Get Started with Arlo Cameras

Overview

Seam provides a universal API to connect and control many brands of devices. This guide provides a rapid introduction to connecting your Arlo cameras to Seam, retrieving them as devices, receiving their motion events, and retrieving event recordings. To learn more about other device brands supported by Seam, head over to our integration page.

Arlo cameras are in beta. Seam turns on Arlo, camera events, event media, and live video for each workspace separately, so contact Seam to enable the ones you need for your workspace, including your sandbox workspace, before you follow this guide.

1 — Install Seam SDK

Seam provides client libraries for many languages, such as JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, and others, as well as a Postman collection and OpenAPI spec.

JavaScript / TypeScript (npm, GitHub)
Python (pip, GitHub)
Ruby Gem (rubygem, GitHub)
PHP (packagist, GitHub)
C# (nuget, GitHub)
Java (Maven, GitHub)

npm i seam

pip install seam
# For some development environments, use pip3 in this command instead of pip.

bundle add seam

composer require seamapi/seam

Install using nuget: https://www.nuget.org/packages/Seam

// Add to your pom.xml or build.gradle — see Maven Central for details.

# cURL is already installed on most systems. No additional installation needed.
# Export your API key as an environment variable:
export SEAM_API_KEY=seam_test2ZTo_0mEYQW2TvNDCxG5Atpj85Ffw

Once installed, sign up for Seam to get your API key, and export it as an environment variable:

export SEAM_API_KEY=seam_test2ZTo_0mEYQW2TvNDCxG5Atpj85Ffw

This guide uses a Sandbox Workspace. Only virtual devices can be connected. If you need to connect a real Arlo account, use a non-sandbox workspace and API key.

2 — Link an Arlo Account with Seam

To use Arlo cameras through the Seam API, you must first authorize your Seam workspace against your Arlo account. To do so, Seam provides Connect Webviews: pre-built UX flows that walk you through signing in to Arlo and completing two-step verification. Arlo is a beta provider, so include arlo in the Connect Webview’s accepted_providers list. The Arlo login in the Connect Webview works only after Seam turns on Arlo for your workspace, including your sandbox workspace.

Request a Connect Webview

import { Seam } from 'seam'

const seam = new Seam()

const connectWebview = await seam.connectWebviews.create({
  accepted_providers: ['arlo'],
})

console.log(connectWebview.login_successful) // false

// Send the webview URL to your user
console.log(connectWebview.url)

from seam import Seam

seam = Seam()

webview = seam.connect_webviews.create(
    accepted_providers=["arlo"]
)

assert webview.login_successful is False

# Send the webview URL to your user
print(webview.url)

require "seam"

seam = Seam.new()

webview = seam.connect_webviews.create(
  accepted_providers: ["arlo"]
)

puts webview.login_successful # false

# Send the webview URL to your user
puts webview.url

<?php
use Seam\SeamClient;

$seam = new SeamClient("YOUR_API_KEY");

$webview = $seam->connect_webviews->create(
  accepted_providers: ["arlo"]
);

echo $webview->login_successful; // false

// Send the webview URL to your user
echo $webview->url;

using Seam.Client;

var seam = new SeamClient(apiToken: "YOUR_API_KEY");

var webview = seam.ConnectWebviews.Create(
  acceptedProviders: new List<string> { "arlo" }
);

Console.WriteLine(webview.LoginSuccessful); // false

// Send the webview URL to your user
Console.WriteLine(webview.Url);

import co.seam.Seam;
import co.seam.api.types.ConnectWebview;

Seam seam = Seam.builder().apiKey("YOUR_API_KEY").build();

ConnectWebview webview = seam.connectWebviews().create(
  ConnectWebviewsCreateRequest.builder()
    .acceptedProviders(List.of("arlo"))
    .build()
);

System.out.println(webview.getLoginSuccessful()); // false

// Send the webview URL to your user
System.out.println(webview.getUrl());

curl -X 'POST' \
  'https://connect.getseam.com/connect_webviews/create' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${SEAM_API_KEY}" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
    "accepted_providers": ["arlo"]
  }'

Authorize Your Workspace

Navigate to the URL returned by the Webview object. Since you are using a sandbox workspace, complete the login flow by entering the Arlo sandbox test account credentials below:

email: arlo-test@example.com
password: arlo-test-password
verification code: 123456

Confirm the Connect Webview was successful by querying its status:

const updatedWebview = await seam.connectWebviews.get(
  connectWebview.connect_webview_id,
)

console.log(updatedWebview.login_successful) // true

updated_webview = seam.connect_webviews.get(
    connect_webview_id=webview.connect_webview_id
)

assert updated_webview.login_successful  # true

updated_webview = seam.connect_webviews.get(
  connect_webview_id: webview.connect_webview_id
)

puts updated_webview.login_successful # true

<?php
$updated_webview = $seam->connect_webviews->get(
  connect_webview_id: $webview->connect_webview_id
);

echo $updated_webview->login_successful; // true

var updatedWebview = seam.ConnectWebviews.Get(
  connectWebviewId: webview.ConnectWebviewId
);

Console.WriteLine(updatedWebview.LoginSuccessful); // true

ConnectWebview updatedWebview = seam.connectWebviews().get(
  ConnectWebviewsGetRequest.builder()
    .connectWebviewId(webview.getConnectWebviewId())
    .build()
);

System.out.println(updatedWebview.getLoginSuccessful()); // true

curl -X 'POST' \
  'https://connect.getseam.com/connect_webviews/get' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${SEAM_API_KEY}" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d "{
    \"connect_webview_id\": \"${CONNECT_WEBVIEW_ID}\"
  }"

3 — Retrieve Arlo Camera Devices

After an Arlo account is linked with Seam, you can retrieve its cameras and video doorbells as devices with the arlo_camera device type.

const cameras = await seam.devices.list({ device_type: 'arlo_camera' })

const camera = cameras[0]

console.log(camera.properties.online) // true
console.log(camera.can_stream_live_video) // true

console.log(camera)
/*
{
  device_id: '...',
  device_type: 'arlo_camera',
  can_stream_live_video: true,
  properties: {
    online: true,
    manufacturer: 'arlo',
    name: 'Living Room Camera',
    arlo_metadata: {
      device_id: '...',
      device_name: 'Living Room Camera',
      model_id: 'VMC3060A'
    }
  },
  ...
}
*/

cameras = seam.devices.list(device_type="arlo_camera")

camera = cameras[0]

assert camera.properties["online"] is True
assert camera.can_stream_live_video is True

print(camera)
# Device(
#   device_id='...',
#   device_type='arlo_camera',
#   can_stream_live_video=True,
#   properties={
#     'online': True,
#     'manufacturer': 'arlo',
#     'name': 'Living Room Camera',
#     'arlo_metadata': {
#       'device_id': '...',
#       'device_name': 'Living Room Camera',
#       'model_id': 'VMC3060A'
#     }
#   },
#   ...
# )

camera = seam.devices.list(device_type: "arlo_camera").first

puts camera.properties.online # true

puts camera

<?php
$cameras = $seam->devices->list(device_type: "arlo_camera");

$camera = $cameras[0];

echo $camera->properties->online; // true

var cameras = seam.Devices.List(
  deviceType: Seam.Api.Devices.ListRequest.DeviceTypeEnum.ArloCamera
);

var camera = cameras[0];

Console.WriteLine(camera.Properties.Online); // true

var cameras = seam.devices().list(
  DevicesListRequest.builder()
    .deviceType("arlo_camera")
    .build()
);

var camera = cameras.get(0);

System.out.println(camera.getProperties().getOnline()); // true

curl -X 'POST' \
  'https://connect.getseam.com/devices/list' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${SEAM_API_KEY}" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
    "device_type": "arlo_camera"
  }'

4 — Receive Motion Events

When a connected Arlo camera detects motion, Seam creates a camera.activated event with activation_reason set to motion_detected. To receive these events as they happen, set up a webhook. You can also list events for the camera.

The Arlo sandbox doesn’t simulate motion, so this step and the next return no events or media in a sandbox workspace. Use a real Arlo account in a non-sandbox workspace to see them.

const events = await seam.events.list({
  device_id: camera.device_id,
  event_type: 'camera.activated',
  since: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z',
})

console.log(events)

events = seam.events.list(
    device_id=camera.device_id,
    event_type="camera.activated",
    since="2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"
)

print(events)

events = seam.events.list(
  device_id: camera.device_id,
  event_type: "camera.activated",
  since: "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"
)

puts events.inspect

<?php
$events = $seam->events->list(
  device_id: $camera->device_id,
  event_type: "camera.activated",
  since: "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"
);

echo json_encode($events);

var events = seam.Events.List(
  deviceId: camera.DeviceId,
  eventType: Seam.Api.Events.ListRequest.EventTypeEnum.CameraActivated,
  since: "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"
);

foreach (var cameraEvent in events)
{
  Console.WriteLine(cameraEvent);
}

var events = seam.events().list(
  EventsListRequest.builder()
    .deviceId(camera.getDeviceId())
    .eventType("camera.activated")
    .since("2026-01-01T00:00:00Z")
    .build()
);

System.out.println(events);

curl -X 'POST' \
  'https://connect.getseam.com/events/list' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${SEAM_API_KEY}" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d "{
    \"device_id\": \"${DEVICE_ID}\",
    \"event_type\": \"camera.activated\",
    \"since\": \"2026-01-01T00:00:00Z\"
  }"

Example camera.activated event:

{
  "event_id": "0b7f0d6a-5b1e-4d0c-9d5c-2d8f6a3e1c44",
  "event_type": "camera.activated",
  "workspace_id": "398d80b7-3f96-47c2-b85a-6f8ba21d07be",
  "device_id": "a83690b2-2b70-409a-9a94-426699b84c97",
  "connected_account_id": "c9d3f2a1-7b4e-4f0a-8e2d-5a6b7c8d9e0f",
  "activation_reason": "motion_detected",
  "media_ids": [
    "01a0d985-621c-7b3e-9f2d-4a5b6c7d8e9f",
    "01a0d985-621c-7c4f-8a3e-5b6c7d8e9f0a"
  ],
  "video_url": "https://connect.getseam.com/media/get?media_id=01a0d985-621c-7b3e-9f2d-4a5b6c7d8e9f&format=redirect",
  "image_url": "https://connect.getseam.com/media/get?media_id=01a0d985-621c-7c4f-8a3e-5b6c7d8e9f0a&format=redirect",
  "occurred_at": "2026-09-25T17:03:12.000Z",
  "created_at": "2026-09-25T17:03:12.412Z"
}

5 — Retrieve the Event Recording

When event media is turned on for your workspace, each Arlo camera.activated event lists media_ids: one for the video clip and one for a thumbnail image. Seam copies the clip from the Arlo cloud library, converts it to MP4 with H.264 video so that browsers can play it, and extracts the thumbnail from it. Pass each ID to /media/get. The response’s media_type tells you whether it’s the clip (video) or the thumbnail (image).

Recordings require an Arlo subscription that includes cloud recording. Without one, the media ends in the unavailable status. Arlo usually finishes a clip within a minute of the motion, so the media is pending until then.

const { media } = await seam.media.get({
  media_id: '01a0d985-621c-7b3e-9f2d-4a5b6c7d8e9f',
})

console.log(media.status, media.media_type, media.url)

media = seam.media.get(
    media_id="01a0d985-621c-7b3e-9f2d-4a5b6c7d8e9f"
)

print(media.status, media.media_type, media.url)

media = seam.media.get(
  media_id: "01a0d985-621c-7b3e-9f2d-4a5b6c7d8e9f"
)

puts media.status, media.media_type, media.url

<?php
$media = $seam->media->get(
  media_id: "01a0d985-621c-7b3e-9f2d-4a5b6c7d8e9f"
);

echo $media->status, $media->media_type, $media->url;

var media = seam.Media.Get(
  mediaId: "01a0d985-621c-7b3e-9f2d-4a5b6c7d8e9f"
);

Console.WriteLine($"{media.Status} {media.MediaType} {media.Url}");

var media = seam.media().get(
  MediaGetRequest.builder()
    .mediaId("01a0d985-621c-7b3e-9f2d-4a5b6c7d8e9f")
    .build()
);

System.out.println(media.getStatus() + " " + media.getMediaType() + " " + media.getUrl());

curl -X 'POST' \
  'https://connect.getseam.com/media/get' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${SEAM_API_KEY}" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
    "media_id": "01a0d985-621c-7b3e-9f2d-4a5b6c7d8e9f"
  }'

Example response:

{
  "media": {
    "media_id": "01a0d985-621c-7b3e-9f2d-4a5b6c7d8e9f",
    "workspace_id": "398d80b7-3f96-47c2-b85a-6f8ba21d07be",
    "device_id": "a83690b2-2b70-409a-9a94-426699b84c97",
    "event_id": "0b7f0d6a-5b1e-4d0c-9d5c-2d8f6a3e1c44",
    "media_type": "video",
    "content_type": "video/mp4",
    "status": "available",
    "url": "https://media.getseam.com/...",
    "expires_at": "2026-10-02T17:04:40.000Z",
    "created_at": "2026-09-25T17:03:12.412Z"
  }
}

The url is a signed link that expires within minutes, so store the media_id rather than the url, and call /media/get again for a new URL. The response has no field for when the URL expires. expires_at is when the media itself stops being available: Seam keeps stored Arlo media for 7 days. For polling, statuses, and browser playback, see Retrieve Event Media.

6 — Stream Live Video

You can stream an Arlo camera’s live video to a browser over WebRTC when its can_stream_live_video capability flag is true and live video is turned on for your workspace. The flag means the camera supports live video and is online. It doesn’t reflect whether live video is turned on for your workspace: if it isn’t, /cameras/live_views/create returns a camera_not_available error. The flag is false while the camera is offline. Live view uses a client session token scoped to the camera, so your users’ browsers never see your API key. For the full flow, see Stream Live Video.

Next Steps

Now that you’ve completed this guide, you can try to connect a real Arlo account. To do so, make sure to switch to a non-sandbox workspace and API key, as real devices cannot be connected to sandbox workspaces. See the Arlo Setup Guide for two-step verification and subscription requirements. In addition, if you’d like to explore other aspects of Seam, here is a list of helpful resources:

If you have any questions or want to report an issue, email us at support@seam.co.

Overview

Smart Locks

Access Control Systems

Intercoms

Thermostats

Noise Sensors

Cameras

Other Devices

Get Started with Arlo Cameras

Overview

1 — Install Seam SDK

2 — Link an Arlo Account with Seam

Request a Connect Webview

Authorize Your Workspace

3 — Retrieve Arlo Camera Devices

4 — Receive Motion Events

5 — Retrieve the Event Recording

6 — Stream Live Video

Next Steps

​Overview

​1 — Install Seam SDK

​2 — Link an Arlo Account with Seam

​Request a Connect Webview

​Authorize Your Workspace

​3 — Retrieve Arlo Camera Devices

​4 — Receive Motion Events

​5 — Retrieve the Event Recording

​6 — Stream Live Video

​Next Steps

Overview

1 — Install Seam SDK

2 — Link an Arlo Account with Seam

Request a Connect Webview

Authorize Your Workspace

3 — Retrieve Arlo Camera Devices

4 — Receive Motion Events

5 — Retrieve the Event Recording

6 — Stream Live Video

Next Steps