Updating Firmware on Echo Spot Speaker

Here, we demonstrate how updating firmware Echo Spot procedure for the Amazon Alexa Echo Spot smart visual speaker. Note that this speaker automatically applies software updates shortly after Amazon issues them. But you may manually check for them and update as well, if you so desire. Also, new firmware installation does not erase current Echo Spot settings. Plus, you can update the speaker without the Alexa app, since the Amazon Spot has its own touchscreen built in. Indeed, once you connect your Spot to the internet, it’s the only device you need to update its firmware.

What you Need for Updating Echo Spot Speaker Firmware

To install Echo Spot Alexa firmware updates, you must first connect your Spot to a WiFi network. See our Echo Spot Change WiFi Network Instructions Amazon Alexa Spot Speaker piece for explanations of how to do this.

Further, we assume here that your Echo Spot has been set to your Amazon account prior.

1. Power up your Echo Spot

After several to ten seconds, a Home Screen appears as pictured next.

Picture of the Echo Spot speaker, front view, showing the local weather. — The Echo Spot speaker, front view, showing the local weather.

Updating Firmware on the Echo Spot Speaker Instructions

Now to the Echo Spot updating firmware step by step help.

1. Bring up the Actions Menu

From the Home screen, tet to the Actions icons by swiping down from screen top.

The Actions menu then appears as shown next.

Picture of a finger continuing to swipe down toward the center of the speaker screen, to reveal its main menu. Updating Firmware on Echo Spot. — Continuing to swipe down toward the center of the speaker screen to reveal the main menu.

See the main menu controls screen, displayed fully, as shown in the next picture.

Picture of the speaker displaying its Main Menu screen, with the -Settings- button highlighted. — Front view of the speaker as it displays its Main Menu screen, with the -Settings- button highlighted.

2. Tap the Settings Button

Find the Settings button on the Actions menu, as pointed at by the green arrow in the last picture. It’s the gear shaped, circular control at two o’clock on the screen.

The Settings screen then appears, as shown in the next picture.

Picture of the speaker displaying its -Settings- screen. — The speaker displaying its -Settings- screen.

Then, move down the screen to the Device Options entry, as shown in the next picture. Scroll down through the list of settings by swiping up on the screen with your finger.

Picture of the -Device Options- item highlighted on the -Settings- page. Updating Firmware on Echo Spot. — The -Device Options- item highlighted on the -Settings- page.

3. Tap the Device Options Entry to Continue with Updating Firmware on the Echo Spot Smart Speaker

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

Picture of the -Device Options- screen, positioned at top of the options list. — The -Device Options- screen, positioned at the top of the options list.

Then, scroll down the screen (drag swipe up with finger) until you see the Check for Software Updates option, as shown next, pointed at by the green arrow.

Picture of the -Device Options- screen, with the -Check For Software Updates- choice highlighted. — The -Device Options- screen, with the -Check For Software Updates- choice highlighted.

4. Tap the Check for Software Updates Option

This starts the process whereby the Echo Spot checks at the Amazon servers for the latest firmware version. In our scenario here, there was indeed a newer version than the one currently installed on our Echo Spot. So, our Spot began downloading that newer software, as shown next.

Picture of the -Device Options- screen, with the -Downloading Software- message highlighted. Updating Firmware on Echo Spot. — The -Device Options- screen, with the -Downloading Software- message highlighted.

Downloading continues and updates the downloading progress percentage, as shown next, now 95 percent downloaded here.

Picture of the -Device Options- screen, with the -Downloading Software-95 percent done- message displaying. — The -Device Options- page, with the -Downloading Software- 95 percent done- message displaying.

After a brief wait, the new firmware finishes downloading, and the Echo Spot changes the Downloading… message to the Install Software option as shown in the next picture.

Picture of the -Device Options- screen, with the -Install Software Version- option highlighted. — The -Device Options page, with the -Install Software Version- option highlighted.

5. Tap the Install Software Version Option

Find the Install Software Version option pointed at by the green arrow on the Device Options screen, as shown in the last picture above.

The Update Device Software screen then appears, as shown next.

Picture of the speaker displaying its -Update Device Software- confirmation prompt, with the -Yes- button highlighted. Updating Firmware on Echo Spot. — The speaker displaying its -Update Device Software- confirmation screen, with the -Yes- button highlighted.

This screen reads, “Your device will need to restart to install the new software. This could take up to 15 minutes. Please don’t unplug your device! Would you like to proceed?”

6. Tap the Yes (>) Button to Continue with Updating Firmware on the Echo Spot Speaker

Find the > button in the last picture, pointed to by the green arrow.

The Updating Firmware Process

Tapping this button begins the firmware installation process. The Echo Spot briefly displays a Powering Off message, and then shuts down for a couple seconds. This leaves its screen completely dark for a short period, as shown next. The firmware updating becomes fully automatic at this point. So it needs no further user input from you.

Picture of the Echo Spot smart speaker with dark screen as it power cycles. — The Echo Spot smart speaker with dark screen as it power cycles.

Then, the Alexa speaker starts updating its software, displaying a progress ring on the Updating screen, as shown in the next few pictures.

Picture of the speaker as it updates its firmware, at 25 percent done. — The speaker as it updates its firmware, at 25 percent done.

Picture of the speaker as updating the firmware continues, at 55 percent done. Updating Firmware on Echo Spot. — Firmware updating continues on the speaker, at 55 percent done.

Progressing…

Picture of the speaker as it continues the firmware updating, at 85 percent done. — Continuing the firmware updating, at 85 percent done.

Once the updating progress ring completely lights up, all the way around, the Alexa Echo Spot reboots and begins optimizing. Optimizing is similar to what it does after a factory reset. See our Reset Echo Spot to Factory Settings, How To Hard Reset piece for further details.

Rebooting After Software Installation

During booting, the Amazon logo screen first appears as shown next.

The speaker booting, showing the Amazon logo screen.

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

Picture of the speaker booting, displaying its -Wait- screen. Updating Firmware on Echo Spot. — The speaker booting, displaying its -Wait- screen.

Then, the Echo logo screen appears, as booting continues, as displayed next.

The speaker booting, showing its -Echo logo- wait screen.

Then, the Optimization Process Begins

Optimization consumes much of the time during the firmware update process, taking several minutes to complete. As it runs, the Amazon Spot draws a round progress ring on its screen. This ring slowly advances as it tunes its software and other resources. Shown in the next three pictures.

Picture of the speaker at the start of its -Optimizing- operation. — The speaker at the start of its -Optimizing- operation.

Picture of the speaker in middle of the -Optimizing- operation. Updating Firmware on Echo Spot. — The unit in middle of the -Optimizing- operation.

Picture of the speaker finishing up optimization after reset. — The speaker finishing up optimization after reset.

7. Done with Updating Firmware on the Echo Spot

After optimization, your chosen home screen comes up. You’re done! Your Echo Spot is now running the latest software / firmware version from Amazon. Enjoy.

Picture of the Echo Spot speaker showing home screen, with mics unmuted. — The Echo Spot speaker showing home screen, with mics unmuted.

References for these Updating Firmware on Echo Spot Instructions

Check & Update Your Alexa Device Software, on Amazon.com

Revision History

2020-04-12: Added more tags.
2019-04-10: Tweaked the key phrase targeting.
2018-12-09: First published.