It’s not necessary to completely erase your speaker settings in the Alexa app, just to connect it to a new WiFi network. With your mobile device and the Alexa app, doing this is a breeze. Also, you can run through the same routine to connect up a brand new Echo Dot. So given all that, we show here how to connect the Echo Dot 2nd generation speaker to WiFi.
We assume here that Alexa App is linked to your Amazon account. Plus, the Echo Dot 2nd generation you’re connecting is present in your Alexa app. If you bought the speaker from Amazon through your account there, then it should automatically appear.
We took the screen shots below from an Apple iPad Air. But a similar Alexa app for Android is also available from the Google Play store.
How to Connect Echo Dot 2nd Generation to WiFi
1. Connect your Echo Dot to Power
If not already running, plug your Echo Dot into a power source. You’ll need power to access the network settings stored in its memory, as described below.
2. Run the Alexa App on your Mobile Device
To get started, run this app on your table or other mobile device. This gives you access to your current Alexa devices and settings.
The Alexa App Home screen then appears as pictured next.
3. Tap the Settings Menu Item
Touch the Settings option. For older versions of this app, find this in the black-background menu at left-screen.
The Settings screen then appears as pictured next.
4. Choose the Speaker you Want to Connect to Continue with How to Connect Echo Dot 2nd Generation to WiFi
Tap the Echo device you wish to connect. Find this speaker under the Alexa Devices section on the screen above.
The device configuration page for the speaker you picked then appears, as pictured next. We circled the Update WiFi option on that device page, in the next picture.
5. Next, tap the Update WiFi Item
After pressing the Update WiFi option above, an icon of the smart speaker displays next (2nd generation here). It shows you where on the speaker the action button is. You’ll need to know where this button is to run the next step (step 6).
6. Press and Hold the Speaker’s Action Button
Find the Action button on your Echo Dot 2nd Generation, as shown in the last picture above.
Then press and hold it for roughly five seconds. It’s the button with the small white circle printed in its center. This forces the speaker to enter WiFi Setup mode.
The speaker then announces, “Now in setup mode. Follow the instructions in the Alexa app.”
A rotating orange blip then appears on the light ring, as pictured next. Do not proceed to the next step until you’ve heard this announcement, and see this rotating orange glow.
Do not place the speaker into WiFi setup mode until the screen in step 6 shows. Doing so before this, and then advancing the app to this point, sometimes confuses the app. This then forces you to set up the speaker as a completely new device. But following the steps in this routine reduces this risk.
7. Press the Continue Button Back in the Alexa App to Continue with How to Connect Echo Dot 2nd Generation to WiFi
Once you see the light ring glowing orange, return to your tablet and the Alexa app. Then press the blue Continue button.
The Connect to Echo Dot prompt screen then displays as follows.
8. Go Into your Tablet’s Settings Page
Press the Home button on your tablet. This minimizes the Alexa app. Then, find the Settings app and tap it. We find the Settings app in our iPad Air on the second home page as shown below, although this app may be elsewhere on your tablet.
9. Tap the WiFi Settings Item
This starts a scan for in-range WiFi networks by your tablet. A partial list of networks that our iPad found is pictured below. Note that it found the Amazon-E9W wireless network. This is the WiFi SSID being broadcast by our Echo Dot 2nd generation speaker, running in setup mode.
If you do not see the Amazon-XXX network, move your tablet closer to the smart speaker. Then wait some seconds for it to appear.
If you still do not see it, reboot the speaker. Then, once the light ring goes out, repeat step 5 above. The orange ring must appear as described in that step, in order to see the Amazon-XXX network.
10. Tap the Amazon-XXX Network to Continue with How to Connect Echo Dot 2nd Generation to WiFi
The connection should happen right away, as the Amazon-XXX network is unsecured. You need enter no password for this ad hoc network.
Once connected, your WiFi Settings screen should look something like the next picture. Note that we’re now connected to Amazon-E9W.
Your Echo Dot 2nd generation should also announce something like the following: “You’ve connected to Echo Dot. Go ahead and finish the setup in the Alexa app.”
11. Go Back to the Alexa App
Press the Home button on your mobile device to return to the Home page. Find the Alexa app. Ours is on Home Page 3, as shown below. Tap the Alexa app.
The following screen then appears, showing that the tablet is now connected to your Echo Dot.
12. Press the Continue Button
Press the blue Continue button on the screen pictured above. This begins a scan by your Echo Dot, for available WiFi networks from its vantage point.
Once the scan finishes, the Choose Your WiFi Network screen appears, as shown next. This displays a list of the in-range WiFi networks detected by the 2nd generation Echo Dot during the scan.
13. Tap your Desired WiFi Network to Continue with How to Connect Echo Dot 2nd Generation to WiFi
Pick the network you’d like your speaker to connect to, on the Choose Your WiFi Network screen above. The app then prompts for that network’s password, as shown next.
14. Enter the WiFi Password
Use that virtual keyboard to tap in your WiFi network’s password. When finished, hide the keyboard.
You should see the following screen, showing the password entered.
15. Press the Continue Button
Tapping the Continue button starts attempts by your Echo Dot 2nd generation Alexa to connect to the WiFi network you chose in step 13.
As this connection takes place, the Preparing your Echo Dot screen appears, displaying an advancing progress bar, as shown next.
If all goes well, the Setup Complete screen appears, as pictured next. This means that that your Alexa speaker has successfully connected to the WiFi network you specified. It also means that she was also able to connect with the Alexa servers at Amazon through that WiFi connection.
Then, your Echo Dot should say something like, “Your Echo Dot is now ready.”
16. Press the Continue Button to Continue with How to Connect Echo Dot 2nd Generation to WiFi
Tapping this button on your tablet takes you out of the Setup Complete screen and back to the Alexa App Home screen.
17. Test Out your Speaker
Ask, “Alexa, what time is it?” or “Alexa, what’s the weather?” If she responds with appropriate answers, then your smart speaker is ready for use. Enjoy!
Run this routine any time you wish to connect your Echo Dot to a new WiFi network.
Qualifiers
-
- This post pertains to the following software and hardware versions of the components referenced herein:
- iOS 10.1.1
- Alexa App: Client Version 1.24.698.0; Bridge version 1.16.39.0
- Amazon Echo Dot, 2nd Generation
- This post pertains to the following software and hardware versions of the components referenced herein:
Other Posts About the Echo Dot 2nd Generation Smart Speaker
Related Posts to How to Connect Echo Dot 2nd Generation to WiFi
References for How to Connect Echo Dot 2nd Generation to WiFi
Revision History
-
- 2021-08-25: Revised the tags and internal links lists.
- 2020-08-03: First posted.