Can I Set Up Alexa Without The App

There's no lack of digital assistants to talk with—Siri, Cortana, Bixby, the Google Assistant—but for Amazon, the audio assistant of choice is Alexa, the technology inside its Echo and Fire TV devices, not to mention other third-party speakers and gadgets.

The Echo line of speakers really showcase Alexa's capabilities. Echo is a standalone speaker that needs nothing more than Wi-Fi and powers connections. There's the orb-like Echo and Echo Dot, the high-end Echo Studio for real acoustic snobs, and now an entire line of touch-screen Echo Show devices. They all have their differences, but the setup is essentially identical.

Download the Amazon Alexa App

Get it free on iOS, Android, or Fire OS on Amazon's own tablets. Newer Fire tablets should have it already, though first- and second-generation tablets are not supported.

Pick a Device to Set Up

You need an Amazon account to use Alexa, but you don't need Amazon Prime. Sign in on the app. Then click the hamburger menu on the lower right and select Add a Device. Here you can add any number of Alexa-supported devices to your account, from smart lights to smart plugs. But we're focused on Echo devices, so tap Amazon Echo. At the next screen, tap the Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus and more selection. It covers almost every type of Echo that ever existed since 2014, even the discontinued devices. Make sure your Echo device is plugged in.

Echo Setup in iOS

Enter Setup Mode

When you enter setup mode, the Echo's light ring will be flash blue and then orange. If you don't see orange, press and hold the Action button for five seconds. Eventually, Alexa will perk up and tell you she's "Now in setup mode."

Echo Dot in Setup Mode

Connect to Wi-Fi

Amazon has an option to save your Wi-Fi credentials—the network's SSID and the security password/code—so you don't have to enter them all the time when setting up Amazon products. If you've already done this before, Wi-Fi setup on a new Amazon Echo is a breeze. Once the app detects the new Echo, press the name (like Echo Dot-BG8) and you'll see it search for Wi-Fi, connect to your saved network, and confirm the Echo is on the network.

Echo Wi-Fi setup steps with a saved network.

It's a little different if you didn't save your Wi-Fi info (or you did, but want to set up the Echo on a different Wi-Fi network, even in the same location). In this case, you'll see a list of available Wi-Fi networks visible to your phone or tablet; pick your preferred Wi-Fi network. Enter the Wi-Fi password when asked, if you have one. (You should really put a password on the Wi-Fi.) This is also where you can save your network credentials to Amazon.

Echo Wi-Fi setup without a saved network.

Once all the info has been sent to the device, Alexa will say "Your Echo is ready," and the orange lights go out. After that, you select the language to use and set the Echo's location.

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Wi-Fi password-saving works across Amazon's Fire tablets and Kindle ebook readers as well. Here's more on what Amazon does with saved Wi-Fi passwords. If you change the Wi-Fi password on your router, you'll have to change the stored Wi-Fi password at least once.

Say 'Alexa'

You can now ask your Alexa device to do your bidding. You can change the wake word from Alexa to Echo, Amazon, or Computer in the mobile app viaSettings > Device Settings > [Your Echo] > [gear icon] > Wake Word. You can then connect your Echo to music apps, external speakers, and other Echo devices (for multi-room music playback) around the house.

Special Note for Amazon Echo Show Devices

Because the Echo Show line comes with a screen, the setup is easier—no mobile app on the phone is required. It's a little more involved with the big Echo Show 10, which has a screen that moves around. But the basics are the same: Plug it in, select a language, connect to the Wi-Fi (including entering the Wi-Fi password on the screen if it's not saved), log in to your Amazon account, and you're ready to go.

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