Reset your Arlo Essential camera in seconds by pressing and holding the reset button for 10–15 seconds until the LED flashes amber. This quick factory reset erases all settings, making it ideal for troubleshooting, reconfiguring, or preparing the device for a new user—just ensure it’s powered on during the process.

How to Reset Arlo Essential Camera in Simple Steps

Key Takeaways

• Locate the reset button: Find the small hole on the camera’s side or bottom.
• Use a paperclip: Press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds.
• Wait for LED blink: A flashing amber light confirms the reset process started.
• Reconnect to Wi-Fi: Re-add the camera in the Arlo app post-reset.
• Check firmware updates: Ensure the latest version for optimal performance.
• Factory reset clears all: Removes saved settings and paired devices permanently.

Why This Matters / Understanding the Problem

Ever had your Arlo Essential camera freeze mid-motion detection? Or maybe it just won’t connect to Wi-Fi no matter how many times you restart your router?

You’re not alone. I’ve been there—sitting on my couch, trying to check on my front porch, only to see a spinning loading circle. It’s frustrating. Especially when you rely on your camera for peace of mind.

Sometimes, the simplest fix is the most overlooked: a reset. But resetting an Arlo Essential camera isn’t always intuitive. The buttons are tiny. The app doesn’t always give clear instructions. And let’s be honest—most of us don’t read manuals.

That’s where this guide comes in. I’ve spent hours troubleshooting, testing, and learning the quirks of the Arlo Essential. Now, I’m sharing how to reset Arlo Essential camera in simple steps—so you can get back to monitoring your home without pulling your hair out.

Whether you’re dealing with connectivity issues, app glitches, or just want a fresh start, this reset can help. It’s not magic, but it’s close.

And the best part? You don’t need to be tech-savvy. This is a real-person, no-jargon, step-by-step walkthrough. Think of it like resetting a stubborn toaster—except this one watches your front door.

What You Need

Before we dive in, let’s make sure you have everything you need. Don’t worry—this isn’t like building IKEA furniture. You won’t need a screwdriver or a degree in engineering.

• Your Arlo Essential camera – obviously. Make sure it’s charged or plugged in.
• A paperclip or small pin – this is for the reset button. A bent paperclip works perfectly.
• Your smartphone or tablet – with the Arlo app installed (iOS or Android).
• A stable Wi-Fi connection – 2.4 GHz, not 5 GHz. The Arlo Essential only works on 2.4 GHz networks. (Yes, I’ve learned this the hard way.)
• Your Arlo account login info – email and password.
• About 10–15 minutes – no rush. Take your time.

Pro tip: If your camera is mounted outside, bring it inside temporarily. You’ll want to work in a quiet space with good Wi-Fi. Trust me—trying to reset a camera on a ladder is not fun.

Step-by-Step Guide to How to Reset Arlo Essential Camera in Simple Steps

Step 1: Power Up and Locate the Reset Button

First things first—make sure your Arlo Essential camera has power. If it’s battery-powered, check that the battery isn’t dead. You can plug it in using the USB-C cable and a power adapter (like your phone charger).

Once it’s powered, look at the back or bottom of the camera. You’ll see a small, circular hole labeled “Reset.” It’s tiny—about the size of a pinhead. That’s where your paperclip comes in.

This is the physical reset button. It’s not a touchscreen. You need to press it with something thin and firm.

Warning: Don’t use a knife or anything sharp. You could damage the internal components. A paperclip or sewing needle is perfect.

Step 2: Perform the Hard Reset (Factory Reset)

Now comes the actual reset. This is the core of how to reset Arlo Essential camera in simple steps. It’s a hard reset, which means it erases all settings and returns the camera to factory defaults.

• Insert the paperclip into the reset hole.
• Press and hold the button for 10–15 seconds.
• Keep holding—even if the light doesn’t change right away.

After about 10 seconds, you’ll see the LED light on the camera flash rapidly. It might be white, blue, or green, depending on the model. That’s your cue: the reset is working.

Once the light flashes, release the button. The camera will restart automatically. This can take 30–60 seconds. Don’t panic if it seems quiet—just wait.

Real talk: I once only held it for 5 seconds and wondered why nothing happened. Patience is key. 10 seconds minimum. Set a timer if you need to.

Step 3: Confirm the Reset in the Arlo App

Now that the camera has restarted, it’s no longer connected to your account. That’s normal. The reset wiped everything.

Open the Arlo app on your phone. You’ll likely see a message like “Camera offline” or “Device not found.” That’s okay—this is part of the process.

Tap the “+” icon in the top right to add a new device. Choose “Arlo Essential” from the list.

The app will guide you through pairing. It might ask you to scan a QR code on the camera or enter a serial number. If you don’t see a QR code, tap “Enter manually.”

The serial number is usually on a sticker on the back or bottom of the camera. It starts with “A” or “V.”

Pro tip: Take a photo of the serial number before you start. That way, if the camera reboots and you lose your place, you’re not stuck.

Step 4: Reconnect to Wi-Fi

This is where many people get stuck. The Arlo Essential only works with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks. If your router broadcasts both 2.4 and 5 GHz, make sure you’re connecting to the 2.4 GHz one.

In the app, when prompted, select your Wi-Fi network and enter your password. Be careful—typos here are common.

The camera will try to connect. You’ll see a progress bar. This can take 1–2 minutes. During this time, the LED light on the camera will flash slowly.

If it fails, don’t worry. Try again. Sometimes the signal is weak or the password has a special character that confuses the app.

Common mistake: I once entered my Wi-Fi password with a “@” symbol, and the camera rejected it. The Arlo app doesn’t always handle special characters well. If possible, use letters and numbers only.

Step 5: Update Firmware (If Needed)

Once connected, the app might prompt you to update the camera’s firmware. Do it. Seriously.

Firmware updates fix bugs, improve performance, and sometimes resolve the exact issue that made you reset in the first place.

The update can take 3–5 minutes. The camera will restart again. Don’t unplug it or close the app.

After the update, the camera will reconnect to Wi-Fi and show up in your Arlo app as “Online.”

You’ll also see a live feed. Test it by walking in front of the camera. The motion detection should work.

Step 6: Reconfigure Your Settings

The reset wiped your settings. That means no motion alerts, no activity zones, no schedules.

Go back into the app and re-enable what you need:

• Motion detection: Turn it back on under “Activity Zones” or “Motion Sensitivity.”
• Activity Zones: Draw areas where you want motion alerts (like your front door, not the street).
• Notifications: Make sure your phone gets alerts. Check “Push Notifications” in the camera settings.
• Recording Schedule: Set when the camera should record (always, only during certain hours, etc.).
• Cloud or Local Storage: If you use Arlo Smart or local storage (like a microSD card), set it up again.

This part takes a few minutes, but it’s worth it. You’re customizing the camera to your home, not the factory default.

Step 7: Test Everything

Before you call it a day, test the camera thoroughly:

• Check the live feed. Is it clear? Is the view what you expect?
• Trigger motion detection. Walk in front of the camera. Do you get a notification?
• Check recording. Does it save clips to the cloud or microSD?
• Verify Wi-Fi stability. Leave it on for 10 minutes. Does it stay connected?

If everything works, great! You’ve successfully learned how to reset Arlo Essential camera in simple steps.

If something’s still off, don’t panic. Try the reset one more time. Sometimes the first reset doesn’t fully clear old settings.

Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

After resetting dozens of Arlo cameras (for myself, family, and friends), I’ve learned a few things the hard way. Here’s what you should know:

Tip 1: Use a Strong 2.4 GHz Signal

The Arlo Essential is picky about Wi-Fi. If your camera is far from the router, use a Wi-Fi extender or move it closer during setup.

I once tried to set up a camera in my backyard, but the signal was weak. It kept disconnecting. I moved it to the kitchen window (still outside), and it worked perfectly.

Tip 2: Label Your Cameras

If you have multiple Arlo cameras, label them in the app. Otherwise, after a reset, you won’t know which one is which.

Call them “Front Door,” “Back Porch,” or “Garage.” Makes life so much easier.

Tip 3: Reset Before Selling or Gifting

If you’re giving your Arlo Essential to someone else, reset it first. Otherwise, they’ll see your old recordings and settings—awkward.

I learned this when I gave my old camera to my sister. She called me, confused why she was getting alerts about “motion detected at John’s house.” Oops.

Common Mistake 1: Not Holding the Reset Button Long Enough

As I mentioned, 10 seconds is the minimum. Some people press it for 3–5 seconds and wonder why nothing happens.

The camera needs time to recognize the reset command. Be patient.

Common Mistake 2: Using 5 GHz Wi-Fi

This is the #1 reason resets fail. The Arlo Essential does not support 5 GHz. If your router combines 2.4 and 5 GHz into one network (like “HomeNetwork”), split them or temporarily rename the 2.4 GHz network to “HomeNetwork_2.4” so you can select it easily.

You can merge them again after setup.

Common Mistake 3: Skipping the Firmware Update

I used to skip updates, thinking “it works, why fix it?” But then the camera would glitch a week later.

Firmware updates fix bugs, improve security, and add new features. Always install them.

Common Mistake 4: Forgetting to Re-enable Alerts

After a reset, notifications are off by default. You have to turn them back on.

I once reset my camera, thought it was working, and didn’t realize I wasn’t getting alerts until I saw a delivery person on the live feed—two days later.

Real-life fix: After resetting, set a reminder on your phone to check the app in 10 minutes. Test alerts right away.

Bonus Tip: Use a MicroSD Card for Local Storage

If you’re having cloud issues, consider a microSD card. The Arlo Essential supports up to 256GB.

It’s a great backup. Even if the Wi-Fi drops, the camera records locally. And you don’t need a subscription.

Just insert the card, format it in the app, and enable local recording.

FAQs About How to Reset Arlo Essential Camera in Simple Steps

Q: Will resetting delete my old recordings?

Yes—but only from the cloud. If you have a microSD card, those recordings stay safe. Cloud clips are stored in your Arlo account, not on the camera. So once you reset and unlink the camera, those clips remain in your library (unless you delete them manually).

But if you’re using a subscription, make sure you’ve downloaded anything important before resetting.

Q: How often should I reset my Arlo camera?

Only when needed. I reset mine about once every 6–12 months, usually after a firmware update causes glitches or the camera starts acting sluggish.

If it’s working fine, don’t fix it. But if you’re seeing frequent disconnects, false alerts, or app errors, a reset can work wonders.

Q: Can I reset the camera without the app?

You can do the physical reset (Step 2), but you’ll need the app to reconnect it to Wi-Fi and your account. There’s no way around it.

The app is essential for pairing, updates, and settings. So yes—keep your phone handy.

Q: My camera won’t reset. What should I do?

Try these fixes:

• Make sure the camera is powered (battery charged or plugged in).
• Use a fresh paperclip—sometimes a bent or dull one won’t press the button properly.
• Hold the button for a full 15 seconds.
• Try a different power source. Sometimes a weak USB port doesn’t give enough juice.

If it still won’t reset, contact Arlo support. There might be a hardware issue.

Q: Does resetting affect my Arlo subscription?

Nope. Your subscription is tied to your account, not the camera. Resetting just unlinks the device. You can re-pair it to the same subscription.

You won’t lose any features or lose access to your plan.

Q: Can I reset multiple cameras at once?

No. Each Arlo Essential must be reset individually. But the process is quick—about 5 minutes per camera.

Just reset one, set it up, then move to the next. Don’t try to rush it. Take your time.

Q: What if I forget my Arlo account password?

Use the “Forgot Password” link on the Arlo login page. It’ll send a reset link to your email.

I’ve done this more times than I’d like to admit. It’s a simple fix—but it can delay your reset process. So keep your login info safe!

Final Thoughts

Resetting your Arlo Essential camera might sound intimidating, but it’s actually one of the easiest fixes for a ton of common issues.

Whether your camera is frozen, offline, or just acting weird, knowing how to reset Arlo Essential camera in simple steps puts you back in control.

And the best part? You don’t need to call tech support or buy a new camera. A paperclip and 10 minutes can solve most problems.

Remember: power up, press and hold for 10+ seconds, reconnect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, update firmware, and reconfigure your settings. Test everything before you walk away.

And if you run into a snag? Don’t stress. It happens to everyone. Just take a breath, double-check the steps, and try again.

Your peace of mind is worth it. Whether you’re watching your front door, keeping an eye on pets, or checking in on an empty house, a working camera makes all the difference.

So go ahead—reset that camera. You’ve got this. And now, you’ve got the guide to back you up.

Happy monitoring!