How to Change the Wi-Fi Network on Your Arlo Camera
Switching the WiFi network on your Arlo camera isn’t complicated, but the exact process depends on a few things:
- Which Arlo camera model you have
- Whether your camera connects through a base station
- Whether you’re running the latest Arlo app on your phone or tablet
Some models like the Arlo Q series and Arlo Baby connect directly to Wi-Fi. Others need a base station. So the steps to change networks will be a bit different depending on your setup.
As of 2026, Arlo has expanded its camera lineup quite a bit. Newer models like the Arlo Pro 5S and Arlo Essential tend to connect directly to Wi-Fi without a base station, while older models from the Pro 2 and Pro 3 era often still rely on the SmartHub or base station.
When Would You Need to Change Your Arlo Camera’s Wi-Fi?
There are several reasons you might need to switch your Arlo camera to a different network. Maybe you got a new router or upgraded to a mesh Wi-Fi system. Perhaps you changed your Wi-Fi password and now the camera can’t connect. Or maybe you moved the camera to a different location in your home where a different access point has better coverage.
Whatever the reason, the good news is that the process is fairly quick once you know which path to follow for your specific model.
Changing the Wi-Fi Network on Arlo Cameras Connected to a Base Station
If your Arlo camera uses a base station, you’ll actually change the WiFi network on the Arlo bridge itself.
Once you do that, every Arlo camera linked to that bridge will automatically switch over too. Here’s how:
• Open the Arlo app on your phone or tablet, or log in at my.Arlo.com.
• Head to Settings, then My Devices. You’ll see your Arlo bridge listed there.
• Tap on the Arlo bridge, find the Network option, and then tap WiFi.
• Select Change Network and follow the on-screen prompts.
One thing to know: Arlo wireless base stations connect to your router through a wired connection, and they create their own secure Wi-Fi network for your Arlo devices. Because of this, you can’t change the Wi-Fi settings on individual cameras that are tied to a base station.
If your base station itself needs to connect to a new router, you may need to run an Ethernet cable from the new router to the base station. The base station doesn’t connect wirelessly to your router. It only creates a wireless connection for the cameras to talk to it.
Changing the Wi-Fi Network on Arlo Cameras Without a Base Station
If your Arlo camera connects directly to Wi-Fi (no base station), follow these steps:
• Open the Arlo app or log into your account at my.Arlo.com.
• You’ll land on the Devices page.
• Go to Settings > My Devices.
• The app will show all devices connected to your WiFi network.
• Tap the Arlo camera you want to update.
• Go to Device Settings.
• Select WiFi Network.
• The app will display your current WiFi network.
• Type in the name and password for the new WiFi network.
• Tap Continue.
• Follow the on-screen steps to connect your Arlo camera to the new network.
• On a computer, click Save. On a smartphone, the settings save on their own.
After switching networks, your Arlo camera will temporarily go offline as a security measure. To get it back up:
• If you see a Re-enable Camera button on the Devices page, press and hold the Sync button on the camera for about 10 seconds.
• Give it 2 to 3 minutes to reconnect.
What to Do If the Wi-Fi Change Doesn’t Work
Sometimes the network switch doesn’t go as planned. Here are a few things to try if your camera won’t connect to the new Wi-Fi network.
First, check that the new Wi-Fi network is broadcasting on 2.4 GHz. Many Arlo cameras, especially older models, only support 2.4 GHz networks. If your new router is set to 5 GHz only or has a combined band that doesn’t play nice with older devices, your camera may refuse to connect.
Second, make sure you’re entering the Wi-Fi password correctly. It sounds obvious, but passwords with special characters can be tricky, and a single wrong character will block the connection.
Third, try restarting both your router and the Arlo camera. Power cycling both devices clears out temporary connection issues more often than you’d expect.
If none of that works, you may need to factory reset the camera and set it up from scratch in the Arlo app. This is a last resort since it erases all your custom settings, but it almost always fixes stubborn connection problems.
Tips for Changing the WiFi Network on Your Arlo Camera
• Make sure your WiFi network has a unique name and a strong password. This keeps unwanted people off your network and away from your cameras.
• If the network change isn’t going smoothly, try resetting your Arlo camera and updating the Arlo app to the latest version.
• Having trouble re-enabling the camera? Check the user manual or get in touch with Arlo support.
• Arlo updates its cameras and app regularly, so these steps could change slightly over time.
• If the Arlo app or camera settings are confusing, don’t hesitate to contact tech support for help.
• Check for firmware updates in the Arlo app from time to time. Keeping your camera firmware current helps avoid weird technical glitches.
• When choosing a Wi-Fi network for your camera, pick one with a strong and stable signal near the camera’s location. A weak signal leads to choppy video and missed motion alerts.
Keeping Your Arlo Camera Secure After a Network Change
After you’ve moved your Arlo camera to a new network, take a minute to review your security settings. Make sure two-factor authentication is turned on for your Arlo account. Check that your motion detection zones and sensitivity levels are still set the way you want them.
It’s also a good idea to verify that your recording schedule or activity zones didn’t reset during the switch. Some users have reported that certain custom settings revert to defaults after a network change, so a quick check can save you from missing an important alert later.
Wrapping Up
Go through the steps above before you start changing the WiFi network on your Arlo camera. If you run into problems, your user manual and Arlo’s support team are your best resources.
The process is a bit different depending on whether your camera uses a base station or connects directly to Wi-Fi, so make sure you follow the right set of instructions for your model. With a few minutes of setup, your camera will be back online and recording on the new network.
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