The Amazon Echo or Echo Dot have been unable to connect directly to mobile Wi-Fi hotspots unless a second device was available to facilitate the connection. This is because, to connect an Echo or Echo Dot to a Wi-Fi network, you must transfer those network settings to the Echo or Echo Dot via a temporary Wi-Fi connection. If all you have is a phone that is itself the source of the Wi-Fi network/hotspot you want the Echo or Echo Dot to connect to, then you can’t both connect to the Echo or Echo Dot’s temporary Wi-Fi connection while also keeping the hotspot connection active. This is why, up until now, you’ve needed a second device to configure the Echo or Echo Dot’s Wi-Fi settings while the phone is emitting a Wi-Fi hotspot. A new Echo and Echo Dot software update, version 3389, has resolved this limitation and now allows the Echo and Echo Dot to connect to a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.
Update
7/11/2016 The instructions for connecting to a hotspot have just went live. When setting up an Echo or Echo Dot, there is now an option to “Use this device as a Wi-Fi hotspot” in the Alexa app where you manually enter the network ID and password.
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I’m curious to know how it works.
I just drove home with my dot connected to my phone hotspot, listened to Sirius XM Fox News for over half an hour and it was flawless. They got this working nice.
Man this could be sweet if you wanted to incorporate somehow into your car. You could just use phone mobile hotspot or in-car wifi as well
If I could find an unlocked Android phone that allows tethering/wifi hotspot access… I’d be all over an Echo Dot for the car.
Just install FoxFi apk on your current android device
How do I use foxfi with the echo? My phone won’t allow Wi-Fi and foxfi to be turned on 31st the same time, and the echo doesn’t connect with the Wi-Fi turned off. It also won’t recognize foxfi.
I had that same problem after updating PDA+ this month. I ended up deleting the new one and going to the website and downloading the old one. Still couldn’t get it to work so gave up. It is working now. First I renamed my wifi Amazon-644. For some reason it ended up being Amazon-644 2 that worked for all my wifi connections. I went in and “forgot” all other connections besides the one working right and it hooked right up. It had updated I guess in the process it worked before and it is working now. And I am definitely not techy. :)
I should’ve mentioned I run my computer, Echo, Firestick and my tikilive all at the same time on my PDAnet mobile hotspot. Echo stays hooked up and automatically hooks back up like the others.
I’m on Boost Mobile (Sprint is parent company). It has hot spot capability, now, so I am pretty sure that more major carriers have it, too?
Don’t both using the hotspot – contrary to the claims, the Echo Dot (in my case) does NOT reconnect to the hotspot automatically. Also, it fails to connect time after time – on initial set up, it took 15 attempts for it to finally connect to the hotspot. Once lost…had to start all over.
Not ready for prime time.
Does the echo dot have to connect to wifi?
Doesn’t work. I have an Echo dot (2nd generation );Verizon generated name and password. Have been trying over the weekend (three days) without success.
Good to know mobile wifi isn’t reliable. Been considering a dot and only have mobile wifi where I live. You guys saved me from frustration.
I have bought an echo dot , can I connect it to my home WiFi , I don’t have an I phone to download an alexa app, do I need this
I used my notebook, because my Android was giving me fits, with Alexa app. It didn’t work.
Someone please delete, this…I was replying to someone (& used the ‘reply’ button) and am nowhere near, the original post I was answering. Further, the text bears no resemblance to what I was saying.
Hi EVERYONE, IM SURE THIS IS A DAFT QUESTION, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THIS STUFF.i WANT TO BUY AN ECHO DOT, I STREAM MY INTERNET FROM MY NEIGHBOURS HOUSE ACROSS THE ROAD (YES THEY DO NO, AND I HAVE THE PASSWORD ETC) BUT WOULD I BE ABLE TO RUN ECHO OR DO I NEED MY OWN HOME HUB, THANKS FOR ANY INFO YOU CAN GIVE ME :)
Hi Ruth – It should work fine, assuming the WiFi strength is good enough. Perhaps start with the Dot as close as possible to the neighbours place to get the best chance of connecting.
From a technical point of view, there is no difference if the WiFi is in your place, or across the road.
That’s ignoring security issue of your neighbours snooping on your data, but I assume you trust them if you are already sharing.
Cheers.
P.S. CAPS IS CONSIDERED SHOUTING ONLINE. Please try to use natural case. People will ignore you less. Trust me.
Thank you for your reply,
most helpful,
kind regard’s
Hi .i dont hav wifi at my wknd caravan …so can i tether my fone 2 my echo 2 listen 2 my music..will this use a lot of my 3g monthly data…im only there on a sat…thanku ..
I want to get my wifi password in to my echo dot
Can Alexa be used without having internet and pairing it with Verizon hotspot using Samsung note 4 phone?
Why does my Echo not connect to my mobile hot spot
If I can get alexa apps on my android, how come I cannot get the Alexa Echo to connect to my internet or Wi-Fi?
I had to use my mobile hotspot, and a 2nd machine to do the, work (hooking echo to the visible, hotspot). It was, tricky. Took a couple shots to get it, right.
Had similar issue. Choose the “amazon-xxx” wireless network to connect to. Run through the setup and once connected you can switch back to your home wireless network w/internet.
Connected my echo to mobile hot spot using tablet as interent and phone as wifi network. Thought software on Alexia would update automatically and then I could use one device on mobile hotspot. Still not working! Very frustrating.
I am using a Verizon – Jetpack Mifi 7730L 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot as my wifi. My alexa WILL NOT connect with it. It did when we first got it but then it dropped connection and will not reconnect. I’ve tried unplugging and uninstalling but nothing works. Any help??
I have a child who is accessing the Internet some how ??? Could I via my Alexa, our hotspots are turned off on our phones, she does not have the password for the WiFi
can’t connect echo dot to wi fi
Root your Boost phone. If it has Hot Spot capabilities, Boost will nullify this function unless you pay extra for it. But with a “Rooted” phone, you can activate and use the Hot-Spot capability of your phone til-the-cows-come-home, at no extra charge. You can then use your Echo Dot as described. ZTE phones have this capability natively, as do HCT phones, Lenovo tablets and many more. These are sometimes older and cheaper phones (that are still very good) and in many instances, the WiFi hot spot capability is more valuable than almost all other features of your more expensive phone.