Recent app update has disabled schedules and geofencing

[VictoriaPe]

I have the most updated app and cameras. The new app has the Arm Away, Arm Home and Standby "Modes".

Is there are way to create a 4th mode? I'd like to be able to customize my modes a little more.

[StephenB]

---

@scmbowman wrote:

I am experiencing a frustrating issue with my Arlo system’s automations and mode switching. Here’s the problem:

1. I want my driveway cameras to activate the siren only when motion is detected between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM.
2. However, when I create an automation for this time frame, the siren immediately activates at 1:00 AM instead of waiting for motion detection.
3. The only way I can make the siren work only when motion is detected is by setting up a mode where motion triggers the siren.
4. However, I only have three mode options (Arm Away, Arm Home, and Standby), and I need more flexibility.

---

One of several scenerios where three modes isn't enough.

Arlo has said that they will add back custom modes or equivalent, but they haven't said when.   Hopefully that will be soon.

[JamesC]

We’ve heard your feedback, and the development team is working hard to deliver a similar custom modes experience that legacy users have come to enjoy while maintaining all the new improvements and features included in the latest version of the Arlo Secure App. We will keep the community up to date as we approach the release of this highly anticipated feature.

Thank you all for your continued feedback in helping make the Arlo experience the best it can be!

For more information about the latest Arlo Secure App, see here: https://www.arlo.com/en-us/new-arlo-secure-app

[lihos7]

Can someone from arlo give a more recent update on this, it's ridiculous how limited the new app is.  You can't do anything effectively without custom modes.

[robertgonsa]

Doing things just based on a schedule or arrive/leave is not realistic is the 21st century. When is the commitment coming to include this feature again?

Also, gotta love the support page when you enter your issue, click next and choose to go to chat and have to reenter the same thing. Very frustrating that your data entry is not carried forward. 

[eriklindgren]

I have been a loyal Arlo customer for a decade and have invested in over 30 cameras. These investments were based on Arlo’s system functionality, where it was possible to control individual cameras (when they are active, what should trigger them, and what they should do, individually). Now, when Arlo – without warning – has forced customers onto its new system, all of this functionality has disappeared. Thus, I am stuck with a large implementation that is now essentially useless to me.
For more than a year Arlo have said that an upcoming update with custom modes is on the way. I note that this has still not happened. How long are we customers supposed to keep paying for services that no longer exist, while hoping that you will resolve this by implementing the promised custom modes? Trust in Arlo is unfortunately at the lowest possible level after this.
Give us customers clear answers – tell us when custom modes will return, so that we can make informed decisions. Either abandon Arlo for good and invest in something else or wait for you to finally return functionality to how it was before, with the ability to control individual cameras. Being honest and straightforward to its customers is the least one can demand from a supplier.

[Edinburgh_lad1]

We've all been loyal and invested a considerable amount. It actually makes no difference. And I'm stuck with them for my sins. 🤣

[kodpkd]

This new app is the MOST convoluted app I have ever seen.  I have had ARLO for many many years. I am done! I need to find a way to use my cameras without using the ARLO app.  

[Slolearner]

Received an email today "Your Arlo Secure App has been updated." and everything is rearranged. I have gone through the pop-ups that have Help to Explore these changes trying to learn how to use the app. I have tried on my phone (iphone) and also on a Windows Laptop using the web version of the app.

I have found all my custom modes but have trouble with the scheduling of seven specific modes. I have tried the automated chat help walk through to add a Schedule, but when I step through the instructions I cannot find how to select one of my unique  previously configured modes. I cannot find a recent post in this community with an answer. All appear to be from first of the year. The referenced chat assistance instructions are copied below:

To find the Schedule mode in the Arlo Secure App, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Arlo Secure App or log in to your Arlo account at my.arlo.com.
2. Tap or click on Routines.
3. Tap or click the Add icon (usually represented by a plus sign) in the upper-right corner of the screen.
4. Tap or click Add Schedule to create a new Schedule Automation.

In the Schedule Automation setup, you can select the days of the week and set the time for the automation to occur. You can also choose actions such as changing the mode, sending notifications, or recording a video at the specified time. Additionally, you can set the schedule to match the sunrise or sunset for your location.

For more detailed instructions on setting up Schedule Automations, you can refer to the section on creating a Schedule Automation in the Arlo Secure App documentation.

It appears that there are three options in mode selection, Arm, Disarm, Standby. I cannot select one of my previously configured custom modes or create a new replacement.

My previously configured modes are for different camera sensitivity levels for different times of the day/night. These were set to Start/End around the clock to provide maximum sensitivity per camera but also eliminating unwanted alarms and/or false positives due to sun angle caused shadows, vehicle activity, wind blown shadows, etc.

Morning, Midday, Day, Afternoon, Evening, Night

[DVoorhees]

I'm not super happy about the most recent Arlo app update (I updated it about 3-4 weeks ago). My biggest complaint is that, in Custom Mode settings, both "Schedule" and "Geofence" are grayed out, and there's some fine print at the bottom of the screen that says: "Support for Custom Schedules and Geofence will be coming in a future update." Is there any concrete plan for Custom Schedules and Geofencing? The new Arlo app is pretty much useless to me without those features - which the old app had.

[Slolearner]

I failed to mention that the referenced email time was 2:53AM Central and that I found the system was left in  "Standby" mode after the app upgrade. I would have thought that I would have received a notice that my security system would be turned off before it was turned off. Yes I realize that these devices are what they call end of service or end of life, but they know they're in use.

[DVoorhees]

To amplify a bit on my issues, we have 2 different residences (each with 1 Arlo base unit). The 1st residence has 2 cameras (1 indoor and 1 outdoor), and the 2nd residence has 5 cameras (1 indoor and 4 outdoor). The 3 "default" modes in the new Arlo app are "Arm Away", "Arm Home", and "Standby". Those don't seem work for me because of the 2 different residences: I need to be able to set the armed state of each residence separately from each other. I basically need an "Arm Away Residence 1", "Arm Away Residence 2", "Arm Home Residence 1", "Arm Home Residence 2", "Standy Residence 1", and "Standby Residence 2" - then I need to be able to choose TWO modes at the same time, not just a single mode. And I need those modes to change based on: (1) schedules; and (2) geofencing (the presence or absence of my iPhone, and my wife's iPhone - sometimes she's at one house and I'm at the other).

I'm assuming that the Modes and Automations in the new app were intended to simplify things, but they've ended up making my life WAY more complex than it was.

[JudyJudy]

Following because trying to figure out the same thing.  So frustrating.

[Minburn57]

No help at all to you friend, but the new app is trash.

All I have to say on it.

[hakuntata]

I genuinely want to understand why Arlo, like so many apps, felt the need to “fix” something that wasn’t broken.

“Arm Away,” “Arm Home,” “Routines”… these are meaningless, jargon heavy terms that only make the system more confusing and complicated, with no real benefit to the user. They feel like terms some boneheaded exec threw out and instead of giving legitimate feedback their underlings said “Great idea boss!” and boom a fine system ruined. Terms like “Armed” and “Disarmed” made more sense on every level.

I bought an Arlo system for my mother, who already gave up trying to keep up with tech years ago. But if I, someone who’s relatively tech savvy, am struggling to understand and configure this, I can’t imagine how impossible it must feel for older or less technologically inclined users.

This was a truly terrible product decision by Arlo.

[Edinburgh_lad1]

Good question.

[fiskamelo]

My app updated and totally broke my system so I‘m working on getting it working again.

I rely on a custom mode and I can’t select it in the automation. All I need is my custom mode for 6am to 6pm and then arm everything (whatever that’s called now) for 6pm to 6am.

Super basic and it’s been working for years. How do I recreate this in the new app?

[StephenB]

---

@fiskamelo wrote:

My app updated and totally broke my system so I‘m working on getting it working again.

I rely on a custom mode and I can’t select it in the automation. All I need is my custom mode for 6am to 6pm and then arm everything (whatever that’s called now) for 6pm to 6am.

Super basic and it’s been working for years. How do I recreate this in the new app?

---

If you only used one custom mode before, then you can

• arm all cameras in Arm Away
• repurpose Arm Home to match the old custom mode by modifying the rules in that mode.
• create an automation to switch to Arm Away at 6 pm
• create a second automation to switch to Arm Home at 6 am.

If you need a second custom mode, you could similarly repurpose Standby (though you lose the ability to disarm all cameras if you do that).

They will be adding back custom modes to "Feed", so after that rolls out you can go back to your previous setup.

[DVoorhees]

Is there any way to revert to the old app? I would do that in a heartbeat if I could...

[Minburn57]

No help at all to you, but a hearty 'Aye' all around on your comment.

My struggle with this ridiculous new app continues into its second day . . . . . . 

[Minburn57]

They should have left the app alone until they had a fully functional app.

Do they trial these apps with users of various levels before launching them?

[DVoorhees]

OK, I figured out that in the conversion from the old app to the new app, both base units and all cameras (and all custom arming rules) were collapsed into a single location. I've now added a 2nd location, 1 for each Arlo base unit, so I now have a single location for each house - I can just toggle between the 2 locations at the top center of the Arlo app. My dashboard is location-specific, rather than showing all cameras at both locations, but oh well...

Now I have to figure out how to convert my old schedule and geofencing rules to the new automation paradigm. Here are my "general rules" for the more-complicated of the 2 houses:

Main rule (every day)

- 6:30am: switch to Arm Home (if my iPhone isn't present) or Standby (if my iPhone is present) [and yes, I realize that the Arlo app depends on geofencing transitions, arriving and leaving, rather than "presence"]

- 10:30pm: switch to Arm Away (whether or not my iPhone is present)

Gardener exception on Thursdays between 8am and 9:30am

- 8:00am: switch to Standby

- 9:30am: revert to the main rule, i.e. switch to Arm Home (if my iPhone isn't present) or Standby (if my iPhone is present)

Housekeeper exception on Fridays between 8:45am and 3:00pm

- 8:45am: switch to Standby

- 3:00pm: revert to the main rule, i.e. switch to Arm Home (if my iPhone isn't present) or Standby (if my iPhone is present)

[StephenB]

---

@DVoorhees wrote:

 switch to Arm Home (if my iPhone isn't present) or Standby (if my iPhone is present)

---

This bit can't be done.  You have to switch to a specific mode.  There is no conditional logic.

[jguerdat]

Seems like geofencing could possibly do this by adding Leave and Arrive automations.

[DVoorhees]

Yeah, I figured that the conditional logic would be a problem. And I can't really use geofencing to accomplish this: geofencing relies on what I think of as "state transition events" - leaving the geofenced area, or arriving into the geofenced area - so it's no good for determining whether or not someone/anyone is home.

[StephenB]

---

@jguerdat wrote:

Seems like geofencing could possibly do this by adding Leave and Arrive automations.

---

No.  Arrive can only switch to a fixed mode when you arrive.  

That is not what @DVoorhees wants to do here.  He instead wants an "Away" schedule and a "Home" schedule - which cannot be done with "Feed".

You'd need to have conditional logic  in the action statement of the scheduling automation:   If (no one is home) switch to mode x, else switch to mode y.

[DVoorhees]

I think I figured out how to do what I want, that is the "conditional" part of the logic. The gardener and housekeeper exceptions pretty much only apply to the Arm Away mode. So the trick is to use schedules that are specific to Arm Away - by default, schedules apply to all modes, but you can change this. I think I can "disable" specific cameras (by setting motion sensitivity to 0) and then re-enable them (by setting motion sensitivity to the default, which I think is 80%), without changing mode. What follows is the pseudo-logic:

Arm Away: affects all cameras
Arm Home: affects all cameras
Standby: no cameras

Geofencing:
- when anyone arrives, switch to Standby
- when everyone leaves, switch to Arm Away

Scheduled events which only apply to the Arm Away mode:
- Thu 8:00am: set motion sensitivity on front door camera to 0% (don't change mode)
- Thu 9:30am: set motion sensitivity on front door camera back to 80% (don't change mode)
- Fri 8:45am: set motion sensitivity on both cameras to 0% (don't change mode)
- Fri 3:00pm: set motion sensitivity on both cameras back to 80% (don't change mode)

Scheduled events which only apply to Arm Home and Standby modes:
- every day 6:30am: switch to Standby
- every day 10:30pm: switch to Arm Home

[StephenB]

---

@DVoorhees wrote:

Scheduled events which only apply to the Arm Away mode:
- Thu 8:00am: set motion sensitivity on front door camera to 0% (don't change mode)
- Thu 9:30am: set motion sensitivity on front door camera back to 80% (don't change mode)
- Fri 8:45am: set motion sensitivity on both cameras to 0% (don't change mode)
- Fri 3:00pm: set motion sensitivity on both cameras back to 80% (don't change mode)

---

I played with this a while back (maybe 6 months ago), and found that changing the motion sensitivity in an  automation didn't work with my system.  Not 100% sure, but I think testing the automation might have worked, but not when it triggered per the schedule.

After you'd tested it, it'd be good to get a followup.