Echo Spot Firmware Update

Echo Spot Amazon speaker. firmware updating, at 85 percent done.

Here, we detail our Echo Spot firmware update procedure for the Amazon Alexa Echo Spot. Note that this unit automatically applies software updates shortly after Amazon publishes them. But you may check for them manually, and update as well. Also, new firmware installation does not erase current Echo Spot settings. Furthermore, you can update the Spot without the Alexa app, since this model has its own touchscreen. Indeed, as long as your Echo Spot is connected to the internet, it’s the only device you need to install firmware updates.

What you Need for Echo Spot Firmware Update

To install Echo Spot firmware updates, you must first connect it to a WiFi network with internet access. See our Echo Spot Change WiFi Network Instructions Amazon Alexa Spot Speaker piece for details on doing this.

Further, we assume that your Echo Spot is linked to your Amazon account.

1. Power up your Echo Spot

After several to ten seconds, a Home Screen appears as pictured next.

The Echo Spot front view, showing the local weather, just before we do this firmware update.

Echo Spot Firmware Update

Now to the Echo Spot firmware updating, step by step help and tips.

1. Bring up the Actions Menu

From the Home screen, get to the Actions icons by swiping down from screen top.

The Actions menu then appears as shown next.

Continuing to swipe down toward screen center reveals main menu.

See the main menu controls screen, displayed fully, as shown in the next picture.

The Main Menu screen, with the -Settings- button highlighted. Go to this menu to perform a firmware update.

2. Tap the Settings Button

Find the Settings button on the Actions menu, as pointed at by the green arrow in the last picture. It’s the gear shaped, circular control at two o’clock on the screen.

The Settings screen then appears, as shown in the next picture.

The -Settings- screen.

Then, move down the screen to the Device Options entry, as shown in the next picture. Scroll down through the list of settings by swiping up on the screen with your finger.

The -Settings- menu, with the -Device Options- item highlighted.

3. Tap the Device Options Entry to Continue with the Echo Spot Firmware Update

This brings up the Device Options screen, as shown next.

The Echo Spot displaying its -Device Options- screen, at top of the options list. Continue to this option to reach the firmware update item.

Then, scroll down the screen (drag swipe up with finger) until you see the Check for Software Updates option, as shown next, pointed at by the green arrow.

The -Device Options- screen. Showing the -Check For Software Updates- option.

4. Tap the Check for Software Updates Option

This starts the process whereby the Echo Spot checks at the Amazon servers for the latest firmware version. In our scenario here, there was indeed a newer version than the one currently running on our Spot. So, our speaker began downloading that newer firmware, as shown next.

Showing the Echo Spot -Device Options- screen, with the -Downloading Software- message highlighted.

Downloading continues and updates the downloading progress percentage, as shown next, now 95 percent downloaded here.

The -Downloading Software – 95 Percent Done- message displaying.

After a brief wait, the new firmware finishes downloading, and the Echo Spot changes the Downloading… message to the Install Software option as shown in the next picture.

The -Install Software Version- option highlighted.

5. Tap the Install Software Version Option

Find the Install Software Version option pointed at by the green arrow on the Device Options screen, as shown in the last picture above.

The Update Device Software screen then appears, as shown next.

The -Update Device Software- confirmation screen. Showing the -Yes- button.

This screen reads, “Your device will need to restart to install the new software. This could take up to 15 minutes. Please don’t unplug your device! Would you like to proceed?”

6. Tap the Yes (>) Button to Continue with these Echo Spot Firmware Update

Find the > button in the last picture, pointed to by the green arrow.

The Firmware Update Process

Tapping this button begins the firmware installation process. The Echo Spot briefly displays a Powering Off message, and then shuts down for a couple seconds. This leaves its screen completely dark for a short time, as shown next. The updating is completely automatic from here on. So it needs no further user input from you.

The Echo Spot with dark screen. It is powered off.

Then, the Spot speaker starts updating its firmware, displaying a progress ring on the Updating screen, as shown in the next few pictures.

The speaker updating its firmware, at 25 percent done.

The update progress at 55 percent done.

Progressing…

Now at 85 percent done.

Once the update progress ring completely lights up, all the way, the Echo Spot reboots and starts optimizing. Optimizing is like what it does after a factory reset. See our Reset Echo Spot to Factory Settings, How To Hard Reset piece for further details.

Rebooting After Software Installation

During booting, the Amazon logo screen first appears as shown next.

The Echo Spot booting, showing the Amazon logo screen.

Next, a Wait screen displays, with a white light ring and flashing blue dots, as shown next.

The -Wait- screen.

Then, the Echo logo screen appears, as booting progresses, as displayed next.

The Echo logo wait screen as the Echo Spot finishes rebooting after the firmware update.

Then, the Optimization Process Begins

Optimization consumes much of the time during the firmware update process. This takes several minutes to finish. And as it runs, the Spot draws a round progress ring that slowly advances as it optimizes its software and resources. Shown in the next three pictures.

The Echo Spot showing the start of its Optimizing operation as the last part of the firmware update process.

The middle of the Optimizing operation.

The Echo Spot finishing up optimization after the firmware update ends.