How do I fix the red ring on my echo dot?

The purpose of a red ring or light on your Alexa device is to get noticed. It is a warning that something is wrong and that the Echo device needs your attention. Don’t worry! It’s usually easy to fix the problem and get the red light to go away.

The older Echo speakers have a status light ring on the top. The 4th generation Echo Dot speakers have a light ring around the base. The status light on an Echo Show device is just below the screen.

What Does an Alexa Red Ring Mean?

A red ring on your Echo speaker usually signifies a communication problem. Either the device can’t communicate with the Amazon data servers, or it can’t hear and communicate with you.

There could be an issue with the microphone or a problem connecting to your Wi-Fi network. In either case, the problem isn’t terminal and usually easy to fix.

Alexa Red Ring – Microphone Problem

A microphone problem is the most common reason for a red light on your Echo device.

You can disable the microphone on an Alexa speaker by pressing the microphone button on the top of the device. The first thing to do is check the button hasn’t been pressed accidentally.

The microphone button should light up red, along with the ring, whenever it is disabled. Occasionally the light on the button doesn’t work, so press the button even if not lit.

If repeated pressing of the microphone button doesn’t turn off the red light or the light ring, try restarting the Echo device. You can do this by unplugging it, waiting 20 seconds, and then plugging it in again.

If the red light persists, carefully check the Alexa device for damage. If the device has been dropped or hit, the internal microphones could have been damaged. That can also result in a persistent red ring.

Having the microphones repaired will probably cost more than the device itself. Buying a new Alexa speaker is likely your best option here.

Red Alexa Ring – Wi-Fi Problem

If the red light ring remains after running through the microphone checks above, the problem could be with your Wi-Fi connection.

Usually, when the Alexa device tries to establish a Wi-Fi connection, the light ring will be orange. Occasionally the Wi-Fi connection dropping unexpectedly can result in a red Alexa light.

If a known Wi-Fi network is available, the Alexa device will automatically attempt to reconnect. Check your wireless router to ensure the network is up and running. If needed, restart the router and then restart the Echo device.

Resetting Your Echo Speaker

If none of the above steps help, you can try resetting your Alexa device. This will wipe your data and you will lose some personalization. But if you can’t get rid of the red light by other means, you can’t use the device anyway.

Our complete guide will show you how to completely reset your Amazon Echo device.

Red Light on an Echo Show

As mentioned above, a red light can also occur on an Echo Show device. Instead of a ring, it will appear just below the screen as a line.

The cause is likely to be the same as on an Echo speaker: the microphone is turned off or disabled. It might also show that the camera is disabled.

The way to fix a red light on an Echo Show is the same as above. Check the microphone/camera button (or switch on some devices) isn’t turned off. Restart the device. And check the Wi-Fi connection.

Other Color Lights on Alexa

Aside from red, there are lots of other colored lights that appear on Alexa devices from time to time. Some are more common than others, but all alert you of a particular status. These statuses include showing when the speaker is listening, when Do Not Disturb is active, and when there are notifications waiting.

A red ring on any electronic device can be a worrying site, since red lights typically indicate technical failure or other issues. But what does a red ring on an Echo Dot indicate?

The red light on an Amazon Echo Dot typically indicates that the device can’t hear you. The microphone may be disabled or faulty, and Alexa won’t respond to commands until it’s fixed. You can press the microphone button on the top of the device or restart it to resolve the issue.

So, if you see a red ring on your Amazon Echo device, don’t panic. This issue is usually pretty easy to resolve. Let’s take a closer look at what the red ring signifies and what you can do about it.

Why Does My Echo Dot Have a Red Ring?

Nearly all Amazon Echo speakers have a light ring on the top of the device. The fourth-generation Echo Dot (on Amazon) and Echo have a light ring at the base of the device.

The Amazon Echo displays different colors depending on whether it’s working properly.The different colors can indicate different issues, allowing you to quickly assess the problem as long as you know what each color means.

The red light on an Amazon Echo typically indicates that the device can’t hear you. The microphone may be disabled or faulty, and Alexa won’t respond to commands until the microphone is fixed.

A red light on an Echo Show (on Amazon), meanwhile, can indicate there’s an issue with the camera’s connection. Either way, the worst-case scenario is that the device has suffered physical damage and isn’t working correctly.

How to Fix Your Echo’s Microphone

Luckily, there are several ways you can troubleshoot a red ring on an Amazon Echo. Let’s take a look at the best ways to proceed:

Try Enabling the Microphone

The red light on an Amazon Echo typically indicates that the microphone is disabled or isn’t working correctly.

The microphone button is located on the top of the device; you can easily click it to turn the feature on or off. The button will also have a red light if it’s disabled, making the problem fairly straightforward to diagnose.

You can simply press the microphone button on your Amazon Echo and the red light should automatically turn off. Alexa should respond to commands, but you can restart the device if the issue isn’t resolved.

Simply unplug the Echo, wait 30 seconds, and replug it in to see if the issue is resolved.

Check Your WiFi Connection

A poor internet connection can cause Alexa to have difficulties hearing and responding to commands. This issue can cause a red ring to appear on the device.

Ensure your Echo is connected to a stable WiFi connection. You may need to restart your router or modem to resolve the issue. After restarting your router, try using a command on your Echo to see if the issue is resolved.

Update Your Alexa Amazon Echo

Sometimes, software bugs and glitches can cause your Amazon Echo to display a red light without cause. Ensuring your software is up-to-date will resolve any software bugs.

Here are the steps:

1. Launch the ‘Alexa’ app and click ‘Devices.’
   
2. Navigate to ‘Echo and Alexa’ and click your device.
   
3. Click the ‘Settings’ button that looks like a gear and choose ‘About.’
   
4. You can easily install any available software updates from this menu.

How to Factory Reset Your Echo

Factory resetting your Amazon Echo is typically a last resort for resolving software and technical issues. There’s a wide range of Amazon Echo products, and the process differs from device to device.

You can easily reset your Echo via the Amazon Alexa App for iOS and Android devices. Follow the steps below to begin the process.

1. Launch the ‘Alexa’ app on your device.
   
2. Choose ‘Devices’ located on the bottom bar.
   
3. Select ‘Echo & Alexa’ and hit the name of your Amazon Echo.
   
4. Click the ‘Settings’ button that looks like a gear to view the device configurations.
   
5. Scroll downward to ‘Registered To’ and click ‘Deregister’ to confirm your choices.

An orange light should appear on your Amazon Echo. The orange light indicates that the reset action has been accepted and the device is completing the process.

After the orange light turns off and on, the device has successfully reset and entered setup mode. Navigate through the setup process as usual and your Echo should be back to functional status.

What Do the Other Colored Rings on Echo Mean?

Besides red, the Amazon Echo can glow in several different colors that indicate different responses and issues. Here are the different lights and what they indicate:

Cyan Blue Light

The Amazon Echo will glow a cyan blue color after you say “Alexa.” A steady blue light indicates that Alexa hears you and is awaiting for a command. A spinning light indicates that Alexa is processing the command.

White Light

The Echo utilizes white light to display changes in volume, regardless of whether you press the buttons manually or use voice commands.

A spinning white light indicates that Alexa Guard is enabled and the device is listening for suspicious sounds.

Teal Light

A spinning teal light on an Amazon Echo typically happens after you plug in the device or restart it.

The spinning teal light indicates that the Echo is booting up and the light will change to orange when it’s ready for setup.

Orange Light

The orange display light on an Echo indicates that it’s in setup mode or it’s attempting to connect to WiFi. You might also encounter an orange light when you set up your device for the first time or if you complete a factory reset.

Purple Light

Amazon Echo devices will display a purple light if they have issues during the WiFi setup process. Purple lights can also indicate that your Echo is on Do Not Disturb mode.

Yellow Light

A flashing yellow light on an Amazon Echo indicates that you have a new message, alert, or reminder. A yellow light can also appear if Alexa has a status update about an upcoming Amazon Prime shipment.

Green Light

A flashing green light on an Echo indicates an incoming call. A contact might call you through the Alexa app or another Echo model. A solid green light indicates that you’re in the middle of a phone call.

However, a spinning green light indicates that your device is in Drop In mode. Drop In mode allows approved users to “drop in” for a voice or video call to your device. You’ll still be notified with a chime before any phone call comes through.