Change your WiFi in the Alexa app, not on the device itself
To change which WiFi network your Alexa device connects to, open the Alexa app on your phone, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), select Devices, choose Echo & Alexa, then tap the specific device you want to change. Scroll down and tap WiFi Network, then select Change. The app will show available networks — pick the one you want and enter the password. The device will reconnect within a minute or two.
You cannot change WiFi directly from the Alexa device itself using voice commands or buttons. The app is the only way. This matters because many people look for a settings menu on the device and get stuck before they realize they need their phone.
If you cannot find the WiFi Network option in the app, your device may be too old to support this feature — devices released before 2017 sometimes lack it. In that case, you will need to reset the device and set it up from scratch with the new network.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Alexa app, go to Devices, select Echo & Alexa, choose your device, scroll to WiFi Network, and tap Change to pick a new network.
- You must have the password for the new WiFi network before you start, and the device will lose connection briefly during the switch.
- If the WiFi Network option does not appear in your app, your device is older and will need a full reset and setup with the new network instead.
- The device should reconnect within one to two minutes; if it does not, restart it by unplugging for 30 seconds and plugging back in.
Before you start: what you need
Have the password for your new WiFi network ready before you open the app. If you do not know it, you will need to check your router or contact whoever set up the network. The Alexa app also needs to be up to date — if you have not opened it in several months, check your phone's app store for updates first.
Make sure your phone is connected to the same WiFi network you want the Alexa device to join. This is not always required, but it makes the connection faster and more reliable. If your phone is on a different network or on cellular data, the process may take longer or fail partway through.
Step-by-step: changing the network in the Alexa app
Open the Alexa app and tap the menu icon — three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner on most phones. Tap Devices from the menu that appears.
On the Devices screen, tap Echo & Alexa at the top. You will see a list of all your Alexa devices. Tap the one you want to change — the name you gave it during setup, like "Living Room Echo" or "Kitchen Dot".
On the device details page, scroll down until you see WiFi Network. Tap the word Change next to it. The app will search for available networks and show you a list. Tap the network name you want to join.
Enter the password for that network when the app asks. Passwords are case-sensitive, so type carefully. Tap Connect or Next depending on your app version. The device will disconnect from the old network and attempt to join the new one. This takes 30 seconds to two minutes.
What to do if the device will not connect
If the app says the connection failed, the most common cause is an incorrect password. Go back and re-enter it, paying attention to capital letters and special characters. If you are not sure about the password, check your router or ask the person who manages your WiFi.
If the password is correct but the device still will not connect, restart the device by unplugging it from power for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Wait for the light ring to turn blue (usually one to two minutes), then try changing the network again.
If the device connects but then drops the connection after a few minutes, the issue is usually that your router is not broadcasting the network name (SSID). Check your router settings to make sure the network is visible. Some routers have a setting to hide the network name — if yours does, you may need to unhide it or contact your internet provider for help.
When you need to reset the device instead
If the WiFi Network option does not appear in the app at all, your device is likely too old to support the in-app network change feature. Devices released before 2017 sometimes lack this capability. In this case, you will need to reset the device and set it up again from the beginning with the new network.
To reset an Alexa device, hold down the reset button — usually a small hole on the back or bottom of the device — for 10 to 15 seconds until the light ring turns orange. The device will restart and return to factory settings. Once it finishes restarting, open the Alexa app, tap the plus icon to add a device, and follow the setup steps to connect it to your new WiFi network.
Resetting the device will erase any routines, smart home connections, or custom settings you have configured. Write down anything important before you reset, so you can set it up the same way afterward.
Changing networks on multiple devices at once
If you have several Alexa devices and need to move them all to a new network, change them one at a time. The app will let you change multiple devices, but doing them sequentially — waiting for each one to fully reconnect before moving to the next — prevents confusion and makes it easier to troubleshoot if one device has trouble.
Start with the device closest to your router, then work outward to devices farther away. Devices closer to the router usually connect faster and more reliably, so if something goes wrong with a distant device, you will already have a working device on the new network that can help relay the signal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change WiFi networks using voice commands?
No. Alexa cannot change its own WiFi network through voice commands. You must use the Alexa app on your phone. This is a security feature — it prevents someone from changing your device's network without physical access to your phone.
What happens to my routines and smart home settings when I change networks?
They stay in place. Changing the WiFi network does not erase routines, alarms, shopping lists, or connections to other smart home devices. The device straightforward reconnects to a different network while keeping all its settings.
Do I need to change the network on my phone too?
Not necessarily. Your phone and Alexa device can be on different networks and still work together. However, having them on the same network makes some features faster and more reliable. If your phone is on a guest network and your Alexa is on the main network, they will still communicate, but with slight delays.
Why does my device keep disconnecting from the new network?
The most common cause is that your router is too far away or there is interference from walls or other devices. Try moving the Alexa device closer to the router temporarily to see if that fixes it. If it does, the device is at the edge of your network's range. You may need to move the router, add a WiFi extender, or switch to a different part of your home.
Can I connect one Alexa device to a 5GHz network and another to 2.4GHz?
Yes. Some routers broadcast both frequencies separately, and you can connect different devices to whichever works best for them. Older Alexa devices often work better on 2.4GHz, while newer ones handle 5GHz well. If your router combines both into one network name, you cannot choose — the device will pick whichever it connects to first.