Picture of the Amazon Alexa Echo Dot 3rd Generation speaker, shown in Setup mode, light ring orange and spinning.

Factory Reset Alexa

A complete factory reset Alexa Echo routine is necessary at times.  Why?   Because maybe you’d like to sell your old Alexa device. Or perhaps you just want to connect your speaker assistant to a new Amazon account, or to different WiFi. So, with those tasks in mind, this post details factory resetting the Alexa line of smart speakers.  For that, follow the steps next.  We  cover Echo Gens 1 and 2, the Echo Spot, and the Dot Gens 1, 2, and 3.  We do not however cover the Echo Plus, Show, or Input devices here.

Resetting unlinks the Amazon Alexa from its current Amazon account.  Factory reset also assures that the Alexa speaker forgets its current Wi-Fi settings.

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

Also, to save yourself some set up time, before factory resetting, try powering off the Alexa for fifteen seconds, by disconnecting its power cable either from the wall outlet, or from the unit itself.  Wait for a quarter minute, and then connect it again.  Powering off then on, often restores proper operation without the headaches of a full factory reset. However, if power cycling does not fix the speaker, then read on for the proper factory reset procedure that often restores correct operation to the Alexa speakers.

Factory Reset Alexa: The Echo Gen 2

1. Plug Alexa Echo 2 Speaker into AC Power

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.

Picture of the Amazon Echo 2nd gen Amazon Echo smart speaker, powering up.
Amazon Echo 2nd gen Amazon Echo smart speaker, powering up.

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

Picture of the Amazon Echo Gen 2 smart speaker, top front view, showing ready for factory default reset. How to Factory Reset Alexa.
Our Amazon Echo Gen 2 smart speaker, top front view, showing ready for factory default reset.

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

See our   Where is the Reset Button on Alexa 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.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Gen 2 smart speaker reset button location. It's a button combination of the Mic Mute and Volume Down buttons, as circled in purple.
Amazon Echo Gen 2 Smart 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 Conclude

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

Picture of the Amazon Echo 2nd generation Alexa speaker, in setup mode, displaying an orange light ring.
Amazon Echo 2nd generation Alexa speaker, in setup mode, displaying an orange light ring.

Your Alexa 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 Alexa: The Echo Generation 1

1. Attach Power Cable

Connect the Alexa Echo speaker to its included AC power adapter.

Picture of the Amazon Alexa Echo Gen 1, bottom view, with AC power adapter connector inserted. How to Factory Reset Alexa .
Our Amazon Alexa Echo Gen 1, bottom view, with AC power adapter connector inserted.

Wait for speaker to power up and for the light ring to either go out or turn purple (purple means that it did not connect to a Wi-Fi network).

Picture of our Amazon Echo Gen 1 smart speaker, front view.
Our Alexa Echo Gen 1 smart speaker, front view.

2. Press Factory Reset Button

Find the reset button on the bottom (underside) of this Alexa speaker.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Generation 1 smart speaker bottom view, showing the reset button location Highlighted.
Our Alexa Echo Generation 1 smart speaker bottom view, showing the reset button location Highlighted.

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

3. Release the Button

Once the ring flashes, the factory reset is now under way.  So you need no longer hold in the reset button.

4. Wait for Factory Reset 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 Alexa Factory Reset

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

Factory Reset Alexa: The Dot 3rd Generation

1. Connect the Power Cable

First, connect the Alexa Dot 3rd Generation speaker to its AC power cord, as shown next.

Picture of the Echo Dot 3rd Generation AC power adapter, plugged into speaker back. How to Factory Reset Alexa.
Amazon Echo Dot gen 3 AC power adapter, plugged into speaker back.

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

See this as shown next.

Picture of the 3rd Generation Echo Dot 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 Alexa Dot 3 to finish booting.  That’s done when either the light ring goes dark, or it starts flashing orange, red, or purple.

3. Next, Press and Hold the Action Button for Five Seconds

Hold in the Action button until the light ring turns orange, and the Dot 3 Alexa says that it is entering Setup mode.  On this 3rd gen of the Alexa Dot line, the Action button also functions as the Factory Reset button.  Find it pointed at by the green arrow in the next picture.

Picture of the Echo Dot 3rd generation, top view, showing the Action button highlighted.
Our Echo Dot 3, top view, showing the Action button highlighted.

4. Finally, What Happens After Alexa Dot 3 Factory Reset?

Your Dot 3rd Generation smart speaker has now been returned to its factory state, and has entered setup mode, as shown next.

Factory Reset Alexa: The Dot Gen 2

Power up this speaker before resetting.

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

1. Connect your Alexa Dot 2 to Power

Connect the Echo Dot 2 to its USB power adapter. The light ring glows blue for a time, and then goes dark. This means successful boot up.

2. Press the Alexa Dot 2 Factory Reset Button Combo

See our Where is the Amazon Echo Dot Reset Button post, for details on how to find the reset button on the 1st and 2nd gen Alexa Dot devices.

Then, once the light ring goes black, press and hold the Mic Mute and Volume Down buttons. Press these at the same time for the same amount of time.

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. Alexa Dot 2 Factory Reset Now Done

You have now factory reset your Alexa Echo Dot 2 speaker and restored its factory default settings. It has now entered setup mode.

5. Done!

Factory Reset Alexa: The Generation 1 Dot

Picture of the Amazon Echo Dot 1st generation speaker, front top view.
Showing the 1st Generation Echo Dot smart speaker, front top view.

1. Power Up the Dot 1

Connect the 1st Gen Alexa Echo Dot to its USB power supply. The light ring then light up blue for a bit, and then goes off once the Dot finishes booting.

2. Press the Alexa Dot 1 Factory Reset Button

Once the light ring goes black, use a paper clip end to press in and hold the Reset button. Keep pressing for five to ten seconds. Then, let it go when the light ring turns orange, and then blue.

3. Wait for the Alexa Dot 1 Factory Reset to Finish

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

4. Alexa Dot 1 Factory Reset Now Done

You have now restored your Alexa Echo Dot 1st Gen speaker to its factory default state. The speaker enters setup mode after a factory reset.

Factory Reset Alexa: The Echo Spot

1. Swipe Down from Screen Top

Pull down the main menu screen on your powered up Alexa Echo Spot speaker, as shown in the next pictures.

Picture of a finger swiping down from the top of the screen on the Amazon Echo Spot speaker, to pull down the main menu.
The Alexa Spot speaker. Showing swiping down from top of screen for the main menu.

This reveals the Alexa Spot control menu, as shown next.

Picture of a finger continuing to swipe down toward the center of the Amazon Echo Spot speaker screen, to reveal its main menu. How to Factory Reset Alexa .
Our Alexa Spot speaker. Continuing to swipe down toward screen center reveals main menu.

2. Tap the  Settings  Button

This is the gear-shaped icon near the top right edge of the main menu screen, as pointed at by the green arrow in the next picture.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot speaker, displaying its Main Menu screen, with the Settings button highlighted.
An Echo Spot speaker, displaying its Main Menu screen, with the Settings button highlighted.

The  Settings  screen then displays, as shown next.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot Alexa speaker, displaying its Settings screen.
The Echo Spot video speaker, displaying its Settings screen.

3. Scroll Down the Settings Screen to Continue with Factory Reset Alexa

You can move around the  Settings  screen by moving finger up on the Alexa Spot touchscreen.

You’re looking for the  Device Options  item.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot speaker, displaying its Settings screen. Showing a finger swiping up to scroll down through the list of settings. How to Factory Reset Alexa.
Amazon Echo Spot speaker, displaying its Settings screen. Showing a finger swiping up to scroll down through the list of settings.

4. Stop Swiping when you See the Device Options Menu Item

See this item displayed next.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot speaker, showing its Settings menu, with the Device Options item highlighted.
Amazon Echo Spot speaker, showing its Settings menu, with the Device Options item highlighted.

5. Tap the  Device Options  Item

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

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot Alexa speaker, displaying its Device Options screen, at top of the options list.
Amazon Echo Alexa Spot visual speaker, displaying its Device Options screen, at top of the options list.

6. Move Finger Up on Screen to Continue with Factory Reset Alexa

This scrolls down through the Device Options list.

You are looking for the  Reset to Factory Defaults   option, as shown next, pointed at by the green arrow.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot smart speaker, showing the Reset To Factory Defaults option highlighted on its Device Options screen. How to Factory Reset Alexa.
The Echo Spot smart speaker, showing the Reset To Factory Defaults option highlighted on its Device Options screen.

7. Tap the  Reset to Factory Defaults  Option

You then get the Reset to Factory Defaults confirmation screen.  Here, Echo Spot warns us that factory resetting will deregister it from our Amazon account. Then, it says that after reset completes, we can register Echo Spot again with either the same Amazon account, or a different one.  Finally, the Spot asks if we really want to factory reset it.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot talking speaker, displaying its Reset To Factory Defaults screen, with the Yes-Continue button highlighted.
Our Echo Spot talking speaker, displaying its Reset To Factory Defaults screen, with the Yes-Continue button highlighted.

8. Tap the Confirmation / Yes Button

That is, tap the right arrow button in the lower right edge of the touchscreen, pointed at by the green arrow in the last picture.

9. The Echo Spot Process Begins

The Echo Spot then starts its factory reset routine.  It tells us this by quickly showing an orange light ring around the outer edge of the screen face, as shown next.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot speaker, showing orange light ring as Factory Reset operation starts.
Alexa Echo Spot speaker, showing orange light ring as Factory Reset operation starts.

Alexa Spot Goes Dark Briefly

Next, after several seconds, the Spot powers off, and accordingly, its screen goes blank and dark.  Shown next.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot smart speaker with dark screen. It is powered off.
Amazon Echo Spot smart speaker with dark screen. It is powered off.

Echo Spot Starts Booting

After another few seconds, the Spot speaker comes on again and begins booting.  The Amazon logo screen first appears as shown next.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot speaker booting, showing the Amazon logo screen. How to Factory Reset Alexa.
Video Echo Spot speaker booting, showing the Amazon logo screen.

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

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot Alexa speaker booting, displaying its Wait screen.
Video Echo Spot Alexa speaker booting, displaying its Wait screen.

Various Logo Screens Then Appear

Then, the Echo logo screen appears, as the speaker erases all previously used WiFi and account information from its memory, as displayed next.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot visual speaker booting, showing its Echo logo wait screen.
Echo Spot visual speaker booting, showing its Echo logo wait screen.

Then, the Optimization Process Begins  

Optimization consumes the most time during the factory reset process, taking several minutes to finish.  As it runs, the Echo Spot displays a round progress bar ring that slowly advances while it optimizes its software and other resources.  Shown in the next three pictures.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot mini speaker, showing the start of its Optimizing operation. How to Factory Reset Alexa.
Amazon Echo Spot mini speaker, showing the start of its Optimizing operation.

 

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot Alexa speaker, in middle of Optimizing operation.
Spot Echo Alexa speaker, in middle of Optimizing operation.

 

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot speaker, finishing up optimization after factory reset.
Echo Spot Amazon speaker, finishing up optimization after factory reset.

10. Finally, the Alexa Spot Factory Reset Process Finishes

Next, after system optimization finishes, the Alexa Spot shows the blue Getting Your Device Online… screen, as shown next.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot speaker with Alexa, displaying its Getting Your Device Online screen.
Alexa Echo Spot speaker with Alexa, displaying its Getting Your Device Online screen.

Lastly, after several seconds, the Alexa factory reset finishes.  You’ll know it’s done successfully when the Select Device Language screen appears, as shown next.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Spot Alexa speaker, displaying its Select Device Language screen. How to Factory Reset Alexa.
Alexa Echo Spot Alexa speaker, displaying its Select Device Language screen.

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.

Or, 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.

Other Alexa Posts

    1. Connect JBL Charge 5 Speaker to Alexa
    2. Alexa Echo Action Button — Explained

References for Factory Reset Alexa

    1. Alexa Official Home Page
    2. Where to Buy an Alexa