Do Arlo Essential Cameras Record Everything You Need to Know

Arlo Essential cameras do not record continuously by default, but instead use motion-activated recording to capture events efficiently and conserve storage. With optional 24/7 recording available on select models via a paid subscription, users can tailor coverage to their needs, balancing privacy, cost, and peace of mind.

Key Takeaways

• Arlo Essential cameras record only when motion is detected to save storage and battery life.
• Adjust motion sensitivity settings to reduce false alerts and missed recordings.
• Enable 24/7 recording via subscription for continuous footage with Arlo SmartHub.
• Review clips remotely via the Arlo app anytime, anywhere with Wi-Fi connection.
• Local storage options are limited—cloud plans offer more reliable, long-term video retention.
• Night vision ensures 24/7 monitoring with clear black-and-white footage in low light.

Do Arlo Essential Cameras Record: The Basics

Imagine you’re leaving for a week-long vacation. You’ve packed your bags, set your automatic lights, and installed a shiny new Arlo Essential camera at your front door. As you lock up, a nagging thought pops into your mind: “Do Arlo Essential cameras record everything?” It’s a fair question, and one that many homeowners, renters, and small business owners ask when considering home security systems.

Arlo, a well-known name in smart home security, offers a range of products, with the Arlo Essential line being one of their most popular for budget-conscious buyers. These sleek, wire-free cameras promise easy installation, crisp video, and smart alerts. But when it comes to recording, things get a bit more complicated. Unlike traditional security systems that record 24/7, Arlo Essential cameras use a different approach. They’re designed to be smart, efficient, and flexible—but that means understanding how they record is crucial to getting the most out of them. In this post, we’ll dive deep into how Arlo Essential cameras record, what they capture, and how to make sure you’re not missing anything important.

How Arlo Essential Cameras Record: Motion vs. Continuous

Let’s start with the big question: Do Arlo Essential cameras record all the time? The short answer is no—not by default. Instead, they use a motion-activated recording system. This means the camera only starts recording when it detects movement. Think of it like a smart assistant that only speaks up when something happens.

Motion Detection: The Core of Arlo’s Recording System

Arlo Essential cameras come equipped with motion sensors that can detect heat and movement. When something moves in the camera’s field of view—like a person, a pet, or even a passing car—the camera springs into action. It starts recording a short video clip (typically 10–30 seconds, depending on your settings) and sends you a notification.

For example, let’s say you’re at work and a delivery person arrives at your door. The Arlo Essential camera detects the movement, records a clip of the delivery, and sends you an alert on your phone. You can then open the Arlo app, review the clip, and even talk to the delivery person through two-way audio (if your model supports it).

This motion-based approach has several benefits:

• Energy efficiency: Since the camera isn’t recording all the time, it uses less power—important for battery-operated models.
• Storage savings: Fewer recordings mean you don’t fill up your cloud or local storage with hours of empty footage.
• Smart alerts: You’re only notified when something happens, reducing alert fatigue.

Can You Enable Continuous Recording?

Here’s where things get interesting. While Arlo Essential cameras are designed for motion-based recording, you can set them up for continuous recording—but it requires a bit of setup and often a subscription.

With an Arlo Secure subscription, you can enable Continuous Video Recording (CVR) on your Essential cameras. This feature records video 24/7, storing every second in the cloud. It’s perfect if you want a complete record of everything that happens, not just motion-triggered clips.

For example, if you’re monitoring a construction site, a parking lot, or a busy front porch, CVR ensures you don’t miss a thing—even if someone lingers just outside the motion detection zone.

But there’s a catch: CVR uses a lot of storage. A single camera can generate gigabytes of video per day. That’s why Arlo limits CVR to 14 days of storage per camera with their paid plans. After that, the oldest footage is automatically deleted.

Tip: If you want CVR, make sure you have enough bandwidth. Continuous recording can use up to 2 Mbps per camera, so check your internet speed before enabling it on multiple devices.

Recording Modes and Settings: Customizing Your Arlo Experience

One of the best things about Arlo Essential cameras is their flexibility. You’re not stuck with one-size-fits-all settings. Instead, you can tweak how and when your cameras record to match your needs.

Adjusting Motion Sensitivity

Not all motion is created equal. A fluttering leaf might not be as important as a person walking up your driveway. That’s why Arlo lets you adjust the motion sensitivity of your cameras.

In the Arlo app, you can set sensitivity from “Low” to “High.” A lower setting means the camera only records larger movements (like people or animals), while a higher setting picks up even small motions (like leaves or shadows).

Practical example: If your camera faces a tree-lined street, set sensitivity to “Medium” or “Low” to avoid getting alerts every time a leaf blows by. But if it’s pointed at your front door, “High” sensitivity ensures you don’t miss anything.

Pro tip: Use the “Activity Zones” feature to focus on specific areas. For instance, you can tell the camera to only record when motion happens on your porch, ignoring the sidewalk or driveway. This reduces false alerts and saves storage.

Scheduling Recording Times

Sometimes, you only want your camera to record during certain hours. Maybe you don’t need surveillance during the day when you’re home, or you want to avoid recording your kids playing in the yard.

Arlo lets you set custom schedules for recording. You can choose specific days and times when motion detection is active. Outside of those times, the camera won’t record or send alerts.

For example:

• Record only from 6 PM to 6 AM when your home is empty.
• Turn off recording on weekends when the family is home.
• Disable recording during work hours if your office faces the street.

This feature is great for privacy and efficiency. It ensures your camera is only working when you need it.

Audio Recording: What Can You Hear?

Arlo Essential cameras with two-way audio can also record sound. When motion is detected, the camera captures both video and audio. This is useful for:

• Hearing what someone is saying at your door.
• Identifying sounds (like glass breaking or a dog barking).
• Using voice commands with smart assistants (if supported).

However, audio recording is subject to privacy laws in many areas. Arlo disables audio recording by default in regions with strict privacy regulations (like some parts of Europe). You can enable it in the app if allowed, but be mindful of legal requirements in your area.

Storage Options: Cloud, Local, and Hybrid

How your Arlo Essential recordings are stored depends on your setup and subscription. Let’s break down the options.

Cloud Storage with Arlo Secure

The most popular way to store Arlo footage is through Arlo Secure, a subscription service. With Arlo Secure, your motion-triggered clips are saved in the cloud for up to 30 days (depending on your plan).

Here’s what you get:

• 30 days of cloud storage for motion recordings.
• Smart alerts with person, vehicle, and package detection.
• Unlimited camera support (with higher-tier plans).
• Continuous Video Recording (CVR) option.

For example, if your camera detects a person at 3 PM, the 30-second clip is uploaded to the cloud and stored for 30 days. You can access it anytime through the Arlo app.

Cost note: Arlo Secure starts at around $3 per camera per month. It’s a small price for peace of mind, but it adds up if you have multiple cameras.

Local Storage: Using a MicroSD Card

If you prefer not to pay for a subscription, you can use a microSD card for local storage. Most Arlo Essential cameras support microSD cards up to 256 GB (check your model’s specs).

With local storage:

• Motion recordings are saved directly to the card.
• No monthly fees.
• Footage is only accessible if you physically remove the card or connect to the camera’s Wi-Fi.

Important: Local storage only saves motion-triggered clips—not continuous recordings. And if someone steals your camera, they’ll have the footage too.

Tip: Use a high-quality, high-endurance microSD card (like SanDisk High Endurance) to avoid corruption from constant writing.

Hybrid Approach: Best of Both Worlds?

Some users combine cloud and local storage for redundancy. For example:

• Use Arlo Secure for cloud backups and smart alerts.
• Insert a microSD card as a backup in case internet goes down.

This ensures you never lose important footage, even if your internet is spotty or your subscription lapses.

Common Recording Issues and How to Fix Them

Even the best cameras can have hiccups. Here are some common issues with Arlo Essential recording and how to solve them.

Missed Recordings (False Negatives)

You expect a recording but nothing shows up. This usually happens because:

• Motion sensitivity is set too low.
• The object is outside the camera’s detection range.
• There’s a delay in Wi-Fi connection.

Solution: Adjust sensitivity, reposition the camera, or add a Wi-Fi extender. Test with a quick walk-through to see what triggers the camera.

Too Many False Alerts

Your phone buzzes every 10 minutes with a leaf or shadow alert. This wastes battery and storage.

Solution: Use Activity Zones to focus on key areas. Lower sensitivity. Avoid pointing the camera at moving trees or busy roads.

Recording Stops Mid-Clip

A recording starts but cuts off after 5 seconds. This can happen if:

• The camera’s battery is low.
• There’s a Wi-Fi drop.
• Storage is full (on microSD).

Solution: Recharge the battery, check Wi-Fi signal, and format the microSD card if needed. For cloud users, ensure your subscription is active.

No Recording in Low Light

Arlo Essential cameras have night vision, but recordings might be blurry or not trigger in very dark conditions.

Solution: Add a small motion-activated light near the camera. This helps the camera detect movement and improves video quality.

Cloud Storage Not Syncing

You see a recording on the microSD card but not in the cloud. This could mean:

• Your subscription expired.
• There’s a network issue.
• The camera is offline.

Solution: Check your subscription status, restart the camera, and ensure it’s connected to Wi-Fi.

Making the Most of Your Arlo Essential Recordings

Now that you know how Arlo Essential cameras record, let’s talk about how to use that footage effectively.

Reviewing Footage: Tips for Quick Access

When an alert comes in, you want to see the recording fast. Here’s how:

• Open the Arlo app and tap the alert notification.
• Use the timeline view to scrub through recordings.
• Download important clips to your phone for safekeeping.

Pro tip: Label your cameras clearly (e.g., “Front Door,” “Backyard”) so you know which one triggered the alert.

Sharing Recordings with Authorities

If you catch something serious (like a break-in), you might need to share footage with police. Arlo makes this easy:

• Download the clip from the app.
• Save it to your phone or cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox).
• Share the file via email or USB.

Note: Some police departments accept cloud links, but it’s safer to provide a downloaded copy.

Integrating with Smart Home Systems

Arlo works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. You can:

• View camera feeds on smart displays.
• Use voice commands to check recordings.
• Trigger recordings with smart sensors (e.g., “Record when front door opens”).

This makes your Arlo system part of a larger smart home ecosystem.

Data Table: Arlo Essential Recording Features

Feature	Arlo Essential (No Subscription)	Arlo Essential + Secure Subscription
Recording Type	Motion-activated only	Motion-activated + Continuous (CVR)
Storage	MicroSD card (up to 256 GB)	Cloud (30 days) + MicroSD
Smart Alerts	Basic motion detection	Person, vehicle, package detection
Audio Recording	Yes (if enabled)	Yes (with enhanced clarity)
Cost	One-time (camera + microSD)	Camera + $3–$10/month
Best For	Budget users, low-traffic areas	Complete surveillance, high-traffic zones

Final Thoughts: Do Arlo Essential Cameras Record Everything?

So, do Arlo Essential cameras record everything? Not quite—but they record what matters most. With smart motion detection, flexible settings, and multiple storage options, they give you control over what you capture. Whether you’re using them for basic home security or 24/7 surveillance with CVR, Arlo Essential cameras adapt to your needs.

They’re not perfect—no system is. False alerts, subscription costs, and storage limitations are real trade-offs. But with the right setup, they offer a reliable, user-friendly way to keep an eye on your property. Think of them as a smart, efficient security partner rather than a 24/7 surveillance drone.

At the end of the day, the key is understanding how your cameras work and setting them up to match your lifestyle. Adjust the sensitivity, use activity zones, and choose the right storage method. Whether you’re protecting your home, checking on deliveries, or just keeping an eye on the backyard, Arlo Essential cameras can deliver the recordings you need—without breaking the bank or overwhelming you with alerts.

And remember: security isn’t just about recording. It’s about being informed, prepared, and in control. With Arlo Essential, you’re not just getting a camera—you’re getting peace of mind, one smart recording at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Arlo Essential cameras record continuously?

No, Arlo Essential cameras do not record continuously by default. They use motion-activated recording to capture clips only when activity is detected, helping conserve storage and battery life.

Can Arlo Essential cameras record at night?

Yes, Arlo Essential cameras feature night vision with infrared LEDs, allowing them to record clear video in low-light or complete darkness. The recordings are triggered by motion, just like during the day.

Do Arlo Essential cameras record audio?

Yes, most Arlo Essential models include built-in microphones to record audio alongside video. However, audio recording may be disabled in certain regions due to privacy laws, so check your local regulations.

How long do Arlo Essential cameras record per event?

Arlo Essential cameras typically record 10 to 120 seconds per motion-triggered event, depending on your settings and subscription plan. You can adjust the clip length in the Arlo app for longer recordings.

Do Arlo Essential cameras record without Wi-Fi?

No, Arlo Essential cameras require a Wi-Fi connection to record and upload video to the cloud. Without Wi-Fi, they cannot store recordings remotely, but some models support local storage via a microSD card (sold separately).

Do Arlo Essential cameras record if motion is turned off?

No, if motion detection is disabled, the camera won’t trigger recordings. However, you can manually start a live stream or recording via the Arlo app even with motion alerts turned off.