Remote access through VPN to local storage on Android app

[rlpjsh]

Is anyone able to access local storage outside their LAN through a VPN (without port forwarding) using the Android Arlo app? I have no problem accessing local storage when on my LAN but am unable to access when outside through VPN. I have verified that my Android VPN connection is functioning correctly.
[My iPad Arlo app is able to access local storage outside my LAN through VPN without issue. The problem is with the Android app. (Feature request to Arlo: Access local storage through the web on my.arlo.com with thumbnails!)]
I am using a Netgear R6700v3, OpenVPN, No-IP DDNS.
If you are able to access local storage outside your LAN using the Android app without port forwarding, please share your setup, thanks.

[JamesC]

The SmartHub firmware release addressing this issue is now available. Please test again and let us know if you're still experiencing this issue.

To verify you have the latest firmware version, check here: https://community.arlo.com/t5/Firmware-Release-Notes/bd-p/arlo-release-notes?cid=a

JamesC

[JonTelling]

Not working for me either.

I would have expected an app update as well given it will be locating the hub differently...

🙂

1.17.1.2_1090_0e6c162

VMB4540r2

[Djaboloke_]

Same, no option for local over VPN

[dcfox1]

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@Jerry_L wrote:
My device is still at level 1090 and when I go to check for firmware updates it says none are available... How do I update to the latest firmware for the VPN fix?

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Do you have the VMB4540? the latest is 1090oe6c162. The VMB5000 is different. 

Arlo SmartHub VMB4540 - 1.17.1.2_1090_0e6c162 - 28... - Arlo Community

[pjama]

 Thanks for looking into this although I can confirm this update has not fixed the issue for me either.

Firmware 1.17.1.2_1157_0e6c162

Hardware VMB5000r4

App Version 3.5.13_28425 on Android 10 on Galaxy S9+ using an IPSec VPN into Asus router.

While my phone is connected to the home wireless network I CAN get to the videos stored on the SD card. It's been a while since I used it but I never noticed the thumbnail for downloaded videos before. If it's new: well done, thanks.

When I connect via IPSec VPN, the app tries to download the list of videos from the base station but after about 10 seconds it comes up with the usual blah, blah blah, Try Again. I've got everything routed via the VPN and I can get to both internet and local/home network when it's on so I know it works.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: There's a lot of smart people in this forum who'd only be too willing to help but we've got nothing to go on. How does this even work? Does it broadcast, scan for ports, DNS lookup, connectivity info from portal? "SmartHub firmware release addressing this issue is now available" really doesn't help us to help you to help us get what we paid for. I can run tcpdump on my router to see traffic between my phone and the base station but it's like looking for a needle in a haystack as I have no idea what I'm looking for.

Cheers

P

[jguerdat]

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@ryans27 wrote:

Still not showing local storage icon on my Ultra 2 cameras through OpenVPN.

Android 12, Pixel 4

FW: 1.17.1.2_1157_0e6c162

VMB5000r6

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I see the same thing on my Pixel 5. No pulldown to switch to the local recordings. @JamesC 

[Ummie]

Still no change. The choice between cloud or local storage will not show up using vpn out of home. 

[JamesC]

A fix for this issue has been deployed. This fix should be automatic for those who already have local storage set up. If you're still experiencing an issue, try logging out and logging back in to your mobile app and try again.

Thanks,

JamesC

[Baconneggs15]

Still failing here. Can access other servers fine. Arlo local videos still not accessible for me through OpenVPN.

Pixel 4
Vmb5000r6
1.17.12_1157

[jguerdat]

Same here on my Pixel 6 using the OpenVPN connection to my Netgear router. There's no ability to select the local recordings.

[ryans27]

Any update here @JamesC? Or at least any upcoming functionality to access local files via web (my.arlo.com) through VPN?

[werzeric]

Hi,

This so-called fix is not a fix: it simply does not work...

No way to download to my Pixel 5 via OpenVPN the videos recorded on my hubs (whether it is a 4540 or a 5000).

And yes: my hubs are up to date with the latest firmware.

This "VPN" option is documented/advertised by Arlo as the recommended & safe alternative to "port forwarding" and somehow I paid for it to work!

Looking at the other posts about this issue (some are now quiet two years old) and the annoying message (praising cloud storage) that pops up every time I try to select download from my SD, I wonder if it is not Arlo's will to force our hand to subscribe to "cloud" storage, the cost of which is prohibitive - to say the least!!!

If there is a real technical challenge or even impossible to make this option work under Android (allow me to doubt it), then dear Mr. Arlo : say it simply and clearly because we are able to understand.

Cheers;

Eric

[DonThomaso]

Waiting too - since 2 Years for now. It's one of ugliest experience I 've ever made. Pure waste of time for merely blah blah blah

[kevharper]

So after over 2 years there it's still not possible to connect to local storage over a VPN using the Android app?   Did Arlo lie to us to preserve their subscription revenue?

[jguerdat]

Depends on how the VPN is set up and which app you're using. AFAIK, the Android app still doesn't work with OpenVPN which is what Netgear routers use. Apparently the iOS app works fine.

[kevharper]

Yes, it seems like an app issue to me as users have tried to get it to work on a VPN for years  with no success or help from Arlo (according to google searching).

[og1]

Can someone from Arlo please comment on this issue? It seems there are a number of users all experiencing the same issue with no response from Arlo. I have invested a significant amount of money in Arlo with the expectation that a basic vpn setup from an Android phone would work.

- Have you been able to reproduce the problem?

- If not, what is your exact setup?

- If yes, do you intend to resolve it? When?

Thanks

[Djaboloke_]

I gave up and went to the competition. Arlo is a joke...

[og1]

I just confirmed that with the EXACT same setup, accessing local storage works over vpn works fine from an iphone but does not work from android. Both the app and firmware are all latest.