VMB4540r2 local library access on hub no longer works

[TaurusPete]

Hello,

After years of working fine, all of a sudden I cannot access the local recordings on the USB drive of my Arlo hub. This happens even when I'm on the same network.  The message I get has been quoted often: "There was an error obtaining your library. Arlo team is working on this issue."

Recording locally is activated. The USB device shows ready. 

Incidentally, I can also not get the port forwarding status to turn green, even though the IP address and ports are matching. This also used to work before. But since I'm in the local network I should be able to access the library anyway.

I reset the hub, I checked the ethernet connection to the router, I reset my smartphone, I logged out and back in of the app, I removed, checked, and reinserted the USB device. The hub runs 1.26.0.0_1812_12a0681 (no updates available).

Does anybody else have the same issues? How to fix it?

[ShayneS]

The Arlo development team is currently investigating reports of this behavior. We will provide an update as soon as we have more information to share with the community.

[jguerdat]

Which interface are you using - the old one that uses Library to view recordings or the new one that uses Feed? It appears that you're using the old one.

There have been a number of issues with viewing local recordings being reported here. I have similar ones here although there's a workaround if using Feed that doesn't seem to be available in the old interface, not that that helps you. If using a VPN, be sure to disable it.

@JamesC , @ShayneS , @BrookeN any word on this ongoing issue?

[TaurusPete]

Hi, 

Thanks for your reply.

I have not heard about the "feed" option. I am selecting "Library" at the bottom of the screen and then the local storage in the drop down list at the top. The app version is: 6.0.0_28852 (released April 29, 2025).

Cheers,

Peter

[jguerdat]

Is it working today? I tried it earlier today and it popped right in, as if something happened on the backend.

[TaurusPete]

Hope, it's still not working 😞

(I reset the hub again, played around with the configuration, logged out and in again, but no luck)

[TaurusPete]

Things just appeared to have gotten a lot worse. A new app SW version has been installed: 1.27.0.0_1931_0349c2. Now there is not even an option anymore to set the remove access in the Storage Settings menu. That REALLY SUCKS.  And local access still doesn't work. There is also no choice in the Library drop down list to select Cloud or local storage anymore.  What is going on??

[TaurusPete]

Previous app version (as of yesterday):

Today's app version: no choice to enable direct storage access! 😞

[jguerdat]

---

@TaurusPete wrote:

Things just appeared to have gotten a lot worse. A new app SW version has been installed: 1.27.0.0_1931_0349c2. Now there is not even an option anymore to set the remove access in the Storage Settings menu. That REALLY SUCKS.  And local access still doesn't work. There is also no choice in the Library drop down list to select Cloud or local storage anymore.  What is going on??

---

The app version is now 6.0 so whatever you're looking at isn't the right place. Go to Settings, About to see the app version.

The lack of a setting for local storage could mean various things. A hub reboot/restart (not a reset which wipes everything out so you have to start fresh) sometimes helps as does a phone reboot as well as reinstalling the app.

[StephenB]

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@TaurusPete wrote:

Things just appeared to have gotten a lot worse. A new app SW version has been installed: 1.27.0.0_1931_0349c2. 

---

You are confusing the firmware version of the smarthub with the software version of the app.

To see the software version of the app you

1. press the profile icon in the upper left
2. press "About" at the bottom of the page.

FWIW, I am still seeing 1.26.0.0_1912_12a0681 on my VMB4540.  They update firmware over time, so they likely haven't gotten to my system yet.

[TaurusPete]

Thanks for the responses. You are both right. Here are the correct SW versions:

app 6.0.0_28852

hub 1.27.0.0_1931_03495c2

I've rebooted the hub several times. The direct storage access option is no longer available in the hub settings! 😞

I wonder if that is a bug or Arlo removed it intentionally.

PS: I just checked out an older app version (5.7.0_28835, on a different phone). I see the same situation as I described earlier, i.e. no local storage access option. So this is likely related to the latest update of the hub SW which appeared just a few days ago.

[StephenB]

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@TaurusPete wrote:

The direct storage access option is no longer available in the hub settings!

---

Where exactly are you looking?

With the "Feed" interface, you first select "Storage Settings" and then "Local Storage Settings".

Unfortunately, neither @jguerdat nor I have had "Library" for quite a while, and I don't recall exactly where the config it set up for "Library".  My VMB4540 smarthub is still running 1.26.x firmware.

[TaurusPete]

Thanks for the comment StephenB.

Please take a look at the screen shots I posted on 2025-05-02 04:53 PM.  There you see where the local storage option used to show up and how it now looks without it. This is under Smarthub Device Settings --> Storage Settings.

(My reference to "app version" in that post should be changed to "hub version").

[TaurusPete]

I checked again at random. When I accessed the settings menu everything was there. Even the port forwarding had on status. Then I checked the library but didn't get the option to access the hub storage (only cloud). After that the local storage option was gone again as shown in the second screenshot I sent earlier. 

This thing is driving me crazy!!

[Pythony]

It seems that Arlo changed their policy, and they removed the playback function of base station records from their app.

According to Arlo:

To view Arlo videos saved on a local storage:

1. Launch the Arlo Secure App or log in to your Arlo account at my.arlo.com.
2. Select Settings > My Devices and tap or click on the Arlo SmartHub or Base Station to which your USB device or Micro SD card is connected.
3. Under Local Storage, tap or click storage settings.
4. Tap or click on the USB device or Micro SD card that has the videos that you want to view.
   Note: Connected USB devices are numbered in the order that they are inserted into the Base Station. If USB devices are not already named, the first device inserted is called USB Device 1 and the second one is called USB Device 2. These numbers do not necessarily match the port numbers on the Base Station.
5. Tap or click Safely Eject USB Device.
6. Wait for the Unmounting USB device or Micro SD card progress message to close, then remove the USB device or Micro SD card from your Arlo Base Station. 
   Note: If another USB device is still connected to your Arlo Pro Base Station and USB recording is turned on, recording is automatically enabled on that USB device.
7. Insert your MircoSD card to a card reader, or USB device into a USB port on your computer.
8. Wait for the USB device to appear in the available drives on your computer, then open the drive folder to view the files on your USB device.
9. Open the Arlo folder.
   Recorded videos are saved in this folder in MP4 format. Video files are named according to this system: camera serial number_video number_date_video clip tag. Dates are in the format YYYYMMDD.
   Note: If you are unable to play MP4 files on your computer, update your media player software to the latest version and try again. You can also download a free universal multimedia player, such as VLC.

[StephenB]

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@Pythony wrote:

It seems that Arlo changed their policy, and they removed the playback function of base station records from their app.

That is not the case.

[Pythony]

So, what would be the case?

[StephenB]

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@Pythony wrote:

So, what would be the case?

---

Local/Cloud has not been removed.  This is with the 6.0.2 app (released on 1 May 2025).

[Pythony]

the app does not looking like what you posted in my device.  It is still the old screen.  I tried the remove it and reinstall from google play, but the same result.6.0.0_28852 (release date: 29 Apr 2025).  there is no more update I could receive.

[StephenB]

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@Pythony wrote:

the app does not looking like what you posted in my device.  It is still the old screen.  

---

Are you saying that you still see "Library" in your app menu (and not "Feed" and "Dashboard")?

[Pythony]

I cannot see "媒體庫" in my app menu.  Does it mean "Library" ?
But in previous app version, it provides options to select "Cloud" or "Local", but the latest version from google play does not provide options.  It just forced to check files from "Cloud", even I did not change any settings to my base station VNB4540.

[StephenB]

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@Pythony wrote:

I cannot see "媒體庫" in my app menu.  Does it mean "Library" ?

As you know, that translates to "Media Library".  But I don't know anything about Arlo's translations.

If you see 5 choices along the bottom of the app screen, then you are on the new interface.  If you see four choices, then you have the older "Library" interface.

---

@Pythony wrote:

But in previous app version, it provides options to select "Cloud" or "Local", but the latest version from google play does not provide options.  It just forced to check files from "Cloud", even I did not change any settings to my base station VNB4540.

---

Similar options exist in the new interface.  It would be useful to know which one you have.

Also, did you respond to @ShayneS private message?

[jguerdat]

A quick Google translate shows that the English translation from Chinese is "media library" so probably the same as Library. That means you're still using the old user interface which is being phased out. It's possible that migrating to the new interface that uses Feed to view recordings may fix this issue but there are other ramifications to consider before doing that. Do you use custom modes, schedules and/or geofencing? You would need to go through everything to ensure it works properly but custom modes won't transfer at the moment and you can't create new modes as before.

[Pythony]

OK, my app version could be older than yours, as it only shows 3 options at the bottom bar.  However, the previous version of my app allow me to switch "Cloud" or "Local" in the "Library", but now it disappeared.  If Arlo is  really not going to force people to subscribe, please Arlo team double check/ triple check every version carefully before releasing.  And better allow users to restore earlier versions when the new one have problems.  Thank you very much.

By the way, I replied ShayneS's private message already.

[Pythony]

Hi jguerdat,

It is no further update version I can download or install, even I am willing to bear the custom mode issue you mentioned.  The problem is:
Arlo released an updated version with bug, to overwrite the existing version which was running smoothly.  And then they said the bug was fixed in the newer version, but users cannot get this from google play (in Hong Kong). 

[jguerdat]

The app is the same regardless of which interface is being used. However, some folks that have had various issues while still on the old interface have had success by migrating. To do so, choose to install a Pro 5 camera, even though you don't have one. The first step is to migrate the account to the new interface after which you can just back out of the bogus install. Be aware that you can't go back to the old interface.

Here's an FAQ that should help you get started. Be sure to check all modes, rules, schedules, geofencing, etc. to ensure they are proper and make changes/additions as needed.

https://kb.arlo.com/000062777/About-Arlo-Routines-Modes-Rules-and-Automations