What to Know

Can I Use Echo Without Alexa?

Can You Disable Alexa on Echo Dot?

  • On your Echo Dot speaker, look for the microphone button on the top of the device. The button looks like a microphone with a strike-through on it or a circle with a strike-through it.
  • Press the microphone button.
  • Wait for a tone to play and for the indicator light to turn red.
  • While the indicator light remains solid red, the microphone is switched off and Alexa isn’t listening.
  • Press the microphone button to restart Alexa.
  • While Alexa is disabled, the Echo Dot will still function as a speaker.

Can Echo Dot Be Used Alone?

On your Echo Dot speaker, look for the microphone button on the top of the device. The button looks like a microphone with a strike-through on it or a circle with a strike-through it.

Press the microphone button.

Wait for a tone to play and for the indicator light to turn red.

While the indicator light remains solid red, the microphone is switched off and Alexa isn’t listening.

Press the microphone button to restart Alexa.

While Alexa is disabled, the Echo Dot will still function as a speaker.

  • Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts. Via Audible, your podcast app, Spotify, or any other music app, you can use your Echo Dot as a speaker and play sound through it by manually selecting your choice through the app rather than speaking it.
  • Use your Echo Dot as an external speaker. Pair your Echo Dot with a speaker, and you can expand your speaker range.
  • Turn off timers and reminders. If you’re used to using Alexa to set up timers, you can still do so via physically pressing the Action button on top of your speaker. It’s represented by a - sign on the speaker itself.
  • You can’t use smart features. With Alexa disabled, you can’t get your smart speaker to tell you the weather, interact with your smart home setup, or look up information for you. All of this requires you to use your voice and for Alexa to be activated.

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