The Amazon Echo, as well as other competing smart home devices like Google Home, have done a world of good to make people’s lives more convenient. Setting times and alarms, looking up recipes, listening to music and audiobooks, there is just so much you can do with these things. The problem with them, however, is when they decide they don’t want to work. For example, sometimes the Alexa light becomes unresponsive. But how do you fix that?
Typically, when your Alexa light is not working properly, it is because the device is not powered, or you do not have a connection to the Internet. In the former, no light will come on at all, and in the latter, a red light will indicate and a message about not being able to connect will be seen/heard. However, it could also be that the device is muted, which can be easily fixed by unmuting it.
While there are a number of reasons why the Alexa light may not be responding, some may be more serious than others.
How do You Fix an Unresponsive Alexa Light?
In most instances, the process of actually fixing an unresponsive Alexa light is rather simple. Most often, it will be due to a lack of power. Make sure that the cord is securely plugged into both the Alexa device and the power outlet, and that the outlet is powered itself. However, an unresponsive Alexa light may simply be because you have the device set to not respond to your voice.
If your Alexa has a red ring on it (in the case of an Amazon Echo or Echo Dot) or a red line at the bottom of the screen (Echo Show), this means that someone has muted the device. This is an easy fix, as all you need to do is push the mute button again to disable it. From here, you should be able to use Alexa like normal.
Another issue that may be preventing Alexa’s normal blue light from showing up is if you do not have access to the Internet. In this case, what will happen is, when you speak to Alexa, she will inform you that she is unable to connect to the Internet. Check your Internet with other devices as well as make sure Alexa is properly connected as well.
If the Alexa light is broken, how can you get it fixed?
As with most electronics, your Alexa device may have issues with it not functioning as it should. This can be due to user error, but it also may be due to a defect as part of the manufacturing or shipment process. If your Alexa light is damaged due to user error (such as dropping it), your best bet would be to talk to Amazon about potentially getting it replaced. Amazon does not have a repair service, but it is possible that if you ask nicely enough you can get it replaced.
If the device is broken, a guaranteed replacement will depend on multiple factors. For one, if the device is within the 30-day returning window Amazon gives to all Amazon-fulfilled products, there is a half-decent chance that damage you caused could see a replacement or refund (but don’t count on it). The 30-day return window is meant more for if you decide you don’t want it rather than because you broke it.
On the other hand, if it is a defect that you had nothing to do with, that makes things a lot simpler. Not only is there a 30-day return policy, there is also a one-year limited warranty that you automatically get with your Alexa purchase. This will only cover damage that you did not cause yourself, however. You may be able to get a warranty that covers accidental damage, but the initial warranty does not itself do that.
What do all of Alexa’s light colors mean?
Alexa’s light comes in a variety of different colors, with the meaning of each being potentially confusing if you are not used to them. Perhaps the most easily understood, however, is the blue light, as this is the one Alexa owners will usually see more than any other color. The blue light comes on whenever Alexa hears, or thinks she hears, her wake word (which may be “Alexa,” “Echo,” “Computer,” or most recently, “Ziggy”). This light will stay on until it either receives a command, or until it auto turns off after hearing nothing. It will also come on as a spinning light in some devices during the initial startup.
While blue is the most common, most Alexa users have encountered an orange light at least once. This is because the orange light is the one that comes on during the initial startup of the device. Orange, however, may also indicate something negative, as you will see when Alexa is actively trying to connect to the Internet. It is also used for when Alexa is pairing with another device; in certain devices, it will manifest as a spinning ring of light.
White usually comes on only when you are controlling the device’s volume. On the original Amazon Echo, for example, the white light is used to indicate how loud or quiet the device is. The smaller the ring, the quieter it is. However, your device will also show white when you set “Alexa Guard” to Away mode. This means that it will listen for suspicious noises like breaking glass or smoke alarms until you disarm it.
A flashing yellow light, meanwhile, indicates that you have either a message, reminder, or notification. Purple, meanwhile, appears when it is set to Do Not Disturb, as well as if there are issues with Wi-Fi during the setup process. A green light will also only come on when you are using Alexa to contact someone, or someone is contacting your Alexa device. Finally, a red light often means negative things, such as being unable to connect to the Internet. It may also mean you have disabled the microphone or, where applicable, camera in the device.
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