Picture of the Amazon Alexa Dot 2nd Gen with adapter and USB cable.

How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot Back To Factory Settings

The Amazon Echo Dot talking speakers need a Factory Reset every so often. This restores them to out-of-box, factory default state. Resetting them also fixes many abnormal behaviors they might show. So here, we tell you How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot Back To Factory Settings. Why? Because also, it prepares them for  sale to another person. Factory Reset the original Dot Echo as well as the 2nd and 3rd generation Dots  as follows.

How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot Back To Factory Settings: 1st Gen Model

Picture of the Echo Dot 1st generation speaker, front top view.
The Dot Echo 1 speaker, showing the front top view.

1. Power Up the Amazon Echo Dot 1

Firstly, connect the 1st Gen Amazon Echo Dot to its USB power supply. The light ring will light up blue for a bit, and then go off once the Dot finishes booting.

2. Press the Factory Reset Button

Then once the light ring goes black, use a paper clip. Press in and hold the Factory Reset button. Then keep pressing for five to ten seconds. Then, let it go when the light ring turns orange, and then blue.

3. Wait for Factory Reset to Finish

So after a several-seconds pause, the light ring goes completely dark for a brief few seconds. Then it turns orange.

4. Factory Reset Now Complete !

You have now restored your Amazon Echo Dot 1st Generation speaker to its factory default settings. The speaker enters setup mode after a successful reset.

How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot Back To Factory Settings: The 2nd Gen Model

Picture of the Alexa speaker, out of box, with protective plastic removed. Ready for reset.
Showing the 2nd gen Echo Dot speaker, out of box, with protective plastic removed. Ready for reset.

1. Connect your Amazon Echo Dot 2 to Power

Connect the Amazon Echo Dot 2 to its USB power adapter. The light ring will glow blue for a time, and then go dark. This means that booting is complete.

2. Press the Amazon Echo Dot 2 Factory Reset Button Combo

See our Where is the Amazon Echo Dot Factory Reset Button post. This  gives details on how to find the Factory Reset button on the 1st and 2nd generation Echo Dot devices. At any rate, once the light ring goes black, press the Mic Mute and Volume Down buttons. Hold these in at the same time. Release when the unit makes a noise.

3. Wait for Factory Reset to Finish

After a several-seconds pause, the light ring again goes black for a brief pause, and then glows orange.

4. Factory Reset Amazon Echo Dot 2 Now Done

You have now successfully Factory Reset your speaker to its factory default settings. It has now entered setup mode.

5. Set Up or Sell It

You may now unplug, pack, and give your Amazon Echo Dot 2 to someone else. Have no fear that they’ll see your Echo Dot 2 settings on your personal Amazon account. Those values have now cleared from that speaker. Or, you can set it up once again on your account and WiFi. Once the light ring turns orange, the unit stays in setup mode until someone runs setup again. The Amazon Echo Dot 2 does not function fully, until properly set up again.

6. Done !

How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot Back To Factory Settings: The 3rd Gen Model

1. Connect Wall Power Cable

Firstly, plug in the Dot 3rd Gen speaker to its 12-volt power adapter AC cord, as shown next.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Dot gen 3 speaker AC power adapter, plugged into speaker back.
Amazon Echo Dot gen 3 speaker AC power adapter, plugged into speaker back.

2. Next, Plug the AC Adapter into a Working Wall Outlet

See this as shown next.

Picture of the smart speaker powering up, showing its AC adapter plugged into standard wall outlet.
Amazon Alexa Echo Dot Gen 3 smart speaker powering up, showing its AC adapter plugged into standard wall outlet.

Then, wait for the Echo Dot to complete powering up.  It’s complete when either the light ring goes completely dark. Or the speaker flashes orange, red, or purple.

3. Next, Press and Hold the Action Button for 5 to 10 Seconds

Depress the Action button until the light ring turns orange.  Then this Dot announces that it is entering setup mode.  Here, the Action button also functions as the Factory Reset button.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Dot, top view, showing the Action button highlighted.
The Amazon Echo Dot, top view, showing the Action button highlighted.

4. Finally, What Happens After Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Gen Reset?

Your speaker is now back to its factory default settings. Plus it now comes up in setup mode.

Picture of he Amazon Echo Dot in Setup mode after factory reset. The light ring has a spinning orange blip.
The Amazon Echo Dot in Setup mode after factory reset. The light ring has a spinning orange blip.

Set Up Again, or Pack Up

So you may now give your Amazon Echo Dot to a loved one or buyer. But don’t worry that they’ll access your personal settings in your Amazon account. In fact, a Factory Reset erases those values from the speaker.

Or, you set it up once again on your existing account. And once the light ring turns orange, the unit remains in setup mode until someone runs the setup procedure anew. So keep in mind that the Dot won’t work fully until someone runs through setup.

Other Posts About the Amazon Echo Dot 

    1. Amazon Echo Dot Buttons Explained
    2. The Action Button Explained Specifically
    3. How to Restart
    4. Changing WiFi on Amazon Echo Dot Gen 2
    5. How to Connect Bluetooth

References for How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot Back To Factory Settings

    1. Amazon Echo Dot Official Product and Support Page
    2. Where to Buy the Amazon Echo Dot