Amazon Echo Factory Reset Instructions

Amazon Alexa Echo Gen 1 smart speaker, showing the Mic as off, mic mute on, as Indicated by the red light ring.

You may wish to factory reset Amazon Echo smart speakers. Why? Because maybe you’d like to sell your old one. Or perhaps you just want to connect your Echo to a new Amazon account, or to different WiFi internet. So, with those tasks in mind, this post details resetting the Amazon Echo line of smart speakers. For that, do the steps next. We do not cover Echo Dots, Spots, or Plus speakers here. Find posts for some of these in the Related Posts section below.

Resetting unlinks the Amazon Echo from its current Alexa account. Reset also assures that the Echo forgets its current Wi-Fi settings.

Warning: After the reset, your Amazon Echo speaker will not work until set up again.

Also, before factory resetting, try power cycling, as follows.

Power off the unit for fifteen seconds. Do this by unplugging its power cable either from the wall outlet, or from the unit itself.
Wait for a quarter minute.
Then plug it back in.
Wait for the speaker to boot.

This often restores proper function without the headaches of a full reset.

But if power cycling does not fix the speaker, then read on for the proper factory reset procedure. A hard reset often restores correct working to the Amazon Echos.

Factory Reset Amazon Echo Gen 2 Speaker

1. Plug Echo 2 Speaker into AC Power

Firstly, connect the Echo Gen 2 to its AC power supply. The light ring then lights blue for a time, and then goes out. When it goes dark, boot up has finished.

Amazon Echo 2nd gen Amazon Echo smart speaker, powering up.

The next picture shows this 2nd generation Amazon Echo speaker standing by, ready for reset.

The smart speaker, top front view, showing ready for factory default reset.

2. Press the Amazon Echo Gen 2 Speaker Reset Button Combo

See our Where is the Reset Button on Amazon Generation 2 Echo Smart Speaker Located post, for details on how to find the reset button on this unit. We show where these buttons are in the next picture.

The speaker reset button location. It’s a button combination of the Mic Mute and Volume Down buttons, as circled in purple.

Wait for the light ring to darken completely. Then, press and hold the Mic Mute and Volume Down buttons at the same time for five to ten seconds.

3. Wait for the Gen 2 Echo Factory Reset to Wrap Up

Thirdly, after a several-seconds pause, the light ring darkens for perhaps six seconds roughly. Then the ring glows orange. Details next.

The assistant speaker in Setup mode, displaying an orange light ring.

Your Amazon Echo Gen 2 smart speaker is now factory reset. After reset, it enters setup mode, as shown by the circling orange-yellow blip on the light ring.

4. All RE-set!

Factory Reset Amazon Echo Generation 1 Smart Speaker Instructions

1. Attach Power Cable

Connect the Amazon Echo speaker to its included power supply adapter.

Amazon Alexa Echo Gen 1 smart speaker, bottom view, with AC power adapter connector inserted.

Wait for speaker to power up. Speaker is done booting when the light ring goes out or turns purple. Purple means that it failed to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

The smart speaker, front view.

2. Press Factory Reset Button

The reset button is located on the bottom (underside) of the Echo speaker.

Bottom view of the talking speaker, showing the Reset button location highlighted.

Use a pen or straightened safety pin to press and hold the reset button. Press it in for five to ten seconds, until the light ring changes color.

3. Release the Factory Reset Button

Once the ring flashes, the reset operation is now in progress. So you need no longer hold in the reset button.

4. Wait for Factory Reset Process to Finish

After a several-seconds pause, the light ring goes completely dark for a few seconds, and then turns orange.

5. What Happens After Factory Reset

Your Amazon Echo Gen 1 tower speaker is restored to its factory default settings and has entered setup mode.

Set Up Again, or Pack Up

You may now unplug, pack, and give your Echo 2 to someone else. Do not fear that they’ll have access to the Alexa settings on your personal Amazon account. They will not. Factory reset erased those prior values from the Echo 2 speaker.

Lastly, you can set it up once again on your existing account. Once the light ring turns orange, the unit stays in setup mode until someone runs the setup routine. The Echo 2 will not work until properly set up and linked to an Amazon account.