Why Is My Arlo Base Station Not Getting an IP Address on My Network?
- Ethernet cable is damaged or not Cat5e or higher required for gigabit
- Router Ethernet port is not active or configured for LAN use
- Router DHCP server is disabled or out of available addresses
Problem Description
Your Arlo base station or SmartHub is connected to the router via Ethernet but the internet LED will not turn green. The device is not receiving an IP address from your router DHCP server. Without a valid IP the base station cannot reach Arlo cloud servers and all connected cameras remain offline. This is commonly reported after router replacements, network reconfiguration, or when using managed switches. The base station requires a standard DHCP connection on the same subnet as your router.
Symptoms
- Arlo base station power LED is on but internet LED stays amber or off
- SmartHub shows a solid amber LED instead of green after Ethernet connection
- Router connected devices list does not show the Arlo base station
- Base station was working on old router but will not connect to new router
- Ethernet cable is firmly connected but no link light on the base station port
- Arlo app shows SmartHub offline with no network connection
Recognize these? Here's what usually causes it.
Common Causes
- Ethernet cable is damaged or not Cat5e or higher required for gigabit
- Router Ethernet port is not active or configured for LAN use
- Router DHCP server is disabled or out of available addresses
- Managed switch VLAN configuration blocking the base station traffic
- MAC address filtering on router blocking the Arlo base station
- Base station stuck on a cached IP from old network that conflicts with new subnet
Most fixes happen in the first 3 steps.
The Arlo base station requires a wired Ethernet connection. It does not support WiFi. There is no way to connect it wirelessly. If your router is far from where you want the base station you need to run an Ethernet cable or use a powerline Ethernet adapter.
Tools & Requirements
These tools will help you complete this fix.
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Step-by-Step Solution
Check Physical Ethernet Connection
Verify the Ethernet cable is firmly clicked into both the Arlo base station and the router LAN port. Check for a link light on both ends. Try a different Ethernet cable as damaged cables are the most common cause. Use Cat5e or Cat6 cable. Try a different LAN port on the router. Do not use the router WAN or internet port which is usually a different color.
Needed for this step
Ethernet Cable 50ft For Cat6/Cat5E, 40Gbps Supp...
$9.99Power Cycle Both Devices
Unplug the Arlo base station power adapter. Unplug your router power. Wait 60 seconds. Plug in the router first and wait for it to fully boot with all LEDs stable which takes 2 to 3 minutes. Then plug in the Arlo base station and wait 3 to 5 minutes for it to boot and obtain an IP. This sequence ensures the router DHCP server is ready when the base station requests an address.
Verify Router DHCP Is Working
Log into your router admin panel and check that DHCP server is enabled. Verify the DHCP address pool has available addresses. If the pool is 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.200 and you have 100 devices some addresses may be exhausted. Expand the pool or remove stale DHCP leases from old devices. Also check that no MAC address filtering or access control is blocking unknown devices.
Connect Directly to Router
If the base station is connected through a network switch temporarily connect it directly to the router with a short Ethernet cable. Managed switches with VLAN configurations or port security can block devices. If the base station gets an IP when connected directly to the router the issue is with the switch configuration not the base station.
Factory Reset the Base Station
If the base station was previously on a different network it may have cached network settings that conflict. Locate the reset button on the back of the base station. Press and hold with a paperclip for 15 seconds until the LEDs flash. After reset the base station will request a fresh DHCP lease. You will need to re-add all cameras through the Arlo app but this clears any stale network configuration.
Quick Solutions
Still having issues? This is usually the deeper cause below.
If this comes back after following these steps, check whether a recent app or firmware update reset a default setting — the fix works, but the setting gets reverted silently.
After the base station is online create a DHCP reservation for it in your router. This prevents the base station from ever getting a different IP after router reboots. The Arlo base station MAC address is printed on a label on the bottom of the unit.
This issue almost always looks more complex than it is — the majority of cases trace back to a single setting, a stale credential, or a default that shipped wrong.
- Ethernet cable is damaged or not Cat5e or higher
- Router Ethernet port is not active or configured for
- Router DHCP server is disabled or out of available
- Managed switch VLAN configuration blocking the base station traffic
- MAC address filtering on router
Before you go — try one of these (they fix most cases).
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Official Manufacturer Manual
If you need the complete manufacturer documentation for advanced setup, wiring diagrams, or detailed specifications, you can download the official manual below. The manual includes full technical instructions directly from the manufacturer and may help if your issue requires deeper troubleshooting.
Download the Official Arlo Base Station and SmartHub ManualSource: arlo.com
Need More Help? Arlo Support
Note: The contact information below connects you directly to Arlo's official customer support team, not Trunetto. They can help with warranty claims, device replacements, and advanced technical issues.
How Does Arlo Compare?
Before replacing your Arlo device, see how it stacks up against alternatives in our full comparison guides.
