Why is My Alexa Red? Troubleshooting Guide

If your Alexa device is showing red, it means it is not listening. It won’t hear your voice and respond to it. It could be a frustrating situation for the user, but the issue can be fixed easily.

In this article, we will explain why your Alexa turns red. We will share how you can fix it through different methods.

Why is My Alexa Red?

Microphone Muted

Alexa usually turns red when its microphone is muted. In this case, it can’t listen to your voice and respond. That said, the red light shows up. It happens when someone turns off the microphone by pressing the button. Enable the microphone again to fix the issue.

Network Issue

Alexa also turns red when there is a network issue. If your Wi-Fi is not working or Amazon's server is down, you will have a red light. In these cases, you can try switching your Wi-Fi to another source.

Device Errors

There could be a technical issue with the device as well. In most cases, the microphone stops working when you accidentally drop the device. The microphone could malfunction due to other reasons as well.

How to Fix Red Light on Alexa?

You can try the following fixes to fix the red light on your Alexa.

Enable Your Echo Microphone

The first thing you should try is to enable the microphone. On your Echo device, you will see the microphone button at the top.

Press this button, and the microphone will be turned on. Now, you will not see the red light on Alexa. But if it is still there, there could be other issues.

Connect Alexa to Wi-Fi

Check your Wi-Fi on your smartphone or computer. If it is not working properly, it could be a reason for the red light.

Try to restart your router. It might start working again. You can also connect your Alexa to another Wi-Fi or your mobile hotspot. It will help you figure out the issue.

Reset Your Amazon Echo

If you have tried both the fixes, but nothing worked, it means there could be an issue with the device. Resetting solves various issues, so you can try it in the first place.

1. Open the Alexa app on your device.
2. Tap the Devices tab at the bottom.
3. Tap Echo & Alexa and select your device.
4. Go to the Device Settings and tap Factory Reset.

You can also reset Alexa devices by pressing buttons for a few seconds. For each device, the method is a bit different. You can check how your specific device can be reset through buttons.

For instance, if you have an Echo (3rd or 4thGeneration), press and hold the microphone off and volume button for 20 seconds. It will reset the device to factory settings.

Update Alexa on Your Amazon Echo

The issue could be due to bugs in a specific version of Alexa. You can try updating it to the latest version to fix it.

1. Open the Alexa app.
2. Go to Devices and tap Echo & Alexa.
3. Tap the gear icon and tap About.
4. If there is any update available, go for it.

What is a Red Light on an Echo Pop?

If you see a red light on your Echo Pop, it means the microphone is turned off and the device is not listening. The microphone could be turned off from the device. But the red light also appears when the microphone is malfunctioning, or there’s a serious technical issue.

You should try the fixes we have shared. In most cases, it is resolved when you turn on the microphone. However, there can be other issues like network issues and bugs.

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FAQs

1. Why won't my Alexa notification light turn off?

If your Alexa notification light stays on, it means you have missed some notifications. Check those notifications or just say, “Alexa, read my notifications” or “What messages do I have?”

2. How do I turn the Echo Dot light off?

Open the Alexa app. Go to the Hamburger tab in the bottom right corner. Tap Settings and go to Device Settings. Select your device and turn on the Do Not Disturb mode.

Conclusion

Alexa devices show a red color when the microphone is muted or not working. In this case, your device will not hear your voice or respond to it. It also happens when there is a network issue and bugs. We have shared some common ways to fix the issue. You can try the step-by-step process and get rid of the red light.