Start with the Alexa app, not the device itself

Before you touch your Echo or other Alexa device, read the Amazon Alexa app on your phone or tablet. The app is where you actually configure what Alexa can do, what data it collects, and who can access your device. Plugging in the device first and trying to set it up through voice commands alone leaves you with default settings that collect more data than you may want.

Open the app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and select "Add Device". Choose your device type — Echo Dot, Echo Show, Echo Auto, or whatever you have — and follow the prompts to connect it to your home Wi-Fi network. The app will walk you through naming the device and assigning it to a room in your home. This naming step matters: if you have multiple Alexa devices, you'll use these names to control specific ones by voice.

Key Takeaways

  • Configure Alexa through the mobile app before or when ready after plugging in the device, because the app controls privacy settings that voice setup skips.
  • Turn off microphone and camera recording in Settings > Alexa Privacy, and delete past recordings regularly through the same menu.
  • Restrict which people can control your device and what they can buy by setting up Household Profiles and disabling voice purchasing.
  • Review which third-party apps and skills have permission to access your Alexa data, and remove the ones you do not use.
  • Set a strong, unique password on your Amazon account because anyone who logs into it can control all your Alexa devices remotely.

Turn off recording and delete what Alexa has already saved

By default, Alexa records everything you say after the wake word and stores those recordings on Amazon's servers. You can hear them, but Amazon can also use them to improve Alexa's understanding. To stop this, open the Alexa app, tap the menu, go to Settings, then Alexa Privacy. Toggle off "Use Messages" and "Use Reminders" if you do not want Alexa storing those. More importantly, toggle off "Help Improve Amazon Services" — this is the setting that lets Amazon use your voice recordings to train its system.

You can also disable the microphone entirely on the device itself. Every Alexa device has a physical mute button, usually on the top. Press it and a red light appears — Alexa will not listen for the wake word until you press it again. If you want to disable the camera on an Echo Show or Echo Spot, there is a physical shutter or button for that too. Use these when you do not want the device listening or watching.

Next, delete the recordings Amazon has already stored. In the Alexa app, go to Settings > Alexa Privacy > Review Voice History. You will see a list of everything Alexa recorded. You can delete individual recordings or select "Delete All" to clear everything at once. Amazon also lets you set automatic deletion: go to Settings > Alexa Privacy > Delete Recordings and choose whether to delete recordings after 3 months, 18 months, or never. Choosing 3 months means older recordings disappear automatically.

Set up household profiles and control who can use your device

If other people live with you or visit regularly, you can create separate profiles so Alexa recognizes different voices and respects different settings. In the Alexa app, tap the menu, go to Settings, then Household Profiles. Tap "Add Profile" and enter the person's name and email address. Alexa will learn to recognize their voice over time, and you can assign different permissions to each person.

For each profile, you can control whether that person can make purchases, access your shopping lists, or use certain skills. If you have children, create a child profile: go to Settings > Household Profiles > Add Profile > Child. This lets you set parental controls, restrict shopping, and limit which skills they can use. You can also require a PIN before anyone can make a purchase through Alexa, which prevents accidental orders. Go to Settings > Account Settings > Purchase Settings and toggle on "Require a Code for Purchases".

Review and remove third-party skills and connected apps

Skills are like apps for Alexa — they let you do things like order food, control smart home devices, or play games. Each skill you enable can potentially access certain data from your Alexa account. Over time, you may enable skills you no longer use, and they still have permission to see your information.

In the Alexa app, tap the menu and go to Skills & Games. You will see a list of everything you have enabled. Tap each one and look for a "Disable" or "Remove" button. Delete any skill you do not actively use. You can also see which apps have permission to connect to Alexa by going to Settings > Connected Apps. Review this list and disconnect anything you do not recognize or no longer need.

find your Amazon account password and enable two-factor authentication

Your Amazon account password is the master key to all your Alexa devices. If someone gets your password, they can log into your account from anywhere and control every device you own, hear your voice history, and make purchases. Use a strong password that is at least 16 characters long and includes uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not reuse a password you use anywhere else.

Enable two-factor authentication on your Amazon account so that even if someone learns your password, they cannot log in without a code sent to your phone. Go to Amazon.com, sign in, and navigate to Your Account > Login & Security. Scroll to "Two-Step Verification" and follow the prompts to add your phone number. Amazon will send you a code every time someone tries to log in from a new device.

Manage location access and smart home device permissions

If you use Alexa to control smart home devices like lights or thermostats, you have to grant Alexa permission to access those devices. In the Alexa app, tap the menu and go to Settings > Connected Home. You will see a list of all the smart home devices and systems Alexa can control. Review this list and disconnect anything you do not use regularly.

Alexa can also use your location to give you weather, traffic, and local information. In Settings > Device Location, you can see which devices have location permission and turn it off if you do not want Alexa knowing where you are. If you use Alexa to control your home remotely — for example, to adjust your thermostat while you are away — location access is less critical, but review it anyway.

Check your Amazon account activity and sign out of other devices

Amazon keeps a log of every device that has logged into your account. If you see a device you do not recognize, someone else may have your password. Go to Amazon.com, sign in, and navigate to Your Account > Login & Security. Scroll to "Devices" and you will see a list of every phone, tablet, and computer that has logged in. Tap any device and select "Sign Out" to end that session. If you see something suspicious, change your password when ready and enable two-factor authentication if you have not already.

You can also see which Alexa devices are registered to your account in the Alexa app. Tap the menu, go to Settings > Devices, and you will see every Echo, Show, and other Alexa device linked to you. If you see a device you do not own, tap it and select "Remove" to unregister it from your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Alexa without an Amazon account?

No. You need an Amazon account to set up any Alexa device. The account is how Alexa stores your preferences, voice history, and shopping lists. You can use a separate Amazon account just for Alexa if you do not want to link it to your main shopping account, but you still need one.

What happens if I disable the microphone with the mute button?

Alexa will not listen for the wake word and will not record anything. The device will still work if you use the app to send commands, but it will not respond to voice. The mute button is the fastest way to stop recording without changing any settings.

Can I prevent Alexa from listening to everything I say?

Alexa only records after it hears the wake word — "Alexa" by default. However, the microphone is always listening for that wake word. If you want to stop the microphone from listening at all, use the physical mute button on the device. There is no setting to make Alexa listen only when you press a button instead of waiting for the wake word.

Do I have to enable skills, or does Alexa come with everything built in?

Alexa comes with basic features like timers, weather, and music built in. Skills are optional add-ons. You only enable the ones you want to use. If you do not enable a skill, Alexa cannot use it, and it cannot access your data.

What should I do if I think someone has access to my Alexa account?

Change your Amazon password when ready and enable two-factor authentication. Go to Your Account > Login & Security > Devices and sign out of any device you do not recognize. Then review your Alexa app settings to see if any unfamiliar devices are registered to your account and remove them.