topic Re: floodlight stops working if iphone is off or app is off in Arlo Pro 3

floodlight stops working if iphone is off or app is off

bookjason — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 00:42:11 GMT

i have an arlo pro 3, plugged in, running the arlo app on my iphone. no hub, no subscriptions. the device is 100% working on wifi (no interruptions) and is 100% battery, those are definitely NOT the problem.

if i open the app on my phone and do anything, then go outside at night, the floodlight turns on as programmed and works beautifully. but if i turn my phone off or swipe the app closed, the floodlight stops working and goes into offline mode.

this can't possibly be the intended functionality for the device. there is no possible way that anybody would have programmed the light to fail if my phone is off. please advise. thank you.

Re: floodlight stops working if iphone is off or app is off

Dannybear — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 01:25:17 GMT

What mode do you have selected on the camera.

If armed mode then it should work as expected regardless of the mobile app.

If you are using geofencing then when you turn off the phone the camera may decide your at home and disable the camera.

The mobile app uses a run in background mode that needs to be enabled to keep your login active. Look in the phone settings under the arlo app for the settings.

Re: floodlight stops working if iphone is off or app is off

bookjason — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 01:55:30 GMT

in armed mode. no geofence, no activity zone.

but are you saying that if that app on my phone isn't running 100% of the time, the entire security camera won't work?!?!

Re: floodlight stops working if iphone is off or app is off

StephenB — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 01:58:04 GMT

@bookjason wrote:
but are you saying that if that app on my phone isn't running 100% of the time, the entire security camera won't work?!?!

No, @Dannybear was just explaining that geofencing needed the phone (and app) to be running, because the geofencing location is coming from the phone.

But that doesn't apply if you are just using the armed mode.

Re: floodlight stops working if iphone is off or app is off

bookjason — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 02:02:22 GMT

so what do you suggest? pulling my hair out here. it keeps switching to disabled mode.. see attachment.

Re: floodlight stops working if iphone is off or app is off

Dannybear — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 05:50:54 GMT

Can you confirm that the camera is connecting to the local wifi router for internet connection. I.e your not using your phone’s hotspot wifi, the camera does require constant internet access.

Re: floodlight stops working if iphone is off or app is off

StephenB — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 11:40:30 GMT

@bookjason wrote:

i have an arlo pro 3, plugged in, running the arlo app on my iphone. no hub, no subscriptions. the device is 100% working on wifi (no interruptions) and is 100% battery, those are definitely NOT the problem.

Just to clarify - do you mean the floodlight? Or the Pro 4?

The Pro 3 can't be connected with WiFi, and requires a smarthub.

Re: floodlight stops working if iphone is off or app is off

bookjason — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 13:41:53 GMT

thanks all for the swift replies! based on some of your great questions and comments, i can provide more clarity around the problem and the set-up:

:: Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera

:: WELL connected to a network called "house"

:: plugged in (battery indicator light switched on to confirm full charge)
:: configured through app on my iPhone

:: mode set to armed – turn floodlight on and send notification checked

as long as my iphone is on and connected to the same wifi network called "house", the motion sensor light turns on AND the floodlight turns on (at night, when motion is detected)

if my phone is off, or on any other network, or not on a network, the motion sensor light turns on BUT the floodlight DOES NOT turn on

this means that the floodlight only works if i'm home, which can't POSSIBLY be right. isn't the whole point of a security system to monitor my house and send me a notification that there's motion when i'm away?!?!?

hope hat helps clarify the situation, and that somebody has a great answer. thanks again in advance. =jason

Re: floodlight stops working if iphone is off or app is off

StephenB — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 14:16:09 GMT

@bookjason wrote:

as long as my iphone is on and connected to the same wifi network called "house", the motion sensor light turns on AND the floodlight turns on (at night, when motion is detected)

if my phone is off, or on any other network, or not on a network, the motion sensor light turns on BUT the floodlight DOES NOT turn on

Can you log into my.arlo.com from a PC (windows or mac)?

Then if the camera is disarmed or turned off, try re-enabling it and see if that works.

If it does, then try livestreaming the camera.

Re: floodlight stops working if iphone is off or app is off

Dannybear — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 21:23:37 GMT

You also have the option to remove the camera from the account and add back again to see if the issue gets resolved.

I can’t say that I have seen any previous reports of the issue you describe but that said it would be difficult for a customer to recognise that you need the app open for the floodlight to work.