How to update WiFi on Alexa ? First, put the Alexa based speaker into Setup mode. There, you choose the desired WiFi network. That’s a simple summary of how to switch WiFi networks for Alexa speakers.
Below, we run through updating the Alexa WiFi connection with an Amazon Alexa Echo Dot 2 speaker. But, this WiFi update process is roughly the same for the other speakers. These include the Dot 1, 2, 3, and 4, the Echo 1, 2, 3, and 4, and the Tap. We do this demo on our iPad iOS tablet.
If you’re just updating the WiFi network, use this less involved procedure. This avoids erasing the other settings for the speaker that are saved in your Amazon account. We cover both cases here though; the case where you’re just updating the WiFi, and the case where you’re setting up the speaker from scratch. So, armed with your mobile device and the Alexa app, updating the WiFi on this Alexa smart speaker is fairly straight forward, as follows.
We assume that you linked the Alexa App to your Amazon account before.
Note also that we took the screen shots below from an Apple iPad Air. But a similar Alexa app for Android is available from the Google Play store.
How to Update WiFi on Alexa, Step by Step
1. Plug Alexa Speaker into AC Power
If not already running, plug your speaker into a power source. You must power on the speaker to access the network settings stored in it, as described below.
2. Run the Alexa App on your Mobile Device
To begin, run this app on your tablet or phone. Doing so grants access to your current Alexa settings.
The Alexa app Home screen then appears as pictured next.
3. Tap the Hamburger Shaped Menu Control
The blue arrow in the last picture points at the menu control. Tapping it brings up the main menu, shown next.
4. Tap the Settings Menu Item to Continue with How to Update WiFi on Alexa
We circled the Settings menu item in blue in the last picture, which is found in the black-background menu at left-screen. The Settings screen then appears pictured next.
5. Look for your Alexa Smart Speaker in the List
Note on the Settings screen in the last picture. The Alexa app lists all our previously set up speakers.
If the speaker you’re updating the WiFi link for appears, then tap that entry. Then jump down to step 6 below. There, you can update the saved WiFi router network. Also there, you avoid the steps to connect a new speaker.
But if your speaker does not show up in the list, then you must set it up from scratch. In that case, you’ll prepare the speaker to set up WiFi first. Do this if adding a new smart speaker to your Amazon account. In that case, continue on with the next step (Step 5a).
5a. Tap the Set Up a New Device Button
The blue arrow in the last picture points at the Set Up a New Device button. The app then shows the Set Up a New Device screen, as shown in the next picture.
5b. Choose the Device Type you’re Setting Up to Continue with How to Update WiFi on Alexa
From the list of devices shown in the last screenshot, tap the speaker type to set up. We picked Amazon Echo for this demo.
The app then shows the Choose Language screen, as seen next.
5c. Choose the Language for the New Speaker
In our case, the correct language choice already shows in blue in the last picture: English (United States). But to change this, tap on this link.
A list of language options then appears, with the current language choice checked. There, you tap your preferred language.
The blue link then reappears, showing the language you picked.
Once the desired language displays, tap the blue Continue button.
Alexa then shows the Begin Echo Dot Setup screen, as seen in the next step.
6. See the Begin Echo Dot Setup Screen Come Up
See this screen as shown next. From here, updating to WiFi is the same for both a new speaker, and one with which you’re working.
7. Tap the Connect to WiFi Button
The Setup->Wait for the Orange Light Ring screen then shows, as seen next.
Wait for a minute or so. Your Alexa speaker light ring should then glow in a slowly spinning orange-yellow pattern.
If the orange light does not appear after a couple minutes, force setup mode as follows.
- Find the Action button on your speaker.
- Press and hold it for roughly five seconds. The Action button has the small white circle in its center. Holding this button in forces the speaker to enter WiFi setup mode.
- When that happens, the speaker says, “Now in setup mode. Follow the instructions in the Alexa app.” You cannot change Alexa WiFi connection without your speaker in setup mode.
The spinning orange blip then appears on the light ring, as seen next.
Warning!
Do not proceed to the next step until you’ve heard this announcement, and see this rotating orange glow.
Do not place the smart speaker into Setup mode until the screen above appears on your mobile device. If you do, and then advance the Alexa app to this point, you might confuse the app sometimes. This confusion forces you to set up the speaker as a new device, though you may not have wanted that.
8. Tap the Continue Button Back in the Alexa App to Continue with How to Update WiFi on Alexa
This brings up the Echo Dot Setup->Connect your iPad to Echo Dot screen, as shown next. This page stays up until you link your mobile device to the speaker’s WiFi network. Do that in the next step.
The speaker then creates this Amazon-xxx ad hoc network for setup purposes. Continue with the next step to link your mobile device to the speaker.
9. Go into your Mobile Device’s Settings Page
Press the Home button on your mobile device. This hides the Alexa app.
Then, locate the Settings app and tap it. On our iPad, we find this app on the second home page as seen next. Note that this app may appear elsewhere on your device.
10. Tap the Wi-Fi Settings Item
This starts a scan for in-range WiFi networks by your device to which you can hook up Alexa wirelessly. Our iPad found the list of networks, shown next. Note that it found the Amazon-E9W network. Our Echo Dot, running in setup mode, broadcasts this WiFi SSID when the light ring glows orange.
If you do not see the Amazon-XXX network, move your tablet closer to your Alexa speaker. Then, wait some seconds for the network to appear. If you still do not see it, reboot your speaker. Then, once the light ring goes out, repeat from step 5 above. The orange ring must show, to see the Amazon-XXX network.
11. Tap the Amazon-XXX WiFi Network to Continue with How to Update WiFi on Alexa
The connection should happen quickly to the unsecured Amazon-XXX network. Unsecured WiFi networks need no password.
Once linked as seen next, your WiFi settings screen should look like the next picture.
Your speaker should also say the following: “You’ve connected to Echo Dot. Go ahead and finish the setup in the Alexa app.”
12. Go back to the Alexa App
To go back to the Alexa app, press the Home button. This brings up the Home page. There, find the Alexa app. Ours is on Home Page 3, as shown below. Tap the Alexa app to bring it up.
The following screen then appears. It shows the mobile device linked to your Alexa speaker.
13. Press the Blue Continue Button
Find this button on the screen seen above. This starts a scan by your speaker for Wi-Fi networks.
Once the scan completes, the Choose Your Wi-Fi Network screen shows, as seen next. This shows a list of in-range WiFi networks found by your smart speaker.
14. Tap your Desired WiFi Network to Continue with How to Update WiFi on Alexa
Pick the network to which to hook up Alexa speaker, on the Choose Your Wi-Fi Network screen above. In our case, we picked the 937T681J4059H_2G_Guest network. If you never linked with this network before in your Amazon account, the app asks for a password, shown next. The screen you see may differ slightly. But the password prompt function is the same.
A password request may not appear to hook up Alexa. Why not? When you’ve previously entered this WiFi network on Amazon, the system remembers that password for this network. You probably saved WiFi networks to Amazon when you connected any Alexa speaker before. So, the app issues no password prompt if your account has this WiFi network saved.
15. Enter the Wi-Fi Password if Prompted
Use that virtual keyboard to peck in your WiFi network’s password. When finished, hide the keyboard. You should see a screen like the following, showing the password entered.
16. Press the Continue Button
Pressing Continue begins attempts by your Alexa speaker to link to the WiFi network chosen in step 13.
During this process, the Preparing your <Alexa Speaker> screen appears. It shows a progress bar as the Alexa WiFi update process proceeds, seen next.
If all goes well, the Setup Complete screen appears, as shown next. Your speaker has successfully connected to the WiFi network you set. Plus, Alexa connected successfully with the Alexa servers at Amazon as well.
Finally, your Alexa speaker should say, “Your <speaker> is now ready.”
17. Press the Continue Button
Tapping Continue here returns you to the Alexa App Home screen, as shown next.
18. Test Out your Alexa Speaker
Ask, “Alexa, what time is it?” or “Alexa, what’s the weather?” If she responds correctly, then the speaker is ready for use.
Follow this procedure any time you wish to change your speaker’s Wi-Fi network.
Qualifiers
- This post pertains to the following software and hardware versions:
- iOS 11.2.5
- Alexa App: Client Version 1.24.4244.0; Bridge version 2.2.2471.0
- Amazon Echo Dot, 2nd Gen, running firmware version 599473420.
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References for How to Update WiFi on Alexa
Revision History
- 2020-12-03: First published.