Connect Your Amazon Echo Intelligent Personal Assistant to Wi-Fi

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction: Amazon Echo: Connect to Wi-Fi

This guide will walk you through connecting your Amazon Echo to Wi-Fi.

2. Wi-Fi Network: Credentials

In order to connect to a wireless network, you must have the required credentials. These are:

  • Wireless Network Name (SSID)
  • Wireless Network Key (Password)

Finding Network Credentials

Most wireless routers/gateways have a label with the default credentials. If the credentials aren't there, look in the devices documentation.

Default Wi-Fi credentials highlighted on router/gateway sticker.

If your Internet Service Provider (ISP) installed the wireless router or gateway, they might have left you a setup sheet which may have the credentials.

3. Amazon Echo: Connect to Wi-Fi

  1. Open the Alexa App on your mobile device.
alexa app icon

  1. From the main screen tap on the Menu symbol.
main page of alexa app with the menu highlighted
  1. Select Settings.
main menu is open and settings is highlighted
  1. Select your device from the list.
Settings menu with list of devices
  1. Then tap on Update Wi-Fi.
settings menu with update Wi-Fi highlighted
  1. On your Alexa device, press and hold the Action button until the light ring changes to orange. Your mobile device will then connect to your Echo device.
  2. A list of available Wi-Fi networks will appear in the app. Select your Wi-Fi network.
Wi-Fi setup menu with list of available networks showing
  1. And enter the Wi-Fi password (if required) then tap on Connect.
Network setup page with network selected and password entered and connect button
  1. After your device connects to your Wi-Fi network, a confirmation message appears in the app.

4. Check Other Devices

To help troubleshoot the problem we should check if other devices can connect to the wireless network.

5. Check Environment

If other wireless devices are connected to the network and functioning properly, chances are the router is OK. It's possible there is an environmental issue. Do you have a portable wireless device (Smart Phone, Tablet, Laptop, etc.) that you can put in the same area to test and see if that device's wireless connection still functions as intended in that location?

6. Power cycle

If you haven't already, please try power cycling the device you're working with. To do so, simply turn it off, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on again.

7. Amazon Echo: Incompatible Routers

A small amount of router configurations may not be compatible with the Amazon Echo.

  • This device is not compatible with Ad Hoc Networks.
  • The preferred wireless protocol is using WPA2 with AES encryption.
  • Avoid using WPA/WPA2 Mixed as it can cause issues on some routers.

8. What's next?

9. Networking: Range Check

The device needs to be within a reasonable range of the router in order to connect and have the best connection speeds.

  • In general, in most homes, you can be up to 30 feet from your router for a decent connection.
  • From 30' to 50' away, the speeds will be slower, and may drop occasionally, but it should be usable.
  • Greater than 50' away, and the signal will most likely be too weak to overcome interference. The speeds will be slow, and the connection may be sporadic.

The above numbers are approximates only. Optimal range may vary based on router make and model.

10. What's next?

11. Networking: Relocate Router Check

Your router may need to be relocated to a more centralized location in order to provide better coverage for all your devices.

Good Placement

A house, separated into rooms detailing how placing Wi-Fi in the center of a house will provide better coverage to reach all devices. Diagram.

Bad Placement

A house, separated into rooms detailing how placing Wi-Fi in the corner of the house can cause some devices to not have a Wi-Fi signal. Diagram.

12. Router Relocation

Since this appears to be a range issue that can be resolved by putting the router in closer proximity to the device's intended use area, we recommend moving the router to a more centralized location.

13. Range Extender

If wireless signal is not reaching your device, and relocating your router or the device itself to be in closer proximity is not possible or doesn't resolve the issue, a great way to boost wireless signal without replacing existing equipment is to acquire and install a range extender. Range extenders work with your existing wireless router as a type of wireless repeater used to expand the reach of wireless signal in your home.

14. What's next?