How to Reset Amazon Echo 1 Speaker

Some problems you can fix with just booting the speaker. But when you must reset, come here to see how to reset the Amazon Echo Gen 1 smart speaker.

But If you just want to fix strange errors on the speaker though, a reset may be too drastic. Why? Because a full hard reset means that you’ll have to…

Completely set up your speaker to connect to your Wi-Fi network.
Put in the Amazon account info you want.
What groups the speaker you want the speaker to belong to.
Several other settings as well.

So, before resetting, try powering off the unit for fifteen seconds. Unplug its USB power cable either from the wall outlet, or from the unit itself.

Then wait for a quarter minute, and then connect it back up. This often restores proper function. But if not, read on for the proper hard reset procedure that restores the Dot to factory default settings.

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

You may decide to sell or give your Amazon Echo speaker to another person. Or you wish to link it to a new Amazon account. Then again, maybe you just want to connect it to a new Wi-Fi network. Run this routine to…

Unlink this device from its current Amazon Alexa account.
Assure that it forgets the WiFi connection information stored within.
Restore the Amazon Echo 1 to factory default (fresh out of the box) values).

Once reset, you lose control of the speaker from the account where you controlled it from before. To get that control back, you must run through the setup routine again.

How to Reset Amazon Echo Gen 1 Speaker to Factory Default Settings

1. Attach Power Cable

Connect the Amazon Echo to its included power adapter.

Wait for speaker to power up. It finishes when the the light ring either goes out or turns purple. Purple means that it did not connect to a Wi-Fi network.

2. Press Reset Button

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

Use a pen or straightened safety pin to press and hold the reset button. Keep it pressed for five to ten seconds.

3. Release the Reset Button

Once the ring flashes, the reset operation is now in progress. So you need no longer hold in the reset button. Go ahead and release it.

4. Wait for Reset to Complete

After a few seconds pause, the light ring goes all dark for a few more seconds. Then, it turns orange.

What Happens After Reset

You have now restored your Amazon Echo speaker to factory default settings. Plus, it’s now in setup mode.

Pack it Up or Set it Up

Feel free now to give your speaker to someone else. Do not fear that they’ll access your Alexa settings on your Amazon account through it. They won’t.

Or, you can set it up again on your existing account.

Once in setup mode, the unit stays that way until someone runs through setup again. The speaker will not work again until set up and linked to an Amazon account.

References for How to reset Amazon Echo 1 Speaker

What is Amazon Echo? on Wikipedia

Revision History

2019-03-24: Added subheadings, tags, and key phrase targeting.
2017-12-12: Added picture, showing the location of the reset button on the original Echo Alexa smart speaker.
2017-01-20: Originally published.