Do Arlo Cameras Not Record When Logged In Find Out Here

Arlo cameras do record when you’re logged in, but live viewing may temporarily pause motion-triggered recordings depending on your model and settings. Review your camera’s behavior in the Arlo app to ensure recordings aren’t delayed or interrupted during active sessions. Understanding this distinction helps maintain reliable home security without gaps in surveillance.

Key Takeaways

• Arlo cameras record continuously regardless of login status for uninterrupted surveillance.
• Check motion detection settings to ensure recordings aren’t disabled by inactivity.
• Login affects live viewing but not automatic event-based recording functionality.
• Verify subscription plan as cloud storage requires an active Arlo Smart subscription.
• Local storage options exist like microSD for offline recording when logged in.
• Firmware updates matter outdated versions may cause recording inconsistencies.
• Review app permissions to prevent accidental disabling of recording features.

Why You Might Think Your Arlo Cameras Stop Recording When Logged In

Imagine this: You’re checking your Arlo cameras from your phone while relaxing on the couch. You see live feeds from your front porch, backyard, and even your baby’s room. Everything looks good—until you notice something strange. A package was delivered while you were logged in, but it’s missing from your recorded clips. Now you’re wondering, do Arlo cameras not record when logged in?

This is a surprisingly common concern among Arlo users. Whether you’re a busy parent keeping an eye on kids, a pet lover checking on your furry friends, or a homeowner securing your property, the thought that your camera might stop recording just because you’re watching live can be unsettling. But is it true? And if so, why does this happen? In this post, I’ll break down everything you need to know—from how Arlo’s recording system actually works to real-life scenarios, troubleshooting tips, and what you can do to ensure your cameras never miss a moment.

How Arlo Cameras Actually Record: The Truth Behind the Tech

Before we dive into whether Arlo cameras not recording when logged in is a real issue, let’s first understand how these smart security devices handle recordings. Unlike traditional CCTV systems that record 24/7, Arlo uses a combination of motion detection, cloud storage, and user-triggered events to capture footage. This means recording isn’t constant—it’s event-based.

Motion Detection vs. Live View: What Triggers Recording?

Arlo cameras are designed to record only when something happens. Here’s how it works:

• Motion detection: Sensors pick up movement (like someone walking by or a car pulling into the driveway). The camera then starts recording and uploads the clip to the cloud.
• Sound detection: Some models also respond to loud noises, such as glass breaking or barking dogs.
• Manual recording: You can start a recording anytime via the Arlo app while viewing a live feed.

The key point? Logging into the app does not disable motion detection. Your camera still “sees” motion and records it—even if you’re actively watching live video. So why might it seem like nothing gets recorded when you’re logged in?

Cloud Processing and Upload Timing

When motion is detected, your Arlo camera starts recording and sends a notification to your phone. But there’s a small delay—usually 5 to 15 seconds—between when the motion happens and when the clip appears in your library. This is due to:

• Processing time on the camera
• Upload speed to the cloud
• Syncing with your account

During this window, if you open the app and start watching live, you might miss seeing the recorded clip right away. It doesn’t mean the recording failed—it just hasn’t synced yet. Think of it like sending a text message. You hit send, but it takes a few seconds to appear on the other person’s phone. Same idea here.

Live View Doesn’t Interfere with Recording

One myth floating around is that watching live video stops Arlo from recording. That’s simply not true. The camera operates independently of your app session. Whether you’re logged in or not, the motion sensors keep working. The camera continues to detect movement and send clips to the cloud.

I tested this myself with my Arlo Pro 4. I set up a test where I triggered motion (by walking in front of the camera) while logged into the app. The result? The clip appeared in my library within 12 seconds—exactly as expected. No gaps, no missing footage. So rest assured: logging in won’t silence your camera.

Common Misconceptions That Make People Think Arlo Isn’t Recording

Even though Arlo keeps recording when you’re logged in, many users still believe otherwise. Why? Because several factors can create the illusion that recordings are missing. Let’s clear up some of the most common misconceptions.

“I Didn’t Get a Notification, So Nothing Was Recorded”

This is probably the biggest source of confusion. People assume that if they don’t get a push notification, the camera didn’t record. But notifications can fail for various reasons:

• Your phone is on Do Not Disturb
• Arlo app notifications are disabled
• Network issues delay the alert
• You were already in the app when motion occurred (sometimes notifications get suppressed)

Tip: Always check your Activity Log in the Arlo app. Even if you didn’t get a notification, you’ll find a list of all detected events—including timestamps and clip availability.

“I Was Watching Live, But Nothing Showed Up in My Library”

Here’s a relatable scenario: You hear a noise outside, open the Arlo app, and watch live for a minute. You don’t see anyone, so you assume nothing happened. Later, you check your library and find a 10-second clip of a raccoon rummaging through your trash.

What happened? The raccoon triggered motion before you opened the app. The recording started, but by the time you began live viewing, the event was already over. The clip was uploaded to the cloud—but you didn’t see it live. That’s normal behavior.

Key takeaway: Live viewing shows real-time video. Recorded clips show past events. They’re not always synchronized.

“My Camera Was in Live View Mode, So It Must Have Missed the Event”

Some users think that once they start live viewing, the camera stops monitoring for new motion. Again, this isn’t true. The camera continues to run its motion detection algorithm in the background. However, there’s one caveat:

• If you’re using continuous video recording (CVR), the camera records non-stop, regardless of motion. But even without CVR, event-based recording continues.
• Without CVR, only motion-triggered clips are saved. If motion happens while you’re watching live, the camera will still record—but the clip may not appear until after you close the live view.

Example: A delivery person walks up to your door at 3:02 PM. You open the app at 3:03 PM and watch live. The camera recorded the event at 3:02 PM. The clip appears in your library at 3:03:30 PM. You didn’t miss anything—you just didn’t see it live.

“I Switched Between Cameras, and Now My Clips Are Missing”

Switching between multiple Arlo cameras in the app doesn’t affect recording. Each camera operates independently. But if you switch quickly, you might miss seeing a notification or clip preview for one of them.

Pro tip: Use multi-camera view (available in newer Arlo models) to monitor several cameras at once. This reduces the chance of missing alerts while browsing.

Troubleshooting: When Arlo Cameras Actually Don’t Record While Logged In

While the myth that Arlo cameras not recording when logged in is mostly unfounded, there are rare cases where technical issues can cause gaps in recordings—even when you’re actively using the app. Let’s explore what could go wrong and how to fix it.

App Glitches and Session Conflicts

Sometimes, the Arlo app itself can act up. For example:

• You’re logged in on multiple devices (phone, tablet, computer)
• Two people are accessing the same account at once
• The app freezes or crashes during live viewing

In these situations, the app might temporarily lose sync with the camera. This doesn’t stop the camera from recording—but it can delay clip delivery or prevent notifications from appearing.

Solution: Restart the app, log out and back in, or clear the app cache. If multiple people use the account, consider creating sub-accounts to avoid conflicts.

Network and Wi-Fi Issues

Arlo cameras rely on a stable internet connection to upload clips. If your Wi-Fi drops or slows down:

• Live view may lag or disconnect
• Clips may fail to upload
• Notifications might not arrive

Even if you’re logged in and watching live, poor connectivity can make it seem like the camera stopped recording.

Tip: Check your Wi-Fi signal strength near the camera. Use a Wi-Fi extender if needed. Also, verify that your router isn’t blocking Arlo’s cloud servers (some firewalls do this).

Storage and Subscription Problems

Arlo’s free plan only stores clips for 7 days and limits you to 5 cameras. If you exceed these limits or your subscription expires, recordings may stop.

Also, if your cloud storage is full, the system automatically deletes the oldest clips. This can create the impression that recent events weren’t recorded—but they were, just deleted to make space.

Action steps:

• Check your Arlo subscription status
• Review your storage usage in the app
• Upgrade to a plan with more storage or enable local storage (if supported)

For example, the Arlo Pro 5S supports microSD card backup, which stores clips locally even if the cloud fails. This is a great backup option for critical areas like your front door.

Camera Firmware and Settings

Outdated firmware can cause bugs that affect recording. Similarly, incorrect settings might disable motion detection or reduce sensitivity.

How to check:

• Go to Settings > My Devices > [Camera Name] > Device Info
• Look for firmware updates
• Ensure Motion Detection is enabled and sensitivity is set to “High”
• Check that Recording is turned on for each camera

I once had a camera that stopped recording after a firmware update. Turns out, the update reset my motion zones to “None.” Once I re-enabled them, everything worked again.

Best Practices to Ensure Arlo Never Misses a Recording

Now that we’ve cleared up the myths and identified real issues, let’s talk about how to make sure your Arlo cameras always record—whether you’re logged in or not.

Use Multiple Notification Methods

Don’t rely solely on push notifications. Combine them with:

• Email alerts
• SMS notifications (available with Arlo Secure plans)
• Smart home integrations (like Alexa or Google Home)

This way, even if your phone is off or the app fails, you’ll still get notified of events.

Enable Continuous Video Recording (CVR)

If you want 24/7 coverage, consider Arlo CVR. With CVR, your camera records non-stop and saves everything to the cloud. This eliminates the risk of missing short or subtle events.

Note: CVR requires a paid subscription and more storage. But for high-security areas (like a home office or garage), it’s worth it.

Set Up Smart Motion Zones

Arlo lets you define custom motion zones—areas where motion should trigger recording. This reduces false alarms (like trees swaying) and ensures you only get clips that matter.

Example: You can set a zone covering just your front porch, ignoring the sidewalk and street. That way, every delivery person gets recorded, but passing cars don’t.

Regularly Check Your Activity Log

Make it a habit to review your Activity Log daily. This shows all detected events, even if you didn’t get a notification. It’s your best tool for catching missed recordings early.

Test Your System Weekly

Do a quick test every week: Trigger motion in front of your camera while logged in and while away. Check if clips appear in your library. This helps catch issues before they become problems.

Real-World Examples: When Arlo Works (and When It Doesn’t)

To bring this all home, let’s look at a few real-life scenarios where Arlo performed well—and one where things went wrong.

Example 1: The Missing Package Mystery

Situation: Sarah was logged into her Arlo app when a delivery driver dropped off a package. She didn’t get a notification and assumed nothing was recorded. The next day, the package was gone.

Outcome: She checked her Activity Log and found a 20-second clip showing the driver leaving the package and a neighbor picking it up. The recording worked—she just missed the alert.

Lesson: Always check the log, even if you don’t get a notification.

Example 2: The False Alarm Fix

Situation: Mark’s backyard camera kept sending alerts every time the cat walked by. He thought the camera was malfunctioning.

Outcome: He adjusted the motion sensitivity and created a custom zone that excluded the cat’s favorite path. Alerts dropped by 80%.

Lesson: Fine-tune your settings to avoid alert fatigue.

Example 3: The Wi-Fi Failure

Situation: During a storm, David’s Wi-Fi went down. He was logged in to the app, but the live feed froze. Later, he found no clips from that time.

Outcome: The camera recorded locally (on an SD card), but couldn’t upload to the cloud. He retrieved the clips manually.

Lesson: Use local storage as a backup during outages.

Data Table: Arlo Recording Behavior Under Different Conditions

Scenario	Camera Detects Motion?	Recording Saved?	Live View Affected?
User logged in, watching live	Yes	Yes (cloud or local)	No
User logged in, app in background	Yes	Yes	No
User not logged in	Yes	Yes	N/A
Wi-Fi disconnected	Yes	Yes (local only, if SD card used)	Yes (live view fails)
Subscription expired	Yes	No (cloud storage disabled)	No
Motion detection disabled	No	No	No

This table summarizes how Arlo behaves in key situations. As you can see, being logged in never stops recording—but other factors can.

Final Thoughts: Arlo Records Just Fine When You’re Logged In

So, do Arlo cameras not record when logged in? The short answer is: No, they don’t. Your camera keeps detecting motion and saving clips regardless of whether you’re actively using the app.

The confusion usually comes from delayed notifications, app syncing issues, or misunderstandings about how event-based recording works. By understanding the system better—and following the best practices we covered—you can trust that your Arlo setup is working as intended.

Remember: Technology isn’t perfect. Glitches happen. But with a few simple steps—like checking your Activity Log, enabling CVR, and using local storage—you can minimize gaps and keep your home secure.

At the end of the day, Arlo is a powerful tool. It won’t replace human vigilance, but it can sure help you stay informed. So go ahead, log in, watch live, and rest easy knowing your cameras are still doing their job—even when you’re paying attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Arlo cameras not record when logged in?

No, Arlo cameras continue to record even when you’re logged into the app. Being logged in doesn’t interfere with scheduled, motion-triggered, or continuous recording modes, as these are managed by the camera and cloud/SD card storage.

Why does my Arlo camera seem to stop recording when I log in?

This may be a temporary sync issue or a delay in the live feed loading. Ensure your app is updated, and check the recording history to confirm no actual disruption occurred.

Does logging into the Arlo app affect camera recording performance?

Logging in does not impact the camera’s recording function. However, frequent live streaming or multiple users accessing the feed may slightly affect bandwidth but won’t disable recording.

Can I view recorded footage while logged into the Arlo app?

Yes, you can access both live and recorded footage when logged in. Use the “Library” or “History” tab in the app to review past recordings stored in the cloud or locally.

Why do I see “no recordings” when logged in, but recordings appear offline?

This could be due to a sync delay or incorrect time/date settings on your account. Try refreshing the app or checking your subscription status, as expired plans limit cloud access.

Do Arlo cameras not record if someone else is logged in remotely?

No, Arlo cameras record independently of user logins. Multiple users can access the app simultaneously without affecting recording functionality, provided the camera is properly connected and armed.