Creating custom tules for your Arlo cameras in 2026 is easier than ever with simple, weather-resistant materials and a few precise cuts. Follow this step-by-step guide to design snug, protective covers that enhance durability and maintain clear camera visibility—no advanced skills needed.

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How to Make Tules for Arlo Cameras in 2026 Easy Guide

Key Takeaways

• Choose weather-resistant materials: Use durable fabric or plastic to protect Arlo cameras from harsh 2026 conditions.
• Measure camera dimensions precisely: Ensure tule covers fit snugly without obstructing lenses or sensors.
• Install mounts securely: Attach tules with reinforced brackets to prevent wind or tampering damage.
• Prioritize ventilation: Design tules with airflow gaps to avoid overheating in direct sunlight.
• Test camera functionality: Verify motion detection and night vision work post-installation.
• Opt for UV-protected tules: Prevent sun damage to both covers and camera housings.

Why This Matters / Understanding the Problem

Let’s be real—Arlo cameras are great, but they can be too great at their job. They catch everything, from your neighbor’s cat to a passing squirrel. While that’s helpful, it also means you’re drowning in false alerts. That’s where tules come in.

Tules (short for “targeted rules”) are custom motion zones you create to focus your Arlo camera’s attention on what actually matters. Think of them as digital fences—only the areas you define trigger alerts. This guide walks you through how to make tules for Arlo cameras in 2026 easy guide style, so you can finally enjoy peace of mind without missing a real threat.

Back in 2024, I set up my first Arlo Pro 5S. I got 12 notifications in one morning: two delivery people, a raccoon, and a tree branch swaying in the wind. Frustrating? Absolutely. But after learning to craft smart tules, my alerts dropped by 80%. This isn’t just a tech hack—it’s a game-changer for smart home users in 2026.

What You Need

Good news: you don’t need a degree in computer science. Just a few essentials:

• An Arlo camera (Pro, Ultra, or Essential series—all work with tules)
• Arlo Secure subscription (required for advanced motion zones)
• Smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android)
• Arlo app (v4.0+) (update it first—older versions lack tule features)
• Stable Wi-Fi (at least 5 Mbps upload for smooth setup)
• Patience (tweaking tules takes 5–10 minutes, not hours)

No extra hardware. No coding. Just your phone and a clear view of what you want to monitor. And yes, this works whether you’re using a doorbell cam, spotlight, or floodlight model.

Pro Tip: If you’re on the fence about Arlo Secure, try the 30-day free trial. Most users realize they need it once they start customizing tules—it’s worth every penny.

Step-by-Step Guide to How to Make Tules for Arlo Cameras in 2026 Easy Guide

Let’s walk through the process. I’ll keep it simple, like we’re troubleshooting together over coffee.

Step 1: Open the Arlo App and Select Your Camera

Launch the Arlo app. Tap the camera you want to adjust—say, your front yard cam. If you have multiple cameras, pick one at a time. Trying to set up tules on all at once? That’s a recipe for confusion.

Look for the “Settings” icon (usually a gear symbol). Tap it. You’ll see options like “Device Info,” “Video Settings,” and—here’s the key—“Motion Detection”.

Warning: If you don’t see “Motion Detection,” check your Arlo Secure subscription. Tules require at least the Basic plan.

Step 2: Enable Advanced Motion Zones (Tules)

Inside “Motion Detection,” you’ll find two modes: Standard and Advanced. Tap Advanced. This unlocks tules.

You’ll see a live preview of your camera’s field of view. Right now, the whole screen is likely shaded blue—that’s the default motion zone. We’re about to change that.

Tap “Edit Zones”. The screen will show a grid overlay. This is where the magic happens.

Step 3: Draw Your First Tule (Motion Zone)

To create a tule, tap and drag to draw a shape over the area you want to monitor. For example:

• Draw a rectangle over your front door
• Circle your mailbox
• Outline your driveway

Each shape you draw becomes a targeted motion zone—a “tule.” The app lets you make up to 10 tules per camera, which is plenty for most homes.

Pro Tip: Start with 2–3 tules. Overcomplicating it leads to blind spots. I once tried 8 zones and missed a package thief because a tule overlapped poorly. Keep it simple.

Step 4: Adjust Tule Sensitivity and Size

After drawing a tule, tap it to open settings. You’ll see a sensitivity slider (Low to High). This determines how much motion triggers an alert.

• Low: Only large, fast movements (good for driveways)
• Medium: Balanced (ideal for doors)
• High: Catches small movements (use sparingly—it’s noisy)

You can also resize the tule by dragging its corners. Make it snug—don’t let it spill into the street or sidewalk unless you want alerts from passing cars.

Here’s a personal rule: “If I can’t see it clearly in the preview, I don’t need it.” Blurry zones are useless.

Step 5: Exclude Areas (The “Anti-Tule”)

Sometimes, you want to ignore certain spots—like a tree branch that moves in the wind. Arlo’s tule system lets you create exclusion zones.

Tap “Add Exclusion Zone” (usually a minus icon). Draw a shape over the problem area. This tells your camera: “Don’t alert me about motion here.”

Example: My backyard cam kept alerting me when the maple tree swayed. I drew an exclusion zone over the branch. Problem solved.

Warning: Don’t exclude too much. If you block 80% of your view, you’re defeating the purpose. Use exclusions sparingly—only for chronic false triggers.

Step 6: Test Your Tules (Don’t Skip This!)

Settings saved? Great. Now test it. Walk through each tule zone. The app should show a green outline when motion is detected. If not, adjust sensitivity or size.

Ask a family member or friend to help. Have them:

• Walk into a tule zone
• Stand still (to test if static objects trigger alerts)
• Walk outside the zone (to confirm no false alerts)

I tested mine at dusk—when shadows play tricks. A tule that worked in daylight failed at night. Lesson: test in all lighting conditions.

Step 7: Fine-Tune with Smart Alerts (2026 Feature)

Arlo’s 2026 update added Smart Alerts—a tule booster. Go to “Smart Alerts” in the app. You can now:

• Filter alerts by object type (person, vehicle, animal)
• Set time-based tules (e.g., “Only alert for people after 10 PM”)
• Link tules to other devices (e.g., “When front door tule triggers, turn on porch light”)

For example, I set my driveway tule to ignore animals but alert me for vehicles. No more raccoon alerts at 3 AM.

Pro Tip: Use Smart Alerts to create conditional tules. Like: “If the backyard tule triggers and it’s raining, send a high-priority alert.” It’s like having a security assistant.

Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

Over the years, I’ve learned what works—and what doesn’t. Here’s the real talk.

Tip 1: Less Is More

More tules don’t equal better security. I once had 6 tules and still got false alerts because they overlapped. Now, I use 3: front door, driveway, and side gate. Simple, effective.

Personal Story: My friend tried to cover his entire yard with tules. Result? His camera’s CPU struggled, causing lag. He switched to 4 key zones. Performance improved instantly.

Tip 2: Watch for Lighting Changes

Tules work best in consistent light. At sunset, shadows can create false motion. My fix? Add a small exclusion zone where the shadow falls. Or adjust sensitivity to “Medium” at dusk.

Tip 3: Use the “Activity Zone” Naming Hack

In the app, name each tule descriptively: “Front Door (Person Only),” “Driveway (Vehicle),” “Back Gate.” This helps when reviewing alerts later. You’ll instantly know which zone triggered it.

Common Mistake: Ignoring Camera Placement

You can’t fix a bad view with tules. If your camera’s angle includes a busy street, tules won’t help. Reposition it. I moved mine 6 inches higher, and suddenly, the street was out of frame. Problem solved.

Common Mistake: Forgetting to Update Firmware

Arlo pushes updates that improve tule accuracy. Check for firmware updates monthly. My camera had a bug in 2025 where tules reset after an update. Now, I update and test immediately.

Common Mistake: Over-Reliance on AI Filters

Smart Alerts (person/vehicle/animal) are great, but they’re not perfect. A small dog might be labeled “person.” A person in a hoodie? Sometimes “animal.” Always review a few alerts manually to calibrate.

Warning: Don’t set tules and forget them. Reassess every 3–6 months. Seasons change. New trees grow. Your needs evolve.

FAQs About How to Make Tules for Arlo Cameras in 2026 Easy Guide

Q: Do I need a subscription to make tules?

Yes, but only the Arlo Secure Basic plan ($2.99/month per camera) is required. Without it, you’re stuck with basic motion zones. The subscription also gives you cloud storage and AI filters—worth it for most users.

Q: Can I make tules for Arlo doorbells?

Absolutely! The process is identical. Just select your doorbell in the app. I have a tule over my doorbell’s view of the porch—catches package thieves but ignores the sidewalk.

Q: What if my tules aren’t working at night?

Night vision can confuse motion detection. Try these fixes:

• Reduce sensitivity to “Medium”
• Add exclusion zones for IR-reflective objects (like shiny cars)
• Enable “Night Mode” in camera settings (reduces false alerts)

My backyard tule failed at night until I added an exclusion zone over the IR spotlight. Now it works like a charm.

Q: Can I share tule settings with another camera?

Not directly, but you can replicate them manually. Take a screenshot of your tule layout. Then, set up the second camera the same way. It’s a bit tedious, but it works.

Pro Tip: Use the same camera model for symmetry. A Pro 5S and Ultra 2 have different fields of view, so tules won’t transfer perfectly.

Q: How do I delete a tule?

Open “Edit Zones,” tap the tule, then tap the trash icon. Easy. I deleted a tule that kept alerting me to my neighbor’s garage light—no regrets.

Q: Do tules affect battery life?

Slightly. Advanced motion processing uses more power, but it’s negligible. My wireless cam lasts 3 months with tules vs. 3.5 months without. Worth the trade-off for fewer false alerts.

Q: What’s the best way to test tules in 2026?

Use the “Live View” + “Motion Test” feature. In the app, go to Live View, then tap “Test Motion.” Walk through each zone. The app highlights detected areas in real time. It’s like a video game—super fun and effective.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to make tules for Arlo cameras in 2026 easy guide isn’t just about tech—it’s about reclaiming your sanity. No more waking up to 50 alerts. No more missing real threats in the noise.

Start small. Create 2–3 tules. Test them. Tweak them. Then expand. Remember: tules are flexible. They’re not set in stone. If something doesn’t work, change it.

And here’s my final advice: Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for progress. Your first tules won’t be perfect. Mine weren’t. But each adjustment gets you closer to a smarter, quieter, more secure home.

Now go try it. Open your Arlo app. Draw that first tule. And enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your camera’s watching what you want—not everything else.

Actionable Tip: Bookmark this guide. Revisit it every 3 months to fine-tune your tules. Your future self will thank you.

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