Arlo won’t connect to base station, Arlo base station offline, Arlo camera not syncing, and Arlo app connection problems are becoming more common than people realize. People have faced the Arlo won’t connect to base station issue when they buy a new Arlo camera system or reset the old Arlo camera.
Everything will look easy to you at first, but then it will feel frustrating when the Arlo setup suddenly stops, and the base station does not appear in the Arlo Secure app. Most of the time, when someone faces this situation, they immediately think their Arlo camera is broken.
Don’t worry, your Arlo camera system is not broken, and thankfully, almost all Arlo connection problems can be easily fixed at home without any tech skills, just by following some steps carefully.
So if the Arlo base station is not connecting, the Arlo camera is showing offline, or the Smart Hub is not showing in the app, then this blog will help you understand what exactly is causing the issue and how you can fix it properly step-by-step.
Let’s start with the basics first…
Why won’t Arlo connect to the base station?
The Arlo won’t connect to the base station because your Arlo device cannot connect with the router, internet connection, or Arlo servers.
There are two types of Arlo connection problems that you may face. First, the Arlo base station will not be able to connect to the internet. Second, the base station will connect to the internet, but the Arlo app will not be able to detect it.
When the Arlo won’t connect to base station, you will notice the following symptoms:
- Arlo setup freezes during the installation.
- The Arlo base station goes offline.
- LED lights start blinking in amber or orange.
- Arlo camera refuses to sync properly.
- The Arlo app is unable to find the Smart Hub.
- Arlo camera shows offline.
- Endless loading screens inside the Arlo app.
- The Arlo sync button won’t respond properly.
These common issues can feel frustrating when you depend on the Arlo camera for home security or business, and nobody wants their security device to fail when they need it the most.
Before trying some random fixes, knowing the common reasons behind the Arlo won’t connect to base station problem will help you to fix this issue easily.
Common reasons behind Arlo won’t connect to base station
The main reason behind Arlo won’t connect to base station is not as complicated as many connection problems happen because of small setup mistakes or temporary network interruptions.
Most common causes behind Arlo won’t connect to base station:
- Weak or unstable internet connection.
- Damaged Ethernet cable.
- Incorrect setup sequence.
- The router firewall is blocking the communication.
- VPN services are interfering with the setup.
- Temporary Arlo server issue.
- Old or outdated Arlo app.
- Firmware glitches inside the Arlo base station.
- Mobile device connected to the wrong WiFi network.
- Unsupported router settings.
- Faulty Ethernet ports.
- Wireless syncing issues between the Arlo camera and base station.
Sometimes, small issues combine and create a big, frustrating problem for you. You don’t have to panic, as you can fix it within a few minutes when you know the real cause.
Let’s move to the main part now…
How to fix Arlo won’t connect to base station?
The best way to fix Arlo won’t connect to base station issues is by following the process step by step instead of trying anything randomly.
Fix 1: Check your internet connection first
This step may look useless to you, but an unstable internet connection is one of the biggest reasons why the Arlo won’t connect to base station during the setup.
The Arlo base station needs a stable internet connection, and if the internet connection keeps dropping, then the Arlo setup will keep failing.
Here are a few quick checks you have to do:
- First, restart the router.
- Secondly, test the internet speed.
- Now, check for the network outages in your area.
- Then, move the router closer during the setup to avoid weak signal zones.
- Lastly, disconnect the unnecessary devices from the network.
You can avoid guest WiFi networks while setting up Arlo devices for smooth connectivity. Guest WiFi networks can sometimes block the communication between the Arlo devices and the router, which can surprisingly cause setup failures.
Fix 2: Check the Ethernet cables properly
The Arlo base station completely depends on the Ethernet cable to connect with the router. If the Etherenet cables are loose or damaged, then your Arlo device will not get a stable internet connection, which will later cause Arlo won’t connect to the base station issue.
To properly check the Ethernet cables, you have to:
- First, make sure the Ethernet cables fit tightly into both ports.
- Secondly, plug in a different cable.
- Now, test another router port and check whether the router port works with another device.
- Finally, avoid bent or damaged Ethernet cables for a smooth setup.
One user spent an entire evening resetting the whole Arlo system, but when he replaced the cable, everything was solved instantly.
Fix 3: Follow the proper Arlo setup order
If you plug in the power cable before connecting the Ethernet cables, then the startup process will be affected, and the Arlo will connect with the base station properly. This is why you need to follow the proper Arlo setup order.
Follow this order for a proper Alro setup:
- First, connect the Ethernet cables to the router.
- Now, plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into the Arlo base station.
- Then, connect the power adapter.
- Finally, if the Arlo base station is off, turn it on and wait for 2-3 minutes.
Arlo devices usually take a little more time to completely boot and connect with the network.
Fix 4: Understanding the meaning of lights
Your Arlo base station communicates through LED lights. The blinking colors of the light help to identify the exact reason for the issue. Once you understand the lights, the fixing will feel easier to you.
Arlo 3-LED base station indicators:
Power LED:
- Solid green power LED light means the Arlo device is powered on.
- A flashing green power LED light means the firmware is updating.
- The amber power LED light means the Arlo system is booting.
- No power LED light means there is no power connection.
Internet LED:
- A solid green internet LED light means the internet connection is stable.
- An amber internet LED light means the device is connected to the router, but the internet is unavailable.
- No internet LED light means there is no router communication.
Camera LED:
- A solid green camera LED light means the Arlo cameras are synced properly.
- The amber camera LED light means there is a syncing problem.
- No camera LED light means the Arlo camera is not detected.
Arlo smart hub single LED indicators:
- Solid blue Arlo smart hub single LED means the Arlo camera is connected properly.
- Flashing blue Arlo smart hub single LED means the camera is in sync mode.
- Solid amber Arlo smart hub single LED means there is a connection problem.
- Blinking amber Arlo smart hub single LED means there is a camera syncing issue.
- No Arlo smart hub single LED light means the camera is off.
Fix 5: Restart both the router and base station
Temporary software glitches can happen even if your networking device is expensive. Restarting everything can fix the Arlo won’t connect to base station issue by clearing temporary memory bugs, IP conflicts, and frozen background processes.
To restart the router, you have to:
- First, unplug the power cable.
- Secondly, wait for about 30 seconds.
- Now, plug it back in.
- Finally, allow the internet connection to return fully.
To restart the Arlo base station, you have to:
- First, disconnect the power and remove the Ethernet cable.
- Secondly, wait for one minute.
- Now, restore the power.
- Lastly, wait for the LED lights to stabilize.
Fix 6: Make sure your mobile and Arlo base station are on the same WiFi network
This step creates confusion for many users. You can fix this issue easily. You just have to put your mobile and Arlo base station on the same WiFi network during the setup.
If both devices are not on the same network, then you have to:
- First, connect the mobile to the main WiFi network.
- Secondly, turn off the mobile data for some time.
- Then, switch to the 2.4 GHz network band instead of a 5GHz network.
- Now, turn on both Bluetooth and location services.
Fix 7: Disable VPNs and firewall settings
VPNs, firewalls, ad blockers, or security filters can completely block the communication between the Arlo app and servers. This issue is very common for advanced routers with strict security settings.
During setup, you have to remember to disable the following settings:
- VPN services
- Firewall filtering
- MAC address filtering
- Port blocking
- Ad blocker apps
After setup completes successfully, you can turn those features back on. Many users don’t know that privacy software blocks the Arlo setup process in the background.
Fix 8: Check if Arlo servers are temporarily down
Sometimes the issue is not with your network or equipment, as Arlo servers can face temporary outages, maintenance windows, or temporary issues.
When the Arlo servers are temporarily down, then:
- The Arlo camera will appear offline.
- The Arlo login may fail.
- The Arlo devices may stop syncing.
- The Arlo setup may freeze unexpectedly.
If you face an Arlo server issue, then you have to:
- Wait for a few minutes.
- Retry the Arlo setup.
- Check the Arlo server status online.
Fix 9: Update the Arlo app
Using an old or outdated Arlo app can make problem for new firmware versions. Updating the Arlo app is a quick method that can easily fix random setup bugs.
To update your Arlo app, you have to:
- First, go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Then, search for the Arlo app.
- Now, install if there is any update available.
- Finally, restart your phone afterward, and after updating the Arlo app, you need to try the setup process again.
Fix 10: Factory reset the Arlo base station
If none of the above nine fixes work for you, then doing a factory reset is the last option for you. It will clear all corrupted settings and restore the Arlo base station.
Now, to reset the Arlo base station, you have to:
- First, find the reset button.
- Secondly, use a paper clip or pin to press the button.
- Now, hold the button for at least 10-15 seconds.
- Then, wait for the LED light to flash amber, and then release the reset button.
- Lastly, allow the Arlo device to reboot fully.
After factory resetting the Arlo base station, you have to:
- Remove the old base station from the Arlo app.
- Add the Arlo device again.
- Complete the setup from the beginning.
You have to avoid interrupting the reset process halfway, which can sometimes create additional setup problems.
Tips to prevent Arlo won’t connect to base station from happening in the future
Once your Arlo system starts working again, you need to follow a few simple habits to prevent Arlo won’t connect to Wifi from happening in the future.
Here are some helpful prevention tips for you:
- Keep the router firmware updated.
- Restart the network devices occasionally.
- Avoid the overcrowded WiFi networks.
- Always keep the Arlo app updated.
- Try to use good-quality Ethernet cables.
- Avoid using unnecessary VPNs.
- Always keep the router in an open area.
Final thoughts
You noticed that your Arlo device won’t connect to base station, due to some small issues such as slow internet, setup mistakes, or minor glitches. To fix it, you need to restart the router, check the Ethernet cables, and make sure you follow the Arlo setup steps in the right order. Once you are done with all these steps, your Arlo system should be working again.
FAQs
Q1: Why is my Arlo base station LED showing amber color?
Ans: Your Arlo base station is showing an amber color because it may be facing an internet issue or a pairing issue with the Arlo cameras.
Q2: Can weak WiFi cause Arlo won’t connect to base station issue?
Ans: Yes, slow or weak WiFi can cause Arlo won’t connect to base station issue.
Q3: Why can’t I see the Arlo base station in my Arlo app?
Ans: You can’t see the Arlo base station in your Arlo app because your mobile and Arlo base station are on different networks, or you are accidentally using a VPN or firewall.
Q4: How long does the Arlo setup usually take?
Ans: The Arlo setup usually takes around 2 to 5 minutes if the internet connection is stable.
Q5: Can a factory reset erase everything?
Ans: Yes, a factory reset can erase everything, so after the reset, you have to set up the Arlo base station again.