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Alexa Red Ring: 9 Steps To Fix It In 27 Seconds (2023)

Alexa Red Ring

The color red represents love and passion. 

But it also means war and trouble. 

And because of those opposing symbols…

I couldn’t help but wonder what the red ring on my Alexa meant. 

Is it good, or is it bad? 

But now I know. 

And if you wanna find out…

Keep reading to discover: 

  • 9 easy steps to fix your Alexa’s red ring. 
  • 5 reasons why your Alexa is showing a red ring.
  • And this is just the beginning…

Why is my Alexa showing a red ring?

Your Alexa is showing a red ring because the device’s microphone is off. Aside from that, it also indicates problems with the WiFi connection. Moreover, it means that you have an outdated Alexa app. Otherwise, your Echo device is malfunctioning or damaged. 


Alexa red ring: 9 steps to fix it


#1: Turn on the microphone

One of the most common reasons why your Alexa device is showing a red ring is because its microphone is off. 

In that case, it isn’t a cause for concern. 

That’s because the red light is just your device’s way of letting you know it can’t respond to voice commands. 

And that’s why turning your microphone on can make the red ring disappear. 

On top of that, you’ll be able to give voice commands to your Alexa device again. 

With that… 

Here’s how to turn on the microphone on your device: 

Step 1: Locate the microphone button on top of your device. 

The button’s logo is a circle with a diagonal slash, depending on your device. Otherwise, the logo is simply a tiny microphone icon

Step 2: Press the microphone button and wait for the red light to disappear. 

#2: Restart your Alexa device

If the red light didn’t disappear after turning off your microphone. 

Your Alexa device could be malfunctioning and is being unresponsive.

In that case, the easiest fix is to restart your device. 

That’s because, in most cases, a quick reboot resolves hang and glitch issues. 

With that said… 

Here’s how to restart your Alexa device: 

  1. Unplug the power cable from the electrical socket. 
  2. Wait for 10-20 seconds.
  3. Plug your Alexa device back into the power outlet.

#3: Connect Alexa to a WiFi network

Connect Alexa To A WiFi Network

As I’ve already mentioned, a red ring means that Alexa can’t process your voice commands. 

So if turning on the microphone didn’t work out for you…

As well as restarting your device… 

Then your device likely isn’t connected to a WiFi network. 

That’s because Alexa also needs an Internet connection to process your voice.  

So… 

Here’s how to connect Alexa to a WiFi network.  

  1. Download the Alexa app (iOS & Android).
  2. Open the app. 
  3. Sign in to your Amazon account. 
  4. Go to Devices > Echo & Alexa
  5. Choose your device. 
  6. Tap Settings > Wireless > WiFi Network
  7. Select your network and enter your password.

Pro tip: If you can’t see your WiFi network, scroll down and press Rescan. Or, if you’re using a hidden network, select Add a Network and follow the instructions in the app. 

#4: Restart your WiFi router 

Did you know that according to experts, you need to restart your WiFi routers once a month? 

That’s because routers need a quick boot to deliver a strong Internet connection to your devices. 

So if you don’t restart your router from time to time, you’ll likely experience WiFi network problems. 

And if you have network problems… 

Your Alexa device won’t have a stable Internet connection to process your voice commands. 

How to restart your WiFi router:

  1. Unplug the router’s power cable from the electrical outlet.
  2. Wait for 30 seconds. 
  3. Plug it back into the power socket. 
  4. Turn your router ON. 

Note: Usually, you can only access the Internet a few minutes after the restart. That’s because it might take a while for the WiFi network to set up.

#5: Move Alexa device to another place 

From what I’ve said before, the red ring appears when your Alexa device can’t understand your voice. 

With that said, the device’s location is also important to consider. 

And that’s because it should be placed where it can process voice commands correctly.  

So if your Alexa device is: 

  • In a noisy area.
  • Far from the WiFi router. 
  • Near other devices and appliances.  

The device can’t understand your voice clearly. 

“Why?” 

Allow me to elaborate: 

If the Alexa device is in a noisy area…

Its microphone won’t be able to pick up on what you’ve said.

And that’s why you should move the device to a more quieter place.

Then…

If the Alexa device is far from the WiFi router…

The Internet connection won’t be strong enough to process your voice. 

With that said, I highly recommend that your device is within 30 ft (or 10 m) of your router. 

And finally… 

If the Alexa device is near other devices and appliances… 

These appliances could interfere with the WiFi connection your Alexa device is getting. 

That’s because their electrical components can disrupt the WiFi connection.

And that’s why you’ll need to move the Alexa device that’s far from: 

  • Radios. 
  • Microwaves.
  • Refrigerators.  
  • Other wireless devices. 

Read also: Alexa won’t play radio

#6: Update the Alexa device’s software 

In general, outdated software cause devices to malfunction. 

And that’s because they aren’t equipped with new features to resolve bugs and glitches.

So your red ring issue could just be a glitch related to outdated software. 

That said, updating your Alexa device’s software is important. 

And so…

Here’s how to update your Alexa device’s software:

  1. Go to the Alexa app.
  2. Tap Settings
  3. Select Device Options.
  4. Choose Check for Software Updates. 
  5. Install software updates if available.  

Note: Normally, Alexa updates automatically. But, there are times that it needs to be manually updated. 

And remember, updating your app isn’t just meant to fix the red ring. 

But it’s also needed to gain new features to enjoy your device more. 

If you’re interested in knowing more about recently added features…

Then, check the video down below: 

#7: Factory reset your Alexa device 

If you couldn’t solve the red ring problem with the previous steps…

Then you might be dealing with a significant software issue.

And it caused your device to malfunction. 

But before you start worrying, there’s still something you can do. 

And that’s factory resetting your device. 

In my experience, this method solves software issues when nothing seems to work. 

That’s because it turns your device back to its original factory settings. 

And at that time its software was all good. 

So here’s…

How to factory reset your Alexa device: 

On the Alexa app: 
  1. Open the Alexa app. 
  2. Sign in to your Amazon account. 
  3. Go to Devices > Echo & Alexa
  4. Choose the device you want to reset. 
  5. Scroll down and press Factory Reset. 
  6. Confirm and follow the on-screen instructions. 
On Amazon Echo (1st gen): 
  1. Locate the reset button at the base of your device. 
  2. Use a paper clip or SIM ejector to press the button for 5 seconds.  
  3. Wait for the light ring to turn off and on. 
  4. Go through the set-up process.  
On Amazon Echo (2nd gen): 
  1. Press and hold the Microphone and Volume Down button for 20 seconds.  
  2. Wait for the light ring to turn orange. 
  3. Go through the set-up process.  
On Amazon Echo (3rd or 4th gen):
  1. Press and hold the Action button (circle) for 20 seconds.
  2. Wait for the light ring to turn off and on. 
  3. Go through the set-up process.  

#8: Deregister your Alexa device 

Previous steps didn’t solve the red ring problem? 

Then don’t worry. This could be the one you’re looking for. 

And that’s deregistering your Alexa device from your Amazon account. 

“Why would it work?”

That’s because this process will erase all the device settings. 

And you can have a fresh start with it. 

It’s basically another way to reset your Alexa device so that any software issues are resolved. 

With that said…

Here’s how to deregister your Alexa device:

  1. Go to this website
  2. Log in to your Amazon account. 
  3. Press Devices. 
  4. Choose your device and click Deregister

After doing so, you’ll need to register your Alexa device again.

Here’s how to register your Alexa device:  

  1. Open the Alexa app. 
  2. Press the Devices tab on the bottom of the screen. 
  3. Tap the + button on the top-right corner of the screen.  
  4. Choose Add device
  5. Select the device you wish to add. 

Note: This step is necessary for you to use your device again. Don’t forget to connect the device to the Internet during this process.  

#9: Get a new Alexa device

If the previous steps didn’t help you, then it’s likely that your current Alexa device is having hardware issues. 

And because of those issues, your device is malfunctioning, and a red ring is bothering you. 

So at this point, what you can do is get a new device to replace your damaged one. 

With that said, here are some devices I strongly recommend: 

You might be interested: Alexa won’t play Spotify


Frequently asked questions:


Why is my Alexa showing a red ring when spoken to?

Your Alexa is showing a red ring when spoken to because it can’t process your commands. That said, it means that Alexa has problems with your WiFi network. Or you’re having Internet connection issues. Also, the place could be noisy, and Alexa can’t understand your voice.  

Why is my Alexa turning red and having trouble understanding?

Your Alexa is turning red and having trouble understanding because of voice-processing errors. For instance, you have a WiFi network issue or Internet connection problems. Or Alexa can’t understand your voice because the surroundings are too loud.