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How to Connect Alexa to Hotspot on iPhone – Easy Way
Amazon Alexa needs an internet connection to work. However, it can do a few things without an internet connection. Without it, Alexa is just another electronic device that adds only a very little value.
A few years ago, when Alexa first came out, it could only be connected to a WiFi router. This means if you have an iPhone that can share its mobile data via a mobile hotspot, you won’t be able to connect your Echo devices to the hotspot and create the smart home you want. If you really wanted to do that, you needed a second device to facilitate network configurations while sharing the data on your iPhone.
However, in 2016, Amazon released a new software update to both Echo and Echo dot devices that enabled the devices to connect to a mobile hotspot without the need for another phone.
If you are using a newer version of the Echo device, then it won’t be a problem for you to connect and use Alexa by using your iPhone’s mobile hotspot. And in this guide, you will learn how to do that.
So let’s learn how to connect Alexa to a hotspot on iPhone in simple steps. Not only that, we will discuss potential errors you could come across and how to fix them while doing this. Keep reading…
Step 01 – Prepare your Echo device
If you are going to set up your Echo device for the first time, then you cannot connect it directly to the hotspot. First, you need to do the initial setup by connecting to the WiFi network.
If you don’t know how to set up your brand-new Echo device, follow the steps below.
- Download & install the Alexa app to your iPhone
- Plug your Echo device into a power source
- Now open the Alexa app
- Tap on more or the menu icon at the top left corner
- Tap on Add device
- Select Amazon Echo
- Tap on Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus, and more
- After, follow the instructions given in the app to finish setting up your device.
Once you have successfully set up your Echo device, move to the next step.
Step 02 – Change the Wi-Fi network within the Alexa app
Plug your Echo device and turn it on (if it is turned off), then follow the steps below.
- Open the Alexa app
- Tap on devices (located at the bottom options in the Alexa app)
- Tap on Echo & Alexa
- Tap on the device you want to connect with your iPhone’s hotspot
- Under the Wireless section, tap on change right next to the Wi-Fi network
Step 03 – Set up the Echo again
Now you will see a new window to set up the Echo. On the “Begin Echo device set up” screen, follow these steps;
- Tap on the continue button below the window
- Tap on Don’t see the orange light ring
- You will see a photo of how to put your Echo into the setup mode. As described in the image, press and hold the action button, until the device’s ring light turns orange
- Once you have done it correctly, tap on the continue button in the Alexa app
- You will be redirected to a new window called “Manually connect to Echo.” Now go to your device’s WiFi connection and see if the WiFi connection mentioned in that window is there.
- Connect to that WiFi connection
- You will receive a notification stating the WiFi have no internet access, tap on it
- Then you will get a prompt saying “This network has no internet access. Stay connected.” Tap on the Yes button
- Go back to the Alexa app, and you will see “Continue Echo set up,” tap on the Continue button
Step 03 – Add the WiFi hotspot
If you have come this far, congratulations! You are only a few taps away from connecting your Echo to your iPhone’s hotspot. Follow the steps given below to continue with the setup.
- You will now see the Select your WiFi network page. On that page, tap on “Use this device as a Wi-Fi hotspot”
- Then you have to enter the hotspot name and the password of your iPhone’s hotspot settings, go to its settings, and type the name and password correctly in those boxes. Then tap on the Connect button
- You might be asked to update the Alexa app to continue. Therefore, if you haven’t updated the Alexa app, go to the Apple store and install the update
- Now you should see a screen saying “Turn on your WiFi hotspot”
- Once you get that screen, go to the hotspot section of your iPhone, and enable it.
- Wait until your Echo connects to it. Alexa will notify you once it is connected to the hotspot of your iPhone
- Now go back to the Alexa app and tap on the Continue button
- Wait a while until the setup gets completed
That’s it. Now you should be successfully connected to the Echo device to your iPhone’s hotspot.
But if you run into any problem during this process, see if the issue is listed below. You will also find the solution there too.
Common issues when you connect Alexa to hotspot on iPhone
Echo doesn’t connect to the mobile hotspot
This happens if you don’t turn on the mobile data. So if you get this problem, make sure the mobile data is turned on, and the Low data mode is disabled. Then try to connect the Echo again.
The Echo device doesn’t show the orange light ring
One reason for this is temporary glitches within the Echo device and the Alexa app. Power cycle your Echo device. This could be done by removing the device from the power source, then plugging it back in again after a few minutes.
Also, restarting your iPhone or the Alexa app will fix temporary issues with the Alexa app. After you have done these two solutions, you will be able to put the Echo into setup mode without any error.
Conclusion
We hope this guide helped you to connect Alexa to hotspot on iPhone. If you face any issues regardless of what we have mentioned here, don’t hesitate to let us know by comment. So we will be there to help.
Additionally, if you have any questions regarding this guide, you can also comment here to get answers right away.
Have a nice day!
