Help! Alexa won’t do what she’s supposed to do

Like all technologies, Alexa voice assistant from time to time prone to problems. Try the following troubleshooting tips to resolve them.

The cause of Alex’s problems

Difficulties with Alexa can arise from a number of issues. Because it needs an internet connection to work properly, any Wi-Fi issues can be a problem.

Because Alexa is also software that runs other software, compatibility issues can sometimes occur. And since it is associated with certain devices (mostly in line Amazon Echo ), malfunctions of devices or communication between them can be problematic. Add hardware to your smart home and it creates another layer of potential problems.

A young woman screams and holds her head in despair. — Paula Winkler/Getty Images

Even the seemingly simple question of where an Alexa-powered device is placed in a building can become a problem if done incorrectly. Finally, there is the issue of human-machine interaction, which can also fail.

How to fix problems with Alexa

Alexa will not connect to the Internet. If you have any problems connecting your Echo device to the internet check the connection status indicator at the bottom of the back of the device. White means you are connected and orange means no connection.

Check other devices on the network such as laptops and phones. If they’re ok, try turning it off echo device and turn it back on. If other devices won’t connect, try reboot router .

If you’re constantly experiencing this problem, try moving your Echo device closer to your router or raise it higher (like on a bookshelf) to avoid Wi-Fi interference.
Alexa will not manage certain skills. If Alexa has trouble performing certain skills such as Spotify or Pandora, it could be due to bad wifi connection (see above).

It is also possible that your internet speed is below the 0.5 Mbps required to run these skills.

Or perhaps a certain skill was not installed correctly. Try disable and enable skills, with that you are having problems with, and turn your Echo device off and on again.
Alexa will not connect to smart devices. AT are currently on the market all technologies smart home» so make sure one device matches the other. Before doing anything else, make sure the device you are trying to connect to is valid Compatible with Alexa and with the specific Alexa-enabled device you’re using.

Then carefully follow the setup instructions and set up your device on the same Wi-Fi network as your Alexa-enabled device. Finally, ask Alexa to open a new device, add it to the right group and, if necessary, turn on the corresponding skill for its use.

If a nothing helps you can create a «if this, then this» command ( IFTTT ) as a workaround.
Alexa doesn’t understand me. Do you give Alexa seemingly simple commands, only to be told, «Sorry, I don’t know that»? If you and Alexei have communication problems first try just repeating the command, speaking more slowly, or moving away from other sources of noise such as the TV, stereo, or dishwasher.

You can also try to check what Alexa actually heard. AT Alexa app (installed on your phone or tablet) select menu > Settings > Alexa account > Story, to see the commands you have entered in Alexa. For example, you may have said, «Alexa, play the music,» but she heard, «Alexa, play the mushroom.» If you see this type of error, just spell it out a little better next time.

Over time, Alexa will get to know you better, but you can also do voice training through Appendix . Select to launch menu > Settings > Alexa account > Recognize Voices . Click the arrow next to in your voice then click » To begin» .
Alexa won’t answer me. The same strategies that work for «Alexa doesn’t understand me» (see above) can also work for this problem. The problem may also be related to the microphone. If you are using Echo, Echo Plus or echo dot make sure the microphone button on the top of the device is turned on.

Alexa not updating could also be the source of this problem. Ask Alexa to «download and install the latest software updates».

Also, keep in mind that Alexa is programmed to respond to commands from the nearest Alexa-enabled device. So she may not actually ignore you, but reply to you from other places.
If all else fails. If you have multiple problems with Alexa or the same problem repeatedly and nothing seems to help, you can try a factory reset.

This operation will wipe out any settings you have set with Alexa. Do this only if you are sure that nothing else will help.

To reset your Echo, use a pin or paperclip to press the button next to the power adapter. Hold it until the ring of light turns orange and then blue. Now it looks like a brand new device.
It wouldn’t hurt to tell Alexa how much you appreciate her. The next time you talk to her, be sure to thank her for all the hard work!