Wired Floodlight Camera - Manual Lighting with Motion Events

[majormix]

I have the Light Settings for Brightness set to 33% and for Duration set to Always On.  These settings pertain to when the floodlight is manually enabled.  This keeps the floodlight on at a low intensity until I manually disable it.  I have the Default Mode Settings for Brightness set to 100% and for Duration set to 120 seconds (this is the maximum).  These settings pertain to when motion is detected.  However, when the floodlight is manually enabled, the brightness level stays at 33% regardless of motion detection.  The brightness should increase to 100% for 120 seconds like it normally does when the floodlight is otherwise off (manually disabled).  The camera action in response to motion detection (which is set to take video in my case) works correctly and the same, regardless of the floodlight manual on/off state.

@ShaneS please work with the technical team to see if you can correct the floodlight behavior when it is manually enabled prior to a motion activity event.

[ShayneS]

May I ask which troubleshooting steps you have tried so far? 

[majormix]

@ShayneS 

I'm not sure what there is to troubleshoot.  I've just described how it is operating versus what I would expect/prefer.  If you cannot recreate this problem then let me know and we review all my settings.  But I'm not expecting that any of the unmentioned settings matter.  Please advise...

[StephenB]

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@majormix wrote:

I'm not sure what there is to troubleshoot. 

 You might try a hardware reset of the camera (which requires that you remove the camera from your account and re-adding it).

• https://kb.arlo.com/000063370/How-do-I-factory-reset-my-Arlo-Wired-Floodlight-Camera

[majormix]

First, please confirm 100% that what I described is not repeatable.

[StephenB]

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@majormix wrote:

First, please confirm 100% that what I described is not repeatable.

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This is a user-to-user forum, and I don't work for Arlo.  

[majormix]

I understand, thanks no less for chipping in.  When in doubt, reboot, is a good mantra, but in this case I mainly just wanted to flag what I think is a feature or bug-fix request depending on how you look at it.  Unless Arlo can assure me I don't have something set right.

[ShayneS]

Hi @majormix,

Thank you for your patience, I've confirmed this with our product team that this is in fact by design. When the floodlight is manually turned on, it takes priority over all other settings and will not be overridden by motion-triggered rules. When a user manually activates the light, the system assumes that's the behavior you intentionally want at that time.

There is a way to try and achieve what you're looking for, Here's the recommended setup:

1. In your Default Mode Settings, set the brightness to 33%
2. Set up a schedule to turn the floodlight on/off at the times you want it active
3. In your motion-triggered rule, add an "Adjust device settings" action:
   • Change brightness to 100%
   • Make sure the toggle is set to "temporarily" (not permanent)

This way, the light will stay at 33% as your baseline, and when motion is detected it will temporarily jump to 100% before returning to 33% which is exactly the behavior you described wanting.

Alternatively, you can do the inverse: set the default brightness to 100% in mode settings and use an "Adjust device settings" action in a schedule rule to lower it when needed.

I hope this helps! 

[majormix]

@ShayneS 

Thanks for clarifying that the manual mode is meant to override the brightness during motion events.

Thanks also for the possible solution.

I'm having trouble setting up the basic automation routine to turn the lights on at a low intensity, say 33%, for evening hours.  Can you help or point me to the instructions?  From the app, I've selected Routines (at the bottom), then Automations (at the top), then Add an Automation, then Add Schedule.  Then I created an Event at 7pm named Lights On with actions to enable all my lights.  Then I created an event at 11pm named Lights Out with actions to disable all my lights.  But I'm stuck at this point.  I don't see that these automations are actually in place.

[StephenB]

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@majormix wrote:

From the app, I've selected Routines (at the bottom), then Automations (at the top), then Add an Automation, then Add Schedule.  Then I created an Event at 7pm named Lights On with actions to enable all my lights.  Then I created an event at 11pm named Lights Out with actions to disable all my lights.  But I'm stuck at this point.  I don't see that these automations are actually in place.

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The automations also need to be enabled in the modes in which you want them to run.  Did you check that they are enabled in all three modes?  (This is assuming you want them to always run).

[majormix]

Ok, I figured out the Automations issue.  I didn't see the Save button at the bottom (needed to scroll down).  So that is easy and seems like it will work.

@ShayneS - Regarding the rest of your directions, there is a statement in the app on the Edit Device Settings page that says "These changes will be active for the mode only and temporarily applied unless specified.  If you choose to permanently apply the action, devices default mode settings will be updated."  But I don't see where this option to make it Temporary or Permanent is available in the menu.

It appears that my settings are being permanently changed.

[ShayneS]

The "Temporarily" vs. "Permanently" option appears as a toggle next to each individual setting when you're in the "Adjust Device Settings" action. Here's where to find it:

1. Go to Routines > Modes > Arm Away (or whichever mode you're using)
2. Tap on the rule for your floodlight camera
3. Under Add an Action, tap customize device > Next
4. Select your floodlight camera and tap Next > Modify device > Next 
5. You should see the settings you can adjust (Brightness, Light Duration, etc.)
6. Once toggled, under each setting, there should be a "Permanently Apply Action" toggle make sure this is toggled OFF for the brightness setting. When it's off, the change is temporary and will revert after the motion event ends.

If you don't see the toggle, please make sure your app is updated to the latest version. Also, you may need to scroll down as the toggle can be below the visible area.

[majormix]

My app version is 6.17.0_6170005 released on 3/2/2026.  I don't recall ever manually updating it so the app must be updating automatically.

I am following your steps, but when I get to your step 5 or 6, what I see first is a list of setting categories.  Specifically Motion Sensitivity, Audio Sensitivity, Recording Duration, Light Settings, and Siren Settings.  Each category can be enabled or disabled.  I am only enabling Light Settings.  Under that, there are 3 parameters: Brightness, On Until After Activity Stops, and Ambient Light Sensitivity.   And then a SAVE button below.  There is nothing about Temporary or Permanent on the screen.

In case it matters, I keep my system in Standby mode all the time.

[jguerdat]

I see that on the Android app, too. I do note a statement at the top that the setting will be temporary and to use Default Mode Settings for the camera if you want them to be permanent. The web client does have the "make permanent" toggle at the bottom.

[majormix]

@jguerdat @ShayneS 

Thanks so much, I've made good progress now using the desktop browser portal!

The Adjust Device Settings default to PERMANENT and this is not visible and not selectable using the Android app.

Unrelated, but another bug in the Android app is that ZONES cannot be deleted, there is only the Pencil (Edit) icon.  But I see there is a Trash Can (Delete) icon in the browser portal, thankfully.  The ZONES feature is not very useful to me because events are based on ANY of the defined zones, in other words you cannot distinguish between zones.  I would really like to avoid triggering my Floodlight every time a car passes down the street, however I still would like the video.  I would only want the Floodlight activated when there is motion detected in my driveway.  It seems this is not possible.

It seems the browser portal is best for Routines and Device Settings, but its doesn't allow video viewing.  It seems the Android app is best for video viewing.  Both provide a good dashboard from what I can tell.

[StephenB]

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@majormix wrote:

but another bug in the Android app is that ZONES cannot be deleted, there is only the Pencil (Edit) icon. 

 Did you try swiping left on the zone description on the zones screen?

[majormix]

@StephenB   Aha, thank you!  Maybe its not as bad as I imply.  Just need to think like a developer!

I think my point about not being able to trigger off of different ZONES independently is still valid though. 

Hopefully someday soon that feature will surface in a firmware update.

Thanks no less everyone for chipping in and helping me understand.

[StephenB]

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@majormix wrote:

I think my point about not being able to trigger off of different ZONES independently is still valid though. 

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I do see value in that feature.  If too complicated, then at least having the ability to always record, but only notify on in-zone motion (any zone).