How to Pause an Arlo Doorbell Camera - Doorbell Troubleshooting

Pausing your Arlo doorbell camera is simple and useful when you need privacy or a break from notifications. This guide walks you through every method—via the app, smart home platforms, or physical settings—so you can pause recordings confidently.

Key Takeaways

Use the Arlo app to pause recordings instantly: Open the app, select your doorbell, and toggle off “Record on Motion” or enable “Privacy Mode.”
Privacy Mode disables video and audio: This feature stops all recording and streaming, ideal for private moments at home.
Schedule pauses with Activity Zones: Set custom zones to ignore motion in specific areas, reducing unwanted alerts.
Integrate with smart home platforms: Use Alexa, Google Assistant, or IFTTT to pause your doorbell with voice commands or automation.
Check battery and Wi-Fi before pausing: Ensure your doorbell is online and charged to avoid sync issues when resuming.
Temporarily disable notifications instead: If you only want a break from alerts, mute notifications without stopping recordings.
Always re-enable after use: For security, remember to turn recordings back on once your pause period ends.

How to Pause an Arlo Doorbell Camera: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Smart doorbells like the Arlo Video Doorbell offer peace of mind by letting you see who’s at your door—even when you’re not home. But sometimes, you might want to pause your Arlo doorbell camera. Maybe you’re hosting a private gathering, doing yard work, or simply need a break from constant motion alerts. Whatever the reason, knowing how to pause your Arlo doorbell camera gives you control over your privacy and notifications.

In this guide, you’ll learn multiple ways to pause your Arlo doorbell camera, from using the Arlo app to setting up smart home automations. We’ll cover everything from basic toggles to advanced scheduling, plus troubleshooting tips if things don’t go as planned. By the end, you’ll be able to pause and resume your doorbell with confidence—keeping your home secure while respecting your personal space.

Let’s get started.

Why You Might Want to Pause Your Arlo Doorbell Camera

Visual guide about How to Pause an Arlo Doorbell Camera

Image source: blog.arlo.com

Before diving into the steps, it’s helpful to understand when and why pausing your doorbell camera makes sense. Arlo doorbells are designed to record motion and send alerts 24/7, but that constant monitoring isn’t always necessary—or desirable.

Here are common scenarios where pausing your Arlo doorbell camera is useful:

Hosting guests or family: If you’re having a party or dinner, you might not want every guest’s arrival recorded or every motion triggering a notification.
Working in the yard: Mowing the lawn, gardening, or playing with kids can trigger dozens of false alerts. Pausing the camera avoids notification fatigue.
Privacy during personal time: Whether you’re sunbathing, having a private conversation, or just relaxing, you may prefer not to be recorded at your front door.
Maintenance or repairs: If someone is fixing your doorbell or cleaning the area, pausing prevents unnecessary recordings.
Testing or troubleshooting: When adjusting settings or checking connectivity, temporarily pausing helps isolate issues.

Pausing doesn’t mean your doorbell stops working entirely. It simply stops recording video and sending motion alerts. You can still view live video if needed, and your doorbell will continue to ring when someone presses the button—unless you disable that feature too.

Now, let’s explore the different ways to pause your Arlo doorbell camera.

Method 1: Pause Using the Arlo Mobile App

The Arlo mobile app is the easiest and most direct way to pause your doorbell camera. Whether you’re using an iPhone or Android device, the steps are nearly identical. This method gives you instant control over recording and notifications.

Step 1: Open the Arlo App

Start by launching the Arlo app on your smartphone or tablet. Make sure you’re logged into the account linked to your doorbell camera. If you have multiple Arlo devices, ensure you’re viewing the correct one.

Step 2: Select Your Doorbell Camera

On the home screen, you’ll see a list of your Arlo devices. Tap on your doorbell camera to open its live view or control panel. If you have more than one camera, look for the one labeled “Doorbell” or with the appropriate name you assigned during setup.

Step 3: Access the Settings Menu

Once you’re on the doorbell’s main screen, look for the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner. Tap it to open the device settings. This menu contains all the controls for your doorbell, including recording, motion detection, and privacy options.

Step 4: Toggle Off “Record on Motion”

Scroll down until you find the “Record on Motion” option. This setting determines whether your doorbell records video when motion is detected. Simply tap the toggle to turn it off. When disabled, your doorbell will no longer record clips or send motion alerts.

Tip: Turning off “Record on Motion” stops automatic recordings, but someone can still trigger a live view or recording by pressing the doorbell button.

Step 5: Enable Privacy Mode (Optional but Recommended)

For complete privacy, enable “Privacy Mode.” This feature disables both video and audio recording, as well as live streaming. It’s perfect when you want total silence and no data capture.

To turn on Privacy Mode:

Go back to the main device screen.
Look for the “Privacy Mode” toggle (usually near the top).
Tap it to enable. A lock icon or shaded screen often appears to confirm it’s active.

When Privacy Mode is on, your doorbell won’t record, stream, or send alerts—even if someone rings the bell. You’ll need to disable it manually to resume normal function.

Step 6: Confirm the Pause

After making changes, exit the settings and return to the home screen. Your doorbell should now show a paused or disabled status. You can test it by walking in front of the camera—no alert should appear on your phone.

Pro Tip: Take a screenshot of your current settings before pausing. This makes it easier to restore everything later.

Method 2: Pause Using Activity Zones

If you don’t want to pause your doorbell entirely, but just reduce false alerts, Activity Zones are a smart alternative. This feature lets you define specific areas where motion should be ignored.

For example, you can exclude your driveway, sidewalk, or garden from triggering alerts—while still monitoring the front door.

Step 1: Open the Arlo App and Select Your Doorbell

Follow the same initial steps: open the app, choose your doorbell, and go to settings.

Step 2: Find “Activity Zones”

In the settings menu, look for “Activity Zones” or “Motion Detection Zones.” Tap to open it.

Step 3: Create or Edit Zones

You’ll see a live view of your camera’s feed with an overlay for drawing zones. Tap “Add Zone” and drag to outline areas you want to ignore. For instance:

Draw a zone over your lawn to ignore kids playing.
Exclude the street to avoid alerts from passing cars.

You can create up to three zones per camera. Name them for easy reference (e.g., “Front Yard,” “Sidewalk”).

Step 4: Adjust Sensitivity

Lower the motion sensitivity within each zone to further reduce alerts. This is especially helpful in windy areas where trees or flags might trigger false motion.

Step 5: Save and Test

Tap “Save” and exit. Walk through the excluded zones to confirm no alerts are sent. Motion in the active area (like the door) should still trigger recordings.

Note: Activity Zones don’t “pause” the camera—they just limit what it reacts to. Use this method when you want partial monitoring instead of a full pause.

Method 3: Pause with Smart Home Integrations

If you use smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or IFTTT, you can pause your Arlo doorbell camera using voice commands or automated routines.

This is ideal for hands-free control or integrating pauses into your daily routine.

Using Amazon Alexa

If your Arlo doorbell is linked to Alexa, you can say:

“Alexa, turn on Privacy Mode for the front door.”
“Alexa, disable motion recording on the Arlo doorbell.”

To set this up:

Open the Alexa app.
Go to “Devices” > “Cameras” and ensure your Arlo doorbell is listed.
Create a routine: Go to “Routines” > “Create Routine.”
Set a trigger (e.g., “When I say ‘Pause doorbell’”).
Add action: “Smart Home” > “Arlo” > “Enable Privacy Mode.”
Save the routine.

Now, just say your custom phrase to pause the camera.

Using Google Assistant

Google Assistant supports similar voice commands:

“Hey Google, turn on Privacy Mode for the Arlo doorbell.”
“Hey Google, stop recording on the front door camera.”

Setup steps:

Open the Google Home app.
Tap “Devices” and link your Arlo account if not already done.
Say “Hey Google, sync my devices” to update.
Use voice commands or create automated routines in the app.

Using IFTTT (If This Then That)

IFTTT lets you create custom automations. For example, you can pause your doorbell when you arrive home or during specific hours.

To create an IFTTT applet:

Go to ifttt.com and log in.
Click “Create” to make a new applet.
Set the trigger: e.g., “If it’s 7 PM on weekdays.”
Add action: “Arlo” > “Enable Privacy Mode.”
Save and activate the applet.

You can also use location-based triggers—like pausing the camera when your phone enters your home geofence.

Bonus Tip: Combine IFTTT with smart lights. For example, when you turn on “Movie Night” mode, the doorbell pauses and the living room dims.

Method 4: Temporarily Disable Notifications

Sometimes, you don’t need to pause recording—just the constant alerts. If your phone is buzzing every time a squirrel runs by, muting notifications is a lighter solution.

Step 1: Open the Arlo App

Go to the home screen and select your doorbell.

Step 2: Tap the Notification Bell Icon

Look for the bell icon (🔔) near the top of the screen. Tap it to access notification settings.

Step 3: Mute All Alerts

Toggle off “Motion Alerts” and “Doorbell Press Alerts.” You can choose to mute for a set time (e.g., 1 hour) or indefinitely.

Note: This only stops notifications. The camera may still record if “Record on Motion” is enabled.

Step 4: Use Do Not Disturb Mode (Optional)

On your phone, enable Do Not Disturb mode. This silences all app notifications, including Arlo, without changing camera settings.

Best for: Short breaks, naps, or focused work sessions.

Method 5: Physically Cover the Camera (Last Resort)

If your app isn’t working or you need an immediate pause, you can physically cover the camera lens. This is a temporary fix and not recommended for long-term use.

How to Safely Cover the Lens

Use a soft, non-abrasive material like a microfiber cloth or a removable camera cover. Avoid tape or stickers that could damage the lens or leave residue.

Warning: Covering the lens may void your warranty or affect performance. Only use this method in emergencies.

When to Avoid Physical Covers

If your doorbell is hardwired and generates heat.
If you live in a rainy or humid climate—moisture could get trapped.
If you need to hear the doorbell chime (covering may muffle sound).

Always remove the cover as soon as possible and resume normal use.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with clear instructions, things can go wrong. Here’s how to fix common problems when pausing your Arlo doorbell camera.

Issue 1: Privacy Mode Won’t Turn On

Possible Causes:

Low battery (for wireless models).
Weak Wi-Fi signal.
App needs updating.

Solutions:

Charge the doorbell or check wiring.
Move your router closer or use a Wi-Fi extender.
Update the Arlo app and restart your phone.

Issue 2: Camera Still Records After Pausing

Check:

Is “Record on Motion” actually off?
Is Privacy Mode enabled?
Are there multiple user accounts with different settings?

Fix:

Double-check settings in the app.
Log out and back in to refresh the connection.
Ensure all users have the same permissions.

Issue 3: Notifications Keep Coming Through

Possible Causes:

Do Not Disturb is off.
App notifications are enabled in phone settings.
Another device is receiving alerts.

Solutions:

Check your phone’s notification settings for the Arlo app.
Disable alerts on other devices (tablets, smartwatches).
Use “Mute All” in the Arlo app for a full silence.

Issue 4: Doorbell Button Doesn’t Work After Pausing

If someone presses the button but you don’t get a notification or live view:

Privacy Mode may be blocking all functions.
The doorbell may be offline.

Steps to Fix:

Disable Privacy Mode temporarily.
Check the doorbell’s status in the app (green = online, red = offline).
Restart the doorbell by removing and reinserting the battery (if wireless).

Issue 5: Can’t Resume Normal Function

After pausing, you might forget to turn settings back on. To restore:

Open the app and re-enable “Record on Motion.”
Turn off Privacy Mode.
Test by walking in front of the camera.

Set a reminder on your phone to resume monitoring after your pause period ends.

Best Practices for Pausing Your Arlo Doorbell Camera

To make pausing safe and effective, follow these expert tips:

Use Privacy Mode for full protection: It’s the most secure way to pause, disabling all recording and streaming.
Set a timer or reminder: Use your phone’s alarm or calendar to remind you to re-enable the camera.
Avoid pausing during high-risk times: Don’t disable your doorbell at night or when you’re away unless absolutely necessary.
Test after resuming: Always check that motion alerts and recordings work correctly.
Keep firmware updated: Arlo releases updates that improve stability and add features.
Use multiple methods together: For example, enable Privacy Mode and mute notifications for total peace.

Conclusion

Pausing your Arlo doorbell camera is a smart way to balance security with privacy. Whether you’re hosting guests, working in the yard, or just need a break from alerts, you now have several reliable methods to pause recordings—from the app to smart home automations.

Remember, the goal isn’t to disable your doorbell permanently, but to use it wisely. By pausing only when needed and resuming promptly, you keep your home protected without sacrificing convenience.

With the steps in this guide, you can pause your Arlo doorbell camera confidently, knowing exactly how to control when and how it records. Stay secure, stay in control.