Amazon Alexa devices, including the Echo, Echo Show, and Fire TV, offer unparalleled convenience, letting you shop with simple voice commands. While this feature is handy for quick reorders and effortless shopping, it can also lead to unintended purchases, especially if you have children or want tighter control over your spending. If you’re looking to manage or prevent purchases through your Alexa devices, understanding how to disable voice purchasing is essential.
This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough on How To Turn Off Purchases On Alexa, ensuring you have full control over your voice shopping experience. Whether you want to completely disable voice purchases or set up a PIN for authorization, we’ve got you covered.
Why You Might Want to Disable Alexa Voice Purchasing
Alexa’s voice purchasing feature is designed for ease of use. However, its always-listening nature can sometimes be a double-edged sword. There have been instances where Alexa has added items to shopping carts based on overheard conversations or even sounds from the TV. While Alexa typically asks for confirmation before completing a transaction, this might not be enough to prevent unwanted purchases in all situations.
The primary concern for many users is accidental purchases, particularly by children. Kids might not fully understand the implications of voice commands and could easily make purchases without realizing the real-world financial impact. Even without accidental orders, the ease of voice purchasing can sometimes encourage impulse buys.
Disabling voice purchasing doesn’t mean you lose the ability to shop with Alexa entirely. You can still use voice commands to add items to your Amazon cart. The key difference is that you’ll need to finalize the purchase manually through the Amazon website or app, adding an extra layer of security and intention to your transactions. Alternatively, for those who want to retain the voice purchasing convenience but with added security, setting up a voice PIN is a viable option.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Disable Voice Purchasing on Alexa
Turning off voice purchasing on Alexa is straightforward and can be done through the Alexa app or the Amazon Alexa website. Here’s how to do it using both methods:
Method 1: Disabling Alexa Purchases via the Alexa App
The Alexa app provides a user-friendly interface to manage your Alexa device settings, including voice purchasing. Follow these steps to disable purchases:
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Open the Alexa App: Launch the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet. This app is available for iOS, Android, and Fire tablets.
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Access the Main Menu: Tap the Menu icon, represented by three horizontal lines, usually located in the top-left corner of the app screen.
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Go to Settings: In the menu, scroll down and tap on Settings.
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Navigate to Account Settings: Tap on Account Settings to manage your Amazon account preferences related to Alexa.
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Find Voice Purchasing: Within Account Settings, locate and tap on Voice Purchasing.
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Disable Purchase by Voice: You will see a toggle switch next to Purchase by voice. Tap the toggle to switch it to the off position. When disabled, the toggle will turn gray, indicating that voice purchasing is now turned off.
You’ll also see an option for Voice code on this screen. This is where you can set up a PIN for voice purchases if you prefer an authorization step instead of completely disabling the feature.
Method 2: Disabling Alexa Purchases on the Amazon Alexa Website
If you prefer managing your settings from a computer, you can easily disable voice purchasing through the Amazon Alexa website:
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Go to the Alexa Website: Open a web browser and go to alexa.amazon.com.
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Log in to Your Amazon Account: Sign in using your Amazon account credentials. Ensure this is the same account linked to your Alexa devices.
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Navigate to Settings: On the left-hand panel, click on Settings.
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Access Voice Purchasing Settings: In the Alexa Account section, find and select Voice Purchasing.
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Turn Off Purchase by Voice: Locate the toggle next to Purchase by voice and click it to turn it off. The toggle will change to gray when voice purchasing is disabled.
Similar to the app, you’ll also find the Voice code option here to set up a PIN for voice authorization.
Setting Up a Voice PIN for Alexa Purchases: An Alternative to Disabling
If you like the convenience of voice shopping but want to add a layer of security, setting up a voice PIN is an excellent compromise. This requires a four-digit code to be spoken before any voice purchase is completed.
Here’s how to set up a voice PIN:
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Go to Voice Purchasing Settings: Using either the Alexa app or the Alexa website, navigate to the Voice Purchasing settings as described in the previous methods.
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Enable Voice Code: Find the toggle next to Voice Code and tap or click it to turn it on.
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Set Your PIN: Once enabled, you’ll be prompted to set up a four-digit PIN. Enter your desired PIN and confirm it when asked.
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Optional: Enable Recognized Voice Skip: You might see an additional option: Enable recognized voice to skip giving the voice code if they have previously given it. This feature, if enabled, allows Alexa to remember your voice after you’ve provided the PIN once, streamlining future purchases for you but still maintaining security for others.
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Important Notes:
- Account-Specific Settings: Voice purchasing settings, whether you disable it or set up a PIN, are linked to your Amazon account, not specific devices. If you have multiple Alexa devices connected to different Amazon accounts within your household, you’ll need to adjust the settings for each account individually.
- Consider Your Needs: Decide whether completely disabling voice purchasing or setting up a PIN is more suitable for your household’s needs and shopping habits.
By following these steps, you can effectively manage voice purchases on your Alexa devices, giving you greater control over your spending and preventing unintended transactions.
