Since we live in the modern digital era, most homeowners have appreciated the need to automate their homes. With home automation in place, homeowners can now control a number of devices from afar. From the clicking of a button to giving commands, there are many ways one can control the smart devices present in his or her home. When it comes to home automation, the Alexa device plays a very significant role.
Unlike other devices, his one can do anything for you. From playing music to switching your lights on, there are a plethora of activities that this device can do for you. All you need to do is to call out its name and then command it to do what you want. Due to its seamless performance of specific tasks, this device has become part and parcel of most people’s lives.
However, there are instances it may stop being unresponsive and thus frustrate you. In this article, we shall take a closer look at why the Alexa device is unresponsive and how to fix those issues on the go.
Why Is My Alexa Device Unresponsive
Although your Alexa device might have been working optimally in the past, there are instances when it may stop working all of a sudden. Since you were used to it, you may find it hard to adjust without it, thereby making you panic.
However, this device is not immune to such problems as it can become unresponsive from time to time. If you are facing such issues, there is a need for you to know some of the leading reasons for this problem. Here are some of the reasons why your Alexa device is unresponsive.
1) Your Wi-Fi is not working optimally
Since your Alexa device is a smart device, it relies on the Wi-Fi internet in order to communicate with other devices. If the Wi-Fi network is unstable or not strong enough, chances are that the device will not be responsive as expected. In addition, if the Wi-Fi network is slow, your Alexa device might start becoming unresponsive.
2) Your device is not paired with Alexa
Your Alexa device has to be paired with the desired smart devices at your home so that you can have an easy time controlling them. However, if these devices are not paired with Alexa, chances are that your Alexa device will not be responsive as intended.
3) Compatibility issues
Your smart home devices have to be compatible with Alexa so that they can be controlled remotely. If they are incompatible, be sure that these devices will not pair with the Alexa device and thus might make your device not to be responsive.
4) Your cables are not secured well
In case there are one or more cables that are connected well, chances are that your Alexa device will not be responsive. Better still, if there is some loose connection, this problem will be imminent.
5) The echo device is placed too far from the router
Ideally, your Echo device should be close to the router. If it is far from the router’s connectivity range, be sure that the Alexa device will not work optimally.
6) Physical interference
Sometimes, your Alexa device’s unresponsiveness might be caused by an object such as a headset or keyboard. Such devices can cause a signal disturbance and thus make Alexa not respond. Besides this, other devices such as televisions, baby monitors, ovens, microwaves, and thick walls can block your Wi-Fi signal and thus interfere with the responsiveness of your Alexa device.
7) Wrong Wi-Fi password
If you changed your Wi-Fi password, your Echo device might fail to connect to your router as intended. As a result, the Echo device will not work, and thus the Alexa device will not be responsive.
How to Fix an Unresponsive Alexa device
Since we have looked at the issues that can make your Alexa device not to be responsive, the time is ripe for you to know the various ways you can fix this problem. Some of the ideas you should consider include:
1) Check whether your Wi-Fi network is working optimally
As we mentioned above, the Alexa device is a smart device that needs internet access for it to work well. If your Wi-Fi is not working well, chances are that the responsiveness of the Alexa device will not be as optimal as desired.
Therefore, you have to ensure that your Wi-Fi network is stable and strong enough to work with your Alexa device, among other smart devices in your home. You can even try connecting your phone to the Wi-Fi network and see if it will connect seamlessly or not.
2) Restart the Alexa device
Sometimes, the unresponsiveness of your Alexa device could be due to minor glitches that require you to reboot your device. In case the Alexa device plugs into the power socket, ensure that you unplug the device from the socket and then let it remain like that for 30 minutes. Thereafter, plug it back into the power socket, and the device will turn on.
If your Alexa is battery-powered, remove the batteries from the device and then wait for about 30 minutes. Insert the batteries back and then turn on the device. Ideally, your Alexa should now become responsive.
3) Press the microphone button
The Amazon Echo usually has a physical microphone button that helps to turn the mic on and off for the Alexa device. Sometimes, the button can be pressed and thus turn the mic off. Consequently, Alexa may not obey your voice commands.
If this is the case, you will see a red light on your Amazon Echo. To make the Alexa responsive again, you should press the physical mic button so that the mic is turned on. With the mic turned on, the Alexa device will be responsive once again.
4) Change Alexa’s wake word
Someone could have changed the wake word for your Alexa and thus made it unresponsive to your voice commands. Some of the common Alexa-supported wake words include Echo, Amazon, Alexa, and Computer. If someone had changed your Alexa’s wake word, you can now change it in the Amazon Alexa app or on the Amazon Alexa website.
To change Alexa’s wake word in the Amazon Alexa app, you need to ensure that you have this app on your mobile device and then get started. If you do not have this app on your mobile phone, you can download it from Google Play Store or App Store. Once you have downloaded this app, launch it and then tap the ‘Devices’ option at the bottom bar of your app.
Thereafter, choose the ‘All Devices’ option, located at the top of the screen. Select your Alexa device from the list you will see on your screen and then scroll down to the ‘General’ section. Tap the ‘Wake word’ option and then choose your preferred wake word from the list that you will see on your screen. Once you are done, close the app.
You can also change Alexa’s wake word on the Amazon Alexa website. To get started, you should first launch the Amazon Alexa website on your browser and then log in to your Amazon account.
Once you are logged in, you will see a myriad of options, including the ‘Settings’ option. You can see this option on the sidebar, located on the left side. Click it, and then under the ‘Devices’ section, choose your Alexa device.
Scroll down the device’s page until you reach the ‘General’ section. Click the ‘Wake Word’ option and then choose the new wake word for your Alexa device. Once you are done, click ‘Save’ and then close down the webpage. You can now try to get the attention of your Alexa by using your newly chosen wake word.
5) Reset your Alexa device
If you have tried all the aforementioned methods and your Alexa device is still unresponsive, resetting your Alexa might help fix the problem. By resetting your Alexa device, you will be removing all your preferences from it. This includes the linked Amazon account, among other vital details.
To get started, you should first open the Amazon Alexa app on your phone and then tap the ‘Devices’ option you will see on your screen. After that, tap ‘All Devices’ and then choose the Alexa device from the list on your screen.
Here, the settings of your Alexa device will open. Scroll down the menu and then click ‘Factory Reset’. A ‘Factory Reset’ prompt will pop on your screen. Click it and then reset the Alexa device.
Once the Alexa device has been reset, you can now reconfigure it with your Amazon account afresh and then start giving it commands like before.
6) Change the position of your Echo device
Something as simple as changing the position of your Amazon Echo device can make your Alexa device to start being responsive. This is important when you note that the Echo device is quite far from the router. Placing it within the router’s range can help mitigate the situation. Better still, keep the Amazon Echo close to you whenever you are speaking.
7) Connect your Amazon Echo device and smartphone to the same network
If your smartphone and Echo device are connected to different networks, the chances of your Alexa device malfunctioning are very high. For optimal results, you should ensure that both of them are connected to the same internet network.
8) Eliminate any unnecessary sounds
Your Alexa might not respond to your voice commands due to the presence of noise around it. To grab Alexa’s attention, you should get rid of this noise and speak to it clearly. By doing so, your Alexa should respond to your voice commands on the go.
Final Words
Gone and never to come are those days when homeowners used to panic due to an unresponsive Alexa device. Although the Alexa device might become unresponsive due to one reason or another, the ideas mentioned above can help you fix the problem. Consider them today, and you will be able to resolve the issue outright and thus be able to command it the way you please.