu) in the top-left corner.
• Select “Edit”.
• Now you can toggle each camera on or off using the power icons.
• Tap “Done” when finished.

This is especially useful if you want to disable all outdoor cameras during a storm or turn them off during a party. You don’t have to open each camera individually.

Limitations of App-Based Control

While the app is convenient, it has a few limitations:

• Requires internet and app access: If your phone dies or loses signal, you can’t control the camera remotely.
• No physical button: You can’t turn off the camera from outside your house without your phone.
• No instant “panic” mode: There’s no one-touch button to turn off all cameras in an emergency (though you can use schedules or geofencing as workarounds).

Still, for most users, the app is the go-to method for manual control. It’s fast, reliable, and works across all Arlo models.

Using Schedules to Automate On/Off Times

What if you don’t want to manually turn your camera on and off every time? Arlo’s scheduling feature lets you automate when your camera is active—essentially giving you manual control on a timer.

How to Set Up a Schedule

1. In the Arlo app, tap the cameras tab.
2. Select the camera you want to schedule.
3. Tap the three dots (menu) and choose “Schedule”.
4. Tap “Add Schedule”.
5. Name your schedule (e.g., “Night Security”).
6. Set the start and end times (e.g., 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM).
7. Choose which days the schedule applies (e.g., every day, weekdays only).
8. Tap “Save”.

Once saved, the camera will automatically turn on at the start time and off at the end time. You can create multiple schedules for different times of the day or week.

Practical Examples of Scheduling

• Front door camera: Schedule it to turn off from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays when you’re at work and your kids are at school. This reduces false alerts from delivery drivers or neighbors.
• Backyard camera: Turn it off during your weekly family game night (7:00 PM to 9:00 PM) to protect privacy.
• Garage camera: Keep it on only at night (10:00 PM to 6:00 AM) when the garage is most vulnerable.

Advanced Scheduling Tips

• Use “Away” mode: When you arm your system to “Away,” Arlo can automatically enable all cameras based on your schedule.
• Combine with geofencing: Set your cameras to turn on when you leave home and off when you return (see next section).
• Overlap schedules: You can have multiple schedules active at once. For example, a daily nighttime schedule and a weekly weekend schedule.

Scheduling is one of Arlo’s most powerful features for manual control—without the manual work. It’s perfect for people who want consistent privacy or battery savings.

Using Geofencing for Location-Based Control

Geofencing uses your smartphone’s GPS to detect when you leave or arrive home. Arlo can use this data to automatically turn cameras on or off based on your location. It’s like having a smart home that knows when you’re home—without you lifting a finger.

How to Set Up Geofencing

1. In the Arlo app, go to Settings (gear icon).
2. Tap “Geofencing”.
3. Enable “Use My Location”.
4. Set your home radius (e.g., 100 meters). This defines the area around your home that counts as “home.”
5. Choose what happens when you leave and return:
   • When I leave: Arm system (turn on all cameras).
   • When I arrive: Disarm system (turn off all cameras).
6. Tap “Save”.

Real-World Use Case

Let’s say you leave for work at 8:00 AM. As your phone moves outside your home radius, Arlo detects your departure and automatically turns on all cameras. When you return at 5:30 PM, the system disarms and turns them off. This is ideal for people who want full security when away but privacy when home—all without opening the app.

Pros and Cons of Geofencing

Pros	Cons
Fully automatic—no manual input needed	Relies on your phone’s GPS and battery
Great for consistent routines	May not work well in areas with poor GPS signal
Can be combined with schedules for extra control	Can cause delays if your phone is slow to detect location changes
Works with all Arlo systems	Not ideal for households with multiple people (only tracks the primary user)

Geofencing is a smart compromise between full manual control and automation. It’s not perfect, but for many users, it’s the best of both worlds.

Physical Methods: Turning Arlo Off Without the App

What if your phone dies, the app crashes, or you just want a quick, physical way to turn off your camera? Arlo doesn’t have a built-in power button, but there are a few physical workarounds you can use.

Method 1: Remove the Battery (Battery-Powered Cameras)

This is the most direct way to turn off a wireless Arlo camera. Simply:

• Unscrew the camera’s back panel (if needed).
• Remove the battery.
• The camera will power down completely.

Note: This method works for Arlo Pro, Arlo Essential, Arlo Ultra, and other battery-powered models. It’s great for long-term downtime (e.g., during vacations), but not ideal for quick privacy breaks—because you have to physically access the camera.

Method 2: Unplug the Power (Wired or Plug-In Cameras)

For Arlo models that use a power adapter (like the Arlo Pro 4 or Arlo Essential Wired), you can:

• Unplug the power adapter from the wall or camera.
• The camera will shut off immediately.

This is faster than removing a battery and works well for indoor cameras. Just remember to plug it back in when you’re done.

Method 3: Use a Smart Plug (Advanced Option)

If you have a plug-in Arlo camera, you can plug it into a smart plug (like TP-Link Kasa or Wemo). Then:

• Control the smart plug via an app or voice assistant.
• Turning off the plug cuts power to the camera.
• You can schedule the plug or turn it off remotely.

This gives you app-like control with physical results. It’s a bit more setup, but very effective for wired models.

When Physical Methods Are Best

• You’re going on vacation and want to ensure no recordings happen.
• The app isn’t working, and you need an emergency shutdown.
• You want to do a full reset of the camera (removing power can help clear glitches).

Just remember: physical methods are less convenient than app controls, but they’re reliable when technology fails.

Best Practices for Manual Control: Tips from Real Users

After years of using Arlo cameras, I’ve learned a few tricks to get the most out of manual control. Here are my top tips—straight from real-life experience.

1. Combine Methods for Maximum Control

Don’t rely on just one method. For example:

• Use schedules for nightly security.
• Use geofencing when you leave for work.
• Use the app for quick privacy breaks (like during a Zoom call).

This layered approach gives you flexibility and peace of mind.

2. Label Your Cameras Clearly

It’s easy to forget which camera is which when you have several. In the app, rename them to something specific: “Front Porch,” “Backyard Gate,” “Garage Door.” This makes manual control faster and less confusing.

3. Test Your Settings Regularly

Technology changes. Your routine changes. Every few months, test your schedules, geofencing, and app controls to make sure they’re still working as expected. I once had a geofence fail because my phone’s battery was low—now I check it monthly.

4. Use “Do Not Disturb” for Temporary Privacy

If you don’t want to turn off the camera completely, use the “Do Not Disturb” feature. It stops notifications and recordings for a set time (e.g., 1 hour). It’s a softer way to pause without fully disabling the camera.

5. Keep a Backup Plan

Always have a physical method ready (like a smart plug or battery removal) in case the app fails. You’ll thank yourself during a power outage or app glitch.

Manual control isn’t just about turning cameras on and off—it’s about feeling in control of your smart home. With the right mix of tools and habits, you can enjoy Arlo’s security without sacrificing privacy or convenience.

So, can you turn Arlo cameras on and off manually? Absolutely. Whether you use the app, schedules, geofencing, or physical methods, Arlo gives you multiple ways to take charge. The key is choosing the method that fits your lifestyle. Whether you’re a busy parent, a privacy-conscious homeowner, or just someone who hates false alarms, there’s a solution for you. And now that you know all the options, you can use your Arlo cameras exactly how you want—when you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you turn Arlo cameras on and off manually?

Yes, you can turn Arlo cameras on and off manually using the Arlo app or the physical button on certain models. This allows you to control recording and motion detection without adjusting automation settings.

How do I manually disable my Arlo camera’s motion detection?

Open the Arlo app, select your camera, and toggle “Motion Detection” off. This temporarily stops alerts and recordings until you manually re-enable it.

Is there a way to turn off Arlo cameras without using the app?

Some Arlo models (like Pro 3 and Ultra) have a physical button to disable the camera temporarily. Press and hold the sync button for 2 seconds to toggle power—ideal for quick privacy needs.

Can you schedule manual on/off times for Arlo cameras?

While true manual control is instant, you can create schedules in the “Mode” settings to automate on/off times. This mimics manual control but follows a set routine.

Does turning off an Arlo camera stop cloud recording?

Yes, disabling the camera via the app or button halts all cloud recordings and live streaming. Local storage (if enabled) will also pause until the camera is turned back on.

Why would you want to turn Arlo cameras on and off manually?

Manual control helps conserve battery life (wireless models), ensure privacy in sensitive areas, or temporarily stop recording during events. It’s a flexible option for dynamic home security needs.