Arlo has quietly desupported security cameras wihout notifying customers

ThatGuy00 — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 20:27:58 GMT

To be clear most people use security cameras to watch over their property so suddenly turning a system off without notifying the clients is actionable. And apparently that is what Arlo is doing. If you are using Arlo for anything valuable better check if it's working because it is slowly degrading it's usefulness.

Here's Gemini's take based on an internet search.

Arlo has faced significant backlash regarding its End-of-Life (EOL) policy, which critics and users have described as removing support for older cameras with inadequate notice or in ways that turn functional hardware into "bricks". While Arlo does provide a public list of EOL devices, users have complained about the sudden loss of functionality, such as free cloud storage, and forced transitions to subscription models.

Key Aspects of Arlo’s Support Changes:
Controversial EOL Policy: Arlo previously announced plans to remove features like 7-day free cloud storage for legacy cameras, but partially reversed this decision in 2023 following user backlash, extending support for some devices to 2025/2026.

Reduced Functionality: EOL cameras lose firmware updates and technical support, and sometimes lose cloud recording features, leaving users with only live-view capabilities.

Forced Subscriptions: Users have reported that updates and policy changes are designed to force them into paying for Arlo Secure subscriptions.

Hidden Feature Removal: Users have complained that, in some cases, features like Activity Zones, which were promised as part of the initial purchase, were removed from legacy products without clear notice.

"Bricking" Complaints: Community forums show frustration where older, fully functional cameras are made unusable or "bricked" by removing them from cloud support, rendering them useless for security

Alternatives and Workarounds:

Local Storage: Some users have transitioned to using Arlo base stations that support local storage (USB/SD card) to avoid subscription fees, although this may lack some smart features.

Third-Party Solutions: Projects like "Seemour" are being developed by the community to keep older, unsupported Arlo hardware alive.

Switching Brands: Many frustrated users have expressed switching to competitors, such as Eufy, that offer local storage without mandatory subscriptions.

Re: Arlo has quietly desupported security cameras wihout notifying customers

BrookeN — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:53:12 GMT

There are some cameras that are EOL, which means they will be no longer supported with software updates and such. However, they do still work and the legacy devices do in fact still have the free 7 days storage. That was never disabled or taken away, that is still available.

Activity zones is still available on the legacy devices. You just need to use continuous power to use that feature. See link below:
https://www.arlo.com/en_gb/support/faq/1001908/What-are-activity-zones-and-how-do-I-create-them?srsltid=AfmBOorqAdOzOi-BzGKoiyis0DzPJi0Zke2B59CCMV-vxWi8n3dJciaj

Since 2018 Arlo has required subscriptions for many features for the cameras. That was not a recent change. But the cameras are not bricked and do function as normal.

topic Arlo has quietly desupported security cameras wihout notifying customers in Arlo

Arlo has quietly desupported security cameras wihout notifying customers

Re: Arlo has quietly desupported security cameras wihout notifying customers