Just bought an Echo Dot and the box holds only the speaker and a power cable? That’s normal. Alexa isn’t set up on the speaker itself: everything happens in the app on your phone. The process is simple, but a few details, like Bluetooth and the orange light, trip up first-timers.
What you need before you start
- An Amazon Echo device (Echo Dot, Echo Show or similar)
- A phone with the Amazon Alexa app installed, available for Android and iPhone
- An active Amazon account
- Bluetooth turned on on your phone
- A Wi-Fi network and an outlet near where the Echo will sit
Keep your Amazon login handy, and have your Wi-Fi name and password written down.
Step by step
- Plug in the Echo. On a new device, an orange light should come on by itself. It means Alexa is ready to be set up.
- Open the Alexa app and sign in with your Amazon account.
- Tap Devices in the bottom menu, then the + icon in the upper right corner.
- Choose Add Device, then Amazon Echo.
- Pick your model, for example Echo Dot.
- Leave Bluetooth on. The app looks for the Echo nearby and shows it on screen. Tap it to continue.
- Choose your home Wi-Fi network from the list, type the password and tap Connect.
- Answer the final questions, which are optional, and you’re done.
When the connection finishes, the Echo tells you by voice that it’s ready. From then on it responds to commands.
What if the orange light doesn’t come on?
This mostly happens with an Echo that was set up before, such as a secondhand one. In that case, according to Canaltech, you need to hold the device’s action button until the light turns orange. Olhar Digital stresses that Alexa has to be in this setup mode to show up in the app. If nothing appears anyway, unplug the Echo, plug it back in and repeat the process.
What to do after setup
Three tweaks are worth making once it’s running, all mentioned by Canaltech:
- Turn on voice recognition, so Alexa learns your voice profile.
- Connect music services to ask for songs by voice.
- Install skills, which are Alexa’s “apps” and expand what it can do.
If you’re building a smart home, the next step is linking bulbs and plugs to Alexa. Before you buy, it helps to understand Matter, the standard that lets devices from different brands work together, since it lowers the risk of buying an accessory that doesn’t get along with your assistant. And if watching the front door is part of the plan, see the subscription-free Tapo D260 doorbell.
When the Echo won’t connect to Wi-Fi
This is the most common problem. According to Olhar Digital and other sources, these checks solve most cases:
- Restart the Echo. Unplug it, wait a moment and plug it back in. Then repeat the setup.
- Move it closer to the router. The recommendation is to stay within 10 meters and away from interference sources like microwaves and baby monitors.
- Confirm the Wi-Fi works. Test it with another device. If nothing can get online, restart the modem and router.
- Try both bands. If your router has separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks with different names, try connecting to each one.
- Update the password. If you changed your Wi-Fi password, the Echo keeps trying the old one. In the app, go to Devices, select the Echo and use the option to change the Wi-Fi network.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an Amazon account to use Alexa?
Yes. Signing in with your Amazon account is the first step in the app.
Can I set up the Echo without a phone?
Not according to the sources we reviewed. Setup happens through the Alexa app, which uses your phone’s Bluetooth to find the device.
I changed routers. Do I have to set everything up again?
No. Just change the Echo’s Wi-Fi network in the app, under Devices, by selecting the device. If the Echo doesn’t show up on the new network, follow the steps above.
The orange light won’t come on. What now?
Hold the Echo’s action button until it turns orange. Without this setup mode, the device won’t appear in the app.
