How Do I Fix Arlo Camera Firmware Update Stuck or Failed?

Problem Description

Your Arlo camera firmware update is stuck at a certain percentage, has been downloading for over an hour, or shows a Failed to Update error. Firmware updates are essential for security patches and new features, but they can fail due to weak WiFi between the camera and base station, low camera battery, server-side issues at Arlo, or the camera being too far from the SmartHub or router. A stuck firmware update can leave the camera in a partially updated state where it cannot record or stream until the update completes successfully.

Why This Happens in Real Homes

Arlo firmware updates fail most commonly due to weak SmartHub/WiFi signal or low battery — not server issues. The most important advice is to not interrupt an update that is still progressing (even if slowly), as a power-off during firmware write can permanently damage the camera. Moving the camera close to the hub and ensuring full battery before starting resolves the vast majority of stuck updates. Arlo pushes firmware updates in waves, so if the update was not available yesterday but is today, the servers may be under high load — retrying the next day often works.

Symptoms

• Firmware update shows 0 percent and never progresses in the Arlo app
• Update reached a percentage then stopped and the camera went offline
• Camera LED blinks continuously after failed update and will not respond
• Arlo app shows update available but clicking update does nothing
• Camera was working before update and is now completely unresponsive
• SmartHub shows update pending for camera but cannot push it

Recognize these? Here's what usually causes it.

Common Causes

• Camera battery too low to complete the firmware update process
• WiFi signal between camera and router or hub too weak causing download failure
• Arlo cloud servers experiencing issues during the update download
• Camera went to sleep mode during the update interrupting the process
• Hub connection lost during firmware push to the camera
• Multiple cameras updating simultaneously overwhelming the hub bandwidth

Tools & Requirements

Step-by-Step Solution

1

Wait at least 30 minutes before intervening

Arlo firmware updates can legitimately take 20-30 minutes, especially for larger updates or when the camera has a weak connection to the SmartHub. The progress indicator in the Arlo app is not always accurate — the update may be progressing even if the percentage appears stuck. If the update has been running for less than 30 minutes, do not interrupt it. Interrupting a firmware update mid-write can brick the camera (render it permanently unresponsive). Only take action if the update has been stuck at the same percentage for more than 30 minutes.

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2

Move the camera closer to the SmartHub or router

Firmware updates download through the SmartHub (for hub-connected cameras) or through WiFi (for WiFi-direct cameras like the Essential series). If the camera is far away, the download may repeatedly fail due to packet loss. For hub cameras: bring the camera within 10 feet of the SmartHub during the update, then move it back to its position after the update completes. For WiFi cameras: bring the camera within 15 feet of the router. The camera does not need to be mounted — you can update it sitting on a table near the hub.

3

Make sure the camera battery is above 50%

Arlo cameras will not start a firmware update if the battery is below a certain threshold (typically 20-30%), and updates can fail mid-process if the battery dies during installation. Charge the camera to at least 50% before attempting a firmware update. If the camera is connected to a solar panel, bring it indoors and charge via USB to make sure consistent power during the update. For wired cameras (Ultra, Pro 3 Floodlight), verify the power cable is securely connected during the update.

4

Retry the update after a power cycle

If the update has been stuck for over 30 minutes: remove the camera battery (for battery cameras) or unplug the camera for 30 seconds. Reinsert the battery or plug it back in. Wait for the camera to fully boot (LED turns solid). Then go to the Arlo app, go to Settings, My Devices, select the camera, and tap Firmware Update to retry. Also restart the SmartHub by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in. Wait 2 minutes for the SmartHub to fully boot before retrying the camera update.

5

Use the Arlo web portal instead of the app

If the Arlo app consistently fails to update the firmware, try using the Arlo web portal at my.arlo.com in a desktop browser. Log in, go to Settings, My Devices, select the camera, and check for firmware updates. The web portal sometimes handles updates more reliably than the mobile app, particularly when there are network timeout issues. The web portal also shows more detailed error messages if the update fails.

6

Factory reset and retry if all else fails

If the firmware update has failed multiple times and the camera is stuck in a bad state (blinking amber, not connecting, or showing offline): factory reset the camera by pressing and holding the sync button for about 15 seconds until the LED flashes rapidly. The camera will reset to its current firmware version (not roll back to factory firmware). Re-add the camera to the Arlo app by going through the setup process. After re-adding, the app will prompt for the firmware update again. If the update still fails after factory reset, contact Arlo support — the camera may need a manual firmware push from their end.

Quick Solutions

Still having issues? This is usually the deeper cause below.

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.