This piece discusses how to setup the Amazon Echo Dot 3rd generation assistant speaker. We give and the steps to follow to complete speaker set up. This applies to the 2018 model of the Amazon Echo Dot speaker series.

Before you Start How To Setup Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation
1. A WiFi Internet Connection
None of the Echo Dot 3 devices manufactured to date has an Ethernet RJ45 port. So, you may only link them to Amazon’s Alexa service via your WiFi network. That network must have internet access. Also note that Alexa on your 3rd generation Echo Dot will not function without a properly set up wireless internet connection.
2. An Amazon Account
If you do not already have an Amazon account, one way to get one is to visit https://amazon.com/ . Follow the prompts there to set one up.
Or, when you run the Alexa app in Step 2 under Echo Dot 3 Setup Step-by-Step Instructions below, and you’ve never signed into the app with a valid account, Alexa will ask you to sign in, as shown next.

There, Amazon allows you to create a new account if necessary. If so, press the Create a New Amazon Account button in the lower center portion of the login screen. Then, Alexa walks you through that account setup procedure. At any rate, be sure to successfully set up an Amazon account before proceeding.
3. A Compatible Mobile Device
You’ll need to run the Alexa app on a compatible mobile phone or tablet computer. For this scenario, we’re using our iPad Air tablet.
4. The Alexa App
The Alexa app is available in the Google Play (Android) store, as well as the App Store (iOS). Download and install the appropriate version on your tablet, and log into it with your Amazon account credentials.
5. Bluetooth
Be sure to enable Bluetooth on your mobile device. The Alexa app uses Bluetooth to detect nearby Echo Dot speakers in some situations. So, turn on Bluetooth on this device on when setting up an Echo Dot 3.
How To Setup Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation, Step-by-Step
1. Unpack your Speaker
Skip ahead to the next step if you already unboxed your Echo Dot 3.

Now the Dot 3 comes in a small blue box, as pictured in the last shot earlier. For new Dots, the box itself arrives in a clear plastic bag. Remove that outer bag, 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 3, the power adapter with its permanently attached cord, and some documentation.
Remove any clear plastic protectors on the Dot 3 from the side and top. This exposes the DC power input and audio output (headphone) cable ports (side). It also allows access to the volume up-down, mic mute, and wake buttons (top).
Then, unpack the adapter and cable, which may also be packed in separate plastic bags.

2. Connect your Speaker to AC Power


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

Tap the Alexa app icon to run it. If this is your first time running the app, it will prompt you for your Amazon account and password.
Furthermore, if this is your first Echo Dot device, the app will prompt you to set up a new device.
4. Enter Amazon Account Id and Password to Continue with How To Setup Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation
Should the Alexa app prompt, enter your Amazon account credentials. Then you’ll be signed in via the Alexa app. The app then remembers your Amazon account information whenever you run it, so that you won’t have to enter this data every time.
5. If you are not prompted to set up a new device…
If this Dot is not your first Echo device, the app displays its Home screen. In this scenario, we’re using the iOS version of the Alexa app.

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.

7. Go to the Settings Screen
Visit the Settings page by tapping the Settings menu item (left side of screen), highlighted by the green arrow in the previous picture.
The Settings the screen displays as follows.

8. Visit the Device Settings Page to Continue with How to Setup Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation
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 picture above.
Tapping Device Settings brings up the All Devices screen, which lists all your currently registered Alexa speakers and other devices. Shown next.

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

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

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 setting up anew. In this case, we’re setting up and Echo Dot device. So, we’ve pointed out that option with a green arrow in the next picture.

12. Tap the Echo Dot Device to Continue with How to Setup Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation
Touching the Echo Dot device brings up the Which Echo Dot are you setting up? screen, as shown next.

13. Get your 3rd Generation Amazon Echo Dot into Setup Mode
If your Dot 3 is powered up, as it should 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 work through this step.

If this is a brand new Dot 3 that you just took out of the box, just plug it into AC power. Then after a a quarter minute it automatically enters Setup mode and announces this.
On the other hand, if this is not a brand new 3rd Gen Dot, it may not immediately go into Setup mode. In that case, you need to reset it. See our Factory Reset Echo Dot 3rd Generation Instructions, How To post, that details how to reset the Dot 3. In short, to reset, press and hold the Action button until the unit starts resetting. After a hard reset, the Dot 3 automatically enters Setup mode.
At any rate, however you get there, once you have the speaker in Setup mode, proceed onto the next step.
14. Tap the Speaker in the List that Matches the One you’re Setting Up
Next. pick up your mobile device again and go back to the Alexa app. You should see the screen pictured in Step 12 above.
Since we’re setting up an Echo Dot Generation 3 speaker in this demo, we touch the topmost speaker in the displayed list of Echo Dot models shown there.
This starts the Alexa app scanning for new Echo Dot 3 devices to set up, as shown next.

Now at this point, the Alexa app is waiting to hear from the speaker you’re setting up. It will hear it when you place your Dot Echo 3 into Setup mode, it is when captured in the next picture.
If your speaker is indeed in Setup mode, then after a brief pause, Alexa should find your new speaker, as ours did, shown next.

If Alexa does not find your speaker, make sure you have Bluetooth turned on on your mobile device that’s running the Alexa app. Check again that your speaker flashing its light ring in orange. Note that the Dot 3 only stays in Setup mode for several minutes, and times out after that. If timeout occurs, then unplug the Dot from power for a few seconds and plug it back in. This should re establish Setup mode.
15. Tap the Listed Amazon Echo Dot 3 to Set Up
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 3 speaker, for in-range WiFi networks that the speaker sees. Then, it’s this list that the app displays for you.

16. Choose the WiFi Network To Connect your Speaker With
Tap the WiFi network you want your new 3rd Generation Dot to log into. In our case, we’re choosing the 937T681J4059H_2G_Guests network. That one is pointed out by the green arrow in the last picture.
17. Enter the Password for Chosen WiFi Network, to Continue Forward with How to Setup Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation
Tapping a WiFi network may prompt you to enter the password for that network. Skip to Step 18 if you don’t see this prompt.
The Alexa app may not prompt you if you’ve previously saved this network’s information to your Amazon account. This is true for us in this scenario. So Alexa did not ask us for the password.
But if a password entry screen appears, type in the correct password, and then move ahead to the next step.
18. Wait for your Dot to Connect to Chosen WiFi Network
While your 3rd Gen Echo Dot attempts to connect to the WiFi network you picked in Step 15 above, the Alexa app shows the Connecting your Echo Dot to Wi-Fi screen, as pictured next.

After some seconds, and if all goes well, you see the following screen. This shows that the speaker successfully connected to your proposed WiFi network.

Also, the Echo Dot 3 then makes a rising chime sound, and announces that it’s ready for use.
But if your speaker does not connect and you get errors, follow any directions the app displays give. If you entered the wrong WiFi password, the system prompts you to re-enter it. But if the problem connecting is network related, you may have to investigate and resolve that on your router. In that case, once you’ve fixed that issue, try rerunning this setup procedure again. We suggest that you close the Alexa app and start it anew first. Then, again, be sure that your Echo Dot 3 is in Setup mode before doing the setup routine again.
19. Tap the Blue Continue Bar
Hitting the Continue strip then invites you to choose which speaker your Echo Dot 3 will play through, as shown next.

20. Choose the Default Speaker
In our demo, we chose the speaker that’s built into the 3rd generation Echo Dot.
Then, tapping this choice then takes you to the Where is your Echo Dot screen, as pictured next. This screen allows you to name the location in your home where you will place your Dot 3.

21. Tap your Desired Location for your Amazon Echo Dot 3
Pick the name of your desired Echo Dot 3 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.

22. Tap the Blue Continue Bar to Continue with How to Setup Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation
Once you bump the Continue strip, your Echo Dot 3 has been completely set up and is now ready to accept voice commands. Then, the Alexa app takes you back to its Home screen, as shown next.

You may now close the Alexa app if you wish.
23. Test Out your Speaker
Once you’ve finished the setup procedure described above, your Alexa 3rd Gen Echo Dot is ready to receive and respond to commands and questions once the orange light ring darkens. Try asking your Dot 3 some questions 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, be sure to precede each question with your Dot wake word. The default is Alexa. Or it could be Computer, Amazon, or Echo if you changed it.
24 Done with How To Setup Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation Speaker!
Enjoy your Echo Dot 3. It’s an amazingly great sounding little speaker, with its improved bass and volume, belying its small size!
Related Posts to How to Setup Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation Speaker
- How to Setup WiFi on Sharp Aquos Smart TV
- How to Setup WiFi on Honeywell Thermostat
- Setup WiFi on Echo Dot Speakers, How To
- How to Setup WiFi on HP Deskjet 3632 Printer
- How to Setup WiFi on Google Home Speaker
Other Posts About the Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation Speaker
- Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Gen Power Adapter Specs
- How to Restart Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation
- How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation
References for How To Setup Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation
- 3rd Generation Amazon Echo Dot Product Page at Amazon.com
- Amazon Alexa Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Amazon Echo Help Pages
Revision History
- 2021-08-17: Shortened the tags and internal links lists.
- 2020-05-19: First published.