Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS, displaying its -Choose Echo Dot Version to Set Up- page, with the -3rd Generation- option highlighted.

How to Hard Reset Echo Dot

A hard reset of the Echo Dot speakers you sometimes must do.  Why?   Because maybe you’d like to sell your old Echo Dot, especially with newer versions coming out so often these days. Or perhaps you just want to connect it to a new Amazon account, or to another WiFi network. So, with those tasks in mind, this post details hard resetting the Echo Dot speakers.  For that, follow the steps next.  We  cover the Echo Dot Gens 1, 2, and 3.

Resetting unlinks the Echo Dot from its current Amazon account.  Hard reset also assures that the speaker forgets its current WiFi settings.

Warning: After the hard reset, your Echo Dot speaker will not work until set up again.

Also, to save yourself some set up time, before hard resetting, try powering off the smart speaker for fifteen seconds, by disconnecting its power cable either from the wall outlet, or from the unit itself.  Wait for ten to fifteen seconds, and then plug it in again.  Powering OFF then ON like this, often restores proper operation without the headaches of a full hard reset. But if power cycling does not fix the speaker, then read on for the proper hard reset procedure that often restores correct operation.

How to Hard Reset Echo Dot 3rd Gen

1. Connect the Power Cable

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

Picture of the Echo Dot 3rd Gen speaker AC power adapter, plugged into speaker back.
The Echo Dot gen 3 speaker 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 speaker powering up, showing its AC adapter plugged into standard wall outlet.
The speaker powering up, showing its AC adapter plugged into standard wall outlet.

Then, wait for the Echo 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 Echo 3 Dot says that it is entering Setup mode.  On this speaker, the Action button also functions as the hard reset button.  Find it pointed at by the green arrow in the next picture.

Picture of the Action button on the speaker.
The Action button on the speaker.

4. Finally, What Happens After Hard Reset?

Your speaker has now been returned to its factory state, and has entered setup mode, as shown next.





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

1. Connect your Echo Dot 2 to Power

Plug the speaker into its USB power adapter. The light ring glows blue for a time, and then goes dark. This means successful boot up.

2. Press the Echo 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 Echo Dot 2 Hard Reset to Finish

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

4. Echo Dot 2 Hard Reset Now Done

You have now hard reset your speaker and restored its factory default settings. It has now entered setup mode.





How to Hard Reset Echo Dot Generation 1

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 Echo Dot 1

Connect this speaker to its USB power supply. The top ring then lights up blue for a bit, and then goes off once the unit finishes booting.

2. Press the Echo 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 Hard Reset to Finish

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

4. Echo Dot 1 Hard Reset Now Done

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

Set Up Again, or Pack Up

You may now unplug, pack, and give your Echo Dot to someone else.  Do not fear that they’ll have access to the settings on your personal Amazon account. They will not.  The hard reset erased those prior values from the speaker.

Or, you can set it up once again on your existing account. Once the light ring turns orange, the Echo Dot stays in setup mode until someone runs the setup routine. None of these speakers will not work until properly set up and linked to an Amazon account.

Other Posts About the Echo Dot

    1. How to Factory Reset Echo Dot Speaker
    2. Echo Dot Reset Button, Where Is It
    3. How to Restart Echo Dot Smart Speaker
    4. Connecting Pandora to Echo Dot
    5. How to Pair Echo Dot with Bluetooth Speaker

Related Posts to How to Hard Reset Echo Dot

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    2. Hard Resetting the Sony SRS XB30 Bluetooth Speaker
    3. How to Hard Reset Echo Dot 3rd Gen Alexa Speaker
    4. Hard Resetting the Google Home Smart Speaker
    5. How to Hard Reset JBL Flip 4 BT Speaker

References for How to Hard Reset Echo Dot

    1. Reset Your Alexa Echo Device, from Amazon Help & Support

Revision History

    • 2020-07-14: First published.