You’re already the owner of one Alexa device, perhaps an Amazon Echo. Now you’ve bought a second device—it could be another Echo, the smaller Echo Dot, or an Echo Show. How do you set up that second device? And a third? And then a fourth? And how do you best configure and juggle them all for multi-room playback?
To make this work, you can use the Alexa app or website, but the process is more convenient if you go mobile. Here, we’ll show you how to set up multiple Echo devices from a mobile device.
Pair Your Echo Device With the Alexa App
In the Alexa app, tap Devices, the plus (+) button in the top-right corner, and then Add Device.
You will be asked what kind of device you would like to set up. Since this is an Amazon Echo, choose the first option under All Devices. However, you can also set up another smart home device, such as a light, plug, switch, camera, lock, or security system.
Next, you’ll be asked to select the type of Echo device you’re setting up, such as an Echo Dot, Echo Buds, Echo Auto, or Echo Frames. Depending on the device you select, the next screen may ask you to confirm which generation Echo device you’re setting up.
The app then takes you through the setup process. Make sure your Echo device is plugged in. Wait for its ring to turn orange and then tap Continue in the app. If the ring doesn’t turn orange, hold down the action button for around 15 seconds until it does.
Connect Your Echo Device to Wi-Fi
Select the Echo device listed on the screen. The name should take the form of Echo-XXX, with the XXX represented by a series of three uppercase letters.
Unless you’re still using a first-generation Echo device, the Alexa app searches for and connects to your Wi-Fi network. You may then see a screen prompting you to confirm your Wi-Fi network and type the password. Enter this information and then tap Connect. The Alexa app tells you that it’s connected to your network.
A message should then pop up indicating that your Echo device is connected, while Alexa tells you that the device is ready. To make sure Alexa is listening on your new device, ask a question or submit a request. Tap Continue. You must then choose a language for Alexa to use on your new device. Select the correct language and tap Continue.
Add Your Echo Device to a Room
You can then designate a location for your Echo. Using two Echo devices in the same room can be helpful for music playback and similar tasks. Choose the correct room and tap Continue. The app may then ask for the exact location of your new device to help with local weather and traffic.
Select your address and tap Continue or tap Skip to bypass this screen. Your device is now ready to rock and roll. You can watch a short video to explain your Echo device or tap Skip to move on. Follow the same steps if you need to set up more Echo devices.
Rename Your Echo Device
As you add more devices of the same type, Alexa gives them sequential names, such as Echo-1, Echo-2. But you can give each device a more descriptive title. To do this, open Devices, tap Echo & Alexa and select the device you want to rename.
On phones, select Device Settings (the icon that looks like a gear) in the upper right, then tap the Edit Name link under the name of the device. (On iPad, you’ll see the Edit Name option right away.) Type the new name for the device.
Give Alexa Some Space
If you’re setting up multiple Alexa devices throughout your home, you typically want to put them far enough apart so the wrong device doesn’t respond when you try to interact with your device. Bluetooth’s range is limited, but it can still communicate from one room to the next.
In my case, I have one Echo in our living room, a second Echo in our bedroom, and a third Echo in my office. Those rooms are far enough apart that I can call Alexa, and the right device responds. However, there are advantages to having more than one Echo in the same room, particularly if you want to listen to music or TV audio.
If the devices are in close proximity, you can always change the Wake word to distinguish one from the other. Besides Alexa, other wake words to use to get your Echo’s attention are Amazon, Echo, Computer, and Ziggy.
Create Multi-Room Music Group
If you have multiple Echo devices around the house, you can play multi-room music so the tunes waft throughout your home. In the Alexa app, tap Devices, select the plus (+) button, and choose the Combine speakers option.
The next screen tells you that there are three ways to combine your speakers: multi-room music, home theater, and stereo pair/subwoofer. Tap Multi-room music.
Select the Echo devices that you want to add to the multi-room setup. Make sure all the speakers are online and connected to the same network. If you don’t see all your Echo devices, tap Rescan at the bottom to scan for them again. When done, tap Next.
You must then choose a name for your multi-room group. Select one of the existing names or swipe down to the bottom and type a custom name. Tap Save.
You’re returned to the Devices screen where you can see your new group. To play music on all the Echo devices in your group, say “Alexa, play music on [name of multi-room group].”
