Static preview image in notifications not working

[pc2k17]

After the recent update I no longer get static preview images in the Arlo notification. I'm on the latest Android.

If I turn on animated previews, those do work.

Did Arlo remove the static image preview option?

Thanks.

[ShayneS]

Thank you for your patience as we work to resolve this. A fix is planned for the next app update and should be included in the upcoming release. I'll provide more updates if anything changes. 

[ShayneS]

@pc2k17 

It looks like the team has a fix in the works to resolve this, I will continue to provide updates here. 

[ShayneS]

@pc2k17 

What are you seeing for the thumbnail on the dashboard and devices screen? Do you have a screenshot of this you can provide?

Thanks 

[pjama]

I too have this recent problem. It's only started in the last week or so. I have/had all my notifications set to non animated because the animated notifications didn't work on my watch where as the still image did work.

Now, there is no image in the notifications on the phone (nor watch). If I turn animations on, I get animated images on my phone but no notification at all on my watch. I've flicked between non animated to animated and back again but this didn't fix it.

To reiterate: image that used to appear in notifications no longer does.

I have a samsung S22 ultra, android 15, arlo app version 6.3.3_6030301, Released 08/14/25. That release coincides with about when the problem started for m.

[pc2k17]

I don't use the dash board, I find it silly and redundant. In the devices screen I see the thumbnails like usual. Nothing changed with that.

It's when you get an alert, the notification that pops up or is in the notification center has no picture at all, just text. I could post a pic, but it's really just the notification without any picture at all.

Just text shows... for example it says:

Arlo Secure 6:29pm

Person detected at Home

Person detected on Garage Camera at 6:26pm

No picture at all, just the text. If I turn on animated preview then I get the animated gif and the text in the notification.

This is for all 9 of my cameras... models are - Arlo Pro, Arlo Pro 2, Arlo Pro 4, doorbell.

[ShayneS]

@pc2k17 Are you using Android as well, What App version are you using? 

[ShayneS]

Version 6.3.4 just released, can you test with that version real quick as well. 

[ShayneS]

I was able to replicate a similar symptom with the latest version as well. I have notified the team, just waiting for more info/verification.

Thanks 

[pc2k17]

I have version 6.3.3. And yes I am on android, latest version, all security updates. Samsung S24 phone.

Ok, thanks for checking on this. Sounds like a bug. My guess is most use the animated preview so they haven't noticed this bug. I use the static because my old phone didn't do well with the animated, I got used to it and just left it. For now I turned the animated preview on, but I'd prefer the static.

[secaz]

Arlo strikes again

Android app version 6.3.4_6030402, Android 15, Samsung S21 Ultra, One UI 7.o

I have the same issue - no longer get static thumbnail in push notifications after updating app.

In ADDITION, my automatons no longer work if I manually change alarm mode.  In the morning, for example, I will manually change to STANDBY when I take my dogs out.  When next automation is scheduled, which is ARM HOME, rolls around, it will not activate ARM HOME because of my previously having manually activated STANDBY.

So if I manually activate a mode, then afterwards the system automations will not activate the desired mode at the desired time.

Now I have to constantly check what mode is active and manually switch modes to correct.  Thank you Arlo.  More things to chase around.

[StephenB]

---

@secaz wrote:

In ADDITION, my automatons no longer work if I manually change alarm mode.  In the morning, for example, I will manually change to STANDBY when I take my dogs out.  When next automation is scheduled, which is ARM HOME, rolls around, it will not activate ARM HOME because of my previously having manually activated STANDBY.

---

Can you post a screenshot of the automation that isn't working?  I am wondering if the enable list includes STANDBY.

[pc2k17]

Got an arlo app update today and the problem still remains, no static preview images.

Also after the app update all my cameras went offline and I could not view them the entire day. Seems to be working again now. I did nothing to fix it, it just fixed itself, which tells me it was on arlos end.

The problem we have here is the Arlo developers are really bad at what they do. In 30 years in IT, they are probably the worst I have ever seen. Constant, constant, constant, constant bugs, and those take weeks, even months to fix, all while they break 3 others things while trying to fix other issues.

The only way Arlo gets fixed is if you FIRE your entire dev staff and hire new people who are competent coders.

The only reason I still have Arlo cameras is because my other cameras don't do the previews in the notification. Other than that, my other cameras are far superior. Please provide an update on this bug. 

[pc2k17]

Static images still not working.

And AGAIN today my cameras went offline. All my other cameras, my security system, my weather station, and the 54 smart home devices I have were ALL online, only Arlo was down again.

This is what happens when you go woke and have DEI hires developing your app.

@ShayneS  --- please post a status update to this issue.

[ShayneS]

@pc2k17 

I am inquiring with the team for more information regarding the static image. For your other concern with cameras offline, do you mind starting a new thread and tagging me and I will continue to look in to that symptom. 

[secaz]

This issue with automations malfunction was Arlo decided to mess with my settings again.  Got changed to PM from AM. Why o why did Arlo do away with the 24 hour clock option?  Across the years Arlo also has had a difficult time figuring out my time zone and would set it to somewhere on the other side of the world. Apparently Arlo just can't deal with a time zone that doesn't change it's clocks twice a year. I was also having issues with cameras not triggering so looked at automations and discovered that many of my cameras had MOTION DETECTION disabled.  And some that DID have motion detection enabled the SEND NOTIFICATION option was DISABLED. Things were working ok'one day then the next many things were broken, including static thumbnail in notifications.  Always after some crap update Arlo pushes out or back end programming change. It's the most unreliable system ever conceived. 

[ShayneS]

@pc2k17 

It looks like the team has a fix in the works to resolve this, I will continue to provide updates here. 

[secaz]

Still not resolved. 

Was there a reason why they couldn't just review the code that was in place when it DID work and then incorporate that back in?  Why does Arlo that away functionality?  Like modes.  That was the most disruptive "improvement" every, especially for those of us who have many cameras and base stations and a need for different settings depending on time of day. 

[pc2k17]

Got an app update today and it is still not fixed.

And the animated notifications take 15-30 seconds to show up. What good is that if someone is breaking in.

I want the managers name, phone number, and email address for what ever "team" you're talking about.

Get this fixed or we move to the next step.....

@ShayneS Please provide an update.

[jguerdat]

The animated notifications require that the video be uploaded so the servers can process it - the camera doesn't do that on its own. That just takes time.

[pc2k17]

Which is why I use the static image. The animation takes too long to show up. And besides all you need to know is what triggered the alert, not where or how it moved. That's what the video is for. For an animal alert all you need to know is what animal, same with car, what car, for people it's who was the person. Static image shows the object, oh it my neighbors cat, or its the UPS guy, or hmm idk that car pulling into my driveway better pull the video up. Animations not needed.

The static image is instant, comes instantly with the alert. Having to wait to see what the alert is about only gives the bad guys more time to do bad things.

Hopefully they fix it soon, it's really the only reason I stay with Arlo at this point. If not fixed, then after 8 years using Arlo, it might be time to get rid of Arlo and replace with the other camera system I use, which is free btw.

[ShayneS]

Thank you for your patience as we work to resolve this. A fix is planned for the next app update and should be included in the upcoming release. I'll provide more updates if anything changes.