To set up an Echo Show, plug it in, connect it to Wi-Fi, sign in to your Amazon account, and follow the on-screen prompts. To customize what appears afterward, use the device’s home-content, widget, layout, and photo settings. The exact labels and available features vary by model, generation, and whether the device uses original Alexa or Alexa+; the paths below follow Amazon’s US English support guidance.
What you need before setup
- Your Echo Show and the included power adapter.
- The email address or phone number and password for your Amazon account. If you do not have an account password yet, Amazon prompts you to create one.
- Your Wi-Fi network name and password.
Set up your Echo Show
Amazon’s documented sequence for the Echo Show 11 (2025 release) is a useful guide to the on-device setup flow. Other models may show different prompts.
- Connect the included power adapter to the Echo Show and plug it into power.
- Choose a language on the screen.
- Select your Wi-Fi network and enter its password.
- Sign in to your Amazon account.
- Follow the remaining on-screen prompts. If a QR code appears, scan it to continue guided setup in the Alexa app, or finish setup on the Echo Show.
See Amazon’s Echo Show 11 setup instructions for the model-specific flow. If sign-in fails, reset your Amazon password. If the network is missing or the connection fails, use Amazon’s Wi-Fi setup troubleshooting; contact your internet provider if you need help with the Wi-Fi password.
Choose what appears on the home screen
On models covered by Amazon’s home-screen guide, open Settings > Display & Appearance > Home Content Categories, then switch the listed categories on or off. With the original Alexa interface, open Settings by saying “Go to Settings” or swiping down from the top of the screen and selecting Settings. Alexa+ documents the path as Menu > Settings. The Echo Show 5’s menus may vary by generation.
#1 Best Overall
- Alexa can show you more - Echo Show 5 includes a 5.5” display so you can see news and weather at a glance, make video calls, view compatible cameras, stream music and shows, and more.
- Small size, bigger sound – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
- See more with the built-in camera – Check in on your family, pets, and more using the built-in camera. Drop in on your home when you're out or view the front door from your Echo Show 5 with compatible video doorbells.
- See your photos on display – When not in use, set the background to a rotating slideshow of your favorite photos. Invite family and friends to share photos to your Echo Show. Prime members also get unlimited cloud photo storage.
Amazon lists this home-content control for Echo Show (1st Generation), Echo Show (2nd Generation), Echo Show 5, Echo Show 8, Echo Show 10, Echo Show 11 (2025 release), Echo Show 15, and Echo Show 21. Consult Amazon’s home-screen content instructions if your model or interface differs.
Categories control many ordinary recommendations and information cards, but not every item shown is the same kind of content. Amazon says the timing and frequency of home content depend on what you open and engage with. Its Sponsored recommendations—including movies, shows, and products—cannot be fully turned off: swipe from right to left to skip an ad. You can hide an individual ad for 30 days and adjust interest-based ad preferences through Alexa privacy and data controls. Amazon’s ad and suggested-content guidance explains those controls. Items such as Amazon Recommendations, Your Frequent Orders, and Explore Local Places are not marked Sponsored and can be managed through Home Content Categories.
Add widgets for quick access
Widgets put shortcuts and information on the home screen. Amazon lists options such as Calendar and Reminders, Smart Home, Shopping List, Music, and Notifications, as well as games, sounds, news, and weather. The available selection, number, and size depend on the device. Amazon lists widget support for Echo Show 5, 8, 10, 11 (2025 release), 15, and 21.
Rank #2
- MEET ECHO SHOW 15 - A stunning 15.6" Full-HD (1080p) smart display that's perfect for your kitchen and ready to show you more. Use customizable widgets to keep your day on track, watch your favorite shows with Fire TV and powerful vibrant sound, and enjoy natural video calling, with 3.3x zoom and wide field of view.
- FAMILY ORGANIZATION HUB - See your top widgets at a glance, like your family’s calendars and to-do lists, local weather, smart home, and more.
- ALL YOUR FAVORITES, ALL RIGHT HERE - Built-in Fire TV unlocks endless entertainment, so you can enjoy your favorite content from thousands of apps like Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV, and more (subscription may be required). Fire TV remote included. Plus, now you can quickly add a device to play music with Active Media - start playing a song in the kitchen, then add the living room and bedroom on the fly.
- SMART HOME CENTRAL - Control smart devices with your voice or a few taps using the smart home dashboard. Easily turn on all your living room lights at once or check live camera feeds to see what's happening around your home.
- YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES ON DISPLAY - Brighten your space (and your day) by turning your home screen into a photo slideshow that displays your favorite memories. Auto curate your images and show off your favorite family memories.
Open the Widget Gallery using the path for your interface:
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →- Alexa+: Choose Menu > Widget Gallery, or press and hold a home-screen widget and choose Add Widget.
- Original Alexa: Select the Widget Gallery icon.
- Echo Show 15 or 21: Swipe down and choose Widget Gallery.
Select a widget, then select its plus control to add it. Amazon’s widget instructions cover the gallery and supported models.
Rank #3
- New size, more viewing area: The 11“ smart display features a vibrant Full-HD touchscreen with 60% more viewing area versus Echo Show 8 (2025 release), built-in smart home hub, AZ3 Pro chip for powerful performance, and Omnisense technology for highly personalized experiences.
- Content looks and sounds incredible: Watch shows on Prime Video, Netflix, and more on the vibrant Full-HD 11" screen and enjoy room-filling spatial audio, crisper vocals, wider sound stage, and up to 2x bass versus Echo Show 8 (2023 release). With Alexa+, find the name of that song you love and discover new shows based on your preferences.
- Your everyday assistant: The 11" display makes it easy to see recipes and calendars at a glance, find meal inspo, and manage your shopping lists. With Alexa+, find recipes based on foods you love, make reservations, order groceries, and more.
- Simple Smart Home control: Pair and control thousands of devices that work with Alexa without needing a separate smart home hub. Easily view your camera feeds. Manage lights, thermostats, and more using the display or your voice. With Omnisense technology, you can activate routines via temperature, presence, or visual ID detection.
- Crystal-clear video calls: Video calls feel natural on the vibrant 11" screen with a centered, auto-framing camera, 3.3x zoom, and noise reduction technology. Use live view to check in on your family, pets, and more while you're away.
Rearranging and removing widgets has a narrower compatibility list in Amazon’s separate guide: Echo Show 8, Echo Show 10, Echo Show 15, and Echo Hub. On a supported device, press and hold a widget, choose Rearrange Widgets to drag widgets into a new order, or choose Remove Widget. Do not assume those controls are available on every model that can display widgets; check the device’s own menu. See Amazon’s widget arrangement and removal guide.
Adjust the adaptive home-screen layout
Adaptive Content changes what appears based on how far away you are. Amazon says it is on by default. Depending on the model and software interface, find the setting under Settings > Display & Appearance as either Home Screen Layout—with Auto Partial View, Auto Full View, and Manual View—or an Adaptive Content switch. When Adaptive Content is off, the documented alternatives are Full-Screen View or Widget View.
Rank #4
- Alexa can show you more - Echo Show 5 includes a 5.5” display so you can see news and weather at a glance, make video calls, view compatible cameras, stream music and shows, and more.
- Small size, bigger sound – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
- See more with the built-in camera – Check in on your family, pets, and more using the built-in camera. Drop in on your home when you're out or view the front door from your Echo Show 5 with compatible video doorbells.
- See your photos on display – When not in use, set the background to a rotating slideshow of your favorite photos. Invite family and friends to share photos to your Echo Show. Prime members also get unlimited cloud photo storage.
The feature relies on the camera. It will not work if the camera is disabled, the shutter is closed, or the microphones/camera disable button is pressed. That physical control can temporarily disable the feature. For model-specific wording, see Amazon’s Adaptive Content instructions.
Use Photo Frame for rotating pictures
Photo Frame displays rotating images from selected collections for up to three hours. While it is active, it replaces the usual home content, including the clock, notifications, and themes. Start it by saying “Start Photo Frame” or using the relevant on-screen menu or swipe path for your interface. To leave Photo Frame, say “Go home” or use the Home gesture. Amazon notes that menu paths differ between original Alexa and Alexa+, and Echo Show 5 menus may vary by generation. See Amazon’s Photo Frame instructions.
Best Value
- Powerfully smart, beautifully built: The redesigned 8.7" smart display features a vibrant HD touchscreen with 15% more viewing area versus Echo Show 8 (2023 release), built-in smart home hub, AZ3 Pro chip for powerful performance, and Omnisense technology for highly personalized experiences.
- Content sounds incredible: Stream music or watch shows on Prime Video, Netflix, and more. All with room-filling spatial audio, crisper vocals, wider sound stage, and up to 2x bass versus Echo Show 8 (2023 release). With Alexa+, find the name of that song you love and discover new shows based on your preferences.
- Your everyday assistant: See recipes and calendars at a glance, easily find meal inspo and manage your shopping lists. With Alexa+, find recipes based on foods you love, make reservations, order groceries, and more.
- Simple Smart Home control: Pair and control thousands of devices that work with Alexa without needing a separate smart home hub. Easily view your camera feeds. Manage lights, thermostats, and more using the display or your voice. With Omnisense technology, you can activate routines via temperature, presence, or visual ID detection.
- Crystal-clear video calls: Video calls feel natural with a centered, auto-framing camera, 3.3x zoom, and noise reduction technology. Use live view to check in on your family, pets, and more while you're away.
Change the clock on Echo Show 5
Amazon documents the following clock controls specifically for Echo Show 5; do not assume the same options or path apply to other models. Go to Settings > Home & Clock > Clock & Photo Display, choose a category, edit the style and colors, and save. Select the check icon to apply the changes. They may take a few minutes to appear in the home-content rotation. See Amazon’s Echo Show 5 clock and photo-display guide.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
