Custom Modes

[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

[Edinburgh_lad1]

I too noticed a number of suspicious looking reviews on their Play app store. They all seem to have one or two things in common: one line reviews and all positive. They also have pictures to appear genuine. That's actually three things in common 🙄🫣

A drowning man?

[scmbowman]

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.

I mean come on Arlo....isn't this a basic need for a decent security system? If I set up Arm Away to trigger the siren on movement in the driveway then I have the damn thing going off whenever someone walks by or pulls into the driveway. I only need a driveway alarm to trigger in the middle of the night when the chances of a false trigger from people or cars is highly unlikely unless they are up to no good on my property. This seems like such an easy fix. Just give us a new mode or the option in the Automation.

[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.

[GordonHewitt]

The New App is a disaster- your web app team needs to update their linkedin profiles to "seeking new opportunities and challenges". you couldnt have complicated the Routines and Schedules any more if you tried. One month in its almost impossiblle to set up a schedule that will record when i wish- 400 plus recordings per day, because of the completely over complicated process.

Golden rules in IT- 1: Never experiment in Production. 2: If it aint broke dont change it.

roll back to the old scheduling method- it worked and is simple to impliment. you new version is garbage.

[Paros_fan]

Any update on this?

This is ridiculous that you've removed key functionality and still haven't resolved this!

[Jeff__h]

Don’t hold your breath.  Arlo is remaining quiet to the user community.  They made a massively flawed design change and expect users to test and accept its limitations.  There are still plenty of bugs in just the base code.  Their UI can’t support additional functionality without redesigning again!  I just recently tested my emergency alarm and only the interior base sounds.  All alarm capable cameras remain silent.  I can’t activate individual cam alarms. So all alarm capable cameras are worthless.  The interface with google home is still busted yet they still claim compatibility! App automations sometimes work sometimes don’t. Accessing cams or events lags continues. I could go on but I’m already gradually replacing cams with a competitor.  They proved they don’t take security seriously.  Plus they jacked up their price for plans!

support will just say…we’re working on it….check is in the mail!  Your frustrates aren’t their concerns like the many others who have raised issues.  But the reviews on app stores expound how great the app is..smh! Makes you wonder.  I think they are continually trying to bury their failures till they start all over again with another new app.

[Scheum]

Couldn't agree more. I want to set up my arlo go2 to record 30 seconds every 10 minutes every day. Thats 144 routines and setting up each takes, at a minimum, 22 clicks two fields to write in and one sensitive slider bar. That's ridiculous. 
I am new to Arlo and don't know the old interface, but this is ridiculous. Add a duplicate routine option? Default to the last routine I set up and only require a new time? Put more things on each menu so I don't have to click twice through each window, so many things could improve this.
Oh, and when I add a new routine, it should be placed in the list either at the top, the bottom, in alphabetical order by name, or chronological by routine time. Currently it just drops in what appears to be a random place in the list. Did one of the devs just think this would be funny? Or is it really possible that no one thought this would matter? Maybe make the list sortable?

[SteveAfendoulis]

Please let’s get Arlo’s attention:

1- Their support know the Arlo Secure automations redesign is a mess

1.1- Geo trigger negate timers and vice versa

1.2- Geo trigger with multiple devices oftentimes fails

1.2- People logically want to partially arm overnight (timer) but that disables geo trigger automations

2- We call support, the play coy about what is essentially a poor design 

3- Support oftentimes are also confusing as the feature is counterintuitive and this is compounded by poor English language comprehension 

4- We see some small changes on timers (sunrise, sunset appeared) but the fundamental problem remains- you can’t have geo and timers together- one or the other.

We want honesty and transparency on this defect. And it is a defect, unless designed this way to prevent complications that Arlo have a problem working out. 

The 3 modes make sense. 

Of course if everyone is out, the mode needs to switch to away irrespective of any timer- and design to the contrary is disingenuous and counterintuitive and cynical (it’s to mask something that your developers came get right). So own it, be honest and get it sorted out. 

When the household sleeps we want to partially arm, and we don’t want it to break any geo triggers e.g. if we all leave in the night the system still needs to arm! Arlo you know this, and it’s insulting your support run us all around on this point! Just fix it!

We the household wakes we of course don’t want everything armed. Arlo you know this too! Stop the masking of what is a mess in this app. A timer needs to switch back to partially armed (say outside camera only). 

Finally when we leave the house everything needs to arm (whether a timer switched a mode or not). 

Arlo is hiding a horrendous mess-up. The Arlo Support plainly know there’s a problem and are frustrating YOUR customers in reading counterintuitive and perplexing scripts to intelligent and loyal customers. 

Worst of all- this worked in the old app, true the geo triggers were also flaky but now worse.

We are NOT being heard Arlo. Get it done. 

This is disgraceful and disgusting Arlo. 

Let’s demand what we had back, and what we’re paying for. 

[SteveAfendoulis]

This is a Feature Definition + User Story Breakdown for Arlo Developers

Arlo, since support cannot explain this clearly and the product behaviour is counterintuitive, here’s exactly how this should be designed. I’m presenting this so your developers and product managers can finally sort this out properly. The current automation system is broken and must be fixed.

Background

Arlo Secure currently forces users to choose between geofencing and schedule-based automation (timers). These two systems conflict, cancel each other out, and cannot be layered.

That makes no sense for a home security system.

This used to work in the older app—albeit imperfectly—but the new version has made it worse. Users are now punished for expecting basic logic like “arm the system when everyone leaves the house, even if a timer set it to a different mode earlier”.

Expected Real-World Behaviour

We use three logical modes:

• Away (Fully Armed) – when no one is home, all cameras on.
• Home (Partially Armed) – when someone is home, only outdoor cameras on.
• Standby (Disarmed) – when everyone’s home and awake.

These modes should change based on:

• Who is home (geofencing)
• What time it is (schedule)

Developer Feature Request

Allow geofencing and timers to work together, in a layered, rule-based way, with clear override logic.

User Stories

1. As a user, I want geofencing and timers to be layered together,
   so that my system knows who is home and what time it is, and sets the correct mode accordingly.
2. As a user, I want geofencing to override the timer if everyone leaves,
   so the system switches to “Away (Fully Armed)” no matter what the current schedule says.
3. As a user, I want to schedule a “Home (Partially Armed)” mode overnight,
   so outdoor cameras are active while we sleep, but indoor cameras are off for privacy.
4. As a user, I want the system to switch from scheduled night mode back to “Away” if we all leave during the night,
   so the house remains protected even if someone leaves at 2am.
5. As a user, I want the system to return to the scheduled mode when we return,
   so if we come home at 7am while “Standby” is scheduled, the system disarms appropriately.
6. As a user, I want to see all automation layers (geofence, schedule, manual override) in the app UI,
   so I can understand what’s currently controlling the system and fix it if needed.

Why This Matters

• This is expected behaviour for any intelligent home security system.
• The current design is defective. It frustrates loyal users, causes confusion, and leads to missed events and unsafe states.
• The current setup is not explained anywhere in the app UI or support documentation.
• Support agents often give inconsistent answers and seem unaware that this is a design limitation.

Bottom Line

Arlo, you need to:

• Accept this is a design defect, not a “user misunderstanding”
• Prioritise a proper fix that restores layered automation
• Be transparent with your user base about this limitation and your roadmap to fix it

Until this is resolved, your automation system is broken.