Having Alexa in your college room can help out a ton with your daily routine, making it easier to track schedules, enjoy music, control smart devices, and access critical information on demand.

Connecting Alexa to your dorm Wi-fi is a different matter though, especially if captive portals are involved – we’ll elaborate on that little detail soon.

Connecting Alexa to dorm Wi-fi tends to be complicated, as those public networks often come with rigid security settings and authentication methods. Captive portals are your biggest roadblock to using Alexa with dorm Wi-fi since Alexa can’t open web portals.

You could ask for an exception with your university or skirt by with VPN services, but the most reliable method is using a travel router. Not only does this bypass the captive portal, but it also creates its own Wi-fi network – circumventing the biggest risks with using public networks and does so without needing mobile data!

Connecting Alexa to your dorm Wi-fi can be a little tricky with captive portals involved, but it’s worth it to access the convenience Amazon’s top-tier virtual assistant has to offer. We’ll walk you through the quickest, easiest, and safest way to get Alexa running in your college dorm.

Connecting Alexa to Dorm Wi-Fi

The Most Important Question: Is There a Captive Portal?

A captive portal is a web page that appears when you connect to large-scale Wi-fi networks. Most people encounter these in places like airports, hotels, and of course, college dormitories.

These typically ask you to accept their terms of service before getting access to the network – some might even require you to input a username and password as well.

Alexa devices can’t use captive portals as they don’t have web browser access, which can make using Echo devices in these situations difficult. This is part security concern (minimizing malware exposure) and part hardware constraints (Echo Dots have limited processing power).

While getting Alexa Wi-fi access through a captive portal is difficult, it’s not impossible.

Ask Your University for Help

Since Alexa devices can’t navigate captive portals, your best bet is bypassing that requirement altogether. This can be accomplished by getting admin approval, which is most easily done by asking your university’s tech staff for assistance.

If your IP address is added to the approved IP address list, you’ll be able to access the Wi-fi network without having to go through the captive portal.

Unfortunately, your university could refuse this request for a few different reasons.

Dorm Wi-fi is communal, and Alexa demands a lot of bandwidth for sustained use – it could limit functional internet access for other students, which could disrupt their studies. It’s also public access, so linking Alexa to your dorm Wi-fi may pose serious online security risks.

Virtual Private Networks (VPN)

Captive portals work by railroading users to a specific webpage before they’re allowed to access the internet, but this can be bypassed with the assistance of virtual private networks.

VPNs work by redirecting your network traffic to avoid the server hosting the captive portal, allowing you to circumvent the webpage issue on your Echo Dot.

Be mindful of your VPN of choice – not all service providers support Alexa devices. You may also need to restart your Echo device before Alexa can properly connect to your dorm Wi-fi.

An unfortunate side effect of using VPNs is that they induce latency, which can affect your Echo device’s responsiveness. Alexa may start giving delayed responses – or worse, start saying “Sorry, something went wrong.” and cease tasks it should have been handling.

Use a Travel Router

While getting University IP address approval and VPN usage may be quicker, these still pose serious security vulnerabilities due to the public nature of the network in use. We find using travel routers to be the best long-term solution for this issue.

 

While this method will cost you, a travel router is by far the safest way to connect Alexa to your dorm Wi-fi. Travel routers are small, portable devices that work by connecting to a Wi-fi network and “leeching” the internet provided to create their own private network, allowing you to use it to watch or listen to whatever you’d like in the comfort of your dorm room.

This created network is not subject to captive portals, allowing you to easily connect your Echo device to reliable Wi-fi. By creating their own network, travel routers also create safer online spaces for your Alexa – reducing the risk of encountering malware or scams online. Also, this created network won’t be accessible to other devices from the “parent” network.

Final Thoughts

Connecting Alexa to your dorm Wi-fi can be a pain in the butt when captive portals are involved. While you could circumvent this with VPNs or special network privileges, these methods come with significant drawbacks to both performance and online security. We’d personally recommend using travel routers to bypass captive portals while also ensuring your data privacy.

While they aren’t quite as big a name as Google or Amazon, Gosund is a company that specializes in smart home technology – creating products that remain competitive with these tech giants at a noticeably lower cost!

How would you go about linking Gosund devices to your Alexa?

Well, connecting Gosund to Alexa can easily be done through the Alexa app, under the “Gosund” skill! Unfortunately, the app isn’t exactly known for its stellar performance – and there aren’t any workarounds if you want to use your Gosund with Alexa.

Gosund products come with advantages over Amazon smart devices. They’re cheaper to use, easier to set up, and accessible to more smart home brands. It’s best to use Gosund products if your home is filled with an assortment of different smart brands, while you should stick with Amazon’s catalogue if you’re only using their smart home products.

Connecting Gosund to Alexa is an excellent way to let you control those devices with voice commands, allowing you to enjoy a convenient, hands-free experience. But why use a Gosund instead of an Amazon smart plug? There are more reasons for it than you might expect!

Linking Gosund Smart Plugs to Alexa

Linking Gosund to Alexa is a two-step process. You’ll need to get the smart plug running before you can connect it to your Echo device.

 

Setting up your Gosund Smart Plug

1. Plug your Gosund into a power source.
2. Download the “Gosund” app on your phone (account signup needed).
   1. This can also be done by scanning the QR code included on the box.
3. Your smart plug should be blinking blue to indicate that it’s trying to pair– select “Add Device” in the Gosund app to connect it to your Gosund smart plug.
4. Test your Gosund smart plug’s functionality.

Connecting your Gosund to Alexa

1. From the Alexa App, look for the “Gosund” skill in the “Skills & Games” tab.
2. Enter all your login credentials.
3. Link Gosund to your Amazon Alexa account.
4. Enable “Discover Devices” on Alexa to find your smart plug.
5. Now enjoy your newfound Gosund integration!

The “Gosund” skill on Alexa does have mixed reviews from many users – mostly well-earned, in our personal experience. Unfortunately, there’s no other workaround: you will need to use the Gosund skill to connect the smart plug to your Echo device.

But once this initial connection is established, you can comfortably get by controlling your Gosund mostly through voice commands on Alexa. The Gosund skill only needs to come up if you need to reset the smart plug connection or link new devices to your smart home.

Why Use a Gosund Smart Plug instead of an Amazon One?

Most people see bigger names and assume they’re better, but Gosund is an underdog brand that’s competing with the likes of Amazon and Google – there’s a reason they’re still on the market!

Gosund smart plugs and lights are more affordable than their Amazon counterparts, making them a nice way to ease yourself into that smart home transition without feeling overwhelmed.

Their independent status is also valuable in terms of flexibility, as you can use smart-home products from other manufacturers without feeling constrained with your setup. Having Amazon smart plugs could make you feel like you need to restrict yourself to Amazon’s catalogue, which can end up quite expensive for personal use!

Generally, Gosund products are ideal if your smart home makes use of a big variety of different tech manufacturers. If your household is mostly made up of Amazon products, you’ll get better mileage, integration, and compatibility from using Amazon-sourced smart devices.

Final Thoughts

Connecting Gosund to Alexa is as simple as downloading it from the Alexa store and then following the instructions provided to log in to your account!

Gosund units boast respectable compatibility with many devices in the market, making them an amazing and affordable fit for smart homes utilizing multiple different tech brands to function.

Amazon’s Alexa is an awesome digital assistant that helps millions of users, across thousands of homes, manage their day-to-day lives and responsibilities. Pretty much anyone can ask Alexa anything and get helpful answers, but sometimes that’s exactly what you want to avoid.

Getting Alexa to respond only to your voice seems like a great precaution to help with issues like sensitive data (account information) or finances (purchase history). Is it possible to get Alexa to respond solely to your voice? If not, what’s the next best thing you can do?

Sadly, there’s no direct way to get Alexa to ignore everyone else’s voice. That doesn’t mean you’re helpless – you can limit other interactions and protect your data in a few different ways like utilizing voice profiles or lowering your Echo device accessibility.

While you can’t expect to get Alexa to respond only to your voice, you can lock sensitive information and transaction power behind certain security measures. Here’s how you can set that up and protect your personal data to the best of your ability!

Can I Get Alexa to Respond Only to Me?

Unfortunately, you can’t get Alexa to respond to your voice alone – it’s just not a toggleable setting Amazon made available. So long as Alexa is capable of responding to voice commands, it won’t constrain itself to specific users.

If you’re willing to get a little creative though, you can gate certain Alexa features behind voice profiles to protect sensitive processes and information.

We’ll go over what voice profiles have to offer in the next subheading.

Voice Profiles

Alexa’s “Voice Profiles” is a feature that lets Alexa familiarize itself with your speaking nuances, helping facilitate more fluid interactions and reducing the chance of misinterpretations. Most users stop at “personalized experience” and just see it as Alexa being able to understand them better –convenient yes, but not particularly useful.

Voice profiles offer a little more than you might expect – especially for adult accounts!

If you successfully link an Alexa voice profile to your Amazon account, you’ll be able to ensure that others won’t be able to utilize your credentials or access your personal information.

For instance, “random” users won’t be able to peek at your calendar schedule or add items to your Amazon shopping list. You won’t be able to monopolize Alexa’s responses to your voice alone, but you can restrict the features non-voice profiled users can utilize.

Here’s how you can set up voice profiles on your Echo device.

1. Open “Settings”, then tap “Your Profile & Family”.
2. Under “Profile Information”, select “Voice ID”.
3. Simply choose “Agree and Continue” and follow further instructions.

Reducing Alexa Accessibility for Strangers

Using voice profiles is one of the best ways to secure sensitive information on your Echo device, but if you’re worried about false wakes or interrupted commands, it may be worth considering actively reducing Alexa’s accessibility to other users.

Don’t worry about it affecting you much – these are mostly small changes aiming to deviate a bit from default settings. The one genuine inconvenience here (PIN code usage) is mostly circumvented if you have a registered Alexa voice profile.

Change the wake word

Wake words can be viewed as triggers for Alexa responsiveness, prompting your Echo device to pay attention to queries or requests. By default, your device’s wake word is “Alexa”. Most people who walk into your home would assume the same and call it out.

By changing your wake word, you not only reduce the risk of unwanted Alexa activations but also make it more difficult for others to use your home Echo device without your assistance.

Amazon only offers a short list of available wake words (Amazon, Alexa, Ziggy, Echo, and Computer), but people who are unfamiliar with Echo devices aren’t likely to guess the right one unless they try to brute force through the whole list!

Mute the device before you leave

If you’re worried about people messing with Alexa after you leave the house, you could mute the device before going off for errands. You can do this with a voice command (“Alexa, mute.”) or by pressing the mute button on your Echo Dot.

A muted device will display a constant red light, which won’t be subtle. It’ll turn off the microphone and stop listening, so unwanted users can’t undo this with voice commands.

Undoing the “mute” setting requires either passing familiarity with your Echo model (to locate the mute button) or access to that device through the Alexa app. A muted device should be an effective deterrent against unwanted Alexa usage!

Consider Using a PIN Code

Finally, you can opt to lock Alexa’s responsiveness behind PIN code inputs. Unknown users will need to input a PIN code on their Echo device to grant Alexa permission to respond to them. People with registered voice profiles are exempted from this, as they’re seen as trusted users.

You can have certain Alexa skills locked behind PIN codes, but doing so can make their usage awkward for day-to-day life. Also, not all skills support this security feature.

Instead, we’d recommend setting a profile PIN. A profile PIN is set on your Alexa’s voice profile menu, and locks access to your personal information behind that code.

This does mean that you’ll have to input your code every time you want to access or modify that data, but it’s a small price to pay for improved personal security and peace of mind.

You can arrange this from the Voice Profile Menu on Alexa!

1. From the “Settings” tab, go to “Your Profile & Family”.
2. Under “PIN”, choose “Set Up Now”, then follow further instructions.

Final Thoughts

While you can’t get Alexa to respond only to your voice, you can prevent random users from accessing your personal information with Alexa’s voice profile feature. This security measure is relatively safe – though it may be fooled by voice impersonators or voice changers! Do note that there’s a very big difference between voice profiles, voices, and voice packs though!

You could also reduce your Echo device accessibility to reduce the chance of random, or at least unwanted, Alexa activations. This can be done by changing the wake word, muting your device, or enabling required PIN code inputs before Alexa is allowed to respond.

Alexa’s “Do Not Disturb” mode is a great feature that aims to limit outside interruptions, but when it activates randomly it can cause you to miss critical notifications and messages. This can throw your schedule out of sync, and it needs to be settled before more problems emerge.

How do you stop Alexa from constantly turning “Do Not Disturb” mode on? Why is it even doing that, to begin with?

Alexa randomly turning on “Do Not Disturb” mode may be due to someone else in your home toggling the setting while you’re away. It may also be part of a set Alexa schedule or routine, which requires you to check and disable them manually.  

Alexa’s “Do Not Disturb” mode can be quite disruptive if it activates when you didn’t intend for it to, but thankfully it’s an easy problem to address with the proper guidance. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know to quickly and effortlessly settle the issue.

Someone Else is Toggling “Do Not Disturb” Mode

There’s a small chance that Alexa’s random “Do Not Disturb” mode changes are being caused by someone in your home enabling the setting without telling you.

Here’s how to check if “Do Not Disturb” is currently enabled using the Alexa app.

1. From “Devices”, select “Echo & Alexa”.
2. Choose the device you want to change.
   • “Do Not Disturb” mode is activated per unit, so unfortunately you won’t be able to apply this as a global change in your smart home Echo devices.
3. Click the icon for “Device Settings” on the upper right.
4. You’ll find “Do Not Disturb” mode right under the “General” category.

If you see this mode has been toggled in your settings, and you know for a fact you didn’t set it up, ask around in your home to get to the bottom of this. There’s a pretty big chance someone in your house just got fed up with surprise drop-ins or Alexa randomly lighting up!

“Do Not Disturb” Mode Is Set in a Schedule

Alexa schedules are a set of instructions that your Echo device will follow at specific times. This can extend to toggled settings and can even control smart home tasks – ranging from locking your doors, turning on lights, or even brewing a lovely cup of coffee!

If “Do Not Disturb” mode is scheduled for specific times, you’ll notice it cropping up on a regular basis even after the initial check.

If you’d like to see it for yourself, just follow the video below.

If you’d prefer to read simple instructions, we’ve got you covered.

1. Open the Alexa app.
2. Tap the Menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner of the screen.
3. Tap Routines.
4. You will see a list of all your routines, including any schedules that you have created.
5. To see the details of a schedule, tap on the name of the schedule.

“Do Not Disturb” Mode Is Part of a Routine

An Alexa routine is a set of instructions Alexa follows when triggered and can be quite complex. Individual tasks can be bundled up into one routine, and these triggers can be anything from specific words, light settings, or even proximity (if you have sensor accessories).

You can find routines the same way you find schedules in the Alexa app, so just follow the guide above to understand how routines work – you’ll be in good hands.

Schedules vs Routines

While it might seem like routines are synonymous with schedules (they’re even accessed in the same settings menu on the Alexa app) they operate a bit differently.

Schedules are limited to specific times and durations, while routines allow a greater degree of complexity. Routines also let you link up multiple different features to one trigger, while schedules usually handle rudimentary settings or individual tasks like shutting down lights.

In summary, everything you’re capable of doing in schedules can be done in routines, but not vice versa. They’re accessed through the same Alexa app menu but are distinct from one another – meaning you could have either a schedule, a routine, or even both responsible for your issues with the “Do Not Disturb” mode on your Alexa.

Final Thoughts

“Do Not Disturb” mode is a great way to manage unwanted interruptions, but if it activates when you don’t want it to it can pose a serious nuisance to your plans.

It’s often caused by changed settings, but if you notice “Do Not Disturb” mode frequently being enabled by Alexa, you’ll want to check for pre-existing schedules or routines that snuck by!

Echo devices are sophisticated pieces of technology, but they won’t always understand your commands properly. This can lead to the annoying “Sorry, something went wrong” response from Alexa. Why does Alexa do that – and how do you make it happen less frequently?

Alexa says, “Sorry, something went wrong” if its connection to the Amazon servers is severed or compromised. The bulk of those issues can be resolved with the following steps.

• Restart your Echo Dot.
• Check for problems with your Wi-fi.
• Update your Echo Device and Alexa App.
• Uninstall and reinstall the Alexa App from scratch.
• Get in touch with Amazon Customer Service for Troubleshooting.
• Factory Reset your Echo Device (After exhausting all other options!).

It’s never a good sign to hear Alexa announce “Sorry, something went wrong.”, but this particular problem is easier to address than you might expect! We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about this frustrating, unwanted Alexa response down below.

1. Power Cycle your Echo Device

Restarting your Echo device is usually one of the first steps you want to take for any Alexa-involved problem. This process helps by clearing out any temporary files that could have been bogging down Alexa’s performance. It also has the added perk of wiping residual electricity buildup, software glitches, and unwanted background Bluetooth pairings.

While this is a good solution to the problem, power cycling your Echo device is also great advice for general maintenance – try doing this at least once a week to improve Alexa’s performance.

2. Check On your Home Router

If restarting your Echo device didn’t cut it, investigate your home router. Alexa needs stable Wi-fi to access Amazon’s cloud servers, but it won’t always connect to that service properly.

Check if you can get a working internet connection on your phone or desktop first. Should the Wi-fi problem extend to all devices, restarting your home router is the best course of action.

A quick restart won’t always suffix though – below are a few factors that could be interfering with your Echo Dot’s connection and functionality.

Are there any physical barriers in the way?

Echo devices usually have a decent network range, but thick walls and floors/ceilings could disrupt Alexa’s Wi-fi connection by absorbing, reflecting, or even straight-up blocking the wireless signals Alexa uses to communicate with Amazon’s cloud servers.

This could lead to delayed responses or even interrupt the process altogether, which is one of the main things causing Alexa to say “Sorry, something went wrong.”. Try placing your Echo device somewhere centralized, with as few physical barriers as possible. A couple of walls or floors are fine, but awkward Echo Dot placement could stunt its signal and overall responsiveness.

Kindly note that certain types of building material will inhibit radio waves – be especially mindful of concrete, as it’s awfully good at absorbing Wi-fi signals!

Is your router (or Echo unit) near something that could cause interference?

Alexa devices use 2.4 GHz frequency bands to exchange data with Amazon’s cloud servers and local smart home devices. Certain household electronics (i.e. microwaves, wireless phones) operate on that same frequency, which can impede Alexa’s performance.

Alternatively, some devices may be disrupting Alexa’s responsiveness through volume alone – they could be drowning out or disrupting your voice commands, rendering them unintelligible and causing Alexa to say “Sorry, something went wrong.” out of confusion.

Thankfully, the disruption range isn’t that extreme. Keeping your Echo Dot at least three feet away from interference-causing devices should be more than enough to mitigate the issue.

3. Update your Echo Device or Alexa App

If you’re encountering “Sorry, something went wrong.” or other responsiveness problems while making changes to the Alexa app, there’s a big chance that either your Echo device or Alexa app is due for a firmware update.

An outdated Echo Dot or Alexa app can cause delays, disruptions, and impaired Alexa performance. It also retains old security weaknesses that should have been patched in updates, making your household more vulnerable to hackers and malware.

There’s no real reason not to update your Echo device – it’s a sustained service on dedicated hardware. You won’t be affected by file bloat or unwanted UI updates, but you’ll certainly be affected by software compatibility problems and security gaps!

For similar reasons, you also want to ensure your Alexa app is properly updated – handling this is as simple as checking for it on the app store!

Here’s how to ensure that your Echo Device is updated:

1. Open your Alexa app.
2. Select “Settings”, then navigate to “Device Settings”.
3. Under “About”, select “Check for Software Updates”.
   • If there isn’t an option displaying, your Alexa device may already be updated.
   • Double check with this voice command: “Alexa, check for software updates.”

Note: By default, Echo devices are set to update automatically – but sometimes, Alexa can glitch out and skip them entirely. Be mindful of this software bug, even if it is unlikely to happen.

4. Completely Reinstall your Alexa App

Updating your Alexa app won’t always resolve the problem of Alexa’s infamous “Sorry, something went wrong.”. In this situation, you’ll have to do a clean reinstall of the Alexa app.

Here are a couple of signs that you’ll probably need to do a full reinstall:

• Frequent responses of “Sorry, something went wrong” despite clear audio.
  • You can verify this by checking the voice log history on Alexa.
• Constant Alexa app freezes or crashes.
  • Check with Amazon online, as this problem could be server-side and affecting multiple other users. If not, you may be dealing with a malware infection.

You’ll find the Alexa app in the app store, play store, or whatever app hub your current device uses. Simply find the official app, uninstall it, then reinstall it again. You’ll have to log in and input your old credentials, so be sure to note down all pertinent info before uninstalling!

5. Contact Amazon Customer Support

If all prior steps taken haven’t panned out, it’s time to get in touch with Amazon directly. You can contact them through chat, phone, or via email, but we’d recommend the former two methods if you want to thoroughly address Alexa’s current problem.

You’ll need to keep this information on hand to speed the process up:

1. Amazon account info
2. Order number
3. Email address

Amazon’s customer support team is knowledgeable but remember that they won’t be aware of all the details about your problem – be sure to explain your situation thoroughly. They also need to know what didn’t work, so tell them about every measure you took to fix the issue!

6. Factory Reset your Echo Device

A full factory reset of your Echo Dot is a last resort, but if you’ve reached this far and seen no improvement you won’t have other alternatives. In fact, there’s a good chance Amazon customer support will suggest this approach.

Important: Many other sites will claim that you can factory reset your Echo device within the Alexa app, which can be proven false with a cursory check on the application!

Amazon doesn’t want even the remote chance of users accidentally factory resetting their Echo device. The only thing you can do with the current version is “De-register” your device, which uncouples it from your Amazon account.

It will still retain independent settings but will lose access to linked Alexa settings and your personal info. This is an important distinction, as de-registering your device won’t do anything to improve your Echo Dot’s performance!

Instead, you can do a manual factory reset by pressing certain buttons on your Echo device.

For our Alexa (like the video above) we had to hold down the “Action” button until it enters setup mode. Other models will need you to hold down different buttons, which will vary depending on the Echo product you’re currently using.

You could technically factory reset your Echo device on the Alexa website, but we find using this method tedious – it’s much easier to hold a couple of buttons down for a few seconds!

Final Thoughts

Alexa saying, “Sorry, something went wrong.” is irritating, but we can assure you that it’s a simple problem to troubleshoot – it means something is disrupting your Echo device’s connection to Amazon’s cloud servers. Just follow the guidelines above and you’ll be more than prepared to quickly handle most of these issues.

Don’t be afraid to get in touch with Amazon customer service for additional support – though make sure you prepare all the info you need before bringing the issue to their attention!

“Live View” is a feature Alexa offers that allows you to watch camera feeds of your smart home in real-time. It’s a great way to keep tabs on your house, family, or even pets while you’re out working, but sometimes live view may be unavailable on Alexa.

Being unable to access live view on Alexa can feel concerning, but they’re almost always remarkably simple to troubleshoot with a bit of guidance and tinkering.

Not all cameras are compatible with Alexa, so be sure to check your device specs first! Live View usage needs your camera to be turned on, which can be interrupted by power outages or certain settings. It also needs a stable Wi-fi connection active!

Renaming your cameras is a good way to minimize confusion for Alexa, making it easier to track cameras in use. Make sure “Do not Disturb” mode is off, as it’ll prevent live view access.

Ensure that both your camera and Alexa app are properly updated. If all of these methods aren’t working, it may be a sign that Amazon’s servers are down.

Alexa’s live view is crucial to your home safety because it provides accurate camera feeds, granting users real-time information, security, and peace of mind. Fixing inaccessible live view on Alexa isn’t hard, but you’ll have an easier time settling this while you’re still at home!

Try These Fixes:

1. Check if Your Camera is Compatible with Alexa Live View

Unfortunately, not all cameras will work with Alexa’s live view feature. This privilege only extends to cameras that have been certified by Amazon – look for anything advertised with a “Works with Alexa” logo included.

There are a few exceptions that allow live view functionality despite lacking the certification. These require third-party applications or skills and tend to offer inconsistent performance – making them a lot less appealing for home security purposes.

If you want reliable access to Alexa’s live view, always go for camera brands that advertise explicit Echo device compatibility!

2. Make Sure the Camera is Turned on (and Stays On!)

The camera needs to be on to use live view on Alexa, but sometimes it can be shut down or interrupted by unwanted circumstances.

For example, a power outage could briefly shut off electronics at home. While most of your smart home should reboot after a little while, certain wireless camera brands won’t do so automatically. Thankfully, most manufacturers allow you to configure this in their device settings menu.

You may also want to consider investing in a UPS (uninterruptable power supply), which lets your camera function even in the event of a power outage!

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to access live view on Alexa during this time (as your Wi-fi network will go down), but at least you won’t have to worry about blind spots in your camera recordings.

You can quickly check if a camera is online by asking Alexa directly. Simply use this voice command, “Alexa, show me [insert camera name].”

If Alexa can’t display that camera feed but still retains smart home functionality, there’s a pretty big chance that your camera unit is offline. If you’re still at home, you can glance at the camera to see for yourself – no active LED light displayed means that it’s completely shut down.

3. Improve Your Wi-fi Connection

Live view is a feature that heavily relies on internet strength to function. If your Wi-fi network is shoddy or inconsistent, it could cause delays or display issues with your live view stream.

If you’re noticing consistent issues connecting to and using your Wi-fi network, get in touch with your internet service provider to sort the problem out.

It’s also worth mentioning that active VPNs tend to slow down Wi-fi networks, as all that net traffic is being redirected through other servers. This induces latency that might bog down your internet speed. If you’re using public networks (like Dorm Wi-fi) to check live view on Alexa, your video stream performance will almost always

4. Rename Your Cameras to Reduce Confusion

Believe it or not, even Alexa has a tough time telling cameras apart!

This is due to how Alexa identifies cameras, as it primarily uses their device ID. Most of the time the device ID will be a string of letters and digits that are awkward to distinguish – Alexa might hear you requesting live view on a camera that doesn’t exist!

You’ll want to give each camera you own a unique name to make it easier for Alexa to catalogue. Doing so also makes using voice commands to request specific cameras much simpler! A good rule of thumb is to name each camera after the location it covers (i.e. “kitchen”, “garage”) so you’ll always know where the problem is if live view isn’t available on Alexa.

5. Ensure That Your Alexa App is Updated

Alexa is a continuous service that’s constantly being patched with new bug fixes, features, and security improvements. This extends to their live service, and an outdated Alexa app could cause significant problems for your live view experience.

Updating your camera is also critical to ensure compatibility, but the procedure for doing so varies significantly between brands, models, and even regions! Look into how to update the camera model you have on hand, as we can’t help you much on that front.

What we can do is walk you through ensuring your Alexa app is properly updated:

1. Open your Alexa app.
2. Select “Settings”, then navigate to “Device Settings”.
3. Under “About”, select “Check for Software Updates”.
   • If there isn’t an option displaying, your Alexa device may already be updated.
   • Double-check with this voice command: “Alexa, check for software updates.”

If Alexa has been updated but the problem remains, you may have to uninstall and reinstall the app from scratch. If that still doesn’t work, try a clean reinstall of your camera’s firmware.

6. Check if “Do Not Disturb” is Enabled on the Alexa App

“Do Not Disturb” mode prevents Alexa from receiving notifications, calls, drop-ins, and messages. It also has the effect of turning off live view on Alexa, disabling it for as long as the setting is active. Here’s how you can toggle off “Do Not Disturb” mode using the Alexa app.

1. From “Devices”, select “Echo & Alexa”.
2. Choose the device you want to change.
   • “Do Not Disturb” mode is activated per unit, so unfortunately you won’t be able to apply this as a global change in your smart home Echo devices.
3. Click the icon for “Device Settings” on the upper right.
4. You’ll find “Do Not Disturb” mode right under the “General” category.

If live view is unavailable on Alexa, someone in your home might have toggled the mode without telling you.

“Do Not Disturb” mode can also be activated by existing Alexa routines. The possibility of this is slim but keep it in mind in case Alexa’s live view disruptions occur a bit too regularly.

7. Consider That Alexa’s Servers May be Down

Sometimes, Alexa’s servers just go down – rendering the entire service unusable until Amazon fixes the issue! If you’ve tried every other solution to no avail, there’s a big chance that the problem is on their end – especially if your other Echo devices are struggling to function too!

https://downdetector.com/status/amazon-alexa/map/

If you’d like to check for yourself, we’ve found the above website to be a particularly reliable resource on the topic.

Final Thoughts

Live view is an important feature Alexa has to offer, allowing users to keep track of their home security no matter where they are. Live view may be unavailable on the Alexa app for a number of different reasons, but troubleshooting them is, generally, pretty simple once you get home.

Try not to worry too much until then! If you know someone else is home, consider sending them this guide so they can handle this live view problem for you!