topic Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station in Arlo Pro

Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

AMS59 — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 14:05:31 GMT

I have an older model Arlo base station with Arlo Pro VMC4030 wireless camera setup. Trying to sync a replacement camera for a destroyed unit but unsuccessful following the Arlo App manual search process. Any suggestions?

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

ShayneS — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 17:21:49 GMT

@AMS59

Was this a previously used camera that you are trying to add?

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

TTBRB — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 01:52:09 GMT

I have the same problem. One camera, will call it Camera 1, needed to be charged, and the other pro camera, will call it Camera 2, was working just fine. After charging Camera 1, it still was showing as offline, and the battery was charged. But to make sure it wasn't a battery issue, I inserted the spare battery into the camera, it still wouldn't allow me to toggle it back on because it was showing offline. So, took down Camera 2 from the house just to do a second battery issue check, and the same thing happened. I then followed all of the troubleshooting tips of removing the battery, restarting the base station, blah blah blah - nothing has worked. So, in the meantime, I charged Camera 2 battery as well. Put in the Camera and now it won't go online either. Switched both batteries from Camera 1 to Camera 2 and vice versa. Nothing. So, I plugged them in to see if that would help. NOTHING. So, then troubleshooting said to remove the device from the app and readd it. BIG MISTAKE, now Camera 2 - can't sync (no blue light). So I followed all of the troubleshooting tips - NOTHING. Called SUPPORT and they can't help!!!!!! So, here I am searching for a person who can help before I call the lawyer. My cameras were working fine prior to the lasted firmware update on 9/10/2025. NOW they are not. But my NEWER cameras are working. What is wrong with that picture? Both of my ARLO PRO originals are worthless now. SO, I equate this to anyone buying an Iphone or Galaxy and those companies decide to "sunset them" and then make them so they don't work to force you to buy a new phone. You know like Microsoft does with Windows 10. How is this legal? I need to know how to get my cameras back online and working. OR does anyone have any other camera systems that they can recommend that doesn't cost you money to subscribe? I am going to be cancelling my service for the new cameras - I will sell them as used, and then I am going to send back the new camera I ordered (that has been on backorder). I AM DONE IF THIS DOESN"T GET FIXED. Please advise anyone.

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

ShayneS — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 19:28:08 GMT

@TTBRB

Did this occur with an Android or iOS device and which version of the Arlo app?

Is there an LED light illuminating when you initially insert a charged battery?

Have you tried Installing over the web portal?

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

Kgrijalva1 — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 05:11:10 GMT

I'm also having the very same issue. My base station won't pick up any of my previously synced cameras and arlo support said they were no longer offering support on these cameras and sent me a trouble shooting link to read. Any help would be appreciated.

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

ShayneS — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 23:30:11 GMT

Hi @Kgrijalva1

The support team is correct, if your device appears on the EOL list here, it’s no longer supported. If a factory reset doesn’t resolve this, we won’t be able to provide further assistance for this product. We’d recommend exploring our current models as an upgrade path.

May I ask which troubleshooting steps you have tried so far so we can exhaust all troubleshooting options. I don't want to suggest anything you have previously performed.

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

Kgrijalva1 — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 03:31:22 GMT

Hello,

I've removed/ added my base station, restarted my modem, removed the batteries from the camera multiple times, and tried the whole process over again.

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

ShayneS — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:06:09 GMT

@Kgrijalva1

Can you provide more details regarding the "previous synced statement" Did you remove the cameras initially?

VM4030 cameras will not connect to base

clolarte — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 22:28:13 GMT

I had one that had a dead battery for a few weeks (it worked fine before the battery died) when I replaced the battery it powered on and showed it connected but would not come up in the app. I had 4 other cameras - all of which were showing in app and working. It was only this one camera that would not show as active in app (it was in app but showed as offline) I did a few searches and one advice was to reset the base station and re-add cameras - I was like ok no problem. Reset base station - it was gone from app - good right? I then re-added base unit, again no issues. It shows up in app - awesome! I go to add cameras, following the instructions (they are pretty simple) blue light starts flashing slow and steady - after a few short seconds it flashes quickly then stops - should be connected right? App stays at the "search" mode and never adds the camera. This repeats for all 5 cameras. I then tried to reset all cameras - pretty easy process as well. But now no cameras will connect... Tell me there is a solution that I am somehow missing!?!?! 4 cameras were working just before the reset and the 5th one was working before the battery died. it makes no sense that none of them will connect to the base now.

Re: VM4030 cameras will not connect to base

jguerdat — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 12:03:03 GMT

Unfortunately, this is a recurring problem. I don't have any answers since it seems to be something going on (likely) in the backend software.

Re: VM4030 cameras will not connect to base

jjsmith332 — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 19:22:52 GMT

I’ve had a similar problem. Recently in the app my cameras show as offline but I receive motion notifications and can see the recordings in the app, but cannot connect to anything. My cameras are Arlo pro 2

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

clolarte — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:08:46 GMT

what???? so because the fw updated in sept of this year and our cameras are on the EOL list that as soon as we disconnect them or the batteries die they are now unusable???? There was nothing wrong with them - why would you arbitrarily brick them?

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

jguerdat — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:23:44 GMT

I don't work for Arlo. Only those with an Arlo-specific avatar do.

AFAIK, there has been no firmware update to the cameras since around 2021. The base stations, however, are not EOL and do receive occasional firmware updates. WHether that causes the issue is debatable since this scenario has been going on for maybe 2 years. You can scan through the posts here to find a large amount of similar issues over a long time.

Also, this doesn't happen to everyone apparently. It sucks when it happens to you and there seems to be no options to get them working.

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

clolarte — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:09:24 GMT

I referenced it because above the one guy said his were working fine until the FW update on 9/10/2025 (and this is for the base/hub) - my base/hub also did an update around 9/10 as well - I dont remember exact date but was in the past 3 weeks. worked still until the one camera battery died, then that one quit, when I followed the troubleshooting tips of removing base and re-adding then no cameras would connect after that.

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

dwrjh — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:59:18 GMT

It is very sad that your update messed up everything for the older cameras.

The new app also sucks.

The original app worked just fine forever.

It is just a money grab.

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

clolarte — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 03:08:04 GMT

I agree - I have tried all versions of the base units that arlo provides - none of them will connect to my existing cameras. I am being forced (if I wish to still use arlo cameras) to pay for a subscription service. I never used their server - I used my own. I had zero issue with the cameras for years. Then they pushed an update that essentially made all my cameras useless. Their suggestion? buy new cameras and pay for a subscription....

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

ShayneS — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:43:58 GMT

HI @dwrjh

Thank you for your feedback. Can you provide more detail regarding the symptom your experiencing and I'll do my best to assist.

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

clolarte — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:19:49 GMT

nothing further to explain - Arlo already told me the 5 cameras I bought years ago (that worked perfectly until the new FW for the base station was installed) were "End of Life" cameras and I would have to buy new cameras. And then new cameras require a "subscription" - So their solution was for me to buy all new cameras that are not "End of Life" cameras and get a paid monthly subscription if I wanted to still use Arlo. One FW update made my 5 perfectly working camera's "Broken" -- all of this so what? Arlo can push monthly subscription? Total rip off.

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

ShayneS — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:18:48 GMT

@clolarte

If you could provide a bit more detail about the specific symptom you're experiencing, I'd be happy to help. It sounds like you can't onboard your smart hub or connect a camera after a firmware update? Is that what you're referencing? Please note, the more detail you provide, the better I can assist. If your device has reached end of life, you will continue to have 7-day free cloud recordings you can find more info here. However, firmware updates and support options may be limited.

Re: Arlo pro VMC4030 - inability to add to base station

clolarte — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:37:21 GMT

All of this has been explained at least 2 or 3 times now. Not sure why I keep getting asked the same questions over and over.

The hub got a fw update via the app - after that 1 camera was not connecting - so I removed it and tried to readd it - could not. At that point all other cameras still worked. I thought maybe the hub had issues with the update. So I removed the hub and readded the hub which means I would need to reconnect the cameras - the cameras sync visibly in that the lights on hub and camera say they are synced however the cameras do not show up in the app.

AS PREVIOUSLY STATED - ARLO staff told me it is because the cameras I have are no longer supported and are END OF LIFE cameras.

Because of the FW update the cameras can no longer be added to the app.

I had to throw them all away because there was no no way to use them - this was months ago. Nothing else can be done about it.