Picture of the Amazon Alexa Echo Gen 2 smart speaker with power adapter, plugged into wall outlet.

How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection

How to change Alexa WiFi connection?  First, put the Alexa based speaker into Setup mode. There, you choose the desired WiFi network.  That’s a simple summary of how to switch WiFi networks for Alexa speakers.

Below, we walk through changing Alexa WiFi connection with an Amazon Alexa Echo Dot 2 speaker. But, this WiFi change process is about the same for the other speakers. These include the Dot 1, 2, and 3, the Echo 1 and Echo 2, and the Tap. We do this demo on our iPad iOS tablet.

If you’re just changing the WiFi network, use this less involved procedure. This keeps other settings for the speaker saved. We cover both cases here. Armed with your mobile device and the Alexa app, changing the WiFi connection on this Alexa smart speaker is painless, as follows.

We assume that you linked the Alexa App to your Amazon account before.

Note also that we took the screen shots below from an Apple iPad Air. But a similar Alexa app for Android is available from the Google Play store.

How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection

1. Plug Alexa Speaker into AC Power

If not already running, plug your speaker into a power source. You must power on the speaker to access the network settings stored in it, as described below.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Dot 2nd Gen Speaker, plugged in and booting. Necessary to change Alexa WiFi on that speaker. How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection.
To change Alexa WiFi, we plug in the Amazon Echo Dot 2nd Gen Speaker, and boot it up first.

2. Run the Alexa App on your Mobile Device

To begin, run this app on your tablet or phone. Doing so grants access to your current Alexa settings.





The Alexa app   Home   screen then appears as pictured next.

Picture of the Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its Home screen, with the hamburger (Main) menu button highlighted.
How to change Alexa WiFi connection. Alexa app on iOS, displaying its Home screen, with the hamburger (Main) menu button highlighted.

3. Tap the Hamburger Shaped Menu Control

The blue arrow in the last picture points at the menu control. Tapping it brings up the main menu, shown next.

How to change Alexa WiFi connection. Picture of the Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its main menu, with the -Settings- item Highlighted.
How to change Alexa WiFi connection. Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its main menu, with the -Settings- item Highlighted.

4. Tap the Settings Menu Item to Continue with How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection

We circled the   Settings  menu item in  blue   in the last picture, located in the black-background menu at left-screen. The Settings screen then appears pictured next.

Picture of the Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Settings- screen, with the -Set Up A New Device- button highlighted. How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection.
Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Settings- screen, with the -Set Up A New Device- button highlighted.

5. Look for your Alexa Smart Speaker in the List

Note on the  Settings  screen in the last picture. The Alexa app lists all our previously set up speakers.

If the speaker you’re changing the WiFi connection for  appears, then tap that entry. Then jump down to step 6 below. There, you can change the saved WiFi router network. Also there, you avoid the steps to connect a new speaker.





But if your speaker does not show, then you must set it up from scratch. In that case, you’ll prepare the speaker to set up WiFi first. Do this if adding a new smart speaker to your Amazon account. In that case, continue on with the next step (Step 5a).

5a. Tap the  Set Up a New Device  Button

The blue arrow in the last picture points at the  Set Up a New Device  button. The app then shows the  Set Up a New Device  screen, as shown in the next picture.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Set Up A New Device- screen, with the -Echo Dot- choice highlighted.
Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Set Up A New Device- screen, with the -Echo Dot- choice highlighted.

5b. Choose the Device Type you’re Setting Up to Continue with How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection

From the list of devices shown in the last screenshot, tap the speaker type to set up. We picked Amazon Echo for this demo.

The app then shows the  Choose Language  screen, as seen next.

How to change Alexa WiFi connection. Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Choose Language- screen, with the -Continue- button highlighted.
How to change Alexa WiFi connection. Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Choose Language- screen, with the -Continue- button highlighted.

5c. Choose the Language for the New Speaker

In our case, the correct language choice already shows in blue in the last picture: English (United States). But to change this, tap on this link.

A list of language options then appears, with the current language choice checked. There, you tap your preferred language.

The blue link then reappears, showing the language you picked.

Once the desired language displays, tap the blue Continue button.

Alexa then shows the  Begin Echo Dot Setup  screen, as seen in the next step.

6. Observe the   Begin Echo Dot Setup  Screen

See this screen as shown next. From here, connecting to WiFi is the same for both a new speaker, and one with which you’re working.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Begin Echo Dot Setup- screen, with the -Connect To Wi-Fi- button highlighted. How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection.
Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Begin Echo Dot Setup- screen, with the -Connect To Wi-Fi- button highlighted.

7. Tap the Connect to WiFi Button

The  Setup->Wait for the Orange Light Ring   screen then shows, as seen next.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Setup-Wait For Orange Light- screen, with the -Continue- button highlighted.
Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Setup-Wait For Orange Light- screen, with the -Continue- button highlighted.

Wait for a minute or so. Your Alexa speaker light ring should then glow in a slowly spinning orange-yellow pattern.

If the orange light does not appear after a couple minutes, force setup mode as follows.

  1. Find the Action button on your speaker.
  2. Press and hold it for roughly five seconds. The Action button has the small white circle in its center. Holding this button in forces the speaker to enter WiFi setup mode.
  3. When that happens, the speaker says, “Now in setup mode. Follow the instructions in the Alexa app.” You cannot change Alexa WiFi connection without your speaker in setup mode.

The spinning orange blip then appears on the light ring, as seen next.





Warning!

Do not proceed to the next step until you’ve heard this announcement, and see this rotating orange glow.

Do not place the smart speaker into WiFi setup mode until the screen above appears on your mobile device. If you do, and then advance the Alexa app to this point, you might confuse the app sometimes. This confusion forces you to set up the speaker as a new device, though you may not have wanted that.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Dot Gen 2 in Setup Mode, showing Light Ring with orange blip circling.
Amazon Echo Dot Gen 2 in Setup Mode, showing Light Ring with orange blip circling.

8. Tap the Continue Button Back in the Alexa App

This brings up the  Echo Dot Setup->Connect your iPad to Echo Dot  creen, as shown next. This screen stays up until you link your mobile device to the speaker’s WiFi network. Do that in the next step.

The speaker then creates this Amazon-xxx ad hoc network for setup purposes. Continue with the next step to link your mobile device to the speaker.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Echo Dot Setup-Connect Your iPad To Echo Dot- screen. How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection.
Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Echo Dot Setup-Connect Your iPad To Echo Dot- screen.

9. Go into your Mobile Device’s Settings Page to Continue with How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection

Press the Home button on your mobile device. This hides the Alexa app.

Then, locate the Settings app and tap it. O our iPad, we find the Settings app on the second home page as seen next. Note that this app may appear elsewhere on your device.

Picture of an iPad Home screen, with the Settings app highlighted by an arrow.
iOS Home Screen with Settings App Highlighted

10. Tap the Wi-Fi Settings Item

This starts a scan for in-range Wi-Fi networks by your device to which you can hook up Alexa wirelessly. Our iPad found the list of networks, shown next. Note that it found the Amazon-E9W network. Our Echo Dot, running in setup mode, broadcasts this WiFi SSID when the light ring glows orange.

If you do not see the Amazon-XXX network, move your tablet closer to your Alexa speaker. Then, wait some seconds for the network to appear. If you still do not see it, reboot your speaker. Then, once the light ring goes out, repeat from step 5 above. The orange ring must show, to see the Amazon-XXX network.

Picture of the iOS WiFi settings screen, showing the Amazon-XXX network that Alexa speakers make during setup.
iOS WiFi settings screen, showing the Amazon-XXX network that Alexa speakers make during setup.

11. Tap the Amazon-XXX WiFi Network

The connection should occur quickly to the unsecured Amazon-XXX network. Unsecured WiFi networks need no password.

Once linked as seen next, your Wi-Fi settings screen should look like the next picture.

Picture of the iOS Settings WiFi Screen, showing successful connection with the AMAZON-XXX network. How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection.
iOS Settings WiFi Screen, showing successful connection with the AMAZON-XXX network.

Your speaker should also say the following: “You’ve connected to Echo Dot. Go ahead and finish the setup in the Alexa app.”





12. Go back to the Alexa App to Continue with How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection

To go back to the Alexa app, press the Home button. This brings up the Home page. There, find the Alexa app. Ours is on Home Page 3, as shown below. Tap the Alexa app to bring it up.

Screenshot of the iOS 11 home screen, showing the Amazon Alexa app Icon highlighted
iOS 11 home screen, showing the Amazon Alexa app Icon highlighted.

The following screen then appears. It shows the mobile device linked to your Alexa speaker.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Connected To Echo Dot- screen, with the -Continue- button highlighted.
Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Connected To Echo Dot- screen, with the -Continue- button highlighted.

13. Press the Blue Continue Button

Find this button on the screen seen above. This starts a scan by your speaker for Wi-Fi networks.

Once the scan completes, the Choose Your Wi-Fi Network screen shows, as seen next. This shows a list of in-range WiFi networks found by your smart speaker.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Setup-Select Your Wi-Fi Network- screen, with the desired network circled. How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection.
Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Setup-Select Your Wi-Fi Network- screen, with the desired network circled.

14. Tap your Desired WiFi Network

Pick the network to which to hook up Alexa speaker, on the Choose Your Wi-Fi Network screen above. In our case, we picked the 937T681J4059H_2G_Guest network. If you never linked with this network before in your Amazon account, the app asks for a password, shown next. The screen you see may differ slightly. But the password prompt function is the same.

A password request may not appear to hook up Alexa. Why not? When you’ve previously entered this WiFi network on Amazon, the system remembers that password for this network. You probably saved WiFi networks to Amazon when you connected any Alexa speaker before. So, the app issues no password prompt if your account has this WiFi network saved.

Picture of the Amazon Alexa App, prompting for WiFi password.
Amazon Alexa App, prompting for WiFi password, and virtual keyboard displaying too.

15. Enter the Wi-Fi Password if Requested to Continue with How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection

Use that virtual keyboard to peck in your WiFi network’s password. When finished, hide the keyboard. You should see a screen similar to the following, showing the password entered.

Picture of the Amazon Alexa App, displaying the WiFi Password Entry screen.
Amazon Alexa App, displaying the WiFi Password Entry screen.

16. Press the Continue Button

Pressing Continue begins attempts by your Alexa speaker to link to the WiFi network chosen in step 13.





During this process, the Preparing your Echo Dot screen appears. It shows a progress bar as the hook up Alexa process proceeds, seen next.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Setup-Preparing Your Echo Dot- screen. How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection.
Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Setup-Preparing Your Echo Dot- screen.

If all goes well, the Setup Complete screen appears, as shown next. Your speaker has successfully connected to the WiFi network you set. Plus, Alexa connected successfully with the Alexa servers at Amazon as well.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Setup Complete- screen, with the -Continue- button highlighted. The hook up Alexa procedure is about done.
Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Setup Complete- screen, with the -Continue- button highlighted. The hook up Alexa procedure is about done.

Finally, your Alexa speaker should say, “Your Echo Dot is now ready.”

17. Press the Continue Button

Tapping Continue here returns you to the Alexa App Home screen, as shown next.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Home- screen.
Alexa app on iOS in 2018, displaying its -Home- screen.

18. How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection: Test Out your Alexa Speaker on New WiFi Network

Ask, “Alexa, what time is it?” or “Alexa, what’s the weather?” If she responds correctly, then the speaker is ready for use.

Follow this procedure any time you wish to change your speaker’s Wi-Fi network.

Qualifiers

  • This post pertains to the following software and hardware versions:
    • iOS 11.2.5
    • Alexa App: Client Version 1.24.4244.0; Bridge version 2.2.2471.0
    • Amazon Echo Dot, 2nd Gen, running firmware version 599473420.

How to change Alexa WiFi Connection: Related Posts

  1. How to Change WiFi Network Connection on Sangean WFR-20 Internet Radio Player
  2. Connect Alexa to WiFi Instructions
  3. Amazon Alexa Echo Dot Setup Help Instructions
  4. Pairing Amazon Alexa Dot as Bluetooth Speaker
  5. Changing WiFi on Victor Reader Stream New Generation Portable Book Player

References for How to Change Alexa WiFi Connection

  1. Connect Echo to Wi-Fi  from Amazon Help & Support
  2. What is Amazon Alexa? on Wikipedia
  3. Connect Echo to Wi-Fi, from Vivint.com

Revision History

  • 2021-09-07: Revised the tags list.
  • 2019-04-10: Removed ad code.  Tweaked key word targeting.
  • 2018-04-28: First published.