Resetting an Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is a little different than the older round Echos. The whole process happens through the touchscreen, not a button hold on top. If the device is still responding to touch, you can be back to setup mode in under two minutes.
The quickest method: swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings, then tap Settings > Device Options > Reset to Factory Defaults. Tap confirm. The screen goes dark, the light ring cycles orange, and the Show boots into setup mode. Takes about 90 seconds total.
What a Factory Reset Actually Wipes
A factory reset on the Echo Show 8 clears everything stored locally on the device. That includes your Wi-Fi credentials, paired Bluetooth speakers or headphones, any Zigbee or Matter smart home devices paired through the Show’s built-in hub, and locally saved preferences like display brightness or camera auto-framing settings.
What stays on Amazon’s servers: your Amazon account, Alexa+ subscription (free with Prime or $19.99/month standalone in the US), all Alexa Routines, Skills you’ve enabled, and your shopping and music history. Those reattach automatically after you reconnect the device to your account.
If you use the Echo Show 8 as a smart home hub—it has Zigbee, Matter, and Thread border router built in—write down which devices are linked through the Show directly rather than through a separate hub. Those will need to be re-paired after reset.
The Standard Factory Reset Via Settings
This is the main method and works as long as the touchscreen is working and the device is powered on.
Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to pull down the Quick Settings shade. Tap the Settings gear icon. Scroll down and tap Device Options. Near the bottom of that menu, tap Reset to Factory Defaults. A confirmation dialog appears. Tap Reset.
The screen goes blank, the light ring turns orange, and after about a minute the Show reboots into the initial setup screen. It’s now broadcasting its setup network and waiting for the Alexa app.
Reconnecting After Reset
Open the Alexa app on your phone (iOS 13+ or Android 9+). Tap Devices at the bottom right, then the + icon in the top right. Choose Add Device > Amazon Echo > Echo Show > Echo Show 8. The app finds your Show because it’s in setup mode with an orange ring.
The app asks you to choose a Wi-Fi network. The Echo Show 8 supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Either works, but 5 GHz gives you faster performance for video calls and streaming. Enter the password and the Show connects, downloads any pending firmware, and finishes setup.
After that, your account, routines, and skills all reappear automatically. You only need to re-pair any Bluetooth devices and smart home gear that was linked directly through the Show.
When the Touchscreen Is Unresponsive
Ghost touches are a known issue on the Echo Show 8 in humid environments. If the screen is registering taps you aren’t making, you can still reset the device remotely from the Alexa app.
In the Alexa app, tap Devices > Echo Show 8 > the Settings gear (top right corner). Scroll down and select Factory Reset. Confirm. The Show erases and reboots into setup mode even if the screen is acting up. This only works if the device is online and connected to your account.
If the Show is completely frozen or won’t connect to Wi-Fi, try a power cycle first. Unplug the power cable from the back of the device, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait for the light ring to turn blue and the boot animation to finish. If the screen still doesn’t respond, try the Alexa app method again once it reconnects. A hard power cycle unsticks most temporary software hangs.
Deregistering Before You Sell or Gift It
If you’re selling or giving away the Echo Show 8, deregister it from your Amazon account first. Open the Alexa app, tap Devices > Echo Show 8 > Deregister. This removes the device from your account but keeps the Wi-Fi credentials cached on the Show.
For a clean handoff, always do both: deregister from the app AND perform a factory reset on the device. Deregistering alone leaves your network password accessible to anyone who later resets the unit. A full factory reset wipes the Wi-Fi info too.
One last tip: after any reset, don’t forget the physical camera shutter slider on top of the Echo Show 8. If you’re setting up video calling or smart home camera feeds, slide it to the right (the open position). I’ve seen plenty of people panic that their camera isn’t working after a reset when the shutter is simply closed. It’s an easy one to miss.
