A smart speaker can exist a wonderful thing, particularly for busy people. You can use it to add together items to your shopping listing, call your family unit, search for recipes, play your favorite music, or even play games. And all of that is possible with only the use of your voice.

Merely a smart speaker, similar an Amazon Echo with Alexa, tin likewise be a pain in the neck, particularly when it fails to do the one thing it'south designed to—understand your commands.

So if your Alexa keeps proverb "I'm having trouble understanding you lot right at present," nosotros're here to aid fix it.

Why Is Alexa Having Problem Agreement?

echo dot red light

Equally smart every bit it is, an Amazon Echo is but a device, which tin endure from technical issues. Luckily, near issues are like shooting fish in a barrel plenty to fix—once yous go to the root of the problem.

When Alexa is having problem agreement, the first matter you need to know is that information technology's not cleaved, and you don't need to go a new device. The problem here is not with the device itself, but with the connection.

Ways to Fix Alexa Having Problem Understanding

1. Effort a Uncomplicated Restart

Have you lot tried turning it off and on again? This advice is the most common one in tech support, as it solves so many problems. The same is true for the Amazon Echo.

If yous can't get it to empathize, simply unplug it from its power source, which is either the wall or a battery-powered speaker. Wait a few seconds, connect it again, and expect for the blue light to end circling before y'all endeavour to talk to Alexa over again.

2. Check Your Wi-Fi

Alexa tin can only work if it'south connected to the cyberspace. And then if your connection is down, the device won't work as well.

Bank check if the internet is working on other devices, like your laptop or smartphone. If it is, and Alexa is still non responding, try to reset your router and wait a few minutes before you lot talk to the device.

3. See If Alexa Is Connected to the Correct Network

Maybe you lot merely moved homes and forgot to change the Wi-Fi network on your Alexa app for iOS or Android. Or peradventure you changed internet suppliers and forgot to update your Repeat. Perchance someone played with your Alexa and inverse the network by fault.

All of these can make Alexa non understand yous. To check if that'south the example, go to the Alexa app on your phone, go to Devices, select your Echo and look under Wi-Fi Network to meet that's connected to the right one. If not, tap Change, and follow the steps on the screen.

4. Bring Alexa Closer to the Router

Even if your internet is merely fine and the device is connected, the signal may non exist strong plenty to reach Alexa. This tin happen if the router is on the other side of the firm, or in a closet, for example.

To exam if this is the case, place the Amazon Repeat correct next to your router. If it works when y'all exercise that, you may want to leave your Alexa in that room or observe a new location for the router.

5. Brand Certain the Software Is Updated

Alexa automatically connects to its servers on a daily basis to cheque for software updates. If your device is having trouble understanding, maybe it's because information technology couldn't download the latest version for some reason.

The easiest way to prompt Alexa to bank check for updated is to printing the mute button for 30 seconds. You'll know the device is connecting to the server, once the red light is gone and the blue circular calorie-free appears.

6. Try a Factory Reset

As a concluding resort, you can opt for a factory reset. This will erase your saved routines, alarms, and reminders, and basically revert the device to how information technology was when y'all commencement plugged information technology in. However, this may be the thing to get it working again.

Yous can practice a factory reset through your app. Find your device on the app, equally described in step three. Nether Device Settings, scroll down until y'all see Registered To. Tap Deregister to go along with the reset. You can also use the buttons on the device to do this. Here'southward the full guide on how to reset your Amazon Repeat.

After you complete the factory reset, you'll accept to reconnect information technology to your dwelling Wi-Fi in order for it to piece of work. Hither's how to connect Alexa to Wi-Fi with or without the app.

If Nothing Works, Get to the Source

If you get through all of these steps, and you lot're Alexa is still having trouble understanding, the problem may be with Amazon itself.

Check to see if Amazon servers are down with a site like DownDetector, or achieve out to Amazon support on their website.

Every Control You Tin can Say to Your Amazon Alexa

Read Next

Nearly The Author

Tal Imagor (54 Articles Published)

Tal Imagor has been a freelance Announcer and Content Writer for over 10 years, writing anything from newsletters to deep-dive characteristic articles. She'due south passionate writing about promoting sustainability, diversity and inclusion, peculiarly within the tech environment.

More From Tal Imagor