What to Know

Is Alexa Always Listening?

Echo devices constantly monitor input from the microphone for the wake word. That means Alexa is effectively always listening to everything within range of the Echo microphone array. While that raises some issues regarding Alexa data privacy, it’s necessary to fix these devices’ core functionality. If it weren’t always listening, it wouldn’t be able to hear its wake word and respond to your commands.

If you don’t want Alexa to listen in all the time, you can switch off the microphone on your Echo device. The problem with this option is it prevents you from using the Echo device. If you want to use it, you have to tap the microphone button again physically, say the device’s wake word and the command or question you want it to execute, and then press the mute button again.

Does Alexa Record Conversations?

How to Stop Alexa From Listening

The fastest way to stop Alexa from listening is to shut off the microphone. You have to do this manually on each Echo device you want to prevent from listening, and you can only reverse it manually. There is no voice command to disable an Echo’s microphone.

Here’s how to stop Alexa from listening:

  • Locate the microphone button on your Alexa device.
  • Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire
  • The button will look like a microphone with a strike through it or a circle with a strike through it.
  • Press the microphone button.
  • Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire
  • Verify a short tone plays, and the indicator light has turned red.
  • Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire
  • As long as the indicator light remains solid red, it means the microphone is off, and Alexa isn’t listening.
  • Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire
  • Most Echo devices have a circular indicator light on the top or base. Echo devices that have a screen will instead show a red line at the bottom of the screen.
  • If you want to use your Alexa, press the microphone button so it is no longer red, say the wake word and command or question, then press the microphone button again.
  • Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire

How to Stop Alexa From Uploading Conversations

Suppose you want to use your Alexa without pushing the microphone button all the time, but you don’t like the idea of people listening to your commands, questions, and conversations. In that case, you can disable the upload function from within the Alexa app.

Locate the microphone button on your Alexa device.

The button will look like a microphone with a strike through it or a circle with a strike through it.

Press the microphone button.

Verify a short tone plays, and the indicator light has turned red.

As long as the indicator light remains solid red, it means the microphone is off, and Alexa isn’t listening.

Most Echo devices have a circular indicator light on the top or base. Echo devices that have a screen will instead show a red line at the bottom of the screen.

If you want to use your Alexa, press the microphone button so it is no longer red, say the wake word and command or question, then press the microphone button again.

  • Open the Alexa app, and tap More.
  • Tap Settings.
  • Tap Alexa Privacy.
  • Tap Manage Your Alexa Data.
  • Tap Choose how long to save recordings.
  • Select Don’t save recordings and tap Confirm.
  • Scroll down to the Help improve Alexa section, and switch the Use of voice recordings toggle to the off position.
  • Tap TURN OFF.
  • If you use Alexa to send messages, switch the toggle or toggles in the Use messages to improve transcription section off as well.

Open the Alexa app, and tap More.

Tap Settings.

Tap Alexa Privacy.

Tap Manage Your Alexa Data.

Tap Choose how long to save recordings.

Select Don’t save recordings and tap Confirm.

Scroll down to the Help improve Alexa section, and switch the Use of voice recordings toggle to the off position.

Tap TURN OFF.

If you use Alexa to send messages, switch the toggle or toggles in the Use messages to improve transcription section off as well.

  • How do I stop Alexa from saying “playing from” when it connects to a device?
  • Unfortunately, this feature can’t be disabled, although many users have expressed annoyance about it. There are third-party tools that claim to solve the issue on Windows devices, but always be careful when downloading software.
  • How do I get Alexa to stop listening to my kids?
  • You can’t get Alexa to completely ignore your kids, but you can set parental controls to stop your kids from making unauthorized purchases. In the Alexa app, tap More (three lines) > Settings > Account Settings > Voice Purchasing > enable Purchase Confirmation. Then, select Kids Skills Purchasing > turn on the Purchases Require Approval toggle.

Unfortunately, this feature can’t be disabled, although many users have expressed annoyance about it. There are third-party tools that claim to solve the issue on Windows devices, but always be careful when downloading software.

You can’t get Alexa to completely ignore your kids, but you can set parental controls to stop your kids from making unauthorized purchases. In the Alexa app, tap More (three lines) > Settings > Account Settings > Voice Purchasing > enable Purchase Confirmation. Then, select Kids Skills Purchasing > turn on the Purchases Require Approval toggle.

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