How Outdoor Lights Impact Where to Mount Arlo Camera for Best Results

Outdoor lights significantly impact where you should mount your Arlo camera, as bright or inconsistent lighting can cause glare, false motion alerts, and washed-out footage. Position your camera to avoid direct light sources while leveraging ambient lighting for optimal night vision and motion detection accuracy.

Key Takeaways

• Position cameras opposite lights: Avoid glare by mounting Arlo away from direct light sources.
• Use motion-activated lights: Sync with Arlo to trigger recordings during low-light activity.
• Adjust for backlighting: Prevent silhouettes by ensuring light falls on subjects, not behind them.
• Test night vision range: Ensure lights don’t overexpose or blind Arlo’s infrared sensors.
• Balance ambient lighting: Combine natural and artificial light for clearer footage without shadows.

How Outdoor Lights Impact Where to Mount Arlo Camera for Best Results

Imagine this: You finally set up your Arlo camera after hours of planning and testing. You’ve chosen the perfect spot—high enough to avoid tampering, with a wide field of view, and a clear line of sight to your front door. You feel proud. Then, the sun sets. The motion lights kick on. And suddenly, your once-clear video feed is a mess of glare, shadows, and false alerts. Frustrating, right?

This is a common issue many homeowners face when installing outdoor security cameras. While we often focus on camera placement, outdoor lights play a massive role in how well your Arlo camera performs. Whether it’s porch lights, floodlights, streetlights, or even decorative garden lighting, the way light interacts with your camera can make or break your surveillance experience. The good news? With a little planning and understanding, you can use outdoor lights to your advantage—not against you. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how lighting affects your Arlo camera’s performance and share practical tips to help you find the best mounting spot for crystal-clear footage, fewer false alarms, and reliable night vision.

Why Lighting Matters: The Science Behind Camera Performance

How Arlo Cameras Use Light

Arlo cameras, especially the Pro and Ultra models, rely heavily on ambient and artificial light to capture clear images. During the day, natural sunlight provides the best illumination. At night, Arlo switches to night vision mode, using infrared (IR) LEDs to see in the dark. But here’s the catch: IR works best in total or near-total darkness. When outdoor lights—especially bright white or LED lights—are nearby, they can interfere with the camera’s IR sensors, causing overexposure, glare, or even disabling night vision entirely.

For example, I once mounted an Arlo Pro 3 near a motion-activated floodlight. The camera worked great during the day, but at night, every time the floodlight turned on, the camera’s IR would shut off temporarily. The result? A 2-second gap in recording every time someone walked by. Not ideal for security.

The Problem with Glare and Backlighting

Even during the day, poor lighting can distort your footage. If your camera is pointed directly at a bright light source—like a porch light, streetlamp, or the sun—you risk backlighting, where the subject (like a person) appears as a dark silhouette. This makes it hard to identify faces, clothing, or actions.

I learned this the hard way when I placed a camera facing a backyard patio light. During the evening, the light would reflect off the camera lens, creating a bright halo that washed out the entire image. The fix? I repositioned the camera 15 degrees to the side, and suddenly, the footage was sharp and usable.

False Alarms and Motion Sensitivity

Outdoor lights, especially motion-activated ones, can trigger false alerts. Your Arlo camera detects motion based on pixel changes in the video feed. When a light turns on suddenly, it creates a rapid change in brightness—exactly what the camera interprets as movement. This leads to unnecessary notifications and drains battery life on wireless models.

One user in a Reddit thread shared that their Arlo kept sending alerts every time the neighbor’s porch light turned on. After adjusting the camera angle and using Arlo’s activity zones to ignore the light area, the problem disappeared. It’s a small tweak, but it makes a huge difference.

Types of Outdoor Lighting and Their Impact on Arlo Cameras

Floodlights and Motion-Activated Lights

These are common around entryways and garages. While great for security, they can cause issues if not positioned carefully. Floodlights often have wide beams that can shine directly into the camera lens, causing glare or disabling IR. Motion-activated lights add another layer of complexity because they turn on unpredictably.

Tip: If you must mount near a floodlight, position the camera so the light is to the side or above the lens—not directly in front. Use the Arlo app’s live view to test the angle before finalizing. Also, consider using a camera with a wide dynamic range (WDR) feature, like the Arlo Pro 4 or Ultra 2. WDR helps balance exposure in high-contrast scenes, reducing glare from bright lights.

LED and Smart Lights

LEDs are energy-efficient but can emit a harsh, cool-toned light that’s tough on cameras. Some smart lights (like Philips Hue or LIFX) even pulse or change color, which can confuse motion detection algorithms. I once tested an Arlo Ultra near a color-changing LED strip. The camera kept triggering alerts every time the light shifted from blue to red—even when no one was there.

Solution: If you have smart lights, avoid placing the camera where the light beam hits the lens. Use diffusers or shields to soften the light. Or, if possible, set your smart lights to a static, warm white tone at night—this reduces glare and false alerts.

Streetlights and Neighbor’s Lights

You can’t control external lights, but you can plan around them. Streetlights often cast long shadows or create uneven lighting. If your camera is under a streetlamp, it might capture clear footage near the pole but miss activity in darker areas.

Example: A friend installed an Arlo near a streetlight in his front yard. The pole lit up the sidewalk, but his front door—just 10 feet away—was in shadow. He added a small, low-profile LED path light near the door. Now, the camera sees both areas clearly without glare.

Decorative and Landscape Lighting

Fairy lights, path lights, and garden spotlights add charm but can create visual noise. Small, flickering lights (like solar-powered LEDs) might trigger motion alerts due to subtle brightness changes. I once had a camera pointed at a tree with hanging string lights. The wind would move them, and the camera would alert me every 20 minutes. Annoying!

Tip: Use Arlo’s activity zones to exclude areas with decorative lights. Or, reposition the camera to focus on high-traffic zones, like doors or driveways, instead of ornamentally lit areas.

Strategic Camera Placement: Finding the Sweet Spot

Use the “Light Shadow” Technique

One of the best tricks I’ve learned is to mount the camera in the shadow of a light. For example, if you have a porch light, place the camera just below or to the side where the light doesn’t shine directly on it. This way, the light illuminates the area in front of the camera, but the lens stays in shadow, avoiding glare.

Pro tip: Test this by standing where the camera will be at night. Turn on the light and see where the shadow falls. If you can’t see the light source from the camera’s view, you’re golden.

Avoid the “Tunnel Vision” Trap

It’s tempting to point the camera straight at a light source to “see better.” But this creates a tunnel effect—bright center, dark edges. Instead, angle the camera slightly away from the light. Aim for a 45-degree offset. This balances exposure and keeps the entire scene visible.

I used this method on my back deck. The floodlight was on the corner, so I mounted the Arlo on the adjacent wall, angled toward the light. The result? Even lighting across the deck, no glare, and clear night vision.

Consider Height and Coverage

Higher mounts (8–10 feet) reduce the risk of tampering, but they also change how light hits the camera. A camera mounted high might catch reflections from windows, shiny surfaces, or even car headlights. Lower mounts (6–7 feet) offer better facial recognition but are more prone to glare.

Example: A user in a Facebook group mounted their Arlo at 9 feet near a driveway. At night, car headlights would reflect off the camera housing, causing temporary blindness. Lowering it to 7 feet and angling it down solved the issue.

Use Natural Light as a Guide

During the day, observe how sunlight hits your property. Avoid spots where the sun will shine directly into the lens at dawn or dusk. Use trees, awnings, or eaves as natural shields. I once placed a camera under a deep eave, which blocked both rain and morning sun—perfect for all-day clarity.

Advanced Solutions: Tools and Settings to Optimize Performance

Adjust Camera Settings for Lighting

Arlo’s app lets you tweak settings to handle tricky lighting:

• Night Vision Mode: Choose “Auto” for most cases, but switch to “Color” if you have a reliable light source (e.g., a porch light). Color night vision gives better details but requires some ambient light.
• Motion Sensitivity: Lower it if lights trigger false alerts. Start at 70% and adjust.
• Activity Zones: Exclude areas with lights or moving objects (e.g., trees, flags).
• WDR (Wide Dynamic Range): Enable this to balance bright and dark areas.

I once had a camera that kept alerting on a streetlight. I created a small activity zone that ignored the light pole. Problem solved in 2 minutes.

Add Supplemental Lighting (The Smart Way)

If your camera struggles in low light, add a dedicated light—but do it right:

• Use warm white (2700K–3000K) LEDs. Cool white (5000K+) causes more glare.
• Mount the light below or beside the camera, not behind it.
• Use diffusers to soften the light beam.
• Choose motion-activated or smart lights that sync with your camera (e.g., Arlo Smart Lighting).

A reader shared that adding a small, warm LED under their camera improved night vision clarity by 80%. No more grainy IR footage!

Physical Barriers and Shields

Sometimes, the best solution is a simple hood or shield. Arlo sells weather-resistant covers, but you can DIY one with a small piece of plastic or rubber. Just make sure it doesn’t block the lens or IR sensors.

Warning: Avoid covering the camera’s microphone or speaker—this can muffle audio alerts.

Real-World Examples: Lessons from the Field

Case Study: The Backyard Floodlight Dilemma

Sarah, a homeowner in Texas, mounted her Arlo Pro 3 near a floodlight. At night, the camera’s IR would turn off every time the light activated. After testing, she:

1. Repositioned the camera 2 feet to the left.
2. Set the floodlight to a 30-second delay (so the camera had time to adjust).
3. Enabled WDR in the Arlo app.

Result: No more IR gaps, fewer false alerts, and clearer footage.

Data Table: Lighting Scenarios and Solutions

Lighting Scenario	Problem	Best Solution	Arlo Setting to Adjust
Floodlight directly in front	Glare, IR disabled	Move camera to the side; use shield	WDR, Night Vision: Auto
Motion light triggers alerts	False alarms	Use activity zones to exclude light	Motion Sensitivity: 60–70%
Streetlight creates shadows	Uneven lighting	Add supplemental light near camera	Night Vision: Color
LED string lights in view	Flickering alerts	Reposition camera; use zones	Activity Zones
Sun hits lens at dusk	Overexposure	Mount under eave or awning	WDR

Lessons from a DIY Installer

Mark, a DIY enthusiast, installed three Arlo cameras around his house. He ignored lighting at first—big mistake. After a week of frustrating alerts, he:

• Used the Arlo app’s live view at night to test each camera.
• Repositioned cameras based on light angles.
• Added a $20 LED light to one dark corner.

His advice: “Don’t rush the install. Spend one night watching the live feed. You’ll see issues you’d never notice during the day.”

Final Thoughts: Light, Camera, Action (Without the Glare!)

Outdoor lights are double-edged swords. They enhance security by deterring crime and improving visibility, but they can also sabotage your Arlo camera’s performance if not managed carefully. The key is to think like a cinematographer: Position your camera where light works for you, not against you.

Start by observing how light moves across your property at different times. Use the “light shadow” technique, adjust camera settings, and don’t be afraid to add supplemental lighting. Remember, the best camera spot isn’t always the most obvious one. Sometimes, a slight angle change or a small LED light makes all the difference.

I’ve learned that patience pays off. My first Arlo install was a mess of glare and false alerts. But after tweaking the placement and settings, I now have reliable, clear footage 24/7. Whether you’re a first-time installer or a seasoned pro, take the time to get the lighting right. Your camera—and your peace of mind—will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do outdoor lights affect where to mount Arlo camera?

Outdoor lights can create glare, false motion triggers, or wash out night vision, so positioning your Arlo camera to avoid direct light exposure is key. Mount the camera at an angle where lights illuminate the area *behind* the lens for optimal coverage.

Can bright outdoor lights interfere with Arlo camera motion detection?

Yes, sudden changes in light (like floodlights turning on) can trigger false motion alerts. To prevent this, avoid mounting the camera where lights shine directly into the lens or use the app’s motion sensitivity settings to reduce false alarms.

Where should I place my Arlo camera if I have existing outdoor lights?

Mount the Arlo camera 10–15 feet away from outdoor lights, ensuring it covers the area *between* light sources. This minimizes glare while maintaining clear visibility in lit zones, balancing security and performance.

Do outdoor lights impact Arlo camera night vision?

Bright lights can overpower Arlo’s infrared night vision, causing washed-out footage. Position the camera so nearby lights don’t face the lens directly, or use the camera’s built-in IR mode in darker areas for clearer nighttime recordings.

How can I avoid shadows when mounting an Arlo camera near outdoor lights?

Mount the Arlo camera at a height and angle where shadows from objects (like trees or poles) don’t obscure the view. Aim for perpendicular lighting to reduce shadows while ensuring the camera covers the desired area.

Is it better to install Arlo cameras in lit or dark areas?

For best results, mount Arlo cameras in areas with *ambient* light (e.g., porch lights) to reduce reliance on IR night vision. Avoid overly dark zones, as they may lack detail, or overly bright spots, which can distort footage.