If your Arlo Doorbell music not playing has become a frustrating daily annoyance, you're not alone. Many users experience this issue when their Arlo Audio Doorbell or Arlo Essential Video Doorbell fails to sound the chime melody or play custom audio alerts. This problem can stem from app settings, Wi-Fi connectivity issues, firmware glitches, or hardware conflicts with your existing mechanical or digital chime. The good news is that most Arlo Doorbell music not playing problems can be resolved with systematic troubleshooting—no technician visit required. Follow the steps below to restore your doorbell's audio alerts and never miss a visitor again.
Check Your Arlo App and Chime Settings
The most common cause of silent doorbells is simply a muted or misconfigured setting in the Arlo Secure app. Before investigating hardware, verify that your audio preferences are properly enabled.
1
Open Arlo App and Check Device Settings: Launch the Arlo Secure app, tap your doorbell from the Devices tab, then select the gear icon for Settings. Navigate to "Audio Settings" or "Chime Settings" and confirm that "Doorbell Chime" is toggled ON. If you have an Arlo Chime or Arlo Chime 2, verify it's selected as the active audio output rather than your phone alone.
2
Verify Chime Type Compatibility: For wired installations, the Arlo Video Doorbell requires a compatible chime kit or transformer (16-24VAC, 10-30VA). In the app's "Chime Configuration" menu, select whether you're using "Mechanical," "Digital," or "No Chime." Choosing the wrong type can cause the Arlo Doorbell music not playing issue because the doorbell sends incompatible electrical signals to your chime unit.
3
Test Audio Output and Volume Levels: Within the same audio settings menu, tap "Test Sound" or "Play Chime" if available. Drag the volume slider to maximum. If testing through an Arlo Chime, move within 10 feet of the device during testing. Low or intermittent sound often indicates a volume set to minimum rather than complete failure.
Resolve Connectivity and Power Issues
Your Arlo doorbell relies on stable Wi-Fi and adequate power to stream audio tones. Even if video works fine, audio alerts may fail when bandwidth drops or voltage fluctuates.
4
Check Wi-Fi Signal Strength at Your Doorbell: In the Arlo app, tap your doorbell and look for the Wi-Fi signal indicator (usually shown as bars or a percentage). If signal is below 2 bars or 40%, audio packets may drop while video buffers. Temporarily move your router closer, add a Wi-Fi extender, or switch to your 2.4GHz network band which offers better range through walls than 5GHz.
5
Restart Your Doorbell and Sync Devices: For battery models, remove the doorbell from its mount and reseat the battery. For wired models, turn off power at your circuit breaker for 30 seconds. Also unplug your Arlo Chime or Base Station, wait 30 seconds, then reconnect. Once all devices show solid blue or green status LEDs in the app, test the doorbell button again to see if music plays.
6
Update Firmware and Reinstall if Needed: Outdated firmware frequently causes the Arlo Doorbell music not playing problem. In the Arlo app, go to Settings > My Devices > [Your Doorbell] > Device Info to check for firmware updates. If already updated but issues persist, remove the doorbell from your account (Settings > Remove Device), perform a factory reset by holding the sync button for 15 seconds, then re-add it through the app's setup process.
⚠️ Important: If you have a wired Arlo Video Doorbell installed with an existing mechanical chime, do not bypass the included Pro Power Kit or resistor. Skipping this component can damage your chime, cause electrical buzzing instead of melodies, and void your warranty. Always verify proper wiring before troubleshooting further.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Arlo Doorbell send phone notifications but play no chime sound?
This typically means your doorbell is correctly detecting presses but the audio output is misdirected. Check that you haven't selected "Silent Mode" or "Do Not Disturb" in the Arlo app. Also verify whether your chime tone is set to play through an Arlo Chime, your phone's speaker, or both—if only phone is selected and your phone is on silent, you'll miss audible alerts entirely.
Can I use custom music or MP3s with my Arlo Doorbell?
Standard Arlo doorbells only support built-in chime melodies. The Arlo Chime 2 offers several preset tones selectable in the app, but does not support custom audio file uploads. For custom sounds, you would need third-party smart home integrations through platforms like SmartThings or Home Assistant, which require additional technical configuration.
Why did my doorbell chime stop working after a power outage?
Power outages can corrupt temporary firmware settings or cause your doorbell to reconnect to a different Wi-Fi band with weaker signal. After any outage, restart all Arlo devices, confirm your router broadcasts the same SSID as before, and check that your doorbell reconnected rather than entering setup mode. Re-run the in-app chime configuration wizard if settings were reset.
Still Need Help With Your Arlo Device?
If these steps didn't resolve the music not playing issue, our certified technicians can help.