This article explains how to turn on an Echo Dot, with instructions for first through fourth generation Echo Dots.

What to Know

  • Because the Echo Dot devices don’t have power buttons, you plug it into a power outlet to turn it on. Wait for the ring light to illuminate.If your Echo Dot won’t turn on, check the power supply and power outlet, and perform a factory reset if necessary.

The Echo Dot doesn’t have a power button, so it automatically powers on as soon as you plug it in. If your Echo Dot is registered, plugging it in and waiting for it to connect to the internet is all you need to do to turn it on. That’s also true in reverse, as the only way to turn off your Echo Dot is to unplug it from power. If you want to leave your Echo Dot plugged in, but you don’t want it to listen to your conversations, you can activate the Echo Dot’s mute function.

Follow these steps to turn on an Echo Dot that has been previously registered. If you haven’t done this yet, try these steps to register your Echo Dot.

  • Plug the power adapter into the Echo Dot.
  • Plug the power adapter into the wall.
  • Wait for the light ring to illuminate.
  • When the light ring turns blue and then turns off, your Echo Dot is on and ready to use.

If your device isn’t turning on and you’re looking for a power button, you can stop. The only Alexa devices that have power buttons are the Echo Tap and third-party smart speakers. The Echo Dot doesn’t have a power button, and it’s designed to turn on as soon as you plug it in.

Plug the power adapter into the Echo Dot.

Plug the power adapter into the wall.

Wait for the light ring to illuminate.

When the light ring turns blue and then turns off, your Echo Dot is on and ready to use.

If the light ring turns orange instead of blue, that means the Echo Dot hasn’t been set up yet. If you set up your Echo, the light will turn blue, and you’ll be able to use it.

If the light ring on your Echo Dot doesn’t illuminate when you plug it in, that indicates a problem with the Dot, the power supply, or the outlet you used. If it does turn on, but the Echo doesn’t work or doesn’t seem to be on, your device probably hasn’t been set up or registered.

Here’s what you can do if your Echo Dot or other Alexa device isn’t turning on:

  • Perform a soft reset. Unplug the power adapter from the wall, and leave it unplugged for a few minutes. Then plug it back in and check to see if your Echo turns on.
  • Try a different power outlet. If possible, unplug the Echo and plug it into a different power outlet. If you’re using a power strip, make sure it is on and that other devices work when plugged into it.
  • Try a different power adapter. If you have multiple Echo devices, try swapping power adapters. If a different adapter works, the original one is probably bad.
  • Check for lights when you plug the Echo in. If it lights up orange, that means your Echo needs to be set up. Follow the normal setup procedure using the Alexa app on your phone, and try again.
  • Try a factory reset of the Echo Dot. If your device still won’t turn on, perform these steps:
  • Make sure the device is plugged into power.Press and hold the reset button with a paperclip (first generation), the microphone off and volume down buttons (second generation), or the action button (third and fourth generation.)Wait about 20 seconds.Check to see if the light ring turns orange.If the light turns orange, use the Alexa app on your phone to set up your Echo device.

Perform a soft reset. Unplug the power adapter from the wall, and leave it unplugged for a few minutes. Then plug it back in and check to see if your Echo turns on.

Try a different power outlet. If possible, unplug the Echo and plug it into a different power outlet. If you’re using a power strip, make sure it is on and that other devices work when plugged into it.

Try a different power adapter. If you have multiple Echo devices, try swapping power adapters. If a different adapter works, the original one is probably bad.

Check for lights when you plug the Echo in. If it lights up orange, that means your Echo needs to be set up. Follow the normal setup procedure using the Alexa app on your phone, and try again.

Try a factory reset of the Echo Dot. If your device still won’t turn on, perform these steps:

  • Make sure the device is plugged into power.Press and hold the reset button with a paperclip (first generation), the microphone off and volume down buttons (second generation), or the action button (third and fourth generation.)Wait about 20 seconds.Check to see if the light ring turns orange.If the light turns orange, use the Alexa app on your phone to set up your Echo device.

  • How do I turn off the light on my Echo Dot?

  • If you see a flashing yellow light on your Echo Dot, it means you have a notification or an Alexa contact has sent you a message. To stop the yellow flashing light, ask Alexa, “What notifications do I have?” or “What messages do I have?” Alexa will alert you to your notifications and messages, and then your yellow flashing light will disappear.

  • How do I turn off notifications on my Echo Dot?

  • If you’d like to disable notifications, you can say, “Alexa, turn on Do Not Disturb.” Alternatively, open the Alexa app on your phone or tablet, go to Settings > Device Settings, and select your Echo Dot. Toggle on Do Not Disturb. You won’t receive any notifications with flashing lights on your Echo Dot.

  • What do the buttons on my Echo Dot do?

  • If you’re wondering what the buttons on your Echo Dot do, it depends on your Echo Dot model. Depending on your Echo Dot’s generation, it will have two or four buttons. The Action button acts as a wake word, the Microphone button turns the microphone on and off, and the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons control the sound. The first-generation Echo Dot only had an Action button and a Microphone button.

If you see a flashing yellow light on your Echo Dot, it means you have a notification or an Alexa contact has sent you a message. To stop the yellow flashing light, ask Alexa, “What notifications do I have?” or “What messages do I have?” Alexa will alert you to your notifications and messages, and then your yellow flashing light will disappear.

If you’d like to disable notifications, you can say, “Alexa, turn on Do Not Disturb.” Alternatively, open the Alexa app on your phone or tablet, go to Settings > Device Settings, and select your Echo Dot. Toggle on Do Not Disturb. You won’t receive any notifications with flashing lights on your Echo Dot.

If you’re wondering what the buttons on your Echo Dot do, it depends on your Echo Dot model. Depending on your Echo Dot’s generation, it will have two or four buttons. The Action button acts as a wake word, the Microphone button turns the microphone on and off, and the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons control the sound. The first-generation Echo Dot only had an Action button and a Microphone button.

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