Picture of the Amazon Echo Dot 2nd Gen speaker in original package, front view.

How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot Speaker

The Amazon Echo Dot talking speakers need a reset every so often. This restores them to out-of-box, factory default state. Resetting them also fixes many abnormal behaviors they might show. So here, we tell you how to reset these smart speakers. Why? Because also, it prepares them for  sale to another person. Reset the original Dot Echo as well as the 2nd and 3rd generation Dots  as follows.

How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot 1

Picture of the Echo Dot 1st generation speaker, front top view.
The Dot Echo 1 speaker, showing the front top view.

1. Power Up the Amazon Echo 1

Connect the 1st Gen Amazon Echo Dot to its USB power supply. The light ring will light up blue for a bit, and then go off once the Dot finishes booting.

2. Press the Amazon Echo Dot 1 Reset Button

Once the light ring goes black, use a paper clip end to press in and hold the Reset button. Keep pressing for five to ten seconds. Then, let it go when the light ring turns orange, and then blue.

3. Wait for Hard Reset to Finish

After a several-seconds pause, the light ring goes completely dark for a brief few seconds, and then turns orange.

4. Reset Now Done

You have now restored your Amazon Echo Dot 1st Generation speaker to its factory default settings. The speaker enters setup mode after a successful reset.





How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot 2

Picture of the Alexa speaker, out of box, with protective plastic removed. Ready for reset.
Showing the 2nd gen Echo Dot speaker, out of box, with protective plastic removed. Ready for reset.

1. Connect your Amazon Echo Dot 2 to Power

Connect the Amazon Echo Dot 2 to its USB power adapter. The light ring will glow blue for a time, and then go dark. This means that booting is done.

2. Press the Amazon Echo Dot 2 Reset Button Combo

See our Where is the Amazon Echo Dot Reset Button post, for details on how to find the reset button on the 1st and 2nd generation Echo Dot devices. At any rate, once the light ring goes black, press and hold the Mic Mute and Volume Down buttons. Press these at the same time for the same amount of time.

3. Wait for Hard Reset to Finish

After a several-seconds pause, the light ring again goes black for a brief pause, and then glows orange.

4. Reset Amazon Echo Dot 2 Now Done

You have now successfully reset your speaker to its factory default settings. It has now entered setup mode.

5. Set Up or Sell It

You may now unplug, pack, and give your Amazon Echo Dot 2 to someone else. Have no fear that they’ll see your Echo Dot 2 settings on your personal Amazon account. Those values have now cleared from that speaker. Or, you can set it up once again on your account and WiFi. Once the light ring turns orange, the unit stays in setup mode until someone runs setup again. The Amazon Echo Dot 2 does not function fully, until properly set up again.

6. Done!





How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot 3

1. Connect Wall Power Cable

First, plug in the Dot 3rd Gen speaker to its 12-volt power adapter AC cord, as shown next.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Dot gen 3 speaker AC power adapter, plugged into speaker back.
Amazon Echo Dot gen 3 speaker AC power adapter, plugged into speaker back.

2. Next, Plug the AC Adapter into a Working Wall Outlet

See this as shown next.

Picture of the smart speaker powering up, showing its AC adapter plugged into standard wall outlet.
Amazon Alexa Echo Dot Gen 3 smart speaker powering up, showing its AC adapter plugged into standard wall outlet.

Then, wait for the Echo Dot to complete powering up.  It’s finished when either the light ring goes completely dark, or flashes orange, red, or purple.

3. Next, Press and Hold the Action Button for 5 to 10 Seconds

Depress the Action button until the light ring turns orange, and the 3rd Gen Dot announces that it is entering setup mode.  On this Dot, the Action button also functions as the Reset button, and is pointed at by the green arrow in the next picture.

Picture of the Amazon Echo Dot speaker, top view, showing the Action button highlighted.
The Amazon Echo Dot speaker, top view, showing the Action button highlighted.

4. Finally, What Happens After Echo Dot 3rd Gen Reset?

Your Echo Dot 3rd Gen smart speaker is now restored to its factory default settings and has entered setup mode, as shown next.

Picture of the speaker, shown in Setup mode, light ring orange and spinning.
The Amazon Echo Dot speaker, shown in Setup mode, light ring orange and spinning.

Set Up Again, or Pack Up

You may now give your Amazon Echo Dot to a loved one or buyer. Don’t worry that they’ll access your personal speaker settings in your Amazon account. Reset erases those prior values from any of the Echo Dots. Or, you set it up once again on your existing account. Once the light ring turns orange, the unit remains in setup mode until someone runs the setup procedure anew. The Dot won’t work fully until properly set up and linked to an Amazon account again.

Other Posts About the Amazon Echo Dot Speaker

  1. How to Connect Bluetooth to Amazon Echo Dot
  2. How to Restart Amazon Echo Dot Speaker

Related Posts to How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot

  1. How to Reset Amazon Echo Gen 2 Dot Back to Factory Default State
  2. Reset Echo Dot 1st Generation, Gen 1 Echo Dot Reset
  3. Reset Google Home Mini, How To
  4. How to Reset Google Home Speakers
  5. Reset Echo Dot 2nd Generation to Factory Settings

References for How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot

  1. How to Set Up your Amazon Echo Dot, from Amazon

Revision History

  • 2020-04-07: Added tags.
  • 2019-03-05: Improved key phrase targeting. Added reset Amazon Echo Dot 3 section.
  • 2018-03-24: Originally published.