The fastest way to connect your Amazon Echo to a new WiFi network is through the Alexa app. Open the app, tap Devices, then Echo & Alexa, select your device, tap the settings gear, choose Update WiFi, and pick the new network. If your old network is gone entirely, such as after a move, you will need to put the device into setup mode manually before the app can find it.
This guide walks through both situations. You will know exactly which path to take depending on whether Alexa still remembers your old network or not.
Change the WiFi Network on a Working Echo Device
If your Echo is still online on its current network and you just want to switch it to a different one, this is the quickest route.
Open the Alexa app, go to Devices, tap Echo & Alexa, and select the specific device. Tap the settings gear in the top right, then tap Update WiFi (sometimes shown as Change next to WiFi Network). Alexa walks the device through a short setup sequence and asks for the new network name and password.
Give it a minute after you confirm. The light ring will cycle, then turn solid blue once the connection completes.
What to Do After a Move When the Old Network No Longer Exists
This is the scenario that trips people up. If your Echo can no longer see the network it was last connected to, the app cannot reach it to change settings, because the device itself is offline.
You need to force the Echo into setup mode manually. Press and hold the Action button, the one with a dot on it, for about five seconds until the light ring turns orange. That orange ring means the device is broadcasting its own setup network and waiting for a phone to connect.
On your phone, open the Alexa app, tap the plus icon, choose Add Device, select Amazon Echo, and follow the prompts. The app will ask you to briefly join the Echo’s setup WiFi signal, then hand you back to pick your actual home network and enter the password.
Setting Up an Echo for the First Time
Brand new devices land in this same setup mode automatically on first power-up, so the steps above apply to a move or an out-of-box unit alike. If the light ring never turns orange on its own, hold the Action button for five seconds to trigger it.
If the Echo Will Not Reconnect
Two things fix most reconnection failures. Confirm your phone is on the same WiFi band the Echo supports, since some routers split 2.4GHz and 5GHz into separate network names and older Echo models only see the 2.4GHz one. If that checks out, unplug the Echo for ten seconds and restart setup mode.
For a router-side alternative that skips the app entirely, see how to connect Alexa to WiFi without using the app.
If you are setting up more than one smart device at once, it helps to plan the whole network first. Our guide on smart home installation covers what to tackle yourself versus what to hand off.
You can browse more device setup guides in our voice assistants section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing WiFi networks delete my Alexa routines and smart home devices?
No. Routines, skills, and linked smart home devices stay tied to your Amazon account, not the WiFi network, so they remain in place after you switch networks.
Why does my Echo show as offline right after I moved?
The Echo is still trying to reach the WiFi network from your old address, which no longer exists in range, so it cannot get online until you manually put it into setup mode and connect it to your new network.
Can I connect Alexa to a new WiFi network without the app?
Yes, some Echo models support setup through a browser at a local IP address broadcast during setup mode, though the app remains the more reliable and better supported method for most people.
