Echo’s blue lights aren’t all the time simple to grasp. That’s why I’ve compiled this helpful record of the most typical the reason why you would possibly see an Alexa spinning blue gentle or comparable alerts like flashing or stable blue lights. For every trigger, we’ll go over why it occurs, find out how to acknowledge it, whether or not you must fear, and find out how to repair the underlying downside.
Table of Contents
1. Alexa is Beginning Up
While you plug your Echo into the ability outlet, you’ll see the next gentle sequence:
- Strong blue gentle ring
- Blue gentle ring with spinning white part
- Spinning blue and cyan segments
- Flashing blue and cyan rings
That entire course of ought to take about 30–45 seconds as your Alexa boots up, connects to Wi-Fi, and conducts another startup processes it wants.
Do you have to fear: Not until the boot course of takes greater than a minute or two.
Potential fixes: If the sunshine remains to be going after a few minutes, chances are you'll have to attempt unplugging it and plugging it again in. If that also doesn’t work, wait a couple of minutes to see in case your Echo declares any points comparable to issues connecting to your Wi-Fi community. If all else fails, chances are you'll have to do a manufacturing facility reset.
2. Alexa Is Listening
Each time it hears a noise, your Echo machine will show a blue ring with a cyan phase pointing towards the noise. The identical factor occurs whenever you press the motion button, wherein case the cyan phase will probably be on the sting closest to that button.
Do you have to fear: No, that is completely regular.
Potential fixes: In case your Echo is choosing up quite a lot of background noise, chances are you'll, need to take into account shifting it someplace a bit much less noisy. The cyan phase might help you determine the place the stray noises are coming from.
3. Alexa Is Processing a Command
After listening to your request, your Echo will present a blue ring with a spinning cyan gentle. Because of this Alexa is processing your request.
Do you have to fear: Not until the method takes greater than a number of seconds. Sluggish web, sophisticated asks, or confusion instructions can decelerate the method, however Alexa usually received’t spend greater than 10 seconds making an attempt to reply. In case your connection is just too sluggish, you’ll most likely simply get an “I’m having hassle understanding you.” or “I’m having hassle connecting to the web.”.
Potential fixes:
- If Alexa provides you certainly one of its default “I’m having hassle…” solutions:
- Strive making the request once more.
- Strive an easier request
- Test your web velocity. If it’s a lot slower than standard, attempt restarting your moden and router.
- If the Alexa spinning blue gentle continues for greater than 10 seconds:
- Use the “Alexa, cease” command. If that works, attempt making the request once more.
- If Alexa received’t reply to your cease command, unplug it to restart the machine.
- The blue gentle ought to have gone away after the restart. If it did, attempt your command once more. If the sunshine is stil blue, it’s time to contact Amazon’s tech help line.
4. Alexa Is Updating Its Firmware
From time to time, Alexa must obtain an replace to introduce a brand new function or enhance the machine’s safety. These updates usually solely take a few minutes at a time, so chances are you'll not have ever seen it occur. Amazon solely sends updates when a tool just isn't in use.
When the updates happen, your Echo will cease responding for a couple of minutes. Throughout that point, you’ll see a spinning blue gentle similar to the one Alexa exhibits when it’s processing a command. I’ve been informed you can examine on the replace within the app, however I've not been in a position to affirm that myself.
Do you have to fear: Not usually. Echo updates happen the entire time, similar to with any pc. Nonetheless, it is likely to be time to take motion if an replace lasts greater than a number of minutes.
Potential fixes: In case your Echo appears prefer it’s nonetheless updating after a number of (20+ minutes), attempt unplugging it and plugging it again in. This may drive Alexa to reset and would possibly resolve the problem. Typically your Echo will instantly attempt to replace once more. Wait and see if it will get caught, at which level the best choice is to contact Amazon tech help.
5. Alexa Is in Pairing Mode
That is most typical in the course of the preliminary setup of your machine. It will possibly additionally occur in case your Echo detected a brand new machine and is making an attempt to hook up with it.
Do you have to fear: Most likely not, particularly if this occurs in the course of the preliminary setup course of.
Potential fixes: When you’re organising your machine for the primary time, simply comply with the directions to attach Alexa to Wi-Fi. Throughout that course of, the blue gentle ought to go away. If in case you have already arrange your machine and it enters pairing mode unintentionally, simply give it an “Alexa, cease” verbal command and, if that doesn’t work, unplug it and plug it again in.
6. Alexa Is in Do Not Disturb Mode
You would possibly see a purple gentle flash briefly after Alexa responds to your command. This gentle signifies that your machine is in do-not-disturb mode. This mode received’t cease your Echo’s timers, alarms, or voice instructions, however it'll forestall anybody from utilizing the decision or drop-in capabilities to speak together with your machine.
Do you have to fear: No, this can be a normal Alexa operate.
Potential fixes: You may toggle the do-not-disturb mode on and off by issuing a voice command of “Alexa, activate don't disturb” or “Alexa, flip off don't disturb”. It's also possible to do that within the Alexa app by going to the machine display and clicking the moon icon within the higher proper.
7. Alexa Is Linked to the Incorrect Wire
Amazon Echo’s are very choosy about their energy cords. You may substitute the unique wire, however ensure you are utilizing an official Amazon alternative. Off-brand cords will usually end in a spinning blue gentle and an in any other case non-responsive Echo.
Do you have to fear: Sure, utilizing a wire with the unsuitable specs might be dangerous to electronics.
Potential fixes: Exchange the wire with an Amazon-approved Echo alternative wire. Till you've that, unplug your Alexa from {the electrical} outlet.
8. Or… Alexa Could possibly be Lifeless
Typically, none of those fixes work as a result of Alexa has moved on to that large cloud server within the sky. A glowing or spinning blue gentle that doesn’t reply to any of the above concepts can point out that your Echo is lifeless.
Potential fixes: First, ensure you’ve tried all the everyday fixes for an unresponsive Alexa. If these don’t work, contact Amazon’s tech help since they can remotely repair your machine. Amazon may additionally present a partial or full refund in case your machine remains to be below guarantee. In case your Echo is absolutely lifeless, take into account this a great alternative to improve to the most recent Echo, Echo Dot, or Echo Present.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
What’s the Echo blue ring of loss of life?
The Echo blue ring of loss of life (or Alexa blue ring of loss of life) is a time period used to explain any Alexa blue gentle that received’t go away. This may be brought on by an replace failure, damaged Echo, incorrect wire, or any of the issues we mentioned on this article.
The time period blue ring of loss of life initially got here from the Ps 4’s blue gentle of loss of life, which change into the favored web time period for a system failure that occurred in that console. Since lots of Alexa’s failures additionally present blue lights, it was solely pure that web customers would undertake an analogous time period for the Echo.
What’s Subsequent?
Echo’s spinning blue lights have a number of meanings, however the above record covers the most typical causes. More often than not, you will get your Echo machine working once more in only a matter of minutes. A part of the price of an Alexa, although, similar to with any digital machine, is that they don’t final without end. Happily, Echo units are low cost by sensible dwelling requirements, and they're constantly popping out with newer, higher fashions.
Now that your Echo is (hopefully) working once more, I wager you’re excited to attempt a few of Alexa’s newest options. My newest record of sensible plug concepts has dozens of ideas for handy, power-saving automations that work completely with Alexa. You must also take a look at how Alexa might help in an emergency, particularly in case your aged kinfolk have Alexa units of their houses.