Alexa can be an interesting addition to your smart house system and make your day-to-day tasks easier if done through voice commands. But sometimes when you want to tell Alexa something or get them to do something it ceases to respond. If you are in this place, where alexa not responding then you should learn that there are some measures that you can take, if you want to get your smart assistant to work again.
Check the Microphone
The first thing that needs to be considered is whether the microphone on your Echo device is enabled. Every Echo device has a microphone button when covered, it stops Alexa from listening to your instructions. If the button is red, it means that the microphone is not active. Just press the button to switch it on again. You can also look at the placement of the microphone and ensure there is no physical barrier in the way ranging from dust and stuff.
Restart Your Echo Device
Alexa is a smart device in your smart home. This device could respond mostly if you restart your device. After turning off your Echo device, disconnect it from the power source, wait ten seconds, and then reconnect it. Once the device has finished restarting and completely loaded, try executing the instruction once more.
Update Software
Talk to your Alexa device using the Alexa app and ensure that both the Alexa device as well as the app are up to date. Software updates can contain a fix to certain errors of versions that can make the change for the better. To check for updates, go to the Alexa app on your smartphone. Navigate to a menu called settings then to device settings and select your Echo device scroll through for any updates.
Verify Your Wi-Fi Connection
This means that constant connectivity to the internet is required for Alexa to provide efficient and effective user solutions. If your Echo device is having problems connecting to the internet, it may not respond to your voice commands. Try to see if other devices in your home can access the internet. If they can’t, help you with Wi-Fi issues by resetting your router. It is also advisable to relocate the Echo device to a position nearer to the router, especially where Wi-Fi signals are weak.
Clear Voice Profile
If Alexa is not recognizing your voice, it may be advisable to delete your voice profile and then start the entire process from scratch. Open the Alexa app, navigate to the settings option then to your profile & family, choose your voice, and go through a procedure of repealing your voice.
Reduce Background Noise
People should be aware that if there is excessive background noise, Alexa will not be able to hear you. Try to minimize the number of distractions if you’re in a noisy setting. This might be as easy as moving to a different part of the home or making sure that no appliances are producing noise when you are ready to issue the order.
Check Device Compatibility
Alternatively, if you are trying to use Alexa to control a particular smart home device then it is equally important that this device be compatible. Alexa-compatible devices are not all smart devices and some of them may need to be enabled to work with Alexa. Check that the device is described as Alexa compatible and that you have activated the correct skills in the Alexa companion application.
Check for Device Conflicts
At times, you may have two or more devices with the same name, and this creates confusion for Alexa. For instance, when you call out two lights by the name living room it confuses when giving commands. If possible, use more different names with your devices so that Alexa will not confuse them with the others, and vice versa.
Reset the Device
If all these don’t work, and Alexa is still unresponsive, you may have to restore your Echo device. There is a reset option that will delete every setting and then format the device like it is new so you should only use it when necessary. To reset, look for a reset button on your device: it’s usually located at the bottom of the back of the device, and you just follow the instructions of your manufacturer.
Conclusion
Sometimes, your voice is not recognized, or worse Alexa just stops speaking altogether; the good thing is that most of these problems can be fixed by following basic troubleshooting tips. Simple things like checking the microphone, restarting your device, making sure that it is connected to a strong Wi-Fi network, and confirming compatibility with other smart devices can try to fix the problem almost instantly.
