This piece shows how to setup WiFi on an Echo Dot speaker. It lists what you’ll need to get your new Echo Dot Alexa speaker going on the internet. You do this when…
- You first set up a brand new Dot.
- Someone gives you a used one and you must set it up on your own network.
- Or you setup an Echo Dot when you change settings on your WiFi router, such as network SSID name or its password.
We show how to setup the Echo Dot to a new WiFi network on Amazon’s 3rd generation Echo Dot smart speaker.
Before you Start on How to Setup WiFi on the Echo Dot
Make sure you have the following…
1. A Compatible Mobile Device
You must run the Alexa app on a compatible smart phone or tablet computer. For this demo, we run Echo Dot setup on an iPad Air tablet.
2. 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. Download and install the correct version on your tablet, and log into it with your Amazon account credentials.
3. A Functioning WiFi Connection
None of the Echo Dot devices built up to now has an Ethernet RJ45 port. So, you may only set them up to Amazon by way of a WiFi network. This WiFi must have internet access.
Also note that Alexa on your Echo Dot will not function without first joining it to this WiFi.
4. 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 Setup WiFi on an Echo Dot, 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.
There, Amazon allows you to setup a new account if you do not already have one. But if you do not, then press the Create a New Amazon Account button in the lower center portion of the login screen. Then, the app walks you through that account setup screen prompts. At any rate, be sure you have a working Amazon account before proceeding.
5. Bluetooth
Don’t forget to turn Bluetooth on on your mobile device. Why? Because the app uses Bluetooth to discover nearby Echo Dot speakers. So, switch Bluetooth on this device to the ON position, when setting up an Echo Dot on WiFi.
How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot, Step by Step
1. Unpack your Echo Dot
Skip ahead to the next step if you already unboxed your Echo Dot.
Now all of the Echo Dot speakers come in a small blue box, as shown in the last shot above. For new units, the box itself comes inside 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, the AC adapter and some instructional pamphlets.
Peel off any clear plastic protectors on the Echo Dot 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 power supply and cable.
2. Connect your Echo Dot to AC Power
3. Run the Alexa App
Find this 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 WiFi on Echo Dot
Should the app prompt, enter your Amazon account credentials. Follow the directions above to setup a new Amazon account if you don’t already have one. Then, after that, you’ll be signed in via the app.
The app then 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.
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 main menu, as shown next.
7. Go to the Settings Screen to Proceed with How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot
Visit the Settings page by tapping the Settings menu item (left side of screen), highlighted by the green arrow in the last picture.
The Settings the screen shows as follows.
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 Dot 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 photo above.
The Set Up New Device menu then pops up as shown in the next screenshot.
10. Tap the Add Device Option to Continue with How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot
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 adding. Here, we setup an Echo Dot to WiFi. So, we’ve pointed out the Echo Dot option with a green arrow in the next screen shot.
12. Tap the Echo Dot Device to Progress with How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot
Touching the Echo Dot device brings up the Which Echo Dot are you setting up? screen, as shown next.
13. Get your Echo Dot into Setup Mode
If your Echo Dot is powered up, as it ought to be if you did Step 2 above, it’s probably showing its orange light ring. If so, then skip ahead to Step 14. Or if not, then run through this step.
If this is a brand new Echo Dot, just plug it into AC power. Then after ten to fifteen seconds, it automatically enters Setup mode and says this.
But, if this is not a brand new Echo, it may not instantly go into Setup mode. For that case, you need to factory reset it. See our Factory Reset Echo Dot 3rd Generation Instructions, How To post. 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 Echo Dot automatically enters Setup mode.
In short, how ever you get there, once you have the Echo Dot in Setup mode, proceed onto the next step.
14. Tap the Echo Dot Speaker that Matches the One you’re Setting Up
Next. pick up your tablet / phone again and go back to the Alexa app. You should see the screen shown in Step 12 above.
Since we’re joining an Echo Dot speaker here, we touch the topmost speaker in the displayed list of Dot versions shown there.
This starts the app scanning for new Echo Dot devices to setup, as shown next.
Now at this point, the app waits to hear from the speaker you’re linking. It will hear it when you place your Echo into Setup mode, it is when captured in the next picture.
If your speaker is indeed in Setup mode, then after a brief pause, the app should find it, as ours did, shown next.
If the app does not find your Echo Dot, 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 Echo Dot only stays in Setup mode for several minutes, and times out after that. If timeout happens, then unplug the speaker from power for a few seconds and plug it back in. This should re start Setup mode. If not, then hard reset it.
15. Tap the Listed Echo Dot to Setup to WiFi
This brings up the Select your Wi-Fi Network page, as shown next.
Just prior to showing this screen, the app 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.
16. Choose the New WiFi Network To Join your Echo Dot With
Tap the new WiFi network you want your Echo 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.
We call this a new WiFi network, because its login data is not currently saved to Amazon. Had we linked any Echo speakers to this network before, and opted at that time to save the login credentials, then later Echo Dot models would automatically join to it, without us having to manually type in the network info.
17. Enter the Password for the WiFi Network Chosen
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.
Should a password entry screen pop up, type in the correct WiFi password for the network you picked. Then move on to the next step.
18. Wait for your Echo Dot to Setup on the WiFi Network
While your Dot links to the WiFi network you selected in Step 15 above, the app shows the Connecting your Echo Dot to Wi-Fi screen, as pictured next.
After some seconds, and if all goes as hoped, you see the following screen. This shows that the Echo Dot successfully set up on your WiFi.
Also, the Echo then makes a rising chime sound, and says that it’s ready for use.
But if your Dot does not link, and you get errors, follow any directions the app displays. If you typed in the wrong password, the system prompts you to re-enter it. But if the problem connecting is network related, you may have to investigate and solve that on your router.
In that case, once you’ve fixed the problem(s), try rerunning this WiFi setup routine again. If that happens, we also suggest that you close the Alexa app and start it fresh, first. Then, be sure that your Echo Dot is in Setup mode before doing the routine again.
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.
20. Choose Default Speaker
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 location in your home where you will place your Dot.
21. Tap your Desired Location for the Echo Dot to Proceed with How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot
Pick the name of your desired Echo Dot location from the list displayed, as shown in the last picture. Here, 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
Once you bump the Continue strip, your Echo Dot has successfully set itself up on the new WiFi network, and can now answer voice commands.
Then, the app takes you back to its Home screen, as shown next.
You may now close the app if you wish.
23. Test Out your Echo Dot
With your Echo Dot now linked to a WiFi network, 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 your wake word. The default is Alexa. Or it could be Computer, Amazon, or Echo if you changed it.
24 Done With How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot !
You have now managed to connect Echo Dot to WiFi. Congratulations!
Other Posts About Echo Dot Smart Speakers
- Echo Dot Reset Instructions
- Change Echo Dot Wake Word, How To
- Amazon Dot WiFi Setup Instructions
- Hard Reset Echo Dot Instructions
- Use Echo Dot as Bluetooth Speaker, How To
Related Posts to How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot
- How to Setup WiFi on HP Deskjet 3632 Printer
- Setting Up WiFi on Sharp Aquos Smart TV
- How to Setup WiFi on Google Home Mini
- Alexa Echo Subwoofer Setup Instructions
References for How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot
Revision History
- 2020-08-09: First time posted.