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To connect a phone or Bluetooth speaker to an Echo for audio, put the accessory in pairing mode, then pair it using the Alexa app or the Echo’s screen settings. For a previously paired accessory, turn on Bluetooth and say, “Pair Bluetooth.” This is different from using Alexa to discover Bluetooth smart-home devices.
Pair a phone or speaker with an Echo in the Alexa app
Use this path for an Echo without a screen. First, put your phone or speaker into pairing mode using the accessory maker’s instructions. Then:
- Open the Alexa app and select Devices.
- Select the Echo you want to use.
- Open Device Settings.
- Select Bluetooth Devices, then Pair A New Device.
- Choose the accessory when it appears.
For a later connection, turn on Bluetooth on the phone or speaker and say, “Pair Bluetooth.” Amazon says some previously paired devices may reconnect automatically when they are in range. Amazon’s app pairing and reconnection instructions do not specify a publication date.
Pair from an Echo with a screen
Put the phone or speaker into pairing mode first. On the Echo, say “Go to Settings” or open settings on the screen, then:
#1 Best Overall
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
- Select Device Options, then Bluetooth.
- If the accessory is not listed, select Scan.
- Select the accessory and choose Connect.
Amazon says these instructions also apply to Echo Spot. Menu labels may vary by device and software. See Amazon’s screen-based pairing instructions.
If Bluetooth pairing fails
Work through these checks in order; they address the common compatibility, discovery, and saved-pairing problems Amazon identifies.
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- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
- Check audio compatibility. Amazon lists A2DP SNK and AVRCP as supported Bluetooth profiles for Echo audio. Check the accessory’s specifications for a suitable profile. Amazon’s Bluetooth troubleshooting page describes the supported profiles.
- Update Echo software. Check for available software updates, then try pairing again.
- Charge the accessory and bring it near the Echo. Keep both devices close while pairing; the smart-home guidance’s 30 ft (9 m) recommendation is not a stated audio range.
- Reduce wireless interference. Move away from possible sources such as microwaves, baby monitors, and other wireless devices.
- Remove an old pairing and retry. If the accessory was paired before, remove its saved pairing from Alexa and start the pairing flow again.
Bluetooth audio and Bluetooth smart-home setup are different
Pairing a phone or speaker routes audio through the Echo. Discovering a Bluetooth smart-home product is a separate setup flow: power on an Alexa-compatible device and say, “Discover devices.” Follow the manufacturer’s setup instructions and confirm Alexa compatibility; not every Bluetooth device is an Alexa smart-home device. Amazon’s guidance covers this flow for compatible devices such as some bulbs and plugs.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFor smart-home Bluetooth setup, Amazon recommends checking Bluetooth and Alexa compatibility, putting the device in pairing mode as directed in its manual, updating firmware when available, keeping it within 30 ft (9 m), and resetting it if connection still fails. That distance is guidance for smart-home setup, not a universal Bluetooth-audio range. See Amazon’s smart-home Bluetooth setup instructions and its smart-home Bluetooth troubleshooting guidance.
Quick Recap
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- Meet Echo Studio: Redesigned in a compact size that is 40% smaller than the original to deliver immersive spatial sound. Dolby Atmos adds space, clarity, and depth to make your entertainment even better. Enjoy powerful bass and crystal-clear vocals. Features a built-in smart home hub and Omnisense technology for highly personalized experiences.
- It's like a concert in your living room: Experience immersive sound thanks to spatial audio and Dolby Atmos in a compact design that fits easily into any living space. With room adaptation technology, Echo Studio analyzes the acoustics of your room, fine-tuning playback for optimal sound no matter where it's placed.
- Do more with device pairing: Play music across multiple Echo devices for multi-room music, or pair with a second Echo Studio for even more powerful sound.
- Simple smart home control: Set routines, pair and control lights, locks, and thousands of devices that work with Alexa without needing a separate smart home hub. With Omnisense technology, you can activate routines via temperature or presence detection.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering: With eero Built-in, Echo Studio doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
Rank #4
- Meet Echo Dot Max: Experience rich room-filling sound that automatically adapts to your space and fine-tunes playback. Features a built-in smart home hub and Omnisense technology for highly personalized experiences.
- Music to your ears: With nearly 3x the bass versus Echo Dot (2022 release), it fits beautifully in any space, delivering your personal sound stage with deep bass and enhanced clarity. Listen to streaming services, such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and SiriusXM. Encore!
- Do more with device pairing: Connect compatible Echo smart speakers and smart displays in different rooms, or pair with a second Echo Dot Max to enjoy even richer sound
- Simple smart home control: Set routines, pair and control lights, locks, and thousands of smart home devices that work with Alexa without needing a separate smart home hub. With Omnisense technology, you can activate routines via temperature or presence detection.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot Max doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
Rank #3
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
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