How To Remove Someone From Alexa

For many of us, smart home devices, particularly Amazon’s Alexa, have become a staple in our households. They’ve turned our once mundane homes into smart hubs, giving us a futuristic lifestyle that many of us never imagined.

However, as more people gain access to your Alexa device – be it friends, family, or roommates – there might come a time when you wish to retract access or privileges from someone. Whether it’s for privacy, safety, or simply personal preference, removing someone from Alexa doesn’t have to be an intimidating task.

Why You Might Want to Remove Someone from Alexa

Sometimes, sharing isn’t always caring, especially when it comes to tech:

• Privacy Concerns: They can access your personal data, to-dos, or shopping lists.
• Misuse: Someone might use Alexa to prank or play loud music, especially late at night.
• Streamlined Experience: As more people use the device, Alexa might get “confused” recognizing voices, affecting its performance.

Detailed Steps to Remove Someone from Alexa

For a seamless experience, let’s break this down into easy-to-follow steps:

1. Open the Alexa App:
   • Make sure you’re logged into the account linked with your Echo device.
2. Access Settings:
   • Click on the three horizontal lines (menu icon) on the top-left corner.
   • Select ‘Settings’.
3. Head to Account Settings:
   • Scroll down and tap on ‘Account Settings’.
4. Recognized Voices:
   • Here, you’ll see an option for ‘Recognized Voices’. Tap on it.
5. Select the Person:
   • You’ll see a list of all voices that Alexa recognizes.
   • Select the person you wish to remove.
6. Delete Voice:
   • Once selected, you’ll have the option to ‘Delete voice’. Tap on that, and the person’s voice will no longer be recognized by Alexa.

Securing Your Alexa Device After Removal

While removing a recognized voice is a step towards enhancing your Alexa device’s security, there are additional measures you can and should consider:

Guest Connect Feature

• What Is It?
  • Guest Connect allows visitors to connect their Alexa account temporarily with your Echo device. This allows them to access their music playlists, flash briefings, and more, without getting full access to the device’s settings or your personal data.
• Why Use It?
  • It’s a middle ground. I recommend using the Guest Connect feature if you want to offer some Alexa capabilities to your guests without granting them full access. This way, you don’t have to deal with the hassle of adding and removing users.

Voice Profiles

• What’s the Benefit?
  • By creating a voice profile, Alexa learns to recognize your voice. This means that when you ask Alexa for personal information, such as your messages or calendar events, it will respond only to you, enhancing privacy and security.
• Creating a Voice Profile:
  • Step 1: Open the Alexa app and go to Settings.
  • Step 2: Select “Your Profile” and then “Voice”.
  • Step 3: Follow the on-screen prompts. Alexa will ask you to read certain phrases to learn the nuances of your voice.

Device Location Settings

• The Importance of Accurate Device Location:
  • The location of your Alexa device affects functionalities such as weather updates, local news, and more. Ensure this setting is accurate, especially if you’ve moved the device or changed homes.
• Changing Device Location:
  • Step 1: Open the Alexa app and go to Devices.
  • Step 2: Select your device and then choose “Device Location”.
  • Step 3: Update the address.

Cleaning Up Old Devices

It’s not uncommon to upgrade or change our smart devices over time. However, your old devices might still be linked to your account.

• Why Remove Old Devices?
  • I recommend doing so to ensure no one can access your account using a device you no longer actively use.
• Removing Old Devices:
  • Step 1: Open the Alexa app and go to Settings.
  • Step 2: Go to “Device Settings”.
  • Step 3: Select the device you want to remove.
  • Step 4: Scroll down and choose “Deregister”.

Using Alexa with Other Smart Home Devices

If you’ve integrated other smart home devices with Alexa, be mindful of the access each device has.

• Review Permissions Regularly:
  • Periodically check which apps and devices can access your Alexa. Remove any that are no longer in use.
• Consider Secondary Authentication:
  • For added security, use secondary authentication methods, like a PIN, especially for actions that can compromise security or privacy, such as unlocking doors.

Additional Tips & Recommendations

• Restrict Access Altogether: I recommend using a voice or pin code for certain actions like purchases if you’re wary about who has access.
• Regularly Review: It’s a good habit to regularly review who has access, ensuring your smart home setup is always in line with your preferences.
• Device Sharing: If you’re looking to give temporary access, consider the device sharing option in Alexa. This way, you can grant temporary access and revoke it when necessary.

Conclusion

Living in a smart home brings about a myriad of advantages, but with the increasing complexity of tech, comes the necessity to manage and control access. Fortunately, removing someone from Alexa is a straightforward process, allowing users to maintain their preferred level of privacy and control. Just always remember to keep the user experience in mind and prioritize security.

FAQ

Can the removed person still access my Alexa?

No. Once removed, their voice will not be recognized, and they won’t have access unless you re-add them.

If I delete someone’s voice, will it affect the other settings?

Deleting someone’s voice primarily affects voice recognition. It won’t alter other settings like routines, alarms, etc.

Can they add their voice again on their own?

They would need access to the primary Amazon account and the Alexa app to re-add themselves, so always ensure your account details are kept private.