Arlo Secure App Lack of Usability

[HennaHands]

For the life of me, I cannot fathom how this app is rated four stars in the App Store. Do a Google search for “Arlo Secure app review” and you’ll get the real picture. Even the AI says it’s junk.

I’ve been an Arlo user for five years. In that time, I’ve always had a paid subscription for the app. It’s never been a great, but the most recent version is absolutely horrible for many reasons. They took something that wasn’t intuitive and made it less so. Some of the features that were easy to access in the old app (if you knew where to look) are now buried 3-4 menus deep. The “solutions” in help don’t always match up with the updated app.

My biggest complaint is the change to the feed view. It’s OK (usable but not great) in vertical view on a cell phone, but I almost exclusively use mine on horizontal view on an iPad. 50% or more of the screen is unused space due to the use of bars to display the events rather than tiles in the old view. I used to be able to see 12-15 events on the screen, and now I can only see six or seven. Even on the large setting, the event thumbnails are smaller than the old view. If they want to mess with the view, have at it. Just make the old view an option.

Also, when you view an event, you can’t just close out of it directly. You have to tap minimize and then close. Who thought that was an improvement? Seriously?

Acessing the list of events from one camera is also a pain. In the device view in the old app, you just tap the number of events (even if it was 0) and you would get the list of events. Now, you have to tap on the device and turn your screen to vertical view to see the list of events. I shouldn’t have to flip my iPad all over the place to get the app to work. The old version did not require these gyrations.

Did they even test the updated app with a user group? It doesn’t appear that way. The updated app is garbage that I’ve had the “privilege” of paying $15 per month for for five years. Now I’m paying $20 a month for this useless junk.

[ShayneS]

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We appreciate your feedback and want to assure you that we are looking into this concern.

[HennaHands]

I would also like to point out that I have 16 cameras and accessories totaling thousands of dollars. I’ve been paying for use of the Arlo Secure app for five years, also totaling thousands of dollars. I would walk away if I could, but I’m basically being held hostage by this app. 

I am looking into punitive measures via the court system, the Better Business Bureau, the Consumer Protection Bureau, and any other avenue I can find. Until it is fixed or I’m compensated for my losses, I will make sure this review stays at the top of the list of anywhere someone would look for additional information on this product, such as Reddit and YouTube. 

[Dgmi]

same sentiment here.

I have 14 cameras (had 15 but one ultra2 died prematuraly within 1.5 yrs), I bought the solar panels also and  all that did is tie me more into the product; which is not a good thing considering their plans price increases.

see my annual plan price increases below:

2025         $ 215.88

2024          $ 149.99

2023           $ 119.88

for anyone that’s  not fully vested into this product, proceed with caution.

who know how much they’ll increase it next year ?!

[ShayneS]

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We appreciate your feedback and want to assure you that we are looking into this concern.

[Jackie10]

In January I upgraded to new Arlo Desktop Secure App.  The usability is completely useless. Can you please revert back to the old system.  The Feed is completely useless, I prefer the Grid

Thanks

[AikaneKai]

@ShayneS 

Seriously?  You make it sound like this is the first time you're hearing these complaints instead of almost every day for the last year.

I'd still  love to hear actual target release dates for the replacement of the various functionalities that Arlo stole from their customers.