If you have an Amazon Echo with Alexa voice assistance, you’ve probably seen that the gadget occasionally emits a light when communicating with you.
It is basically telling you its status. Whether you have ordered something through Amazon, are having Wifi issues, or are asking the Echo a question, different colours and patterns from the light mean different things.
TIP: Simply ask Alexa “What does your light mean?” in most cases
Yellow
What it means: You have a notification
If you have ordered something from the Amazon site, or something is wrong with your account, a slow pulsing yellow light means you have a notification or message from Amazon.
This will likely be something about when your delivery is due, or you may have missed a reminder.
Say: “What are my notifications?” or “What are my messages?”
Red
What it means: The speaker is muted
A solid red light means that the microphone on/off light has been pressed. Therefore, your Echo cannot hear anything going on and cannot listen if you ask it something.
On Echo devices with video, it means your video will not be shared with others or with Amazon.
Press the button again to unmute
Blue
This can mean two things: either your Echo is listening to you, or that it is starting up. Essentially, it is thinking
If you use the wake word, the Echo will have a steady cyan spot (lighter in colour to the darker blue) in the blue ring to show that it is listening out for what you are going to ask or say.
But if this cyan ring is spinning around, it shows that the speaker is starting up. Maybe it has been unplugged, or you have had a power cut. If you’re setting it up for the first time, this light will turn orange.
Orange
What it means: your device is in setup mode
This will show on the first-time installation or if you have reset your speaker. It may also be trying to connect to the internet if you’re having issues.
Green
What it means: you are receiving a call or on an active drop-in
We are big fans of the drop-in function on the Echo. This is where you can call speakers also in your household or owned by your contacts (if they have given you permission to do so). The great thing is that they don’t have to answer.
Obviously, being able to drop in on people undeclared is a step too far, so the light will flash slowly to show that there is an incoming call that is trying to connect.
Say: “Answer call” or “Hang up”
If the light is instead spinning, a call or drop-in is currently active. So, you know the person can hear everything. If you are the one making the call, your Echo will also spin green.
Is the green light showing but you’re not on a call? You can turn off the drop-in or communication functions, or delete permission for you to be called.
Devices > Echo & Alexa > Your Device > Communications > then Turn off Communications/Announcements to stop broadcast messages to your device/Drop-In to stop people from connecting to your device
Purple
What it means: you are in Do Not Disturb mode
Do Not Disturb blocks notifications, such as calls, messages and reminders, but you can still get alarms and timers. You can ask for this mode or toggle it on and off in the settings of your Alexa app.
White
What it means: volume is being adjusted
You can either adjust the volume on your Echo by asking, pressing the + and – buttons on the speaker or through the app. The white light will grow in size around the speaker, from the lowest volume to the highest and vice versa.
A spinning white light means Alexa Guard is on and in Away mode. Alexa Guard is not available in the UK yet, but if it does make its way over here, the same rules will likely apply. It can be put back into Home mode through the app.
