Alexa pairing mode can mean two different things, and choosing the wrong one wastes time fast. Bluetooth pairing connects an already set-up Echo or Alexa accessory to a phone, tablet, Bluetooth speaker, or compatible smart-home device. Setup mode adds a new or reset Echo to the Alexa app. Start with the voice command, then use the app, screen, or hardware buttons when your device needs a specific path.
Ask Alexa to start Bluetooth pairing
Use this when your Echo or Echo Show is already set up and you want to connect a phone, tablet, or Bluetooth speaker. It is the fastest path for current Echo and Echo Show devices that support Bluetooth audio pairing.
Turn Bluetooth on for the phone or speaker you want to connect, and put that device in its own pairing mode. Say "Alexa, pair." After a previous pairing, say "Alexa, pair Bluetooth." When your phone or speaker shows nearby Bluetooth devices, select the Echo device from its Bluetooth settings.
Use the Alexa app for an Echo speaker
Put the phone, tablet, or Bluetooth speaker you want to connect into pairing mode. Open the Alexa app. Select Devices, then select your Echo device.
Select Device Settings, then select Bluetooth Devices. Select Pair A New Device. For Echo speakers without a screen, this is the cleanest app path.
Pair from an Echo Show or Echo Spot screen
This fixes screen-equipped Echo devices when you want to pair from the display instead of the phone app.
Say "Go to Settings," or open Settings on the screen. On Alexa+, select the Menu icon. Select Settings.
On original Alexa, swipe down from the top of the screen. Select Settings, then select Device Options and Bluetooth.
Select Scan if the screen needs to look for nearby Bluetooth devices. Select the Bluetooth device, then select Connect. Echo Hub and Echo Show 5 menu items vary while updates roll out.
Reconnect a phone that was already paired
Use this when the phone or Bluetooth speaker has already been paired with the Echo at least once. A normal reconnect does not need the full first-time pairing flow.
Turn Bluetooth on for the phone or Bluetooth speaker. Say "Alexa, connect to my phone." You can also say "Alexa, pair Bluetooth" after a previous pairing. When you are done, say "Alexa, disconnect from Bluetooth."
Clear old Bluetooth devices before trying again
Pairing can fail when the Echo keeps reconnecting to the wrong saved device. Remove saved Bluetooth devices first, then start pairing again with the method that matches your Echo.
In the Alexa app, select Devices, then Echo & Alexa, then your Echo. Open Bluetooth Devices, select the device you want to remove, and choose Forget Device. Repeat Forget Device for each old phone, speaker, or Bluetooth device you want to remove.
On an Echo Show or Echo Spot, say "Go to Settings" or open Settings on the screen. Use Device Options, Bluetooth, Info, and Forget Device. On Alexa+, use the Menu icon and Settings; on original Alexa, swipe down and select Settings.
Switch an Echo into setup mode
Setup mode is for adding a brand-new Echo, setting up a reset Echo, or registering the device again in the Alexa app.
Plug in the Echo. A brand-new Echo enters setup mode automatically on first power-on, and the orange light means setup mode.
In the Alexa app, select Devices, then Plus, then Add Device. Select Amazon Echo, choose Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Pop and more, and follow the app prompts.
For Echo Dot 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th generation setup recovery, press and hold the Action button for 20 seconds. Wait for the light ring to turn off and on again, then complete setup in the Alexa app.
For Echo Auto setup recovery, press Mute, then hold Action for 15 seconds until Alexa says the device is resetting. Wait for the light bar to pulse orange, complete setup again, and remove Echo Auto from your phone's Bluetooth settings and from Devices in the Alexa app. If reset does not restore setup mode, use the Alexa app setup path again from Devices, Plus, and Add Device.
Put Echo Buds and Alexa smart glasses in pairing mode
This fixes accessory pairing when the Alexa device uses a case button or frame buttons instead of an Echo speaker command.
For Echo Buds (2021 release, 2nd generation) and Echo Buds (2023 release), register the buds in the Alexa app first. Amazon requires that registration before the buds will pair successfully to another device.
Place the buds in the case and open the lid. Press the button on the case for 3 seconds. Confirm that the blue light is flashing. Open the other device's Bluetooth settings and select Echo Buds.
Auto Pairing is an Echo Buds (2023 release) feature that works only with supported Amazon devices: Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa Voice Remote, Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Cube, Fire TV Omni Series, Fire TV Omni OLED Series, and Fire HD 10 (13th generation). It is not a general Bluetooth pairing method.
To turn Auto Pairing on or off, open the Alexa app. Select Devices, then Echo & Alexa, then Echo Buds. Turn Auto Pairing on or off.
For Echo Frames 2nd Generation, press and hold the Action button until the status light flashes red to turn them off. Press and hold the Action button until the status light turns blue, then flashes red and blue. Release the button. Pair from the other device's Bluetooth settings.
For Smart Glasses with Alexa 3rd Generation, open the temples to turn them on. Press and hold the front and back action buttons on the right temple for three seconds. Release the buttons when the status light pulses orange. Pair from Bluetooth settings.
Discover a Bluetooth smart home device
Keep the Bluetooth smart-home device close to your Echo, then use discovery.
- 1.Place the compatible Bluetooth smart-home device within 30 ft or 9 m of the Echo.
- 2.Power on the Bluetooth smart-home device and put it in pairing mode.
- 3.Say "Discover devices."
- 4.If discovery does not complete, open the Alexa app and select Devices.
- 5.Select Plus, then Add Device, then choose your brand or device type and follow the app instructions.
Skip browser pairing and business-only setup paths
Older tutorials point to alexa.amazon.com or desktop browser Alexa pages for Echo Bluetooth pairing. Amazon does not publish a current consumer browser method for Echo Bluetooth pairing.
Use the current consumer paths instead: voice commands, the Alexa app, the Echo Show or Echo Spot touchscreen, or the device's hardware buttons.
Workplace, hospitality, and senior-living deployments use Alexa Smart Properties workflows through an Amazon Business account, provisioner devices, or preconfigured Echo Show orders. Those organization tools are separate from the normal household way to put Alexa in pairing mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alexa pairing mode the same as setup mode?
No. Bluetooth pairing connects an already set-up Echo or Alexa accessory to a phone, tablet, Bluetooth speaker, or compatible smart-home device. Setup mode adds a new or reset Echo in the Alexa app, and the orange light means setup mode.
What voice command puts Alexa in Bluetooth pairing mode?
Say "Alexa, pair" for first-time Bluetooth pairing. After a previous pairing, say "Alexa, pair Bluetooth" or "Alexa, connect to my phone."
How do I make Alexa forget a Bluetooth device?
In the Alexa app, go to Devices, Echo & Alexa, your Echo, Bluetooth Devices, the saved device, and Forget Device.
What does the flashing blue light on Echo Buds mean?
After you press the Echo Buds case button for 3 seconds, a flashing blue light confirms the buds are in Bluetooth pairing mode.