How to reset Alexa on your Amazon Echo

💡 Need to know

• Try a restart first. Unplugging your Echo™ for about 30 seconds can clear plenty of problems without erasing anything.
• A factory reset starts fresh. It removes personal settings and disconnects the Echo from your account.
• Reset steps vary by Echo model. Check which Echo you have before reaching for the buttons.
• Resetting to give it away? Make sure the device is also removed from your Amazon account.

Sometimes Alexa® needs a fresh start. Maybe your Echo has stopped behaving normally, you're moving it to another account, or you're getting ready to pass it along to someone else.

At Asurion, our experts know when a quick restart is enough—and when it's actually time to wipe the slate clean. Here's how to reset Alexa on an Amazon® Echo, with the right steps for different Echo models.

Restart before you reset

If Alexa is slow, ignoring commands, or acting a little off, don't jump straight to a factory reset. Unplug the Echo from power, wait about 30 seconds, then plug it back in and let it reconnect.

A restart keeps your Wi-Fi, Amazon account, smart home connections, and other settings intact. If that solves the problem, you've saved yourself the trouble of setting everything up again.

If Alexa still isn't responding normally, our guide to fixing Alexa when it's not responding can help you rule out other causes before resetting.

How to factory reset an Echo

The buttons you'll use depend on which Echo model or generation you own. Keep the device plugged in while resetting it, then wait for the light ring or screen to indicate that it's ready for setup again.

Echo Dot and Echo with an Action button

On many newer Echo and Echo Dot models:

1. Press and hold the Action button for about 20 seconds.
2. Wait for the light ring to turn off and back on.
3. Let go and wait for the Echo to enter setup mode.

Once setup mode starts, the device is ready to be configured again.

Echo models with Volume Down and Microphone Off buttons

Some Echo models use a two-button reset instead:

1. Press and hold Microphone Off and Volume Down together.
2. Keep holding them for about 20 seconds.
3. Release the buttons when the light ring turns off and back on.

Give the Echo time to finish resetting before trying to set it up again.

Older Echo models with a reset button

Some first-generation Echo devices have a small reset opening near the base.

Use a paper clip or similar tool to press and hold the Reset button until the light ring turns off and back on. Don't poke around other openings looking for it—check the model first if you're not sure where the reset button is.

How to reset an Echo Show

Echo Show™ devices use the touchscreen, so there's no need to memorize a button combination. Open Settings on the Echo Show, then look under Device Options for Reset to Factory Defaults and follow the prompts.

If your Echo Show is running Alexa+, how you enter Settings may differ from the original Alexa experience:

• Alexa+: Tap Menu > Settings.
• Original Alexa: Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Settings.

Only the way you enter Settings changes here—the goal is still to find the factory-reset option for the device.

What happens after you reset Alexa?

Once the factory reset finishes, the Echo behaves much more like it did when it first came out of the box. If you're keeping it, open the Alexa app and follow the setup prompts to reconnect it to Wi-Fi and your Amazon account.

You'll also need to restore any device-specific preferences or connections that weren't retained.

If Wi-Fi becomes the sticking point during setup, our guide to fixing Alexa when it won't connect to Wi-Fi can help get the Echo back online.

Resetting an Echo before selling or giving it away

A factory reset is especially important when the Echo is leaving your household, but we'd go one step further and make sure it's no longer registered to your Amazon account.

Check your devices through Amazon or the Alexa app and deregister the Echo if necessary. That leaves the next owner with a clean setup instead of an awkward introduction to your account.

FAQ

What's the difference between restarting and resetting Alexa?

Restarting simply turns the Echo off and back on without erasing your setup. A factory reset removes device settings and prepares the Echo to be set up again.

Will resetting Alexa delete my smart home devices?

A factory reset removes the Echo's local setup, but devices connected to their own accounts or services aren't physically erased. You may need to reconnect or rediscover them in Alexa afterward.

How do I know which Echo model I have?

Check the device information in the Alexa app or look for identifying information on the Echo itself. Knowing the model and generation matters because reset methods can differ.

Should I reset my Echo before giving it away?

Yes. Factory reset the Echo and make sure it's deregistered from your Amazon account before selling, gifting, or recycling it.