Does Alexa need a steady WiFi connection to work at its best? A lot of Alexa's key features rely heavily on applications and services that are based in the cloud. Consequently, it's crucial to ensure consistent internet access through a dependable WiFi network.
There are a small subset of features on an Echo speaker or display that can still function without an active Wi-Fi or internet connection. The specific features available depend on the exact model you have. Below I walk through what features work without Wi-Fi and how you can use your Echo device without having a fixed internet connection.
Note: The latest Echo Show displays can be connected to the internet via a micro-USB > Ethernet adapter. In this case, you don’t need Wi-Fi, yet you can still avail of all Alexa features.
Why Alexa needs Wi-Fi for most functions
Alexa’s functions can be broadly broken down into local / on-device functions and cloud functions.
For example, Alexa uses audio pattern-recognition software installed on the Echo speaker to recognize the “wake word”. Once it hears the “wake word”, it then records the audio request and sends it to the cloud for processing. The cloud service then interprets the request using “natural language processing”, carries out an appropriate action (such as checking if there is traffic in the area) and sends the response back to the device, to be relayed to the user.
In the above example, without an active Wi-Fi or internet connection, Alexa won’t be able to send the request to the cloud. This is why the vast majority of Alexa features won’t be available without Wi-Fi.
Does Alexa Need WiFi: What Alexa features work without WiFi or when your device is offline?
Certain models of Echo speakers and displays can support a limited number of voice commands to carry out various functions. This is similar to the audio pattern-recognition software used to recognize the “wake word”, so cloud processing is unnecessary.
1. Basic Features
Without Wi-Fi, you can ask your Echo device to increase, decrease and control your volume level. As it has an internal clock, it can still give you the date and time. You can also dismiss reminders, alarms and timers that were previously set and scheduled to go off as these are saved on the device and not in the cloud. You can’t however create new timers, reminders or alarms as this requires cloud processing.
2. Smart Device Control
Certain Echo devices have an inbuilt Zigbee radio which allows them to be used as a smart home hub. This includes the Echo 4th Gen, Echo Plus (1st and 2nd Gen) and Echo Studio speakers alongside the Echo Show 10 (2nd & 3rd Gen) smart display. The various Echo Dot speakers do not have this Zigbee chip.
By pairing your Zigbee light switches, bulbs, plugs and locks to Alexa, you can then control them via this Echo hub.
You can enable “Local Voice Control” by going to the Alexa App > Devices > Select the Echo device > Settings > Local Voice Control.
This allows you to use a limited set of voice commands to control these devices if your Wi-Fi or internet connection goes down.
Note: As ridiculous as it sounds, you actually need to be online to enable local voice control in the app! Also I’ve seen some discussion online noting that this setting has disappeared for some users with newer devices – I’m not sure if it’s simply becoming a standard fallback option when the Wi-Fi cuts out or if Amazon are discontinuing the feature.
3. Bluetooth
Your Echo device can be configured to act like a Bluetooth speaker, so you can stream music or podcasts from your phone without Wi-Fi.
For Echo speakers, unfortunately, you need Wi-Fi to initially pair your phone to your speaker. Once paired, you then no longer need Wi-Fi. You can achieve this by setting up a temporary Wi-Fi hotspot from your phone which I walk through in the next section.
As Echo Show devices have a display interface, you can access the Bluetooth settings menu and pair a device without a Wi-Fi connection.
Note: Alexa on a Fire TV stick is 100% dependent on a Wi-Fi connection and cannot operate at all without it.
How to use your Echo Speaker as a Bluetooth Speaker
- Go to your smartphone’s Bluetooth screen.
- For iPhones, open settings > Bluetooth, turn on Bluetooth and stay on the screen when it is in pairing mode.
- For Android phones, open settings > Connections > Bluetooth, and turn on Bluetooth. Your device is now in pairing mode.
- When connected to Wi-Fi, say “Alexa Pair”, “Alexa Bluetooth On” or “Alexa Pair Bluetooth Device” to your Echo speaker. (This can also be managed in the Alexa app – see screenshots below).
- The Echo speaker will appear on the pairing device list on your phone under “Available Devices.” Tap on the speaker name to pair and confirm pairing.
- The speaker should then begin playing the music or audio from your phone.
- You can now disable Wi-Fi and can still stream audio from your phone to your Echo speaker via Bluetooth.
How to use your Echo Show Display as a Bluetooth Speaker
- Go to your smartphone’s Bluetooth screen.
- For iPhones, open settings > Bluetooth, turn on Bluetooth and stay on the screen when it is in pairing mode.
- For Android phones, open settings > Connections > Bluetooth, and turn on Bluetooth. Your device is now in pairing mode and visible to other devices.
- On the Echo Show display, then navigate to Settings > Bluetooth and then select your device name.
- On the Echo Show display, then navigate to Settings > Bluetooth and then select your device name.
- You can now stream audio or music from your phone to the Echo Show’s speaker.
How to connect Alexa using mobile data and a hotspot
Using a mobile hotspot is a simple alternative to connect your Echo speakers and displays to the internet without having access to a fixed Wi-Fi router. After all, the principle is the same as using a dedicated Wi-Fi connection for your home or office.
As discussed in the last section, this is great if you want to quickly pair your phone to your Echo speaker over Bluetooth and then use it offline.
All you need to have is a smartphone that has its own data internet connection and data package with a provider. So, below is a step-by-step outline of how to connect Alexa to a mobile hotspot.
Note: Echo speakers can download a large amount of data so make sure you have a mobile data plan to support this type of connection.
- Activate your smartphone’s mobile hotspot. On Android this is under Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering > Mobile Hotspot. On iOS, this is under Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot or Settings > Personal Hotspot.
- With the hotspot enabled and the credentials to hand, open up the Alexa App.
- Select Echo & Alexa.
- Select your device.
- Select the change option next to the Wi-Fi network.
- Continue following the app instructions and pick the name of your smartphone to connect to its hotspot.
- Enter the hotspot password and continue.
- Alexa now works off of your mobile hotspot!
How does a mobile Hotspot work?
Mobile hotspots work similarly to a Wi-Fi connection. Your smartphone uses its hot-spot online connection to a data network as if it were a broadband data source.
Your mobile phone hot-spot uses its 3G/4G/5G cellular network to connect to the internet and then share this connection with other devices.
So, if you are in a home with no broadband connection, you can instead use your smartphone’s data package to provide online access to electronics such as a smart TV, laptop, or Alexa devices through the mobile hot-spot. You must ensure that your mobile data connection is strong though and you have a data package large enough to facilitate these other devices. Otherwise, you may end up with a rather large bill from your mobile carrier.
I hope that the above sheds some light on using your Alexa device without Wi-Fi and the possible workarounds.
Sources
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201602230
https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/docs/alexa/smarthome/zigbee-support.html