Echo Dot Not Responding to Your Voice? Here are Fixes

Recently many users have reported that when they give command to Alexa, Echo Dot’s LED light turns a few times but does not perform the action, while others have reported that the device does nothing when they ask for something. If your Echo dot not responding to your command, here you will learn working methods to fix it.

Alexa is a popular virtual assistant that takes commands from users and acts on the prompt. Echo devices are powered by Alexa voice assistant. Alexa and Amazon Echo work together seamlessly. However, just like any other technology, it can malfunction at times, and if your Echo Dot is not responding, worry not.

Read the article till the end to know the reason why Echo Dot is not responding and different ways to make it talk back.

Why is Echo Dot Not Responding?

There are several reasons why the Amazon Echo Dot is not responding. Some of them include the following:

Minor bugs or glitches in Echo Dot
Device is muted
Low volume of Echo
No power access
No internet connectivity
Issues with the wake word
Brief mode is enabled
You are speaking not loudly
Whisper mode is turned on
Recently installed skills
Enabled follow-up mode

How to Fix Echo Dot Not Responding?

After knowing the reasons why the Amazon Echo Dot is not responding, you might be wondering how you can fix it to make it talk again. Check out the ways to fix the issue.

Restart Echo Dot

The first thing that you should try when the Echo Dot is not responding is to reboot the device. A simple reboot could bring back the voice of the Amazon Echo. To restart your Echo device, unplug the device from power for about 15-20 seconds, then plug it again, and it should start working again. If not, move on to the next fix.

Unmute the Device

Another thing you need to do is ensure that the microphone is turned on and not muted. If it’s muted, it can’t hear you and will not respond.

If the microphone is disabled, you will see a solid red light instead of a blue light. To enable the microphone, just press the button. Also, if the device is too far from you, it might not hear you and not respond.

Increase Alexa Echo Volume

It might sound weird to you, but if the volume of the Echo Dot is low, it might be the reason why you can’t hear Alexa. To increase the volume, use the physical button on the Echo Dot.

You can also increase the volume in the Alexa app. To do so, open the Alexa app and tap on the Devices tab. Next, select your device and tap on Volume, then increase the volume.

Check if the Echo Dot has Power Access

Another thing you need to do if the device is not responding is to check if the Echo Dot is connected to the power supply or not.

Some Reddit users have reported that their device is not responding when asked something because the power socket is not plugged properly. If this is the case, plug the cable carefully into the power socket and do the same for the USB on the Echo Dot.

Check Your Internet Connection

If the Echo Dot is not getting a good internet connection, it may not respond. Here is what you need to do: restart your Wi-Fi router, bring the Amazon Echo Dot close to the Wi-Fi range (within 15 feet), and reconnect to the network.

Check Wake Word for Alexa

Alexa has a wake word, which is used for calling the device. By default, it’s Alexa, but you can change it to computer, echo, or Amazon as per your choice. If Alexa is not listening and responding to you, check if you are calling it from the chosen wake word. Here’s how you can check and change the wake word.

Step 1: Open the Alexa app and tap on the Devices tab from the bottom.

Step 2: Choose your device and tap the gear icon.

Step 3: Select Wake Word and choose a wake word from the list.

Speak Loudly

If you are not speaking loud enough, it might be the reason why Echo Dot is not responding. You can review your Alexa voice history to check if the device is hearing what you have recently said or not.

Step 1: Open the Alexa app.

Step 2: From the bottom menu, tap on the More tab.

Step 3: Select Settings > Alexa Privacy > Review Voice History.

Step 4: Navigate through your voice commands and Alexa’s replies and see if they match up.

Turn Off Brief Mode

Alexa has a Brief Mode feature, which, once enabled, reduces verbal confirmations to a simple tone. If you have enabled the feature, it could be the reason for the issue.

Step 1: To disable it, open the Alexa app.

Step 2: Tap on the More tab at the bottom and select Settings.

Step 3: Under Alexa Preferences, tap Voice Responses.

Step 4: Finally, turn off the toggle for Brief Mode.

Turn Off Whisper Mode

You should also try disabling the Whisper mode, as that might be the reason for the issue. Here’s how you can turn it off in the Alexa app.

Step 1: Navigate to Settings on the Alexa app.

Step 2: Tap on Voice Responses.

Step 3: Finally, disable the toggle for Whisper Mode.

Turn Off Follow-Up Mode

If disabling Whisper Mode does not help you fix the issue, you should try disabling Follow-Up Mode. To disable the feature, follow the below steps:

Step 1: Tap the Devices tab on the Alexa app.

Step 2: Select your device and tap on the gear icon.

Step 3: Click on Follow-Up Mode and disable the toggle.

Disable Recently Installed Skill

If you have recently installed a new skill in Alexa, it might be the reason why Echo Dot is not responding. Try disabling the recently added skills and checking if the device responds or not. Here’s how you can disable the skill.

Step 1: Open the Alexa app.

Step 2: Click on the More tab from the bottom.

Step 3: On the next screen, tap Skills & Games.

Step 4: Scroll down to the last and tap on Your Skills.

Step 5: Check for recent skills, and tap on the one you want to disable.

Step 6: On the next screen, click on Disable Skill.

Factory Reset Echo Dot

If you are still facing the same issue even after trying the above fixes, you should try factory resetting the Echo device. Check out our dedicated article on how to reset Echo devices to perform the factory reset.

Wrapping Up

That brings us to the end of the article. I hope this guide helped you fix the Echo Dot not responding problem. If you have questions related to the article, let us know in the comments below.

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