Amazon Echo devices are incredibly versatile, assisting with everything from managing schedules to controlling smart homes and playing music. These user-friendly devices also feature a system of colored lights to communicate various notifications and statuses. If you’ve noticed a green light on your Echo speaker or display, it’s signaling something specific, and understanding what it means is key to effectively using your device. Let’s dive into what that green light indicates and how to manage it.
Decoding the Green Light on Your Alexa Device
Whether you own an Echo Dot with a light ring or an Echo Show with a light bar, a green light consistently points to incoming communications. Specifically, a flashing green light on your Alexa device means you are receiving an incoming call.
This call could originate from a standard phone call placed to your Echo device, or it could be a Drop In initiated by a contact – perhaps a family member checking in or a friend wanting to chat via their own Echo device or the Alexa app.
Once you answer the call or initiate a call yourself, the green light behavior changes slightly. Instead of flashing, the green light will begin spinning. This spinning green light indicates an active call or Drop In session is in progress, letting you know that your microphone and speakers are live and connected to the other party.
Answering, Ignoring, or Ending a Green Light Call on Alexa
When your Alexa device is showing a flashing green light, you have a few options to manage the incoming call:
Answering the Call: The most straightforward way to respond is to simply say, “Alexa, answer call.” Upon this command, your Echo device will connect the call, and the light will transition from flashing to spinning green, signifying the active connection. You can then begin your conversation.
Ignoring the Call: If you are unavailable or do not wish to answer the call, you can simply ignore it. The flashing green light will eventually time out and disappear on its own. Alternatively, you can verbally dismiss the notification by saying, “Alexa, ignore call,” which will immediately turn off the green light.
Ending an Active Call: When you are finished with your conversation and the green light is spinning, you need to properly end the call. To do this, simply say, “Alexa, hang up.” This command will disconnect the call, and the spinning green light will disappear, returning your Echo device to its standby state.
Permanently Disabling the Green Light Call Feature on Alexa
If you prefer not to receive calls or Drop Ins on your Alexa device and want to prevent the green light from ever appearing, you can disable these features within the Alexa app settings. Here’s how:
Step 1: Open the Alexa App: Launch the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet.
Step 2: Navigate to Devices: Tap on the “Devices” icon usually located at the bottom right of the app screen.
Step 3: Select Echo & Alexa: Tap on “Echo & Alexa” to see a list of your Alexa devices.
Step 4: Choose Your Device: Select the specific Alexa device you want to manage from the list.
Step 5: Access Communication Settings: Scroll down the device settings and tap on “Communications.”
Step 6: Disable Communications: Toggle the “Communications” setting to the off position. This will disable the ability to receive standard calls and messages from non-Alexa mobile devices on this specific Echo device.
Step 7: Disable Drop In (Optional): If you also want to disable Drop In calls, locate the “Drop In” setting within the same “Communications” panel and toggle it to the off position.
After disabling these features, your Alexa device will no longer receive call notifications, and the green light will not appear for incoming calls or Drop Ins.
Beyond Green: A Quick Guide to Other Alexa Light Colors
While green signifies calls, Alexa uses a spectrum of colors to communicate different statuses and notifications. Here’s a brief overview of some other common Alexa light colors:
Pulsing Yellow: A pulsing yellow light indicates notifications. These could be Amazon shopping notifications like shipment updates or delivery alerts, reminders to reorder items, or unread messages in your Alexa inbox. To clear yellow light notifications, ask, “Alexa, what are my notifications?” and then “Alexa, clear notifications.”
Flashing Red: A flashing red light means the microphone on your Alexa device is muted. To unmute and make the red light disappear, simply press the microphone mute button on the top of your Echo device.
White Light: White light serves a couple of purposes. A gradual increase or decrease in white light indicates volume adjustments, whether you use voice commands, buttons, or the app. A spinning white light signifies that Alexa Guard is enabled and set to Away Mode. To disable Away Mode, tell Alexa you are home or turn off Guard in the Alexa app.
Understanding Alexa’s light signals, especially the meaning of the green light, enhances your ability to interact with your smart speaker or display effectively. By knowing what each color represents, you can quickly interpret your device’s status and respond accordingly, ensuring you don’t miss important calls or notifications.
