Many users expect seamless integration between their smart home devices. If you’re wondering, “Will Arlo Work With Alexa?”, the short answer is yes, but the experience might not be as smooth as you hope, particularly due to Arlo’s two-factor authentication (2FA). Let’s delve into the details based on user experiences and common issues faced when trying to connect Arlo cameras with Alexa devices like the Echo Show.
The primary hurdle in getting Arlo cameras to consistently display on Alexa devices stems from Arlo’s security measures, specifically 2FA. For security-conscious users, 2FA is a welcome feature, adding an extra layer of protection to prevent unauthorized access. However, it introduces friction when integrating with voice assistants like Alexa.
User experiences reveal a common workaround, albeit an inconvenient one. To successfully view your Arlo camera feed on an Alexa device, you might need to have the Arlo app actively running and streaming on your smartphone. One user tested this with a Samsung Galaxy S9 and an Alexa Show, outlining the steps and results.
When the Arlo app is open and actively streaming a camera on the phone, asking “Alexa, show me [camera name]” on an Alexa Show often results in success. The Alexa device initially displays “Waiting for Arlo,” but if a camera stream is already active on the linked phone, the feed appears. Interestingly, you can even have multiple cameras streaming on your phone and switch between them via Alexa voice commands.
However, the situation changes dramatically when the Arlo app is not actively streaming. In this scenario, asking Alexa to show the camera typically leads to frustration. The Alexa Show will again display “Waiting for Arlo,” but this is often followed by “Hmm, the camera isn’t responding.” This behavior strongly suggests that the 2FA check is failing when the Arlo app isn’t actively engaged, hindering the direct stream to Alexa.
This issue persists regardless of the phone’s network connection. Whether using WiFi or LTE, the requirement to have the Arlo app streaming remains the same. While occasionally, the connection might fail and then work on a second attempt, the inconsistency points to the underlying 2FA challenge.
The core frustration lies in the fact that while a smartphone with the Arlo app is often considered a “trusted device” for direct access, this trust doesn’t seamlessly extend to Alexa integration. Users find it inconvenient to have to keep the Arlo app streaming just to enable Alexa viewing. The desire for a more streamlined approach, perhaps by designating trusted devices within the Arlo account for Alexa access, is a common request among users struggling with this integration.
Ultimately, while Arlo cameras technically do work with Alexa, the current implementation is hampered by the 2FA system. For users seeking a truly seamless, voice-activated viewing experience of their Arlo cameras on Alexa devices, the existing workaround of keeping the Arlo app actively streaming is less than ideal. The hope is for Arlo to address these limitations and provide a more user-friendly integration in the future, possibly through options for pre-approved devices or a more efficient 2FA handling process for smart home platforms like Alexa.
