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How should I position my Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wire-Free?

This article applies to:

The best position for your wire-free Arlo Essential Video Doorbell varies by household and outdoor environment. Read this article for motion and video capture expectations based on positioning best practices.

Positioning guidelines

Your doorbell should be placed so that it has the fullest view of the area leading up to the front entry. This provides the best opportunity to capture motion detection events and video clips that include a person approaching the door. You can use the included angled mounting wedge to optimize the angle of your wire-free Arlo Essential Video Doorbell. For more information, visit How do I use the angled mounting wedge that came with my Arlo Video Doorbell?.

When mounting your wire-free Arlo Essential Video Doorbell:

  • Place the doorbell about 48 in (120 cm) above the ground.
    Note: If you choose to hardwire your wire-free Arlo Essential Video Doorbell to replace your existing doorbell, visit How do I hardwire my Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wire-Free?.
  • Make sure that nearby walls and other objects do not obstruct the view of your doorbell.
  • The lower half of the camera’s field of view is the motion-sensitive part of the image. The doorbell begins recording when I detects motion in this area.

WiFi connectivity best practices

When placing your wire-free Arlo Essential Video Doorbell:

  • Make sure your doorbell is within the range of your WiFi router. For more information, contact your router manufacturer or Internet service provider (ISP).
    Note: Your WiFi router’s range is reduced by each wall, ceiling, or other major obstruction between the WiFi router and your camera.
  • Make sure your doorbell is at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from your WiFi router and at least 6.5 feet (2 meters) away from other Arlo devices.
  • Make sure that your home WiFi and mobile device meet Arlo’s minimum requirements. For more information, visit What are the minimum requirements for installing and using my Arlo System?.

The following materials reduce WiFi signal strength the most:

  • Unusually thick walls and ceilings
  • Brick
  • Concrete
  • Stone
  • Ceramic
  • Glass, especially mirrors
  • Metal
  • Large quantities of water, such as the water in a fish tank or water heater