A complete factory reset Alexa Echo routine is necessary at times.  Why?   Because maybe you’d like to sell your old Alexa device. Or perhaps you just want to connect your speaker assistant to a new Amazon account, or to different WiFi. So, with those tasks in mind, this post details factory resetting the Alexa line of smart speakers.  For that, follow the steps next.  We  cover Echo Gens 1 and 2, the Echo Spot, and the Dot Gens 1, 2, and 3.  We do not however cover the Echo Plus, Show, or Input devices here.

Resetting unlinks the Amazon Alexa from its current Amazon account.  Factory reset also assures that the Alexa speaker forgets its current Wi-Fi settings.

Warning: After the factory reset, your Alexa speaker will not work until set up again.

Also, to save yourself some set up time, before factory resetting, try powering off the Alexa for fifteen seconds, by disconnecting its power cable either from the wall outlet, or from the unit itself.  Wait for a quarter minute, and then connect it again.  Powering off then on, often restores proper operation without the headaches of a full factory reset. However, if power cycling does not fix the speaker, then read on for the proper factory reset procedure that often restores correct operation to the Alexa speakers.

Factory Reset Alexa Echo Gen 2 Speaker

1. Plug Alexa Echo 2 Speaker into AC Power

Connect the Echo Gen 2 to its AC power supply. The light ring then lights blue for a time, and then goes out.  When it goes dark, boot up has finished.

The next picture shows this 2nd generation Alexa Echo speaker standing by, ready for reset.

2. Press the Alexa Gen 2 Amazon Speaker Reset Button Combo

See our   Where is the Reset Button on Alexa Generation 2 Echo Smart Speaker Located   post, for details on how to find the reset button on this unit.  We show where these buttons are in the next picture.

Wait for the light ring to darken completely.  Then, press and hold the Mic Mute and Volume Down buttons at the same time for five to ten seconds.

3. Wait for the Gen 2 Echo Factory Reset to Conclude

After a several-seconds pause, the light ring darkens for perhaps six seconds roughly.  Then the ring glows orange.  Details next.

Your Alexa Echo Gen 2 smart speaker is now factory reset.  After reset, it enters setup mode, as shown by the circling orange-yellow blip on the light ring.

4.  All RE-set!

Factory Reset Alexa Echo Generation 1 Smart Speaker Instructions

1. Attach Power Cable

Connect the Alexa Echo speaker to its included AC power adapter.

Wait for speaker to power up and for the light ring to either go out or turn purple (purple means that it did not connect to a Wi-Fi network).

2. Press Factory Reset Button

Find the reset button on the bottom (underside) of this Alexa speaker.

Use a pen or straightened safety pin to press and hold the reset button in for five to ten seconds, until the light ring changes color.

3. Release the Factory Reset Button

Once the ring flashes, the factory reset is now under way.  So you need no longer hold in the reset button.

4. Wait for Factory Reset Program to Finish

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

5. What Happens After Alexa Factory Reset

Your Amazon Echo Gen 1 tower speaker is restored to its factory default settings and has entered setup mode.

Factory Reset Alexa Dot 3rd Generation Instructions, How To

1. Connect the Power Cable

First, connect the Alexa Dot 3rd Generation speaker to its AC power cord, as shown next.

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

See this as shown next.

Then, wait for the Alexa Dot 3 to finish booting.  That’s done when either the light ring goes dark, or it starts flashing orange, red, or purple.

3. Next, Press and Hold the Action Button for Five Seconds

Hold in the Action button until the light ring turns orange, and the Dot 3 Alexa says that it is entering Setup mode.  On this 3rd gen of the Alexa Dot line, the Action button also functions as the Factory Reset button.  Find it pointed at by the green arrow in the next picture.

4. Finally, What Happens After Alexa Dot 3 Factory Reset?

Your Dot 3rd Generation smart speaker has now been returned to its factory state, and has entered setup mode, as shown next.

Factory Reset Alexa Dot Gen 2 Instructions

Power up this speaker before resetting.

1. Connect your Alexa Dot 2 to Power

Connect the Echo Dot 2 to its USB power adapter. The light ring glows blue for a time, and then goes dark. This means successful boot up.

2. Press the Alexa Dot 2 Factory 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 gen Alexa Dot devices.

Then, 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 Alexa Dot 2 Factory Reset to Finish

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

4. Alexa Dot 2 Factory Reset Now Done

You have now factory reset your Alexa Echo Dot 2 speaker and restored its factory default settings. It has now entered setup mode.

5. Done!

Factory Reset Alexa Generation 1 Dot Instructions

1. Power Up the Dot 1

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

2. Press the Alexa Dot 1 Factory 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 the Alexa Dot 1 Factory Reset to Finish

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

4. Alexa Dot 1 Factory Reset Now Done

You have now restored your Alexa Echo Dot 1st Gen speaker to its factory default state. The speaker enters setup mode after a factory reset.

Factory Reset Alexa Spot Instructions 

1. Swipe Down from Screen Top

Pull down the main menu screen on your powered up Alexa Echo Spot speaker, as shown in the next pictures.

This reveals the Alexa Spot control menu, as shown next.

2. Tap the  Settings  Button

This is the gear-shaped icon near the top right edge of the main menu screen, as pointed at by the green arrow in the next picture.

The  Settings  screen then displays, as shown next.

3. Scroll Down the Settings Screen

You can move around the  Settings  screen by moving finger up on the Alexa Spot touchscreen.

You’re looking for the  Device Options  item.

4. Stop Swiping when you See the Device Options Menu Item

See this item displayed next.

5. Tap the  Device Options  Item

This brings up the Device Options screen, as shown next.

6. Move Finger Up on Screen

This scrolls down through the Device Options list.

You are looking for the  Reset to Factory Defaults   option, as shown next, pointed at by the green arrow.

7. Tap the  Reset to Factory Defaults  Option

You then get the Reset to Factory Defaults confirmation screen.  Here, Echo Spot warns us that factory resetting will deregister it from our Amazon account. Then, it says that after reset completes, we can register Echo Spot again with either the same Amazon account, or a different one.  Finally, the Spot asks if we really want to factory reset it.

8. Tap the Confirmation / Yes Button

That is, tap the right arrow button in the lower right edge of the touchscreen, pointed at by the green arrow in the last picture.

9. The Factory Reset Alexa Echo Spot Process Begins

The Echo Spot then starts its factory reset routine.  It tells us this by quickly showing an orange light ring around the outer edge of the screen face, as shown next.

Alexa Spot Goes Dark Briefly

Next, after several seconds, the Spot powers off, and accordingly, its screen goes blank and dark.  Shown next.

Echo Spot Starts Booting

After another few seconds, the Spot speaker comes on again and begins booting.  The Amazon logo screen first appears as shown next.

Next, a sort of Wait screen displays, with a white light ring and flashing blue dots, as shown next.

Various Logo Screens Then Appear

Then, the Echo logo screen appears, as the speaker erases all previously used WiFi and account information from its memory, as displayed next.

Then, the Optimization Process Begins  

Optimization consumes the most time during the factory reset process, taking several minutes to finish.  As it runs, the Echo Spot displays a round progress bar ring that slowly advances while it optimizes its software and other resources.  Shown in the next three pictures.

 

 

10. Finally, the Alexa Spot Factory Reset Process Finishes

Next, after system optimization finishes, the Alexa Spot shows the blue Getting Your Device Online… screen, as shown next.

Lastly, after several seconds, the Alexa factory reset finishes.  You’ll know it’s done successfully when the Select Device Language screen appears, as shown next.

Set Up Again, or Pack Up

You may now unplug, pack, and give your Echo 2 to someone else.  Do not fear that they’ll have access to the Alexa settings on your personal Amazon account. They will not.  Factory reset erased those prior values from the Echo 2 speaker.

Or, you can set it up once again on your existing account. Once the light ring turns orange, the unit stays in setup mode until someone runs the setup routine. The Echo 2 will not work until properly set up and linked to an Amazon account.

Related Posts

1. Factory Reset Google Mini Speaker Instructions
2. Alexa Factory Reset Echo Dot Instructions
3. Factory Reset Echo Spot Instructions, How to Factory Reset
4. How to Factory Reset Google Home Original Speaker
5. Factory Reset UE Wonderboom Speaker, How To
6. HP DeskJet 3630 Factory Reset, How To
7. Echo Dot Gen 2 Smart Speaker Factory Reset Instructions
8. How to Connect Alexa to WiFi Internet

References for Factory Reset Alexa

• Factory Reset Your Alexa Echo Device, from Amazon Help & Support

Revision History

• 2019-01-08: First published.