Picture of the Amazon Alexa Echo Dot 3rd gen speaker light ring, showing set at one quarter volume.

How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot Speakers

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.

Picture of an Echo Dot speaker, top view, showing all its buttons. How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot.
An Echo Dot speaker top view, showing all its buttons.




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.

Screenshot of the Amazon Alexa app on iOS, displaying its Login prompt. How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot.
Amazon Alexa app on iOS, displaying its Login prompt. Connect Echo Dot to WiFi.

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.

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

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.

Picture of an Echo Dot smart speaker along with its AC wall adapter.
An Echo Dot smart speaker along with its AC wall adapter.

2. Connect your Echo Dot to AC Power

Picture of the Echo Dot speaker AC power adapter, plugged into speaker back. How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot.
The Echo Dot speaker AC power adapter, plugged into speaker back.

 

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

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.

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

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.

Picture of the Amazon Alexa app Home screen on iOS, with the main menu button highlighted. How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot.
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 main menu, as shown next.

Picture of the Amazon Alexa app on iOS, showing its main menu, with the Settings option highlighted.
Amazon Alexa app on iOS, showing its main menu, with the -Settings- option highlighted.

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.

Picture of the Alexa App on iOS, showing its Settings screen, with the Device Settings option highlighted.
Alexa App on iOS, showing its -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 Dot speakers and other devices. Shown next.

Picture of the Alexa App on iOS, displaying its -All Devices- page, with the -Add New Device (Plus)- button highlighted. How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot.
Alexa App on iOS, 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 Alexa App on iOS, showing its -Set Up New Device- menu, with the -Add Device- option highlighted.
Alexa App on iOS, showing its -Set Up New Device- menu, with the -Add Device- option highlighted.

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.

Picture of the Alexa app on iOS, displaying its -What Type of Device are you Setting Up- page, with the -Echo- device type highlighted.
Alexa app on iOS, displaying its -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 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.

Picture of the Alexa app on iOS, displaying its -Choose a device to set up- page, with the -Echo Dot- choice highlighted.
Alexa app on iOS, displaying its -Choose a device to set up- page, with the -Echo Dot- choice highlighted.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Screenshot of the Alexa App on iOS, showing its -Select Amazon Echo- page while it searches for Echo devices to set up.
Alexa App on iOS, showing its -Select Amazon Echo- page while it searches for Echo devices to set up.

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.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS displaying its -Select your Amazon Echo- screen, with a Dot 3 that it found highlighted.
Alexa app on iOS displaying its -Select your Amazon Echo- screen, with an Amazon Dot that it found highlighted. Connect Echo Dot to WiFi.

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.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS showing its -Select Your WiFi Network- screen, with the network we want highlighted.
Alexa app on iOS showing its -Select Your WiFi Network- screen, with the network we want highlighted.

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.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS displaying its -Connecting your Echo Dot to WiFi- page.
Alexa app on iOS displaying its -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 Echo Dot successfully set up on your WiFi.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS, displaying its -WiFi Connect Success- page, with the -Continue- button highlighted.
Alexa app on iOS, displaying its -WiFi Connect Success- page, with the -Continue- button highlighted.

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.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS, displaying its -Chose External Speaker- page, with the -Use Echo Built In Speaker- option highlighted. How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot.
Alexa app on iOS, displaying its -Chose External Speaker- page, with the -Use Echo Built In Speaker- option highlighted.

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.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iOS, displaying its -Where is your Echo Dot- page, with the -Bedroom- choice highlighted.
Alexa app on iOS, displaying its -Where is your Echo Dot- page, with the -Bedroom- choice highlighted.

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.

Screenshot of the Alexa App on iOS, showing its -Where is your Echo Dot- screen, with the -Bedroom- option checked and highlighted. How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot.
Alexa App on iOS, showing its -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 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.

Picture of the Alexa App on iOS, displaying its -Home- page.
Alexa App on iOS, displaying its -Home- page.

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

  1. Echo Dot Reset Instructions
  2. Change Echo Dot Wake Word, How To
  3. Amazon Dot WiFi Setup Instructions
  4. Hard Reset Echo Dot Instructions
  5. Use Echo Dot as Bluetooth Speaker, How To

Related Posts to How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot

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References for How to Setup WiFi on Echo Dot

  1. Amazon Echo Help Pages

Revision History

  • 2020-08-09: First time posted.