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You can turn off hands-free Alexa, review or delete Alexa voice history, and opt out of Fire tablet App Usage Data collection—but these are separate controls. Turning off hands-free stops wake-word access; it does not delete past recordings. Deleting recordings does not disable hands-free Alexa. Amazon’s menu labels and supported features can vary by tablet model and software version, so check the settings available on your device.
How do I turn off Alexa hands-free on my Fire tablet?
On a compatible tablet, open Settings > Alexa and switch Hands-Free Mode off. With hands-free disabled, the tablet will not respond to the Alexa wake word. Outside Show Mode, you can still open Alexa by pressing and holding the Home button.
Amazon also documents two other ways to control hands-free mode:
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- Quick Actions: Outside Show Mode, use the Alexa Hands Free icon. In Show Mode, use the Alexa Microphone/Camera control.
- Button shortcut: Press and hold Volume Up and Volume Down together for three seconds.
When hands-free is off, Amazon says a red bar and icon appear in Show Mode; outside Show Mode, an icon appears in the status bar. If a control or label is missing, check your tablet’s Alexa settings because availability can differ by model.
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Does Alexa record before I say the wake word?
Amazon says wake-word detection happens on the device. After the tablet detects the wake word, it streams audio to the cloud for processing, including a fraction of a second of audio from before the wake word. Compatibility and the screen or power conditions under which Alexa responds vary by device.
Turning off hands-free prevents the tablet from responding to the wake word. It does not remove recordings already associated with your account.
Can I see what Alexa heard?
Yes. Open More > Alexa Privacy in the Alexa app, or use Amazon’s Alexa privacy settings page. In Review Alexa History, you can inspect available voice recordings and transcripts, play streamed audio, and see typed requests and responses.
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How do I delete Alexa recordings or change how long they are saved?
Use Alexa Privacy in the Alexa app or Amazon’s Alexa privacy settings to delete records individually or set automatic deletion. Amazon lists these voice-recording options:
- Delete after 3 months
- Delete after 18 months
- Do not save voice recordings
With the no-save option, Amazon says it deletes recordings after processing. Transcripts and typed requests remain for 30 days after the last request in a chat. These controls concern Alexa history; they do not turn off hands-free mode on the tablet.
What does deleting Alexa history actually remove?
Submitting a deletion request starts Amazon’s secure deletion process; it is not necessarily an immediate wipe. Amazon says processing time varies, and data requested for deletion may continue to inform personalization while the request is being processed.
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- Stream or download your favorite shows, movies, and games (like Minecraft, Roblox, and more). Enjoy your favorite content from Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported. Subscription for some apps required).
The same control may not remove every record related to an Alexa interaction. Amazon notes that other interaction records, information held by third-party skill developers, data outside Amazon cloud storage, and de-identified data may remain. Deleting recordings used for Voice ID can also cause Voice ID to stop working.
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How do I stop App Usage Data collection on a Fire tablet?
App Usage Data is a separate device privacy setting, not Alexa voice history. On the tablet, open Settings > Apps & Games > Collect App Usage Data and opt out if you do not want that collection. Amazon says privacy settings are device-specific, so check the setting separately for each relevant device and profile.
Is Voice Access the same as Alexa voice recording?
No. Voice Access is an accessibility feature, not Alexa voice history. Amazon lists Voice Access for Fire HD 10 (13th Generation) when the device language is English. Its availability and settings are separate from Alexa privacy controls; look under the tablet’s accessibility settings to manage it.
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