Why Is Alexa Not Talking Back on Amazon Echo and How to Fix It
What is the use of a smart speaker if it doesn’t answer your questions? We would rather get a simple Bluetooth speaker. To the disappointment of many Amazon Echo users, Alexa does not respond to their voice commands. When they issue a command, Alexa hears it but says nothing in return. If your Alexa also seems to be mute, this message will tell you why Alexa is not responding to you and how to fix Alexa’s problem.
Some Amazon Echo users (Echo Dot, Echo Plus, Echo Show, etc.) who had encountered this problem suggest that the Alexa takes the order but does not work it. For others, Alexa executes the command without responding to the user or confirming the action.
Let’s understand why Alexa offers you the silent treatment and various ways to make it speak.
1. Defective changes
The first thing to do is to restart your Amazon Echo speaker. Often times we make some change in the Alexa app and it doesn’t apply immediately. So causing problems. For example, a user changed their Wi-Fi password, which caused problems for Alexa. A simple reboot applied the changes and brought back the voice of Amazon Echo. To restart your Echo, unplug the device for 10 to 15 seconds. Then reconnect it.
2. Low volume
As implausible as it may seem, the low volume could also be the reason why Alexa is not responding. Use the physical buttons on the Echo speaker to increase the volume. Otherwise, launch commands like “Alexa, volume 5” or “Alexa, turn up the volume”. For the ignorant, Alexa has ten volume levels. So you can go to volume 10.
You can also view the current volume in the Alexa app settings. To do this, open the Alexa app and tap Devices. Tap your device under Echo and Alexa.
Change the volume under Audio.
3. Wake Word modified for Alexa
The word wake up is the name used to call Alexa. By default, this is Alexa, but you can replace it with Computer, Echo or Amazon. If Alexa is not listening to you at all, you may have changed its wake up word.
For example, one of my colleagues changed the word from alarm clock to Computer and then reset the Echo. Since resetting Echo clears its customization, Alexa hasn’t responded to the previous wake-up word – Computer and that left him with no idea for a while.
So check the currently defined wake-up word. To do this, open the Alexa app. Access your Echo speaker from Devices> Echo and Alexa> (Your Echo device). Scroll down and tap Wake Word. Select the correct wake-up word.
Note: The word wake-up is device-specific. If you have multiple Echo devices, you will need to check them individually.
4. Connection to an external device
If your Echo device supports the connection of an external device such as a speaker or headphones, you must plug it in once and then remove it. Sometimes your Echo thinks it is still connected to the external device due to improper removal of the device. So you hear nothing from the Echo. Therefore, attach and remove the auxiliary cable from any external speaker or headphones of your Echo.
5. Brief mode
Typically, when you ask or tell Alexa to do something, it responds with a confirmation command. If you use Alexa often, verbal comments can sometimes be disturbing. To make Alexa a little less talkative, Amazon has a special feature for its voice assistant called brief mode. When activated, you will hear a single beep or chime after commands where it is supposed to do something.
This mode could also be the reason why Alexa is not talking to you. To repair it, you will need to deactivate Brief mode. To do this, open the Alexa app and tap the three-bar icon at the top. Choose Settings.
Scroll down in Settings and tap Voice replies. Disable the toggle next to the brief mode.
Pro tip: You should also try to turn Whisper mode off in the Voice Answers setting. Alexa could hear your voice like a whisper from the noise in your home. And as a result, she would respond in a low voice (or in a low voice) that would not be audible to you. One would therefore think that Alexa does not speak.
6. Tracking mode
Coupled with Brief mode, Alexa tracking mode can also cause Alexa’s voice to be absent. When you issue a command to Alexa, it may beep (due to short mode) and continue listening (due to tracking mode). As a result, you might think that Alexa is not responding. But in reality, it does its job well. You can also try disabling tracking mode and see if Alexa works as expected.
To activate or deactivate the tracking mode, launch the Alexa application. Go to Devices, then Echo and Alexa> Your Echo device. Tap Tracking mode. Disable it.
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7. Recently installed jurisdiction incompatible
Sometimes Alexa’s skills may not work as expected, which can make Alexa silent. Have you recently added a new skill to Alexa? Delete the recently added skill and check if Alexa responds after that.
To add or remove skills, open the Alexa app and tap the three bar icon at the top. Choose Skills and Games from the menu. Access your skills.
Tap the skill you want to deactivate. Press the Disable Skill button.
Note: Discover 13 essential Alexa skills for each Amazon Echo user.
8. Paired Bluetooth devices
Alexa not responding can also occur if your Echo is connected to a Bluetooth device. The audio would be routed through a Bluetooth device, especially a headset. So check the paired devices and make sure that no device is trying to connect.
To check the paired Bluetooth devices in the app, launch the Alexa app. Then go to Devices> Echo and Alexa> (problematic Echo device). In the settings of your Echo device, tap Bluetooth devices. Make sure that no device is trying to connect.
Pro tip: You can also say “Alexa, disconnect Bluetooth” to disconnect from any device.
9. Incompatible default music service for Alexa
If you are trying to play music from a specific music provider and Alexa is not responding or playing music, you need to make the app a default provider. Learn how to set a default music service provider in Alexa.
Users with this issue were able to play music directly through the music app such as Spotify, but when they asked Alexa to do the same, the app did not respond. Learn how to fix Alexa not playing music from Amazon Music and Alexa having issues with Spotify.
Then:
Alexa can be used to call people and for appointments. Find out how the two features differ from each other in our next article.
Last updated Jul 10, 2020
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