How Do I Set Up an Echo or Echo Show?
What this helps with: Setting up an Amazon Echo speaker (like an Echo Dot) or an Echo Show (the kind with a screen), connecting it to Wi-Fi, and linking it to your Amazon account.
Before you start
Have these ready:
- Your Amazon account email (or phone number) and password. If someone else’s account will be used, ask them first.
- Your Wi-Fi name and password. These are often on a sticker on your router.
- For an Echo speaker: a phone or tablet with the free Amazon Alexa app.
- For an Echo Show: nothing extra. The setup happens on its screen.
Tip: If a family member is helping from far away, they can set it up with their phone while on a video call with you.
Set up an Echo or Echo Dot (no screen)
- Plug in the Echo with the power adapter that came with it. Wait until the light ring turns orange. That means it’s ready.
- On your phone, open the Alexa app and sign in with your Amazon account.
- Tap Devices.
- Tap the + button, then Add Device.
- Tap Amazon Echo, then Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Pop and more.
- Follow the steps. When asked, pick your Wi-Fi and type its password.
- Choose a room, like “Bathroom” or “Kitchen.”
When it’s done, say “Alexa, what time is it?” to test it.
Set up an Echo Show (with a screen)
- Plug in the Echo Show. Wait for the welcome screen.
- Pick your language.
- Pick your Wi-Fi and type the password on the screen.
- Sign in to your Amazon account on the screen. If you have an Alexa app on your phone, it may offer a code to make this faster.
- Set your time zone and address if asked. This helps with weather and time.
- Follow the rest of the steps. You can skip extras and come back later.
Say “Alexa, what’s the weather?” to test it.
Which Amazon account should it use?
The Echo uses one Amazon account. That account controls the shopping, photos, and contacts on it.
- Use your own account if you have one. Your photos and contacts will show up.
- Using a family member’s account? Their shopping and photos may show up, and voice purchases go on their card.
- Turn off voice shopping if you don’t want purchases by voice: in the Alexa app, tap More > Settings and look for Voice Purchasing (menus vary by version).
If setup doesn’t work
- Unplug the Echo for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and try again.
- Update the Alexa app in your app store.
- Move the Echo closer to your router (within about 30 feet) for setup.
- Double-check the Wi-Fi password. Capital letters matter.
- Still stuck? See How to Fix Wi-Fi, or ask a family member to try from their phone.
Handy things to say
- “Alexa, what time is it?”
- “Alexa, what’s the weather today?”
- “Alexa, remind me to call the pharmacy at 2 PM.”
- “Alexa, set a timer for 10 minutes.”
- “Alexa, louder” or “Alexa, volume 5.”
Privacy
- Press the microphone button to turn the mic off. The light turns red.
- On an Echo Show, slide the camera cover closed when you’re not on a video call.
- Protect your Amazon account with two-step login.
Next steps
Official sources
- Amazon: Set up your Echo
- Amazon: Echo can’t connect to Wi-Fi during setup
- Amazon: Fix problems with Echo setup
- Amazon: Alexa Privacy Hub
Last checked: Oct 21, 2026
Menus can change with updates. We review this guide every week. This is general help, not Amazon support.