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Setting up an Arlo security camera outside takes a bit more thought than just drilling a hole and screwing in a bracket. A little planning upfront saves you from climbing back up the ladder to reposition everything a week later.
Before you grab the drill, ask yourself a few questions. Do you want the camera visible so it scares people off? What area or angle needs coverage? Will one camera do the job, or do you need multiple units to cover blind spots?
This guide walks through the key steps for mounting an Arlo camera outside so you get strong coverage without the trial-and-error frustration. These tips apply to the full Arlo lineup in 2026, including the Arlo Pro 4, Arlo Pro 5S, Arlo Ultra 2, and Arlo Essential series.
Before You Start: Tools and Materials
The Arlo camera box includes a magnetic mount and screws, but depending on your wall material, you may need additional hardware. For wood siding or trim, the included screws work fine. For brick, stucco, or concrete, pick up some masonry anchors and a masonry drill bit from your local hardware store.
Here’s a quick checklist of what you might need:
- Power drill with appropriate drill bits
- Level (a small torpedo level works well)
- Pencil for marking holes
- Ladder or step stool
- Masonry anchors (for brick or concrete)
- Silicone sealant (optional, to waterproof screw holes)
If you’re mounting near an outdoor power outlet and using a wired Arlo model, grab some cable clips to run the power cord neatly along the wall. Loose cables look bad and can be pulled by animals or weather.
Steps for Mounting Your Arlo Camera Outside
Step 1. Pick the Right Location
Where you put the camera determines how useful it actually is. Think about what you’re trying to monitor, and then pick a spot that gives the camera a clear line of sight to that area.
Mounting the Arlo above the front door is one of the most popular placements. It covers the main entrance, deters anyone thinking about breaking in, and lets you see visitors, delivery drivers, and package drop-offs. If you’re more worried about your vehicles, pointing a camera at the driveway gives you 24/7 monitoring of your car or truck.
Other common spots include back doors, side gates, and garage entrances. Pick locations based on where you’ve had concerns or where a break-in would most likely happen.
One thing people often overlook is the Wi-Fi signal strength at the camera’s location. Walk to the spot where you plan to mount the camera and check your phone’s Wi-Fi signal. If you only have one or two bars, the camera will struggle to stream reliably. You might need a Wi-Fi extender or mesh network node closer to that area.
Step 2. Choose the Right Height and Viewing Angle
Security professionals usually recommend mounting cameras at least 7 feet off the ground. This height is high enough to prevent tampering but still close enough to capture useful detail like faces and clothing.
Going higher than 10 feet sounds like a good idea for security, but it comes with a tradeoff. Cameras mounted very high tend to capture the tops of heads rather than faces. Unless you’re covering a very large area like a parking lot, staying in the 7 to 9 foot range gives you the best balance between security and image quality.
The right height and angle depend on what you’re watching. If you’re focused on the entrance, position the camera just above the doorway angled slightly downward. For a wider area like a yard or driveway, go a little higher for a broader field of view.
After you’ve set up the camera, open the Arlo app and check the live feed. This step is important. What looks like a perfect angle from the ground might actually miss a key area or have a wall blocking part of the view. Adjust before you tighten everything down.
Step 3. Mount the Arlo Camera
Once you’ve picked your spot and height, it’s time to install. The camera comes with mounting brackets and screws. If you need extra hardware for your specific wall type (brick anchors, for example), grab those separately. Here’s the process:
- Remove the back cover of the Arlo camera.
- Flip the backplate over. You’ll see a circular plastic plate that needs to come off. Press from the inside to pop it out.
- After removing the plastic panel, you’ll see a large hole in the bracket.
- Reattach the back cover and mounting bracket by pressing them together until you hear a click. That click means they’re locked in place.
- Open the Arlo app and check the camera’s live view. Make sure the angle covers what you need before drilling anything.
- Once you’re happy with the position, drill a small hole in the wall and screw the mount into place. If you’re going into brick or concrete, drill the anchor holes first, insert the anchors, then drive the screws.
- Adjust the viewing angle by rotating the camera on its hinges. Tighten the bracket screws to lock the angle.
- Do a final test through the Arlo app. Check the live view, verify the angle, and confirm motion detection is picking up movement in the right zones.
If you’re using silicone sealant, apply a small bead around each screw hole after installation. This keeps water from seeping into the wall through the holes, which is especially important on wood siding where water damage can develop over time.
Step 4. Set Up Motion Detection Zones
After the physical installation, take a few minutes to configure motion detection zones in the Arlo app. This step is often skipped, but it makes a big difference in how useful the camera is day to day.
Without custom zones, the camera triggers alerts for everything that moves in its field of view. That includes cars driving by, tree branches swaying, and neighborhood cats wandering through. You’ll get so many false alerts that you start ignoring them, which defeats the purpose.
Open the Arlo app, go to your camera’s settings, and look for the motion detection zone option. Draw a zone around the area you actually care about, like your front walkway or driveway. Anything that moves outside that zone gets ignored. You can also adjust the motion sensitivity on your Arlo camera to fine-tune how easily the camera triggers.
Step 5. Weatherproofing and Maintenance
Arlo cameras are designed for outdoor use, but a little extra protection goes a long way. If your camera is in a spot that gets direct rain or snow, consider adding a small silicone cover or positioning it under an eave where it has some overhead shelter.
Check the battery level every couple of weeks through the Arlo app. Cold weather drains batteries faster, so during winter months you may need to recharge more often. If you’re using a solar panel accessory, make sure it’s positioned to catch enough sunlight, especially during shorter winter days.
Clean the camera lens with a soft cloth every month or so. Dust, pollen, and spider webs can build up and blur the image. A quick wipe keeps the feed clear.
Final Thoughts on Mounting an Arlo Camera Outside
The three things that matter most are location, height, and viewing angle. Get those right before you start drilling, and you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle. Test the live feed through the Arlo app at every stage so you can make adjustments while the tools are still out.
Taking the extra time to set up motion zones and weatherproof the installation pays off in the long run. A well-mounted Arlo camera with properly configured alerts gives you reliable security coverage without constant false notifications.
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