How to Reset an Amazon Echo Device

Amazon Echo devices are designed to be the trusted centerpiece of your household, which means they hold a lot of sensitive information inside their memory banks. An Echo can receive dozens of requests a day. It holds credit card information, addresses, and location data. It even saves recordings of every command it ever received.

No matter how useful your Echo, there will come a day when it's time to move on and get a new one. What, then, happens to the old one? If you're looking to sell it or give it away, you probably don't want to expose all that identifying information to strangers.

The good news is that a simple factory reset effectively wipes the slate clean and allows the new owner to start from scratch. However, the process varies widely depending on which type of smart speaker and generation you own. Here is how to perform a factory reset on any Echo device.

Amazon Echo

The Echo's reset process varies depending on which version you own.

First Generation: Use a paper clip to press and hold the reset button located at the base of the device. Wait a few seconds for the ring of light on the Dot to turn off and then back on.

Second Generation: Press and hold the microphone off and volume down buttons at the same time. Wait until the ring of light on the device turns orange.

Amazon Echo Auto

Press and hold the action button for about 25 seconds until the light turns orange.

Amazon Echo Dot

The process for resetting the Echo Dot is different depending on which version you own.

First Generation: Use a paper clip to press and hold the reset button located at the base of the device. Wait a few seconds for the ring of light on the Dot to turn off and then back on again.

Second Generation: Press and hold the microphone off and volume down buttons at the same time. Wait until the ring of light on the device turns orange.

Third Generation: Press and hold the action button for about 25 seconds.

Amazon Echo Input

Reset the Echo Input by pressing and holding the action button for 25 seconds.

Amazon Echo Plus

The process for resetting the Echo Plus is different depending on the version you own.

First Generation: Use a paper clip to press and hold the reset button located at the base of the device. Wait a few seconds for the ring of light to turn off and then back on again. Reset the Echo Plus without losing all smart home connections by using a paper clip to press and quickly release the reset button.

Second Generation: Press and hold the microphone off and volume down buttons. Wait until the ring of light on the device turns orange. You can also reset the device without losing all smart home connections by holding the action button for 20 seconds and waiting for the light ring to turn off and on.

Amazon Echo Show and Spot

Reset the Echo Show and Echo Spot to factory settings by swiping down from the top of the screen and selecting Settings > Device Options > Factory Defaults. Reset the device without losing all smart home connections by selecting Settings > Device Options > Reset to Factory Defaults, but Retain Smart Home Device Connections.

Amazon Echo Sub

Reset the Echo Sub by pressing and holding the action button for 25 seconds.

How to Review and Delete Your Alexa History

Want to review what you've asked Amazon's Alexa (and delete the more embarrassing inquiries)? Our guide walks you through how to do it by voice, in the Alexa app, and on the web.