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To reduce false Arlo motion alerts, lower motion sensitivity in the mode generating them, limit detection to a small Activity Zone, and aim the camera away from irrelevant movement. If the problem is only unwanted push notifications, change Smart Notification categories instead: those switches can silence alerts without stopping Feed recordings.
First identify whether you want fewer alerts, fewer clips, or both
Arlo treats notifications and recordings as separate outcomes. Smart Notification category switches control which push alerts you receive; they do not necessarily prevent an event from being recorded or appearing in the Feed. Motion sensitivity, Activity Zones, camera placement, Smart Detections, and mode rules can affect event handling or recordings.
Start by checking what is actually happening: are unwanted events appearing only as notifications, only as saved clips, or in both places? That distinction determines which setting to change.
Lower motion sensitivity in the mode that is triggering events
Reducing Motion Detection sensitivity can cut unwanted events, but setting it too low can also miss movement you want to capture. Adjust it for the camera and scene rather than assuming one value works everywhere.
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- In the Arlo Secure app, open Devices, select the camera, and open Default Mode Settings.
- Move the Motion Detection slider to a lower value.
- To check detection, open Motion Detection Test, start at Low, and walk 5–10 feet in front of the camera while raising the slider until the camera LED blinks.
Arlo says the Motion Detection Test does not save a new setting. After testing, set the value you want separately under Default Mode Settings. App labels can vary by app or device version. If you use multiple active modes, check the rules in each one that sends unwanted alerts; a change in one mode may not change another.
Use a small Activity Zone for the area that matters
Draw a zone around the doorway, walkway, or other specific area you want to monitor, rather than covering the whole yard. Leave out trees, flags, roads, or other sources of constant movement when they are not relevant. Arlo notes that only part of an object needs to enter an Activity Zone for it to be detected, so a broad zone can still admit motion you did not intend to monitor.
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Arlo says Activity Zones and Smart filters can affect events shown in the Feed, but availability depends on the camera, power, and subscription setup. There is also a storage exception: Arlo says Local Storage saves all videos whether or not activity occurred inside a zone. Check how your particular camera stores footage before relying on a zone to suppress saved clips.
Arlo warns that Auto Zoom & Tracking can affect Activity Zone accuracy and recommends turning it off when using zones. If you have changed the camera position or zoom, review and redraw the zones to match the current image.
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Reposition the camera to exclude irrelevant motion
If a street or frequently moving object is triggering events, aim the camera so that area is outside its field of view where practical. Arlo’s optimization guidance, last updated August 1, 2025, recommends mounting at least 7 feet (2 meters) above the ground, angling slightly down, and placing the camera within 10–15 feet (3–4.5 meters) of expected motion. It describes 5–20 feet (1.5–6 meters) as the best motion-detection area and says side-to-side movement is easier for the sensor to detect than movement directly toward or away from the camera. These are Arlo’s setup recommendations, not a guarantee of accurate alerts in every scene. After moving the camera, review the Activity Zones.
Change notification categories when recordings are useful
If you want to keep clips but receive fewer push alerts, adjust Smart Notifications. Depending on the camera and setup, the categories include People, Vehicles, Animal, and All Other Motion. Turning off a category suppresses that type of notification; it does not by itself stop the event from appearing in the Feed.
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For the reverse outcome—recordings without notifications—Arlo’s regional guidance describes using a custom mode configured to record without sending notifications. Review the mode’s rules and the relevant notification settings for the behavior you want.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Apply changes to every relevant mode, then verify the result
Modes can have different detection, recording, and notification rules. If alerts continue after changing a setting, confirm which mode was active when they occurred and inspect its rules as well as any other active modes. Make one adjustment at a time, then observe whether the unwanted notifications, clips, or both have changed; if desired motion starts being missed, raise sensitivity or widen the zone enough to include it.
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- For too many alerts and clips, start with sensitivity, zone size, and camera framing.
- For too many alerts but useful clips, change Smart Notification categories.
- For unwanted clips despite notification changes, review zones, Smart Detections, camera framing, storage behavior, and mode rules.
Official Arlo instructions
- Change motion sensitivity (Arlo Secure 4.0)
- Troubleshoot Activity Zones
- Learn about Activity Zones and Feed events
- Arlo guidance on receiving fewer notifications
- Arlo Europe: receiving fewer notifications
- Arlo Europe: optimizing motion detection
- Arlo guidance on reducing recordings
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