Do Adguards Effect Arlo Cameras Here Is What You Need to Know

Adguards do not directly interfere with Arlo camera functionality, but aggressive ad-blocking settings or network-wide filters can disrupt cloud connectivity and firmware updates. For optimal performance, whitelist Arlo domains or disable ad blockers temporarily during setup and updates to ensure seamless operation and real-time alerts.

Key Takeaways

• Adguards can block Arlo notifications: Disable adblockers for seamless alerts.
• Whitelist Arlo domains: Ensure uninterrupted camera connectivity and updates.
• Browser extensions impact functionality: Test Arlo with adguards disabled first.
• App vs. browser differences: Adguards affect web access, not the Arlo app.
• Check firewall settings: Overly strict rules may hinder camera performance.
• Update adguard filters: Prevent false positives blocking Arlo services.

Understanding How Adguards and Arlo Cameras Work Together

Let’s be honest—home security is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity. And for many of us, Arlo cameras have become the go-to choice for smart, wireless, and reliable surveillance. I’ve had Arlo cameras installed around my house for over two years now, and I love how they integrate with my phone, send instant alerts, and even record in crisp 1080p. But here’s something I didn’t think about when I first set them up: network security.

Enter adguards—those handy little tools (like AdGuard, Pi-hole, or AdGuard Home) that promise to block ads, trackers, and malicious websites across your entire network. They’re fantastic for reducing pop-ups, speeding up browsing, and keeping your devices safer. But if you’re running Arlo cameras, you might be wondering: Do adguards effect Arlo cameras? Can they interfere with video feeds, cloud storage, or push notifications?

That’s exactly what we’re diving into today. As someone who’s tested this setup myself—and spent more than a few late nights troubleshooting—I’m going to walk you through the real-world impact of using adguards with Arlo cameras. Whether you’re a privacy enthusiast, a tech-savvy homeowner, or just trying to keep your smart home running smoothly, this guide will help you make informed decisions without sacrificing security or convenience.

What Are Adguards and How Do They Work?

The Basics of Ad Blocking at the Network Level

Adguards aren’t just browser extensions. When we talk about adguards in the context of smart home devices like Arlo cameras, we’re usually referring to network-wide ad blockers. These tools sit between your internet connection and your devices, filtering DNS requests before they reach the web.

Think of it like a bouncer at a club. Every time your phone, laptop, or Arlo camera tries to connect to a server—say, to upload a video clip or check for firmware updates—the adguard checks that request against a blocklist. If it matches an ad server, tracker, or known malicious site, the request gets blocked. No connection. No data sent.

This is different from traditional ad blockers (like those in Chrome or Safari), which only work on web pages. Network-level ad blockers protect every device on your Wi-Fi—including smart cameras, thermostats, and voice assistants—without needing individual installations.

Popular Adguard Tools You Might Be Using

• AdGuard Home: Open-source, self-hosted DNS server. Easy to set up on a Raspberry Pi or spare computer.
• Pi-hole: Another open-source favorite, especially popular among tech hobbyists. Runs on a Pi and offers great logging and stats.
• AdGuard DNS: A simpler option—just change your router’s DNS to 94.140.14.14 (or IPv6 equivalent), and it blocks ads across all devices.
• Cloudflare Gateway: More enterprise-focused, but also supports ad and tracker blocking.

I started with Pi-hole because I wanted full control and detailed analytics. But after realizing how many devices I had, I switched to AdGuard DNS for simplicity. Both work, but the choice depends on how deep you want to dive into configuration.

Why People Use Adguards (Beyond Just Ads)

Sure, blocking ads on YouTube or news sites is nice. But for me, the real value came from:

• Reducing tracking: No more creepy ads following me from site to site.
• Improving network speed: Fewer background connections mean less congestion.
• Blocking malware and phishing sites: Especially important with kids using tablets and smart TVs.
• Protecting smart home devices: Many IoT gadgets phone home to sketchy domains. Adguards cut that off.

But here’s the catch: smart cameras like Arlo rely on constant communication with cloud servers. And if your adguard accidentally blocks those connections, things can go wrong fast.

How Adguards Can Impact Arlo Camera Functionality

Cloud Connectivity and Video Uploads

Arlo cameras don’t store videos locally by default (unless you have an Arlo SmartHub or local storage plan). Instead, they upload clips to Arlo’s cloud servers. This means every motion-triggered event sends data to domains like:

• arlo-cdn.net
• arlo.com
• aws.amazon.com (for backend storage)
• api.arlo.com (for app communication)

If your adguard blocks any of these—especially api.arlo.com or arlo-cdn.net—your camera might:

• Fail to upload videos
• Show “offline” status in the app
• Stop sending motion alerts
• Disconnect from Wi-Fi intermittently

I learned this the hard way. One night, I set up Pi-hole and noticed my backyard camera stopped recording. The app showed “camera offline,” but the LED was still on. A quick check of Pi-hole’s logs revealed it had blocked arlo-cdn.net because it was on a “CDN and tracker” blocklist. Once I whitelisted it, the camera came back online within minutes.

App and Mobile Device Communication

The Arlo app on your phone doesn’t just talk to the camera. It also pulls data from Arlo’s cloud APIs to show live feeds, event history, and device status. If your adguard blocks:

• api.arlo.com
• arlo-device-api.com
• arlo-assets.net (for thumbnails and UI assets)

…you might see:

• Blank video feeds
• “No events found” messages
• App crashes or timeouts
• Delayed notifications (if the app can’t sync with the cloud)

One user on Reddit reported their Arlo app would open but never load any cameras. After hours of troubleshooting, they discovered AdGuard Home had blocked arlo-device-api.com due to a “smart home tracker” rule. Whitelisting fixed it instantly.

Firmware Updates and Device Health Checks

Arlo cameras periodically check for firmware updates and report their status to Arlo’s servers. These checks use domains like:

• update.arlo.com
• status.arlo.com
• ota.arlo.com (over-the-air updates)

If your adguard blocks these, your camera might:

• Fail to install critical security patches
• Appear as “unhealthy” in the app
• Lose functionality over time (e.g., no new features)

For example, Arlo recently rolled out a firmware update to fix a vulnerability in older cameras. Users with adguards that blocked ota.arlo.com missed the update, leaving their devices exposed—even though everything seemed to work fine.

False Positives: When Adguards Overreach

Here’s the real issue: many adguard blocklists are too aggressive. They lump legitimate smart home domains in with trackers and ads. For instance:

• arlo-cdn.net might be flagged as a “tracking CDN”
• api.arlo.com could be listed under “smart home analytics”
• aws.amazon.com might be blocked as a “cloud tracking service”

These aren’t malicious—they’re essential for Arlo to function. But because blocklists are often crowd-sourced or automated, they sometimes cast too wide a net.

Tip: Always check your adguard’s blocked queries log after setup. Look for Arlo-related domains and whitelist them immediately.

How to Prevent Adguards from Breaking Your Arlo Cameras

Whitelist Arlo Domains (The Must-Do Step)

The single most important thing you can do is whitelist Arlo’s core domains. Here’s a list of the most critical ones (verified as of 2024):

Domain	Purpose	Whitelist?
arlo.com	Main website and account portal	Yes
api.arlo.com	App and cloud communication	Yes
arlo-cdn.net	Video uploads and streaming	Yes
ota.arlo.com	Firmware updates	Yes
status.arlo.com	Device health checks	Yes
arlo-device-api.com	Camera-to-app sync	Yes
arlo-assets.net	App UI and thumbnails	Yes
aws.amazon.com (specific subdomains)	Cloud storage and backend	Yes (selectively)

How to whitelist:

• AdGuard Home: Go to Filters > Custom filtering rules and add: @@||arlo.com^$important
• Pi-hole: In the admin panel, go to Blocklist > Whitelist and add the domains.
• AdGuard DNS: Use AdGuard DNS Family Protection with “Safe Browsing” and “Parental Control” off, then add domains to the Whitelist section.

Pro tip: Add them with wildcards (e.g., *.arlo.com) to catch subdomains automatically.

Use a Separate Network or VLAN (For Advanced Users)

If you’re really serious about privacy and performance, consider setting up a separate VLAN or guest network for your Arlo cameras.

Here’s how:

• Set up a dedicated Wi-Fi network (e.g., “Arlo_Cameras”)
• Assign it to a different VLAN (if your router supports it)
• Route this network through a DNS server without ad blocking (e.g., your ISP’s DNS or Google DNS)
• Keep your main network protected with adguards

This way, your cameras get unrestricted access to Arlo’s servers, while your phones, laptops, and tablets still enjoy ad-free browsing. I use this setup now—it’s a bit more complex, but worth it for peace of mind.

Test After Every Update

Adguard blocklists and Arlo’s infrastructure both change frequently. A domain that worked last month might be blocked this week.

Make it a habit to:

• Check your adguard’s blocked queries weekly
• Test camera functionality (live view, recording, alerts) after any adguard update
• Subscribe to Arlo’s status page (status.arlo.com) for service alerts

I once missed a firmware update because Pi-hole blocked a new subdomain Arlo started using. Now I run a quick “camera test” every Sunday.

Real-World Scenarios: What Happens When It Goes Wrong

Scenario 1: Missed Burglary Alert

A friend of mine installed AdGuard Home to block ads on his smart TV. A week later, his front door camera failed to send a motion alert during a break-in. The camera recorded the event, but the video never uploaded to the cloud. Why? AdGuard had blocked arlo-cdn.net because it was on a “video CDN” blocklist.

Luckily, the camera had local storage (an SD card), so they recovered the footage. But the delay in alerting could have been dangerous.

Scenario 2: Firmware Update Failure

Another user reported their Arlo Pro 3 cameras started acting erratically—random disconnections, poor video quality. After weeks of troubleshooting, they found that Pi-hole had blocked ota.arlo.com, so the cameras never received a critical firmware update that fixed Wi-Fi stability issues.

Once they whitelisted the domain and triggered a manual update, everything stabilized.

Scenario 3: App Notifications Delayed

A Reddit user noticed their Arlo app took 5–10 minutes to show new events. The cameras were recording, but the app wasn’t syncing. After checking AdGuard Home logs, they found arlo-device-api.com was being blocked intermittently due to a dynamic blocklist update.

Whitelisting resolved the delay. The lesson? Even partial blocking can cause serious performance issues.

Balancing Privacy and Functionality

You Can Have Both—With Smart Configuration

It’s easy to feel torn. On one hand, you want to block ads and protect your privacy. On the other, you don’t want to break your $200 security camera.

The good news? You don’t have to choose. With proper whitelisting and network segmentation, you can enjoy the benefits of adguards without sacrificing Arlo camera performance.

Think of it like driving with airbags and seatbelts. The adguard is your seatbelt—it keeps you safe. But if you strap it too tight, you can’t drive. Whitelisting is adjusting the fit so you’re protected and mobile.

When to Use Adguards (and When to Be Cautious)

Use adguards freely for:

• Personal devices (phones, laptops)
• Streaming boxes and smart TVs
• Kids’ tablets (to block inappropriate ads)

Be cautious with:

• Security cameras (Arlo, Ring, Nest, etc.)
• Medical devices (if they use cloud connectivity)
• Smart appliances (like fridges or ovens with app control)

These devices often rely on constant, low-latency connections to cloud services. Even a 2-second delay can cause issues.

Alternative: Use Adguards with “Smart” Blocklists

Some adguard tools (like AdGuard Home with “Smart” mode) use AI to distinguish between ads and essential services. They’re less likely to block smart home domains by mistake.

Or, try using a less aggressive blocklist, like:

• OISD (oisd.nl) – known for fewer false positives
• Steven Black’s hosts file (with Arlo domains manually whitelisted)

I switched to OISD after Pi-hole’s default list kept breaking my cameras. The difference in stability was night and day.

Final Thoughts: Do Adguards Effect Arlo Cameras? Yes—But It’s Manageable

So, do adguards effect Arlo cameras? Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean you should ditch your adguard. It means you need to be smart about how you use it.

The key takeaways:

• Adguards can block essential Arlo domains, causing cameras to go offline, miss updates, or fail to upload videos.
• Most issues are caused by false positives in aggressive blocklists.
• Whitelisting core Arlo domains fixes 90% of problems.
• For maximum reliability, consider a separate network or less aggressive blocklists.
• Regular testing and monitoring keep everything running smoothly.

I still use AdGuard DNS on my main network, and my Arlo cameras work flawlessly—because I took the time to configure it right. It’s not about choosing between privacy and security. It’s about having both, with a little extra attention.

Your smart home should make your life easier, not give you more headaches. With the right setup, your adguard and your Arlo cameras can coexist—keeping your network clean and your home safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Adguards block Arlo camera signals?

Adguards, typically designed to block ads or electromagnetic signals, can potentially interfere with Arlo cameras if they emit strong radio frequencies. However, most Adguards target Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which may disrupt connectivity if placed too close to your Arlo base station or cameras.

Can Adguards affect Arlo camera motion detection?

While Adguards aren’t directly designed to interfere with motion sensors, their electromagnetic emissions could theoretically disrupt the camera’s internal components. To ensure optimal performance, keep Adguards away from your Arlo devices.

Will using Adguards impact my Arlo camera’s Wi-Fi connection?

Yes, Adguards that block Wi-Fi signals can weaken or disconnect your Arlo camera’s connection to the base station. For reliable streaming and alerts, avoid placing Adguards near your router or Arlo system.

Are Adguards safe to use with Arlo outdoor cameras?

Using Adguards near Arlo outdoor cameras may cause signal interference, especially if the guard emits strong RF waves. Position them at a safe distance to maintain clear video transmission and system stability.

How do I troubleshoot Arlo camera issues caused by Adguards?

If your Arlo cameras malfunction after installing Adguards, relocate the guards away from the cameras or router. Reboot the system and check for improved signal strength in the Arlo app.

Do Adguards reduce Arlo camera battery life?

Adguards themselves don’t drain batteries, but signal interference may force Arlo cameras to work harder to maintain a connection, indirectly reducing battery life. Minimize interference by spacing Adguards and cameras apart.