Is the CVR plan necessary for operating arlo pro 4 cameras

[Chalee]

Do I need to purchase the 9.99 CVR program to use my cameras?

[StephenB · Accepted solution]

---

@Chalee wrote:

Do I need to purchase the 9.99 CVR program to use my cameras?

---

No, (and most people don't subscribe to CVR).  Note it would also require both a smarthub (or compatible base) and that the cameras be connected to AC power.

You will need the Arlo Secure subscription to get cloud storage (among other features).

[VZAMORA]

Y devices are not recording as they world initially- why?? I can see only live

[JamesC]

VZAMORA,

What model cameras do you have?

JamesC

[AliciaZaza]

I have the same problem. I can not see Just live. Is not recording. I have Arlo Pro 4 spot light Camera

[StephenB]

---

@AliciaZaza wrote:
I have the same problem. I can not see Just live. Is not recording. I have Arlo Pro 4 spot light Camera

---

Do you have a subscription?

[AliciaZaza]

I have that 3 month trial.

[StephenB]

---

@AliciaZaza wrote:
I have that 3 month trial.

---

See if you can make a manual recording while live streaming.

[AliciaZaza]

Yes. I can. Just I tried.

[StephenB]

---

@AliciaZaza wrote:
Yes. I can. Just I tried.

---

Great.  So you do have a subscription.

Next check the mode/rules for the cameras.  Set the mode to "armed".  Check the rule for the camera inside the mode, and make sure that is set to record when motion is detected.  https://kb.arlo.com/42/What-are-modes-and-rules-and-how-does-Arlo-use-them

[Loggerville]

I sent an earlier post (sorry). I don't want to purchase a plan (I have ARLO PRO 4. Wifi. No hub). I have had the cameras for three months but I didn't sign up for plan. Just put them up and connected to wifi. Now they sent my ARLO app on my Library page that I cannot remove. I even rebooted. It says " Cloud storage keeps al your clips secure. Activate Arlo Secure. And the the  green " Learn More " button. I want to get rid of this and not have a cloud plan. Thoughts?

[Loggerville]

I don't want to purchase a plan either. How did you move on? I just got that message/notification on my Library tab of my iphone app that says to sign up for Arlo Secure and to click Learn More. How do I get rid of that to view my library?

[StephenB]

---

@Loggerville wrote:

I sent an earlier post (sorry). I don't want to purchase a plan (I have ARLO PRO 4. Wifi. No hub). I have had the cameras for three months but I didn't sign up for plan. 

---

https://kb.arlo.com/000062312/What-options-will-I-have-when-the-Arlo-trial-ends

Unfortunately, if you want recordings, you either need to purchase a smart hub (VMB4540 or VMB5000), and use its direct access to local storage feature, or you need to get a single-camera Secure Subscription.  

If you go with the smart hub, the payback would be about 3 years - assuming you can actually find a smarthub at list price. 

There are quite a few limitations to direct access:

• Only available in the app (not the browser)
• Only available to the primary account holder (not friend accounts)
• No ability to make manual recordings or snapshots
• No thumbnails
• Remote access requires router configuration, and some find it difficult to set up.

[Loggerville]

Thank you so much. I understand about the limitations of direct access. I assume that is what I have. No hub, just wifi and have video, etc., on my phone via the ARLO app. I just want to continue that. Nothing more, nothing less. Yes, the ARLO folks put that message on my app and I can't get rid of it to just keep doing what I'm doing. If I have to sign up for this " keep as is" program, I just need to know how to do it and get rid of that message block. I have looked all over teh website and the app, and nothing. Even though it says you can not sign up for a plan and keep as it. Frustrating.

Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you!

[StephenB]

---

@Loggerville wrote:

I understand about the limitations of direct access. I assume that is what I have.

---

No.  Direct Access requires a smarthub, which you don't have.  What you had before was cloud storage (due to the trial subscription).

The only ways to get recordings are 

• purchase a smarthub
• purchase a subscription 

You can purchase the subscription by logging into your account on a PC (my.arlo.com), and going into settings->subscription.

[Loggerville]

Thank you. I go to my account on the PC and one, there is not Subscription tab in Settings. Then it says to register my devices which I did when I  bought them but did on the app. The web also says to go to the App to do that as the best way. I of course, as noted,  have the app with my cameras and devices in there, etc. I go to the app and it has Subscriptions but says to go to the PC to manage. Frustrating.

Do I need to do the device adding all over again via the PC? Do I uninstall everything on my phone and redo it?

Or is there some other way? I just want to by the most basic subscription. Thank you.

[StephenB]

---

@Loggerville wrote:

Thank you. I go to my account on the PC and one, there is not Subscription tab in Settings.

---

You aren't seeing this?

Are you using the same username/password as you use in the app?

[Loggerville]

So I go to the ARLO app and it says to subscribe to click here. I do and I go to the plans. I click on a plan and the message says " You need your cameras in your account to start a subsciption ".  Ok, but in looking at my app on teh phone, my cameras are all there under devices as they have to be when I signed up 3 months ago.

I go to Setting on the App and is say I have no plan, and 0 cameras participating. It says to go to the PC web to manage. 

Back to square one going around and around. 

[Loggerville]

Ok, well, there it is! I did use a different email for some reason. I'm going to do 100 pushups as a penalty for being an idiot.........

Thank you so much for your help. You're awesome and I do appreciate it!