How to Reset Alexa in 6 Steps

Is your Alexa not listening to you? It might need a reset. Whether it’s an unstable internet connection or firmware errors, many factors can cause issues in your Alexa devices. If you’re facing any problem with your Alexa device, your first response should be to disconnect it from the power source, wait for a few minutes, and then plug it in again. 

However, sometimes, things might not be this easy, and you may see your device still misbehaving after plugging in. In such a case, you should try resetting or rebooting your Alexa device—Echo, Echo Show, or Dot. You can also reset your Alexa from the app.

You must know how to reset Alexa to resolve all its minor issues quickly. The first way is to reset Alexa from the app installed on your iPhone or iPad. If you want to opt for this way, follow the below 6 steps to execute it properly:

Step 1: Open the Alexa App 

Start by opening the Alexa app on your mobile phone or tablet. The app has a light blue icon and a white circle. 

Step 2: Tap Devices

Once the app opens, look for the “Devices” option. It will be located in the lower-right corner of the screen.

Step 3: Choose Echo & Devices

The next step is to look for an Amazon Echo icon with “Echo & Alexa” written below it. It will be present at the top of the screen. Tap on it. 

Step 4: Choose the Echo Device for Resetting

In the “Echo & Devices” menu, you will find a list of all Amazon Echo devices you have in your home. Just scroll through the list, find the device you want to reset and tap on its name.

Step 5: Tap Factory Reset

On the following screen, scroll toward the bottom of the menu until you find “Factory Reset.” Tap on it, and you’ll have a confirmation pop-up on your screen. 

Step 6: Confirm Factory Reset

Finally, tap “Factory Reset” again to confirm your Amazon Echo reset. Once you do it, your account information and other data will be removed from the Echo device. You can now sell your Alexa device or simply re-activate your account again from the Alexa app on your mobile or tablet. If you’d prefer a video tutorial instead of the steps above, we found this helpful step-by-step guide on YouTube.

How To Reset Alexa on Amazon Echo (3rd or 4th Generation)

Another way of resetting Alexa is through your 3rd or 4th Generation Amazon Echo. The process is pretty straightforward and includes just a few steps. 

Step 1: Find the Action Button

Look for the Action button on the top of your Amazon Echo. It is represented by a dot in the middle.

Step 2: Press and Hold the Action Button

Once you find the button, press it for about 25 seconds. Soon, the dot will turn orange and then blue. It will then turn off.

Step 3: Wait for the Device To Go Into Setup Mode

The Echo device will boot into the Setup mode soon. Wait for it to happen. When the device turns on again, it will display a blue light, which will then turn orange, indicating that it is in the Setup mode. Once this happens, your account information and other data will be wiped from the device. 

You’re done! Now you can sell your Echo or re-activate it with the Alexa app on your phone or tablet to start using it again.

How To Reset Alexa on an Amazon Echo (2nd Generation)

If you have an older Amazon Echo 2nd Generation, you can still reset Alexa using it. Here is how:

Step 1: Find the Volume Down and Mute Buttons

Start by locating the Mute and Volume Down buttons on the top of your Amazon Echo. The Mute button will have a cross-out microphone symbol, while the Volume Down button will be represented by a minus sign. If your Echo only has a Mute button, you will likely have a 1st Generation Echo.

Step 2: Press and Hold Both Buttons

Now, press and hold both the Mute and Volume Down buttons for about 20 seconds. Soon, the device will start flashing orange, turning blue after a few seconds. Shortly after this, the light ring will stop blinking any light and turn off.

Step 3:  Wait for the Device To Go Into the Setup Mode

Lastly, wait for the Echo device to go into the Setup mode. As the device turns on, it will flash blue light and then orange. As it turns orange, the device has entered the Setup mode and is reset. 

Soon, your account details and other data will disappear from the Alexa device. You can now sell it or set it up again to use it. 

How To Reset Alexa on an Amazon Echo (1st Generation)

Resetting Alexa on Amazon Echo 1st Generation is also possible. Just follow the below steps to get started:

Step 1: Find the Reset Button

First, find the Reset button on the bottom of your Amazon Echo device. It will be a tiny hole present close to the front edge, almost the size of a paper clip. It will also be labeled “RESET.”

Step 2: Use a Paperclip To Press the Button

Now take a paperclip, toothpick, or any sharp object to press the reset button. Once you reach the button, keep pressing it until the device’s light ring flashes orange. The light will soon turn blue. 

If you have an Echo Plus that you intend to keep using, you probably won’t want to lose your connected smart home devices. In such a situation, only press the reset button once instead of holding it.

Step 3: Wait for the Echo To Go Into the Setup Mode

Now, wait for your Amazon Echo 1st Generation to enter Setup mode. As the device turns back on, it will flash blue, which then turns orange instantly. You now know what the orange light means—the device has entered the Setup mode. 

Your account information will be removed from the device, preparing it to be used again or sold out.

How To Reset Alexa on an Amazon Echo Show

You can also reset Alexa using your Amazon Echo Show. Just follow the below steps to do it within a few minutes:

Step 1: Open the Menu Bar

On your Echo Show, swipe down from the screen’s top to open the menu bar. You will have a menu bar with multiple shortcuts on the top of your Echo Show’s screen.

Step 2: Select Settings

The next step is to choose “Setting” from the menu bar, present in the upper-right corner of the screen. You can identify it from the gear symbol.

Step 3: Tap Device

On the following screen, scroll down to half of the menu to find “Device Options.” Tap on it.

Step 4: Tap Reset to Factory Defaults

In the Device Options, you will have the “Reset to Factory Defaults” option located almost near the bottom of the menu. Tap on it.

Step 5: Confirm the Reset

You will have a notification alert asking you to confirm the reset. Tap “Reset,” and the device will turn off and start the backup immediately. This will happen a few times. The device will enter the Setup mode on the last backup, indicating that it has been reset.

All your sensitive information will be wiped from the Alexa device. This means you can now sell your Amazon Echo Show or initiate the setup process to use it again.

Summary

You can reset Alexa in multiple ways. The easiest way is resetting through the Alexa app, but you can also do it from your Amazon Echo (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Generations) and Echo Show. The process for every device is pretty easy, and we have tried to make them even easier for you in this guide. You now know how to reset Alexa the right way!

Up Next

• Fun Ways to Make Alexa Mad
• How to Set Up Alexa on Amazon Echo in 12 Steps
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The image featured at the top of this post is ©Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Scalable Grid Engine, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.