Deleted Arlo Videos? Here's What You Can Still Do Right Now

Deleted Arlo videos can sometimes be recovered, depending on how recently they were removed and which subscription plan you have. Arlo stores footage in its cloud, and clips remain in your video history until the retention window expires or you manually delete them. Once permanently deleted, cloud recovery is typically not possible — but local storage attached to your base station may offer an additional path.

Part 1. How Arlo Video Storage Works

Arlo cameras primarily rely on cloud-based storage hosted on Arlo's servers. When motion or sound triggers your camera, the clip is uploaded automatically and appears in the Arlo app library.

Clips remain accessible for the duration of your plan's retention window. After that window expires, the footage is automatically removed with no way to restore it from the cloud.

Some Arlo camera systems also support local storage via a USB drive connected to the Arlo SmartHub or base station. This creates a secondary copy that exists independently of the cloud.

💡 Tip: Download critical clips — such as evidence of a break-in or package theft — to your phone or computer as soon as you spot them. Cloud copies can disappear faster than expected.

Part 2. Can You Retrieve Deleted Arlo Videos From the Cloud?

If you deleted a clip manually in the Arlo app, it is typically removed immediately from your cloud history. There is no in-app "Recycle Bin" or trash folder for Arlo cloud footage.

However, if the clip was simply aged out (past your retention window) and not yet manually deleted, it may still exist in your history until Arlo's servers process the expiration. Check the Library tab in the Arlo app and scroll back to the date of the recording.

🗣️ r/arlo user: "I accidentally deleted a clip from the app and then realized I needed it for insurance. Arlo support told me once it's deleted from the library, it's gone — no backup on their side."

To check for recoverable recordings:

1. Open the Arlo app on your phone
2. Tap Library at the bottom
3. Use the calendar to navigate to the date of the missing clip
4. If the clip appears, tap it to play and then tap the download icon to save it locally

⚠️ Important: Do not delete any remaining clips in your library while searching for lost footage. A hasty cleanup may permanently remove additional recordings you haven't reviewed yet.

Part 3. Arlo Subscription Plans and Video Retention

Your subscription plan determines how far back your cloud history extends. Understanding these limits helps set realistic expectations about what can still be retrieved.

💡 Tip: If you are on the free plan, your retention window may be shorter than you expect. Upgrading to a paid plan extends the history and also unlocks local storage backup on compatible base stations.

Arlo Secure Premier offers a 60-day cloud history, which roughly doubles your window to catch missed deletions. If you frequently need to review older footage, this tier may reduce the risk of losing important clips.

🗣️ r/homeautomation user: "I had no idea my free plan only kept 30 days. By the time I realized the porch camera caught something suspicious, the footage was already gone."

Part 4. Recover Arlo Videos From Local USB Storage

Arlo SmartHub and certain base station models (compatible with Arlo Pro 3, Arlo Pro 4, Arlo Ultra, and Arlo Ultra 2) support local USB storage. When enabled, recordings are saved to a connected USB drive in addition to the cloud.

To check if local storage captured the footage:

1. Remove the USB drive from the base station
2. Connect it to your Windows PC or Mac
3. Open the drive — recordings are stored as .mp4 files in dated folders
4. Browse to the date and time of the footage you need

If the file was accidentally deleted from the USB drive, standard file recovery tools may be able to restore it — as long as no new data has been written to the drive since deletion.

It is worth checking the Arlo app's local storage settings to confirm recording to USB was actually enabled before the incident. Some users assume local storage is active without verifying it in the Arlo app settings under Devices → Base Station → Local Storage.

💡 Tip: After removing the USB drive to investigate, avoid writing new data to it. New writes overwrite the sectors where deleted files are stored, making recovery harder.

Part 5. Preventing Future Arlo Video Loss

A few practices can significantly reduce the chance of losing important footage permanently.

• Enable local storage: Connect a USB drive to your SmartHub to create automatic local backups alongside cloud storage
• Download clips immediately: When you see footage that may be important (incidents, package deliveries, visitor logs), download it to your phone or computer the same day
• Upgrade your retention plan: If 30 days isn't enough, consider the 60-day Arlo Secure Premier tier
• Set up email or app notifications: Arlo can alert you to new recordings so you review them before they age out

Regularly auditing your Library also helps — many users only check footage reactively, after the retention window has closed.

Part 6. Recover Lost Files With Ritridata

If your Arlo system used a local USB drive or SD card connected to the base station and you accidentally deleted footage from that drive, Ritridata may help recover those files. Ritridata supports recovery from USB drives, external drives, and SD cards — including cases where files were deleted or the drive was formatted.

Step 1 — Select the drive/location

Step 2 — Run a safe scan

Step 3 — Preview and recover to another drive

FAQ

Can Arlo retrieve deleted videos for me if I contact support? In most cases, Arlo support cannot restore deleted cloud recordings. Once you remove a clip from your library, it is typically gone from Arlo's servers. Support may be able to confirm deletion status, but recovery is generally not offered.

How long do Arlo videos stay in the cloud before auto-deletion? This depends on your plan. Free accounts often retain clips for 30 days. Arlo Secure Premier extends this to 60 days. After the retention window, clips are automatically purged and cannot be recovered from the cloud.

Does Arlo have a deleted folder or trash bin? No. As of 2026, Arlo does not provide a trash folder for deleted recordings. Deletion is immediate and permanent on the cloud side.

What Arlo base stations support local USB storage? Compatible models include the Arlo SmartHub (VMB5000), Arlo Pro SmartHub (VMB4540), and some Arlo Ultra base stations. Check Arlo's official compatibility page for your specific camera model.

Can I recover Arlo videos deleted from a USB drive? It depends on whether new data has overwritten the deleted files. If the USB drive was removed promptly and not used afterward, file recovery software may be able to restore deleted .mp4 clips from the drive.

Is there a way to automatically back up Arlo videos to a PC? Arlo does not offer a native PC sync feature. However, you can manually download clips from the app, or use third-party automation tools to periodically save new recordings from local USB storage to a network folder.

Does Arlo notify me before videos are deleted due to plan limits? Arlo does not typically send deletion alerts when clips approach their retention expiry. This is why proactive downloading of important footage is recommended.

What file format does Arlo use for local storage recordings? Arlo stores local recordings as .mp4 files, organized in folders by date. These can be played on any standard media player on Windows or Mac.

References

• Arlo Support — Local Storage Overview
• Arlo Help Center — Video Library and History
• r/arlo — Community Tips on Video Retention
• Apple Support — File Recovery from External Drives
• Microsoft Support — Recovering Files from USB Drives