Key Takeaways
- Try reestablishing the cable connection by unplugging and reconnecting the Echo from the power cable.
- Update your Alexa app to resolve any software compatibility issues between the app and the speaker.
- Check and adjust your Alexa audio settings to improve or modify the sound quality of your Echo speaker.
Like any speaker, an Amazon Echo can run into audio issues, be it from a faulty cable, an unstable connection, or your app’s settings. But when this happens, how can you fix it? This troubleshooting guide should help you resolve your Echo’s audio issues.
1. Reestablish the Echo’s Cable Connection
The classic troubleshooting step of turning a piece of hardware off and then back on again may resolve your Amazon Echo’s audio issues. So, before trying any of the other steps listed here, first try unplugging your Echo from the power cable and then reestablishing the connection.
While “turning it off and on again” may not work, there’s a reason this sentence has crossed over into popular culture.
2. Update Your Alexa App
If you haven’t updated the Alexa app (available on Android and iOS) in a while, there may be a software compatibility issue between the app and your speaker. Software updates can be irritating, but updating your Alexa app shouldn’t take more than a minute or two with a decent internet connection.
To check if your Alexa app needs updating, go to your device’s app store and search for the Alexa app. Or just follow the links above. If the Open option to the right of the app icon has been replaced with Update, then there’s a software update waiting to be installed.
Alternatively, if there are no updates available, you could try uninstalling and reinstalling the Alexa app.
3. Check Your Alexa Audio Settings
If your Alexa’s audio is working, but just doesn’t sound right, you’ll be able to access and alter your connected device(s)’ audio settings within the Alexa app. Within the audio settings, you can adjust the bass, mid-range, and treble of your speaker.
You can keep your Echo speaker’s audio active while playing with the settings, allowing you to instantly check how the changes are affecting the sound. Your Echo will flash with a white light for a few seconds, and after that, the new sound adjustment should be applied.
To access the audio settings, head to Devices and opt for the device you’re looking to adjust. Tap on the settings cog at the top-right of the screen, and then head to Audio Settings.
Note that your speaker’s equalizer settings may be set to a neutral (default) position initially, so if you’d rather have the audio you received upon first setting up your device, simply toggle each cursor to the middle of each scale, where it reads 0.
4. Reestablish the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth Connection
When setting up your Alexa device through the smartphone app, you need to connect your smartphone to the Alexa speaker’s Wi-Fi network. After this, you’ll also be able to quickly connect your speaker to your phone, laptop, or similar device using Bluetooth. If either of these wireless connections fail or aren’t strong enough, you can run into audio issues.
Starting with your Wi-Fi, try deactivating the Wi-Fi on the device to which your Echo speaker is connected. Then, turn the Wi-Fi back on, wait for your Alexa’s Wi-Fi network to appear, and connect to it.
Alternatively, you can try reestablishing the Bluetooth connection. To do this, forget your Echo speaker in your device’s Bluetooth settings.
Then, search for new devices, tap on your Echo speaker when it’s found, and agree to pair it with your smartphone.
5. Reset Your Amazon Echo Device
If all else fails, and you’re still dealing with audio issues after trying each of the methods above, it may be time to reset your Echo device.
Your Alexa app will remember and recognize your connected speaker unless you reset the speaker itself. To do this, press and hold the Volume down and Microphone off buttons for 15 to 20 seconds.
The ring light on your Echo will turn on and off again, which will indicate that it has been reset. Now, your app will treat the Echo speaker like a totally new device, allowing you to go through the setup process again.
When your speaker’s light turns purple, that means it is ready for setup.
Other Amazon Echo Audio Issue Troubleshooting Tips
If all the methods above don’t help, there are some other things you can try:
- Move your Echo closer to your router or connected device.
- Restart your Wi-Fi router.
- Connect to your router’s 5GHz channel.
- Change your Echo’s wake-up word (Devices > Settings > Wake Word).
If you’re still experiencing issues even after trying all of the above, the Echo hardware may be faulty or degraded. If you’ve had your Echo for a long time, it may be time to get a new model, depending on the severity of the issues you’re dealing with.