Arlo Doorbell Installation — Wired & Wireless Guide

Take down your current doorbell from the wall and disconnect the wires. Be sure to secure the wires to prevent them from slipping inside the wall; taping them to the wall is a practical way to ensure they stay in place.

2. Determine Where to Put the Power Kit

Prior to installing the Power Kit, it's important to check its compatibility with your current chime box. You should inspect the chime box for wires and/or batteries inside. Depending on how your chime box is set up, it may not be suitable for use with the Power Kit.

If you only find wires in the chime box, as long as they can deliver a voltage within the range of 16-24V AC, you're good to proceed.

If you find both battery and wire, it's compatible with your doorbell camera.

Unfortunately, battery-powered chime boxes aren't compatible with the Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell.

Connect the Power Kit wires to the chime box terminals. To know which wire goes to each terminal, you can refer to the Arlo App.

Place the Power Kit in a safe spot, preferably somewhere it won't affect how the chime works.

3. Mount the Doorbell Bracket

Secure the mounting bracket in the location where you intend to place the doorbell. Hold the mounting plate against the wall and mark the positions where you'd like to drill holes. You can create the holes using either a screwdriver or, for added convenience, a power drill.

Using the mounting wedge is optional, but it can dramatically improve your viewing angles should you choose to install it. The included wedge adjusts horizontally, but there are wedges like the Wasserstein Vertical Wedge for the Arlo doorbell, which can give you a 0° to 20° vertical view.

4. Connect the Wires to the Arlo Video Doorbell

Remove the wires from being taped and connect them to the back of your Arlo Video Doorbell. The power and chime wires can attach to either screw. Once you've securely attached the wires, mount the doorbell onto the bracket by sliding it upward.

5. Turn on the Power and Check the Light

The light on the front of the Doorbell will turn solid white.

Turn the on power at the breaker and check the LED indicator on the doorbell. If the LED doesn't turn on, give it five more minutes. Otherwise, check if your wiring is correct:

• If the light is a steady amber color, you'll need to make sure your doorbell transformer provides a voltage between 16 and 24 VAC. If not, you might need to activate the bypass mode on the Arlo Power Kit.

• When the LED alternates between amber and white, it indicates that the temperature or voltage might be too low. Wait for up to 13 minutes to allow the doorbell to warm up and stabilize.

6. Connect the Doorbell to Your Wi-Fi

Use the Arlo app on your phone to connect the doorbell to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. Follow these instructions:

• For the Arlo Secure App experience with Feed:

  1. From your device screen, tap the + sign

  2. Tap Doorbells & Chimes

  3. Select Essential Video Doorbell Wired

• For the Arlo Secure App experience with Library:

  1. Tap Add New Device +

  2. Go to Doorbells & Chimes

  3. Select Essential Video Doorbell Wired

How to Install Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell Without an Existing Doorbell or Chime

When setting up the Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell without an existing doorbell or chime, you have the option to use a plug-in AC transformer that supplies 16-24V AC and has a minimum output of 1A. To proceed with this installation method, follow these instructions:

1. Launch the Arlo Secure App.

   • For the Arlo Secure App experience with Feed: Tap > Doorbells & Chimes > Essential Video Doorbell Wired.

   • For the Arlo Secure App experience with Library: Tap Add New Device + > Doorbells & Chimes > Essential Video Doorbell Wired.

2. Scroll through the introductory screens and tap Continue.

3. Tap Continue on each of the following screens to bypass non-applicable steps:

   • Locate your existing chime box.

   • Turn off the power at the breaker.

   • Find the Power Kit.

   • Remove the cover of the chime box.

4. To skip the "Which looks like your chime box?" screen, select "Wires."

5. To skip the "How many wires do you see connected?" screen, select "Two."

6. To skip the "What are your chime terminals labeled as?" screen, select "Front, Trans, Rear."

7. Swipe left through the next several screens until you see "Replace chime cover," and tap Continue to skip these steps.

Installation Steps

1. Before plugging in the AC power adapter, guide the AC adapter wires to the location where you intend to position your Arlo Essential Video Doorbell.

   • Note: If you need the AC power adapter to be plugged in, turn off the power at the breaker.

2. Install Arlo Doorbell with or without the mounting wedge.

3. Plug the AC power adapter into a wall outlet or turn on the power at the breaker.

4. Make sure that the LED ring on the front of your Arlo Essential Video Doorbell is displaying a steady white light..

   • If the LEDs appear solid amber, your plug-in AC transformer might not be supplying 16-24V AC.

   • If the LEDs are off, it's possible that the device is still in the process of booting up. Please wait for a few minutes to allow it to complete the process.

   • In case the LEDs are flashing amber, this indicates that the temperature or battery levels are too low. The device requires additional time to power up, so be patient.

5. Refer to the instructions provided in the Arlo Secure App to connect your Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.

6. Select "None" as the Traditional Chime option to prevent any potential damage to your plug-in AC power adapter.

How to Install the Arlo Essential Wireless Doorbell

The installation of your Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wire-Free involves two main steps: connecting the doorbell to your Arlo account and mounting it on your wall. It's essential to utilize the Arlo Secure App for the doorbell installation.

Here's how to go about installing your Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wire-Free:

1. Charge the battery provided with your device.

2. Connect your mobile device to your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.

3. Scan the QR code found in the Arlo Secure App to link your doorbell to your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.

4. Identify a suitable location for the installation of your doorbell.

5. Proceed to mount your Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wire-Free in the chosen spot.

FAQ

Does the Arlo Wired Doorbell need a chime?

Yes, the Arlo Wired Doorbell needs to be connected to a wired mechanical or digital chime.

How do I install my Arlo wired doorbell without a chime?

While the Arlo Wired Video Doorbell is primarily intended for replacing existing wired doorbells, you can still install it without an existing doorbell or chime. In such cases, you can make use of a 16-24V plug-in AC transformer with a minimum output of 1A for powering the doorbell. This option allows you to set up your doorbell without the need for a pre-existing doorbell or chime.

Does the Arlo wired doorbell need a base station?

No, the Arlo Video Doorbell doesn't need the Arlo Base Station to operate. You can just directly connect your doorbell to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi.

How do I connect my Arlo wired doorbell to my base station?

To reconnect your Arlo to a base station from a direct Wi-Fi connection, you'll have to remove the device from your account and reinstall it. Refer to this guide by Arlo for the step-by-step process.

Connecting your device to the base station means it connects directly to the cloud, which could be helpful if you only rely on local storage.

What is the difference between the Arlo Wired and Wireless Doorbell?

Essentially, the wired version has the same capabilities as its Arlo wireless counterpart. Their only difference is the power source, motion range (16.4ft for the wired and 9.8ft for the wireless), and price (wireless is more expensive).