Your Arlo camera suddenly stopped recording motion during daylight hours, leaving you without crucial security footage when you need it most. This frustrating issue means you’re missing deliveries, visitors, or potential security events during the day while your camera works perfectly fine at night.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Step 1: Check Your Motion Detection Settings
Start by opening the Arlo app on your phone. Tap on Settings, then select your camera, and navigate to Motion Detection. Make sure the toggle switch is turned ON. Sometimes updates or glitches can accidentally disable this feature. While you’re there, check if you’ve accidentally set up a schedule that turns off motion detection during specific hours.
Step 2: Adjust Motion Sensitivity Levels
Your camera might be set too low to detect movement in bright daylight. In the Arlo app, go to Mode > Armed > your camera > Motion Detection. Slide the sensitivity bar higher – try setting it to 80% first. Bright sunlight can wash out subtle movements, so your camera needs higher sensitivity during the day. Test it by walking in front of the camera and checking if it triggers.
Step 3: Clear Activity Zones and Reset Them
Navigate to your camera settings and find Activity Zones. Delete all existing zones by tapping the trash icon. Now create new zones by drawing rectangles over areas where you want motion detected. Sometimes corrupted zone data prevents proper motion detection. Focus on high-traffic areas like walkways, driveways, or entry points.
Step 4: Power Cycle Your Camera
Remove the battery from your Arlo camera for 30 seconds. If it’s a wired model like the Arlo Essential, unplug it from power. This hard reset clears temporary glitches in the camera’s memory. After reinserting the battery or plugging it back in, wait for the LED to stop blinking before testing motion detection again.
Step 5: Update Firmware and App
Open the Arlo app and check Settings > My Devices > your camera > Device Info. Look for any available firmware updates. Install them immediately. Also visit your phone’s app store to update the Arlo app itself. Outdated software often causes detection issues, especially after Arlo releases new features in 2025.
Step 6: Remove and Re-add Your Camera
If nothing else works, remove your camera from your account completely. In the app, go to Settings > My Devices, select your camera, and tap Remove Device. Wait five minutes, then add it back using the standard setup process. This forces the camera to download fresh configuration files from Arlo’s servers.
Likely Causes
Cause #1: Bright Light Interference
Direct sunlight or reflective surfaces can blind your camera’s motion sensor during daytime. The infrared sensor gets overwhelmed by heat signatures from sun-warmed surfaces like concrete or cars. Check if your camera faces east or west where it gets direct morning or afternoon sun. You can verify this by looking at recorded footage – if the image appears washed out or overexposed, this is your problem. Mount a small sunshade above the camera or slightly adjust its angle to avoid direct sunlight.
Cause #2: Subscription or Cloud Storage Issues
Your Arlo Secure subscription might have expired or hit its storage limit. Without an active subscription in 2025, many Arlo models only provide live viewing without cloud recording. Log into your Arlo account on a computer and check your subscription status under Settings > Subscription. If you see “Expired” or “Storage Full,” you’ll need to renew or upgrade your plan. The basic plan ideal for single cameras costs around $5 monthly, while multi-camera setups work best with the $15 Premier plan.
Cause #3: Smart Notification Filters Gone Wrong
Arlo’s AI-powered detection might be filtering out daytime motion incorrectly. The camera could be set to only record people, vehicles, or packages while ignoring general motion. In your app, check Smart Notifications settings. If you see specific detection types enabled, try switching to “All Motion” temporarily. This setting is best used in areas with minimal false triggers, not recommended when you have busy streets or swaying trees in view.
When to Call Expert Help
Contact Arlo support directly when your camera shows hardware failure signs like no LED activity, extreme battery drain, or physical damage. If you’ve tried all these steps and motion detection still fails only during daylight hours, you likely have a defective infrared sensor that needs replacement. Arlo’s warranty covers manufacturing defects for one year, and their support team can arrange replacements quickly.
Professional installation help makes sense if you need to relocate your camera to avoid sun interference but aren’t comfortable working on ladders or running new power cables. Local security installers familiar with Arlo systems typically charge $100-200 per camera for professional mounting and setup.
Copy-Paste Prompt for AI Help
“My Arlo camera model [INSERT MODEL] running firmware [CHECK IN APP] stopped recording motion during daytime hours starting [INSERT DATE]. It records fine at night. I have an active Arlo Secure subscription. The camera faces [NORTH/SOUTH/EAST/WEST] and gets [DIRECT/INDIRECT] sunlight. Motion sensitivity is set to [X]%. I’ve already tried [LIST WHAT YOU’VE TRIED]. What specific settings should I check or adjust to fix daytime motion recording?”