Remote Access to Local Storage for Arlo Ultra via Arlo App

[James008]

Without the subscription, are we able to Remote Access to Local Storage (SD card in the hub) for Arlo Ultra via Arlo App function? i.e. viewing local storage directly within the Arlo app, instead of taking out the SD card/USB and plugging it into a computer.

I have done the following:

To enable Direct Storage Access:

1. Launch the Arlo app on iOS or Android.
2. Tap Settings > My Devices.
3. Select a SmartHub.
4. Tap Storage Settings.
5. Tap the switch next to Record Locally.
   Local storage is now activated on your Arlo device.
6. Tap the switch next to Direct Storage Access.

However, I can see the notifications and the live view but nothing in the library.

I have searched through the recent community discussion, but the answer isn't very definitive. Any help or clarification is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[StephenB]

When you view the library, the app should tell you which library you are accessing at the top of the screen.  It normally defaults to cloud (which is empty if you have a subscription).

Have you tried selecting that field?  You should get a response that lets you select the base station library.

[Mbu1982]

This is not working.  Arlo direct storage is another con!

[StephenB]

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@Mbu1982 wrote:

This is not working.  Arlo direct storage is another con!

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What base station do you have?

What exactly isn't working?

[Retired_Member]

Direct Storage Access has never worked for me either.  I've tried a few times to enable it, restart the hub, restart my phone, uninstall and re-install the app, verified the app was detecting that my phone was on the same LAN segment as the hub etc. by verifying that 2K local streaming was working, but no matter what i tried I couldn't get the option to access local storage to appear on the Library screen in the Android app.

I scoured the forum and web and found a report that someone got it working on one Android phone model but not another model.  I assumed that was the problem, that it was my phone (a Motorola) that was causing the problem and gave up trying to get it working.  I checked again yesterday when my app was updated but it didn't work.  I have a subscription so it's not a big deal for me - I see local storage mostly as a backup in case the internet connection goes down.  I imagine a lot of people treat it that way, so it's very hard to know how many people have trouble when they try to enable it and then just give up trying to fix it.

[dcfox1]

@Retired_Member  I also just use it for backup and my Iphone works. There was a problem with Android a couple of months back and thought it was fixed but still seeing some post about Android. I have the VMB4540 so not sure if it is just an issue with the VMB5000 or not as I saw most in the Ultra forums. 

[James008]

Hi StephenB,

Is this IOS specific? I can't find what you have mentioned.

This direct local storage access shouldn't be this hard. I am thinking of switching to Eufy cam 2 pro.

[Retired_Member]

I have the VMB4540 so I don't think it's specific to the hub model.  I don't own any iOS devices and only one Android device so I have no way to figure this one out myself, but every report of this problem I've seen mentioned the Android app rather than iOS.

@James008- if you're seeing this problem on an iOS device, which I assume is working fine for most people, and you've tried the basics like restarting the hub etc., the only other possibility I can think of is on the networking side.  Direct Storage Access only works when the app can communicate directly with the hub - they have to be on the same local network (unless you setup complex port forwarding or VPN stuff).  You don't have two routers by any chance?  Or have your iOS device connected to the internet via a cellular connection rather than WiFi?

[James008]

Hi NuisanceValue,

Thanks for your suggestion. We are on Android and have VMB5000 as it came with Arlo Ultra. We don't do port forwarding nor have 2 routers. My brother is IT specialist. We both have searched various forums and tried what we can find on the forum including the ones you have mentioned. There is something recorded in the SD card when we pulled it out. However, we would like to access it directly on the app library. Regardless, this should not be this hard.

[Mbu1982]

The provided with the Ultra HD camera. I am tech savvy but what Arlo have done is a con. Subscription required to have your Ultra HD record video’s. But you have local storage, ok let’s go that route. Guess what it still doesn’t work.

My batteries seem to be losing charge quicker these days and I will make the switch to another product. Arlo requiring subscription for services I can get for nothing with much cheaper options. Is a big no no from me.

[StephenB]

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@James008 wrote:

Is this IOS specific? I can't find what you have mentioned.

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No.

In both the iOS and Android apps, if direct access to storage is enabled, you will either see "Cloud" or the smart name between "Filter" and "Select" when you enter the library.  If you press on that, you'll have an option to switch between Cloud and the smarthub(s). 

[James008]

Well, I cannot find what you have mentioned on Samsung Galaxy 21 and Oppo Find X2 Pro. We have latest phone firmware and Arlo App firmware. We still have no direct access to local storage via app. Arlo Ultra is almost USELESS without a subscription. 

[Retired_Member]

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@James008 wrote:

Well, I cannot find what you have mentioned on Samsung Galaxy 21 and Oppo Find X2 Pro. We have latest phone firmware and Arlo App firmware. We still have no direct access to local storage via app. Arlo Ultra is almost USELESS without a subscription. 

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Not the phone model then.  Based on my own experience and ideas off the top of my head that leaves phone security apps and router configuration.  Do you have any security app installed on the phones?  Antivirus or similar?  Do you have UPnP enabled on your router?  If you don't know that that is you probably have it enabled which would rule that out.  I'm unwilling to either remove my security apps or enable UPnP to test and resolve this issue.  Direct storage access is not critical for me.  If neither of those possibilities are the cause I'm all out of ideas.

[StephenB]

FWIW, it doesn't require upnp to be enabled in the router.

Go into the settings in the app, and select the base station.  There should be a storage section.  Go into it, and you should see an option to enable direct access for storage. 

I don't think the option is shown unless you have storage already installed (at least 16 GB btw).

[hvmohr]

Bought the VMB5000 last year with 2 cameras. Already had 2 Arlo Cameras and 1 Arlo Pro installed with an older hub. 
Got  all 5 cameras up and running back then with the VMB5000 with 1 year free subscription. Everything worked fine.
Now - after free subscription period - no cloud service for the 2 smarthub cameras. I wasn’t aware that the expensive new cameras I bought would only work with an expensive subscription, since the 3 older models have 7 days cloud service.

Today I then bought a microSD and installed in the VMB5000. Enabled port forwarding on my router and able to view the videos in the app on iPhone. So far so good. 
NOW HERE IS THE THING!!!!!
We are a household and my wife also needs access. BUT ARLO ONLY ALLOWS THE PRIMARY USER TO ACCESS THE VIDEO FOOTAGE ON THE LOCAL STORAGE!

ARLO IS FIRSTLY CHARGING YOU A PREMIUM PRICE FOR THE PRODUCTS AND THEN TRYING TO FORCE YOU IN TO AN EXPENSIVE SUBSCRIPTION TO USE THE FUNCTIONALITY YOU BASICALLY ALREADY PAID FOR.

I’m considering to handle it over to the “Ombudsman” in Denmark or to involve Danmarks Radio #drkontant.

THIS IS NOT RIGHT!

[StephenB]

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@hvmohr wrote:

BUT ARLO ONLY ALLOWS THE PRIMARY USER TO ACCESS THE VIDEO FOOTAGE ON THE LOCAL STORAGE!

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Unfortunately that is the case.  We've posted that restriction here a number of times.

[James008]

Hi Nuidsnce value,

Thanks again for your help. It's what it is. Regardless, access to local storage or cloud (via subscription) via app is the customer's choice and should not be this hard to set up.

[James008]

Hi StephenB,

Posting the restrictions number of times still does not make it right. Arlo should be listening to customer feedback and making improvements. 

[dcfox1]

@James008  With the restrictions with Local storage that you are discovering a subscription is much simpler and worth around 50 cents a day for 4K plan. But It's up to you. People pay more for streaming service then this. 

[hvmohr]

Well dcfox1 - first of all this is not a streaming service.
Secondly, I paid equally to $ 900for a smartthub ultra and the 2 cameras - a premium price.

Thirdly, it was not mentioned anywhere that the funtions they highlight and promote only work if you pay subscription.

Finaly - I see around on the Arlo community that others are experiencing the same and having the same opinion - posts which you yourself have answered/commented. 

So please keep you non-value-adding comments and comparison to your self. If you want to throw additional money away on subscriptions for  functions you basically paid for by buying a product at a premium price -  your choice. But it doesn’t make the business approach of Netgear & Arlo right.

[Mbu1982]

I 100% agree with your post! Arlo have set this up in a way to make things difficult for customers to access the video’s in local storage and some people can’t even get it working. Then to only allow access to local storage to the primary user is shocking!!! I made a mistake in purchasing Arlo system. As my battery life in my cameras begin to fade, I am looking at other systems rather then spend another penny towards anything Arlo

[StephenB]

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@James008 wrote:

Posting the restrictions number of times still does not make it right. 

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Never said it did.  But I do what I can to make sure people are aware of the limitations.

[James008]

Hi hvmohr and Mbu1982,

I agree with what you are saying. I am giving up trying to get Arlo app access to local storage.

I will be switching to Eufy.

[coil_man]

I dumped Arlo's cloud service a month ago because it was unacceptably slow reporting events, and switched to SSD for local storage.   The lag time was better doing that.  Yesterday the library disappeared from Android, iPhone, and PC access.  I still get notices of activity and can access the cameras for live video.  Resetting etc. will not allow access to the library on SSD.  The SmartHub is on-line.  I don't have time to take away from my business to mess around with Arlo any more.  WHAT OTHER CAMERA SYSTEMS CAN PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM RECOMMEND that do not have hidden added fees just to keep them running?  Paying for cloud service, which makes the system far less responsive, is not acceptable.  

[James008]

It's ironic that I now have access to local storage via app after I removed the Arlo Ultra. My Arlo Pro already comes with 7 days of cloud storage, thus, I didn't need local storage for them. In addition, the idiotic long lag of recording with Arlo Pro is the main reason I switched to Arlo Ultra