How to Connect Amazon Echo to Mobile Hotspot

A working internet connection is essential for a smart device like Amazon Echo. The beauty is that you don’t need a super fast connection. But what if you don’t have Wi-Fi at home? What if the Wi-Fi is down? In those situations, the Echo doesn’t function.

What if you have an Echo in your car and need to use it? You can use it anytime by enabling the hotspot on your phone.

Previously, you needed two mobile devices to set up a mobile hotspot. But in 2016, Amazon added a built-in feature to connect Echo with hotspots.

Here we will show you how to connect Echo devices to your phone’s hotspot and provide solutions if you encounter any issues. Let’s begin.

Echo Won’t Connect to Hotspot

If you are setting up the Echo for the first time, the hotspot will not work. The option may not be available at all. We suggest setting up the Echo over Wi-Fi.

Secondly, you will need a working mobile data on your phone for setting up the hotspot for the first time. Otherwise, the Alexa app won’t connect the hotspot with Echo. Also, make sure your Alexa app is updated.

Connect Echo to Hotspot

To set up a hotspot on Echo, follow these steps carefully after meeting the above requirements:

1. Plug in the Echo and ensure you have a working internet connection on your phone.

2. Open the hotspot settings on your mobile device and take note of the hotspot name and password.

Open the Alexa app on your phone and tap on Devices at the bottom.

Step 4: Tap on Echo & Alexa and your specific Echo device name.

Step 5: Tap Change next to Wi-Fi Network.

Step 6: The app will take you to the Echo Wi-Fi setup page. Tap on Continue. Assuming you have already set up Echo, the orange light won’t appear, so select the Don’t see the orange light ring option.

Step 7: Hold the action button on your Echo for ten seconds until an orange light appears, then press Continue in the mobile app. Alexa will announce it is in setup mode.

Step 8: Go to the Manually connect to Echo page. As mentioned, go to the Wi-Fi settings on your device and connect to the Amazon network.

You will receive a notification stating that Wi-Fi has no internet connection. Tap on it and then tap Yes in the popup to stay connected. Be cautious during this step as you may encounter some issues.

Step 9: Go back to the Alexa app and tap Continue.

Step 10: The app will take you to the Wi-Fi Selection screen. Scroll down and tap on Use this device as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Step 11: Enter the hotspot details saved in step two and press Connect. Alexa will announce she is ready to connect.

You might be asked to update the app. Tap on Go to the app store. In my case, the app was of the latest version yet I got the option to update, but then I was directly taken to the screen to enter hotspot details.

Step 12: Go to your phone’s hotspot settings and enable it. Alexa will announce her attempt to connect. Stay on the hotspot settings page until Alexa confirms a successful connection.

Step 13: Return to the Alexa app and tap Continue to complete the setup. Note: Be patient, as it may take 1-2 minutes for Alexa to finish setup.

Congratulations! You have successfully connected your Echo device to your mobile hotspot. You need to follow the above steps only once. Once you complete the setup, next time you want to connect the Echo to a hotspot, just enable hotspot on your phone and Echo will connect automatically.

Hey Alexa, What’s Up?

Mobile internet is necessary for Alexa to respond to commands on a mobile hotspot. Data charges may apply based on your data plan.

However, Echo can be used on a hotspot without internet, but it will only function as a Bluetooth speaker for your mobile device. In this case, Alexa will not be able to process any commands. You can use this method to stream audio from your phone to the Echo, similar to the functionality available in Google’s Home speaker.

Next: Want to delete your voice data from Google Home and Amazon Echo? Follow the guide below.