The front of your home is one of the busiest areas you own. Deliveries, guests, family members coming and going - it all happens at the doorstep. Traditional motion detection cameras can capture these moments, but they don’t always tell you who is actually there. Arlo’s known person detection changes that by adding intelligence to the cameras placed around your property, giving you a clearer and more personalised understanding of what’s happening.
One important note: due to European privacy laws, known person detection is not available on Arlo Video Doorbells that face public areas such as pavements or shared spaces. However, it is fully available on other Arlo cameras positioned to look only at your private property, such as your driveway, porch, front path or garden. These cameras can work alongside your video doorbell to create a complete, legally compliant layer of awareness.
What known person detection means for your home security
Known person detection teaches your home security camera to recognise the people who belong around your home. Whether it’s your partner arriving back from work or your kids heading to school, your camera can learn familiar faces and help you instantly understand whether an alert is expected or unusual.
Because the system looks only at private areas you choose - not public streets - you get added intelligence without compromising compliance or privacy.
Why known person detection is genuinely useful
Fewer unnecessary alerts. If your camera knows the person walking up your driveway, you won’t be bothered with a notification every time a household member comes or goes.
More meaningful insight. If someone unfamiliar appears within the camera’s private field of view, you’ll know immediately - especially important with outdoor security camera placement near entry points.
Works across your home security wireless cameras. Any Arlo camera that faces private property, from back gardens to garages or side paths, can use known person detection.
Helps build a more accurate, more personalised security system. The feature focuses only on what you care about, learning your routine over time.
How to get the best results from known person detection
Train the system with clear photos. Add several images of each trusted person in different lighting conditions so the AI has strong reference points.
Position cameras correctly. Choose angles that look towards your own driveway, garden or entrance area, not the street. Mount motion sensor security camera outdoor devices at approximately eye level for clearer facial visibility.
Use Activity Zones to guide the system. Draw specific zones where faces usually appear, such as walkways, gates or your porch. This helps the AI ignore irrelevant movement.
Complement your video doorbell. While known person detection can’t run on a video doorbell in Europe, a nearby 2K or 4K security camera facing only private property can provide this context, creating a complete and compliant front-of-house security setup.
A smarter, compliant way to protect your home
Known person detection adds a layer of intelligence that makes your home security system feel more accurate, more aware and more responsive to your daily routine. By placing cameras legally and strategically - and letting your video doorbell handle the public-facing view - you can build the best security camera system for home without compromising on privacy.
As the system learns, you’ll receive fewer interruptions and more meaningful insight into what’s happening on your property, helping you feel secure, informed and fully in control.