Why Is My Arlo Video Doorbell AVD2001 Firmware Update Stuck for Days and Not Completing?
- Arlo firmware server throttles downloads to battery-powered doorbells to preserve battery life
- AVD2001 WiFi radio enters power-saving sleep mode during large firmware downloads cutting the transfer
- Doorbell battery drops below the minimum threshold required to safely complete the firmware write
Problem Description
Your Arlo Video Doorbell shows a firmware update in progress in the Arlo Secure app but it has been stuck in the Updating state for two or more days without completing. The doorbell continues to record events and ring your chime during this time but the firmware status never changes. Some users see a Firmware could not be updated error message after waiting, while others see the update hang indefinitely with no error. The Arlo development team acknowledged this as a known issue affecting AVD2001 and AVD1001 doorbell models on their community forums.
Symptoms
- Arlo Secure app shows doorbell firmware update in progress for 2 or more days without completing
- Doorbell displays Firmware could not be updated error message after extended wait during OTA
- Firmware version in device settings still shows old version 1.20.1.0 after multiple update attempts
- Arlo app says No updates available even though the doorbell is running outdated firmware
- Doorbell LED flashes amber periodically indicating firmware activity but update never finishes
- Removing and re-adding doorbell to Arlo account triggers firmware download that also gets stuck
Recognize these? Here's what usually causes it.
Common Causes
- Arlo firmware server throttles downloads to battery-powered doorbells to preserve battery life
- AVD2001 WiFi radio enters power-saving sleep mode during large firmware downloads cutting the transfer
- Doorbell battery drops below the minimum threshold required to safely complete the firmware write
- SmartHub or base station acting as relay between doorbell and Arlo cloud has stale routing table
- Arlo CDN servers send firmware in small chunks over days for battery devices but the process stalls
- Home router WiFi power management feature disconnects idle-appearing doorbell during slow firmware download
Most fixes happen in the first 3 steps.
Do not remove the doorbell battery or disconnect USB-C power while the Arlo app shows any firmware activity. Interrupting a write in progress can leave the doorbell in a half-updated state that requires Arlo support to recover.
Tools & Requirements
Step-by-Step Solution
Charge Battery to 100% and Keep Charging During Update
Arlo battery-powered doorbells will pause or abort firmware downloads when the battery drops below approximately 30 percent. The doorbell does not display a low battery warning during firmware updates so you will not know this is happening. Remove the doorbell from its mount and connect the USB-C charging cable. Charge to 100 percent which takes about 4 hours from empty. Once fully charged keep the cable plugged in and place the doorbell within 5 feet of your WiFi router. This eliminates both the battery cutoff and the WiFi signal issues simultaneously.
Reboot Doorbell and SmartHub Together
In the Arlo Secure app go to your doorbell device settings and tap Restart Device. Wait 2 minutes for the reboot to complete. If your doorbell connects through an Arlo SmartHub or base station unplug the SmartHub power cable wait 30 seconds and plug it back in. Wait for the SmartHub LED to turn solid green indicating it has reconnected to Arlo cloud. The combined reboot clears the stale firmware download state and forces the doorbell to request the firmware file fresh from Arlo servers.
Remove and Re-Add Doorbell to Force Fresh Firmware Pull
If the firmware is still stuck after rebooting go to device settings for the doorbell in the Arlo app and select Remove Device. Confirm the removal. Wait 2 full minutes. Then tap Add New Device and follow the setup prompts to re-add the doorbell. During setup the Arlo app will detect the outdated firmware and begin a fresh download. Keep the doorbell on the USB-C charger within 5 feet of the router during this entire process. The fresh firmware download typically takes 15 to 30 minutes when the doorbell has strong WiFi and full battery.
Disable Router WiFi Power Management
Many home routers have a WiFi power management or green mode feature that disconnects devices that appear idle. Since the Arlo doorbell downloads firmware in small background chunks the router may interpret the slow download as an idle connection and disconnect it. Log into your router admin page and look for settings labeled WiFi Power Save, Green Mode, or Low Power WiFi. Disable these for your 2.4GHz network. Also disable any WiFi client timeout settings that disconnect devices after a period of apparent inactivity.
Contact Arlo Support for Remote Firmware Push
If the doorbell firmware will not update after all previous steps contact Arlo support directly. Arlo support agents can remotely push a firmware update to a specific doorbell serial number from their server side. Call Arlo support or use the live chat at arlo.com/en-us/support. Provide your doorbell serial number found on the back of the device and in the Arlo app under Device Settings then About. Tell the agent the doorbell has been stuck on the firmware update for multiple days and that a community forum thread confirms this is a known AVD2001 issue. The remote push typically completes within 10 minutes.
Quick Solutions
Still having issues? This is usually the deeper cause below.
Camera issues that start suddenly almost always trace back to an upload bandwidth drop — run a speed test before assuming hardware failure.
Always charge your Arlo battery doorbell to 100% and keep it on the USB-C charger before accepting any firmware update. Arlo pushes firmware in background chunks over hours and the battery can drain below the safe write threshold before the update completes.
Firmware updates that wipe settings are more common than brands admit — many devices silently reset to factory defaults on an OTA push with no warning.
- Arlo firmware server throttles downloads to battery-powered doorbells to
- AVD2001 WiFi radio enters power-saving sleep mode during large
- Doorbell battery drops below the minimum threshold required to
- SmartHub or base station acting as relay between doorbell
- Arlo CDN servers send firmware in small chunks over
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 Video Doorbell Wire-Free 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.
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