How to Get the Arlo Doorbell to Stop Calling

If your Arlo doorbell keeps calling your phone unexpectedly, you’re not alone. This guide walks you through practical steps to stop unwanted calls, adjust notification settings, and customize alerts so you only get notified when it matters.

Key Takeaways

• Disable Call Alerts in the Arlo App: Turn off the “Call Me” feature to stop your doorbell from calling your phone when someone rings it.
• Adjust Motion and Ring Sensitivity: Reduce false triggers by lowering motion sensitivity and setting activity zones to ignore unnecessary movement.
• Use Do Not Disturb Mode: Schedule quiet hours in the app to prevent calls during nights or busy times.
• Check Notification Settings on Your Phone: Ensure your phone isn’t overriding Arlo’s settings with repeated alerts or calls.
• Update Firmware and App Regularly: Keep your Arlo doorbell and app updated to fix bugs that may cause unexpected calling behavior.
• Reboot and Reconnect the Device: A simple restart can resolve connectivity glitches causing repeated calls.
• Contact Arlo Support if Needed: If all else fails, reach out to Arlo’s customer service for personalized troubleshooting.

How to Get the Arlo Doorbell to Stop Calling

If your Arlo doorbell is constantly calling your phone—even when no one is at the door—it can be incredibly frustrating. You might be getting calls in the middle of the night, during meetings, or while you’re relaxing at home. The good news? This issue is usually fixable with a few simple adjustments.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through step-by-step solutions to stop your Arlo doorbell from calling your phone. Whether it’s due to overly sensitive motion detection, incorrect app settings, or a software glitch, we’ve got you covered. By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how to customize your doorbell’s behavior so it only notifies you when it truly matters.

We’ll cover everything from disabling call alerts and adjusting motion zones to using Do Not Disturb mode and troubleshooting connectivity issues. Let’s get started and reclaim your peace and quiet.

Why Is Your Arlo Doorbell Calling You?

Before we dive into fixes, it’s important to understand why your Arlo doorbell might be calling you in the first place. The Arlo doorbell is designed to send instant alerts when someone presses the button or when motion is detected. However, it can also initiate a phone call—this is a feature called “Call Me,” which is meant to ensure you never miss a visitor, even if you don’t see a push notification.

But sometimes, this feature becomes a nuisance. Here are the most common reasons your Arlo doorbell keeps calling:

• Call Me Feature Is Enabled: This setting automatically calls your phone when the doorbell is pressed or motion is detected. If it’s turned on, you’ll get a call every time.
• High Motion Sensitivity: If your doorbell is picking up movement from cars, trees, or animals, it may trigger false alerts and calls.
• Incorrect Activity Zones: Without proper zoning, your doorbell might detect motion in areas you don’t care about, like a busy sidewalk or driveway.
• App or Firmware Glitches: Outdated software can cause erratic behavior, including repeated calls.
• Phone Notification Overrides: Your phone’s settings might be set to repeat alerts or calls, making the problem worse.
• Wi-Fi Connectivity Issues: A weak or unstable connection can cause the doorbell to retry sending alerts, resulting in multiple calls.

Understanding these causes will help you target the right solution. Now, let’s go through the steps to stop the unwanted calls.

Step 1: Disable the “Call Me” Feature in the Arlo App

The most direct way to stop your Arlo doorbell from calling your phone is to turn off the “Call Me” feature. This setting is designed to call your phone when the doorbell is pressed, but it’s often the main culprit behind unwanted calls.

How to Turn Off Call Me

1. Open the Arlo app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Tap on the My Devices tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Select your Arlo doorbell from the list of devices.
4. Tap the gear icon (settings) in the top-right corner.
5. Scroll down and look for the Call Me option under the Alerts section.
6. Toggle the switch to off.

Once disabled, your doorbell will no longer call your phone when someone rings it. You’ll still receive push notifications and can view live video, but you won’t be disturbed by an actual phone call.

Pro Tip: If you still want to be notified but prefer not to get a call, make sure Push Notifications are turned on. This way, you’ll get a silent alert on your phone instead of a disruptive call.

When to Keep Call Me On

While turning off “Call Me” solves the problem for most people, there are times when you might want to keep it enabled—like if you’re expecting an important delivery or have hearing impairments. In those cases, consider using the next solution: scheduling quiet hours.

Step 2: Use Do Not Disturb Mode to Limit Calls

If you don’t want to completely disable calls but need peace during certain times, the Do Not Disturb mode is your best friend. This feature lets you set specific hours when your doorbell won’t call or send alerts.

How to Set Up Do Not Disturb

1. Open the Arlo app.
2. Go to My Devices and select your doorbell.
3. Tap the gear icon to access settings.
4. Scroll down to Do Not Disturb.
5. Tap + Add Schedule.
6. Choose the days of the week and set the start and end times (e.g., 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM).
7. Toggle Call Me and Push Notifications to off during this period.
8. Save your settings.

Now, during your scheduled quiet hours, your doorbell won’t call or notify you—even if someone rings it. This is perfect for nights, naps, or work meetings.

Example: If you work from home and don’t want interruptions between 9 AM and 5 PM, set Do Not Disturb for those hours. You’ll still be able to check the camera manually, but you won’t be disturbed.

Customizing Do Not Disturb for Different Days

You can create multiple schedules for different days. For instance, you might want quiet hours on weekdays but allow calls on weekends. Simply add a new schedule and adjust the days and times accordingly.

Step 3: Adjust Motion Sensitivity and Activity Zones

Even if you’ve turned off “Call Me,” your doorbell might still be triggering calls due to motion detection. If it’s set too high, it could be picking up wind, passing cars, or pets—leading to false alerts and unwanted calls.

Lower Motion Sensitivity

1. Open the Arlo app.
2. Go to My Devices and select your doorbell.
3. Tap the gear icon.
4. Find Motion Sensitivity under the Motion Detection section.
5. Drag the slider to a lower setting (e.g., 3 or 4 out of 10).
6. Save your changes.

Lower sensitivity reduces the chance of false triggers. Start with a moderate setting and adjust based on your environment.

Set Up Activity Zones

Activity zones let you define specific areas where motion should trigger alerts. By excluding busy or irrelevant areas, you can prevent unnecessary calls.

1. In the doorbell settings, tap Activity Zones.
2. Tap + Add Zone.
3. Draw a box around the area you want to monitor (e.g., your front porch).
4. Name the zone (e.g., “Front Door”).
5. Set the sensitivity for that zone (lower is better for reducing false alerts).
6. Repeat to add or remove zones as needed.
7. Save your settings.

Tip: Avoid covering areas like streets, driveways, or trees that move in the wind. Focus only on the walkway or door area.

Test Your Settings

After adjusting sensitivity and zones, test your doorbell by walking in front of it. Check if you still get alerts or calls. If you do, further reduce sensitivity or refine your zones.

Step 4: Check Your Phone’s Notification Settings

Sometimes, the issue isn’t with the Arlo app—it’s with your phone. Your device might be set to repeat notifications or allow calls from the Arlo app even when Do Not Disturb is on.

For iPhone Users

1. Go to Settings > Notifications.
2. Scroll down and tap Arlo.
3. Make sure Allow Notifications is on, but Critical Alerts is off (unless needed).
4. Turn off Repeat if it’s enabled—this prevents multiple alerts.
5. Check Do Not Disturb settings under Focus to ensure Arlo isn’t allowed to bypass it.

For Android Users

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Arlo.
2. Tap Notifications.
3. Disable Call notifications if they’re enabled.
4. Turn off Override Do Not Disturb if it’s on.
5. Check for any “Repeat” or “Persistent” notification settings and disable them.

By aligning your phone’s settings with Arlo’s, you can prevent duplicate or unwanted calls.

Step 5: Update the Arlo App and Doorbell Firmware

Outdated software is a common cause of glitches, including repeated calls. Arlo regularly releases updates to fix bugs and improve performance.

Update the Arlo App

1. Open the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
2. Search for Arlo.
3. If an update is available, tap Update.

Update Doorbell Firmware

1. Open the Arlo app.
2. Go to My Devices.
3. Select your doorbell.
4. Tap the gear icon.
5. Scroll down to Firmware Version.
6. If an update is available, tap Update Now.
7. Wait for the update to complete—do not unplug the doorbell during this process.

Firmware updates often resolve connectivity and alert issues. Make it a habit to check for updates monthly.

Step 6: Reboot and Reconnect Your Doorbell

If your doorbell is still calling you after trying the above steps, a simple reboot might help. Restarting the device can clear temporary glitches and restore normal function.

How to Reboot Your Arlo Doorbell

1. Locate the reset button on the back or bottom of your doorbell (usually a small pinhole).
2. Use a paperclip or SIM tool to press and hold the button for 10–15 seconds.
3. The LED light will flash, indicating the device is restarting.
4. Wait for the light to turn solid, then reconnect to your Wi-Fi via the Arlo app.

After rebooting, reconfigure your settings (like motion zones and Do Not Disturb) and test the doorbell.

Reconnect to Wi-Fi

If the reboot doesn’t help, try removing and re-adding the doorbell to your network:

1. In the Arlo app, go to My Devices.
2. Select your doorbell and tap the gear icon.
3. Choose Remove Device.
4. Follow the setup process again to reconnect it to your Wi-Fi.

This ensures a fresh connection and can resolve communication issues causing repeated calls.

Step 7: Contact Arlo Support

If none of the above steps work, it’s time to reach out to Arlo’s customer support. There may be a hardware issue or a deeper software bug affecting your device.

How to Contact Arlo Support

• Live Chat: Available in the Arlo app under Help > Contact Us.
• Phone: Call 1-877-994-5205 (US) during business hours.
• Email: Submit a request through the Arlo support website.
• Community Forum: Search or post on the Arlo Community for advice from other users.

When contacting support, have your device model, firmware version, and a description of the issue ready. This helps them assist you faster.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even after following all steps, you might still encounter problems. Here are some common issues and quick fixes:

Doorbell Still Calls After Disabling “Call Me”

• Double-check that “Call Me” is off in the app.
• Ensure your phone isn’t set to allow calls from Arlo during Do Not Disturb.
• Reboot the doorbell and phone.

Calls Happen Randomly Without Motion or Ring

• This could be a Wi-Fi dropout. Check your router and move it closer if needed.
• Update firmware—some versions have bugs causing phantom alerts.
• Reset the doorbell and reconfigure settings.

Only One Phone Gets Calls, But Others Don’t

• Check if “Call Me” is enabled only on one user’s account.
• Ensure all users have the latest app version.
• Verify notification settings on each device.

Doorbell Calls But No Video

• This may indicate a weak Wi-Fi signal. Use a Wi-Fi extender.
• Check if the camera lens is dirty or obstructed.
• Restart the doorbell and app.

Preventing Future Unwanted Calls

Once you’ve stopped the calls, take these steps to keep your Arlo doorbell behaving properly:

• Review Settings Monthly: Check motion sensitivity, zones, and Do Not Disturb schedules.
• Keep Software Updated: Enable auto-updates for the app and firmware if available.
• Monitor Activity Log: Use the Arlo app’s activity feed to spot unusual patterns.
• Use Smart Alerts: Enable person, package, or vehicle detection (if supported) to reduce false triggers.
• Install in the Right Spot: Mount your doorbell at the recommended height (48 inches) and angle to avoid glare or obstructions.

By staying proactive, you can enjoy the benefits of your Arlo doorbell without the annoyance of unwanted calls.

Conclusion

Getting your Arlo doorbell to stop calling doesn’t have to be complicated. In most cases, the solution is as simple as turning off the “Call Me” feature or adjusting motion settings. By following the steps in this guide—disabling call alerts, using Do Not Disturb, refining activity zones, and keeping your software updated—you can take full control of your doorbell’s behavior.

Remember, the goal isn’t to miss important visitors—it’s to reduce noise and distractions. With the right settings, your Arlo doorbell can notify you when it matters and stay quiet when it doesn’t.

If you’ve tried everything and the problem persists, don’t hesitate to contact Arlo support. They’re there to help.

Now, go enjoy some peace and quiet—your doorbell will still watch the door, but it won’t be calling you anymore.