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

Hard Reset Alexa Echo Dot Instructions

The Alexa Echo Dot talking speakers need a hard reset every so often. This restores them to out-of-box, factory default state. Hard resetting them also fixes many weird behaviors they might show.  Resetting prepares them for sale or gifting. So here, we offer these hard reset Alexa Echo Dot instructions for the three current generations of these small smart speakers.

Hard Reset Alexa Echo Dot 1 Instructions

Picture of the Echo Dot 1, showing its front top view.
The Echo Dot 1, showing its front top view.

1. Power Up the Alexa 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 completes booting.

2. Press the 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 Hard Reset Alexa Echo Dot to Finish

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

4. Hard Reset Now Done

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

Hard Reset Alexa Echo Dot 2 Instructions

Picture of the Echo Dot 2nd Gen 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 Alexa Echo Dot 2 to Power

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

2. Press the Echo Dot 2 Hard 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 Echo Dot devices. At any rate, 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 Hard Reset to Finish

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

4. Alexa Echo Dot 2 Hard Reset Now Done

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

5. Done !

Reset Echo Dot 3rd Generation to Factory Default Settings, How To

1. Attach Wall Power Cable

First, connect the Dot 3rd Generation speaker to its 12-volt power adapter cord, as shown next.

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

2. Next, Plug the Power 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.
The smart speaker powering up, showing its AC adapter plugged into standard wall outlet.

Then, wait for the Echo Dot to finish powering up.  It’s done when either the light ring goes completely dark, or it begins flashing orange, red, or purple.

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

Depress the Action button until the light ring turns orange, and the smart speaker announces that it is entering setup mode.  On this speaker, the Action button doubles as the Reset button, and is pointed at by the green arrow in the next picture.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Dot 3 speaker, top view, showing the Action button highlighted.
The Echo Dot 3 speaker, top view, showing the Action button highlighted.

4. Finally, What Happens After Reset?

Your Echo Dot 3rd Generation smart speaker has now been restored to its factory default settings and has entered setup mode, as shown next.

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

Set Up Again or Sell It

You may now unplug, pack, and give your Echo Dot to someone else. Have no fear that they’ll see your Alexa settings on your personal Amazon account. Those values have now cleared from the 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 set up again. The Alexa Echo Dot will not work until set up and linked to the internet.

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  5. Hard Reset Echo Dot 1st Generation, Gen 1 Echo Dot Reset

Other Posts About Alexa Echo Dot Speakers

  1. Alexa Echo Dot Reset Instructions
  2. Dot Alexa WiFi Setup Instructions
  3. Alexa Echo Dot Spotify Instructions, Setup, Play
  4. Restart Alexa Echo Dot, How To Restart Amazon Dot
  5. Hard Reset Alexa Echo Dot Instructions

References for Hard Reset Alexa Echo Dot Instructions

  1. Reset your Alexa Echo Device, from Amazon Help
  2. How to Set Up your Alexa Echo Dot, from Amazon

Revision History

  • 2019-04-13: Fixed some typos.
  • 2018-12-19: First published.