topic Re: Constant issues with my camera in Arlo Essential Security Camera 3rd Gen

Constant issues with my camera

michelhachey — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:56:11 GMT

I've had my camera for about a year now and it's been a frustrating experience to say the least. I did a lot of research before purchasing a security camera, and Arlo kept coming up as a reliable, highly-rated option.

My experience has been very different. The activity zones don't work, I keep running into error messages, it won't pick up someone 10 feet from the camera, but will notify me EVERY TIME a car goes by on the street some 50 feet away, selecting events vs not selecting them doesn't make a difference, and on and on an. I've played with every setting, but to no avail.

Has anyone run into this? Is it just me, do I have a 'lemon'? I am so, so close to just throwing this camera in the trash and getting another from a competitor.

A disappointed, frustrated customer.

Re: Constant issues with my camera

BrookeN — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 18:41:59 GMT

With the activity zones what error are you seeing when setting them up? Have you followed these step?

https://kb.arlo.com/000062938

Regarding the missed recordings can you go through these steps and make sure that you changed the sensitivity and such:

https://kb.arlo.com/000063378/Why-am-I-missing-some-but-not-all-recordings-from-my-Arlo-Feed

Re: Constant issues with my camera

michelhachey — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 20:31:13 GMT

A couple of links shared here without acknowledging my frustrations is not the type of response I expected from Arlo Support, especially after I pointed out I had played with the settings already. Into the garbage it goes I guess.

Re: Constant issues with my camera

BrookeN — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:18:02 GMT

I understand the frustration, however some of the steps are missed when trying to set up activity zones. So I always like to double check that all steps were tried.

Also, it would be helpful to know what error you are seeing when trying to set up activity zones. Are you seeing the missed recordings on only one camera or numerous cameras?

Re: Constant issues with my camera

StephenB — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 15:35:40 GMT

@michelhachey wrote:

The activity zones don't work, I keep running into error messages

Do you have a subscription?

Re: Constant issues with my camera

BrookeN — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:18:47 GMT

There is a subscription on the account.