Screenshot of the Alexa App on iOS, displaying its -All Devices- page, with an Echo Dot 3rd Gen speaker in the list highlighted.

How to Connect Echo Dot to Internet

This piece demos how to connect Echo Dot to internet.  It lists what you’ll need to get your new Dot speaker up and running on the internet.  You must do this when…

  • Setting up a brand new Echo Dot.
  • Someone gives you a used Dot and you wish to use it in your home.
  • You change settings on your internet router, such as network SSID name or its password.




We show how to connect the Echo Dot to the internet, using Amazon’s latest version of the Echo Dot (the 3rd Gen Dot).

Picture of an Amazon Alexa Echo Dot speaker, top view, showing all its buttons.
An Echo Dot speaker top view, showing all its buttons.

Connect Echo Dot to the Internet: What you Need First

1. An Available Internet WiFi Connection

None of the Echo Dot devices built up to now has an Ethernet RJ45 port.  So, you may only connect them to Amazon’s Alexa service via an in-range wireless network.  Also, that network must have internet access. Furthermore, note that Alexa on your Echo Dot will not operate without first linking it to a functioning internet connection.

2. An Amazon Account

If you do not already have an Amazon account, create a new one at  https://amazon.com/ .  Follow the prompts there to set one up.

Or, when you run the Alexa app in Step 2 under How to Connect Echo Dot to Internet, Step-by-Step  below, and you’ve never signed into the app with a valid account, the app will ask you to sign in, as shown next.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS, displaying its Login prompt.
Alexa app on iOS, displaying its Login prompt.

There, the app lets you create a new account if you need one.  If you do, then press the  Create a New Amazon Account button in the lower center of the login screen.  Then Alexa walks you through that account setup prompts.

At any rate, be sure you have a working Amazon account before proceeding.

3. A Compatible Mobile Device

You must run the Alexa app on a smart phone or tablet computer.  For this demo, we run it on an iPad Air tablet.

4. The Alexa App

Download this app from the Google Play (Android) store, or the App Store (iOS), depending on what type of mobile device you have.  Install the appropriate version on your tablet. Then and log into it with your Amazon account credentials.





5. Bluetooth

Don’t forget to turn Bluetooth on on your mobile device.  Why?  Because the Alexa app uses Bluetooth to find Echo Dot speakers close by in some situations.  So, switch on Bluetooth on this device on when connecting an Echo Dot to the internet.

How to Connect Echo Dot to Internet, Step-by-Step

1. Unpack your Dot

Skip ahead to the next step if you already unboxed your Echo.

Picture of a typical Echo Dot speaker box, front view.
Typical Echo Dot speaker box, front view.

Now all of the Dot speakers come in a small blue box, as pictured in the last shot above. For new Echos, the box itself arrives in a clear plastic bag.  Remove that, and slit the tape securing the box top closed with a sharp knife.

Open the box lid, take out all contents and spread them on a floor or table.  You should have the Dot Echo, the AC adapter, and some pamphlets.

Remove any clear plastic protectors on the Echo from the side and top.  This exposes the DC power input and audio output (headphone) cable ports (side).  It also grants access to the   Volume Up,   Volume Down,   Mic Mute,   and   Action    buttons (top).

Then, unpack the wall adapter and cable.

Picture of the speaker along with its AC wall adapter.
The speaker along with its AC wall adapter.

2. Connect your Echo Dot to AC Power

Picture of the AC power adapter, plugged into speaker back.
The AC power adapter, plugged into speaker back.

 

Picture of an Echo Dot speaker powering up, showing its AC adapter plugged into standard wall outlet.
Echo Dot smart speaker powering up, showing its AC adapter plugged into standard wall outlet.

3. Run the Alexa App to Connect Echo Dot to Internet

Find the Alexa app on your mobile device, as we did on our iOS based iPad Air tablet, as shown in the next picture.

Screenshot of the iOS 11 home screen, showing the Alexa app Icon highlighted
iOS home screen, showing the Alexa app Icon highlighted.

Tap the Alexa app icon to run it. If this is your first time using this app, it will prompt you for your Amazon account and password.

Further, if this is your first Echo device, the app prompts you to set up a new device.

4. Enter Amazon Account Id and password.

Should the Alexa app prompt, enter your Amazon account credentials.  Follow the directions above to set up a new Amazon account if you don’t already have one.

Then  Alexa signs you in.

Finally, the app remembers your Amazon account info the next time you run it.  This way, you won’t have to enter this data every time.





5. If you are Not Prompted to Connect a New Device… 

If this Echo Dot is not that first Echo device connected via your Amazon account, the app displays its Home screen.

Picture of the Amazon Alexa app Home screen on iOS, with the main menu button highlighted.
Amazon Alexa app Home screen on iOS, with the main menu button highlighted.

6. Tap the Menu (Hamburger) Button

Find this called out by the green arrow in the last picture.

Hitting the menu button brings up the Alexa app’s main menu, as shown next.

Screenshot of the main menu, with the -Settings- option highlighted.
The main menu, with the -Settings- option highlighted.

7. Go to the Settings Screen  

Visit the Settings page by tapping the Settings menu item (left side of page), highlighted by the green arrow in the last picture above.

The Settings  screen then displays as follows.

Screenshot of the -Settings- page, with the -Device Settings- option highlighted.
The -Settings- screen, with the -Device Settings- option highlighted.

8. Visit the Device Settings Page

Get to the Device Settings  page by tapping the  Device Settings  menu item (left side of the  Settings  screen, near the top), highlighted by the green arrow in the last screenshot.

Tapping Device Settings brings up the All Devices screen, which lists all your currently registered Echo speakers and other devices. Shown next.

Picture of the app displaying its -All Devices- page, with the -Add New Device (Plus)- button highlighted.
The app displaying its -All Devices- page, with the -Add New Device (Plus)- button highlighted.

9. Go to the Set Up New Device Menu  

Bring up the  Set Up New Device  menu by tapping the  Plus  button in the top right corner of the  All Devices  page, as highlighted by the green arrow in the last photo above.

The  Set Up New Device  menu then pops up as shown in the next screenshot.

Screenshot of the -Set Up New Device- menu, with the -Add Device- option highlighted.
The -Set Up New Device- menu, with the -Add Device- option highlighted.

10. Tap the  Add Device   Option to Connect Echo Dot to the Internet

Touching the  Add Device  option brings up the   Setup->What type of device are you setting up?  screen, as shown next.

Screenshot of the -What Type of Device are you Setting Up- page, with the -Echo- device type highlighted.
The -What Type of Device are you Setting Up- page, with the -Echo- device type highlighted.

11. Tap the Amazon Echo Device Type

Tapping the  Amazon Echo  item brings up the first  Setup  screen for Echo devices, as shown next, where you pick which model of the Echo you’re connecting.  Here, we’re connecting an Echo Dot device to new WiFi.  So, we’ve pointed out the  Echo Dot  option with a green arrow in the next screen shot.

Screenshot of the -Choose a device to set up- page, with the -Echo Dot- choice highlighted.
The -Choose a device to set up- page, with the -Echo Dot- choice highlighted.

12. Tap the Echo Dot Device

Touching the Echo Dot device brings up the Which Echo Dot are you setting up?  screen, as shown next.

Screenshot of the -Choose Echo Dot Version to Set Up- page, with the -3rd Generation- option highlighted.
The -Choose Echo Dot Version to Set Up- page, with the -3rd Generation- option highlighted.

13. Put your Echo Dot into Setup Mode

If your Dot is powered up, as it ought to be if you did Step 2 above, it’s probably displaying its orange light ring.  If so, then skip ahead to Step 14. Or if not, then run through this step.

Picture of an Amazon Alexa Echo Dot speaker, shown in Setup mode, light ring orange and spinning.
Echo Dot speaker, shown in Setup mode, light ring orange and spinning.

If this is a brand new Echo, just plug it into AC power.  Then after ten to fifteen seconds, it automatically enters Setup mode and announces this.

But, if this is not a brand new Dot, it may not go into Setup mode on its own.  For that case, you must factory reset it.  See our  Factory Reset Echo Dot 3rd Generation Instructions, How To  post for details.  That piece shows how to reset a Dot. In short, to reset, press and hold the Action button until the unit starts resetting.  After a hard reset, the Dot automatically enters Setup mode.

Anyway, however you get there, once you have the Echo in Setup mode, proceed onto the next step.





14. Tap the Echo Dot Speaker that Matches the One you’re Connecting

Next. pick up your tablet / phone again and go back to the Alexa app.  You should see the screen pictured in Step 12 above.

Since we’re connecting an Echo Dot 3 here, we touch the topmost speaker in the displayed list of Dot versions shown there.

This starts the Alexa app scanning for new Dot devices to connect, as shown next.

Screenshot of the Alexa app showing its -Select Amazon Echo- page while it searches for Echo devices to set up.
The Alexa app showing its -Select Amazon Echo- page while it searches for Echo devices to set up.

Now at this point, the Alexa app is waiting to hear from the Echo you’re setting up.  It will hear it when your Dot Echo is in Setup mode.

If your speaker is indeed in Setup mode, then after a brief pause, Alexa should find it, as ours did, shown next.

Screenshot of the -Select your Amazon Echo- screen, with a Dot 3 that it found highlighted.
The -Select your Amazon Echo- screen, with an Echo Dot that it found highlighted.

If Alexa does not find your Echo, check that you have Bluetooth turned on on your mobile device that’s running the Alexa app.  Check also that your Dot is flashing its light ring in orange.  Note that the speaker only stays in Setup mode for several minutes. Then, it times out and goes to sleep.

If timeout happens, then unplug the Dot from power for a few seconds and plug it back in.  This should re establish Setup mode.  If not, then hard reset it.

15. Tap the Listed Echo Dot to Connect to the Internet

This brings up the  Select your Wi-Fi Network   page, as shown next.

Just prior to Alexa showing this screen, it runs a WiFi scan from your selected Echo Dot speaker, for in-range WiFi networks that your Dot sees.  Then, it’s this list that the app displays for you.

Screenshot of the -Select Your WiFi Network- screen, with the network we want highlighted.
The -Select Your WiFi Network- screen, with the network we want highlighted.

16. Choose the New WiFi Network To Connect your Echo Dot With

Tap the network you want your Dot to log into.  In our case, we choose the 937T681J4059H_2G_Guests network.  That one is pointed out by the green arrow in the last picture.

We call this a new WiFi network, because its login data is not currently saved to Amazon.  But If we had connected any Echo devices to this network before, and opted at that time to save the login credentials, then later models of Echo Dot speakers would automatically connect to it, without us having to manually enter the network info.

17. Enter the Password for the New WiFi Network Chosen

Tapping a network may prompt you to enter the password for that network.  Skip to Step 18 if you don’t see this prompt.

Should a password entry screen pop up, type in the correct network password for the one you picked.  Then move on to the next step.

18. Wait for your Echo Dot to Connect to the Internet

While your Echo Dot establishes a connection to the network you chose in Step 15 above, the Alexa app shows the Connecting your Echo Dot to Wi-Fi screen, as pictured next.

Screenshot of the -Connecting your Echo Dot to WiFi- page.
The -Connecting your Echo Dot to WiFi- page.

After some seconds, and if all goes as hoped, you see the following screen.  This shows that the Dot successfully connected to your internet network.

Screenshot of the -WiFi Connect Success- page, with the -Continue- button highlighted.
The -WiFi Connect Success- page, with the -Continue- button highlighted.

Also, the Echo then makes a rising chime sound, and says in its female voice that it’s ready for use.

But if your Dot does not connect and you get errors, follow any tips the app displays.  If you typed in the wrong password, the system prompts you to re-enter it.  But if the problem connecting is internet related, you may have to investigate and resolve that on your router.  In that case, once you’ve fixed that issue, try rerunning this connection routine again.  We suggest that you close the Alexa app and start it fresh, first.  Then, be sure that your Echo Dot  is in Setup mode before starting anew.





19. Tap the Blue Continue Bar

Hitting the Continue strip then invites you to choose which speaker your Echo Dot will play through, as shown next.

Screenshot of the app displaying its -Chose External Speaker- page, with the -Use Echo Built In Speaker- option highlighted.
The app displaying its -Chose External Speaker- page, with the -Use Echo Built In Speaker- option highlighted.

20. Choose Default Speaker to Connect to the Internet

In our demo, we chose the internal speaker.

Then, tapping this choice takes you to the  Where is your Echo Dot screen, as pictured next.  This screen allows you to name the place in your home where you will place your Dot.

Screenshot of the -Where is your Echo Dot- page, with the -Bedroom- choice highlighted.
The -Where is your Echo Dot- page, with the -Bedroom- choice highlighted.

21. Tap your Desired Place for the Echo Dot

Pick the name of your desired location from the list displayed, as shown in the last picture.  In this demo, we tapped Bedroom, as shown in the last photo. Note the check mark that appears when you make a choice, as pointed at by the green arrow in the next shot.

Screenshot of the -Where is your Echo Dot- screen, with the -Bedroom- option checked and highlighted.
The -Where is your Echo Dot- screen, with the -Bedroom- option checked and highlighted.

22. Tap the Blue Continue Bar

Once you bump the Continue strip, your Echo Dot has successfully connected to the network, and can now answer voice requests.

Then, the Alexa app takes you back to its  Home  screen, as shown next.

Picture of the Alexa app, displaying its -Home- page.
The alexa App, displaying its -Home- page.

You may now close the Alexa app if you so desire.

23. Test Out your Echo Dot

With your Echo Dot now connected, try asking it some queries like:

  • What’s the weather?
  • What time is it?
  • Give me my flash briefing.
  • How are you today?
  • Sing happy birthday.
  • Tell me a joke.

… and so on. Of course, precede each question with the wake word.  The default word is Alexa.  Or it could be Computer, Amazon, or Echo if you changed it.

24 Done with How to Connect Echo Dot to the Internet

Related Posts to How to Connect Echo Dot to Internet

  1. Connect JBL Speaker to Echo Dot, How To
  2. Connect Bluetooth Speaker to Google Home, How To
  3. Can you Connect Echo Dot to JBL Speaker ?
  4. How to Connect Alexa to WiFi, Different Network
  5. Connect WiFi on Denon S 32 Internet Radio, How To
  6. How to Connect Gosund Mini Smart Plug to Alexa
  7. Connect Google Chromecast Audio, How To
  8. Solving Honeywell WiFi Thermostat Connection Problems
  9. Connect Alexa to New WiFi, How To
  10. Connect Spotify to Alexa Smart Speakers, How To Link
  11. How to Connect Alexa to Internet Network
  12. Connect JBL Flip 4 to Alexa Speaker Instructions
  13. How to Connect Honeywell Thermostat to Google Home
  14. Connect Echo Dot to Bluetooth Speaker, How To
  15. How to Connect Sharp Smart TV to Internet

References for How to Connect Echo Dot to Internet

  1. Amazon Alexa Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  2. Amazon Echo Help Pages

Revision History

  • 2019-04-02: First time published.