Privacy is foundational to everything that we design and build. This commitment to your privacy guides our actions every day. We know you may have questions about privacy, and this guide provides you with answers to some of the most common questions we get.
How do I know when Alexa is listening?
When it comes to privacy, there should be no surprises. When you have a request for Alexa, you first need to say your chosen wake word, which by default is “Alexa.” Only after your Echo device detects the wake word is Alexa listening to your requests. You’ll always be able to tell when Alexa is listening to your request because a light indicator will appear on your Echo device or an audible tone will sound. Think of the “On the Air” signs that light up in television studios during a broadcast. These indicators notify you that your device has detected the wake word and Alexa is now processing your request. Still want to know exactly what Alexa heard? An easy way to see for yourself is to check out your voice history in the Alexa app (Settings > Alexa Privacy > Review Voice History) or at Alexa Privacy Settings.
I’m not talking to Alexa and am having a conversation at home near my device. Is Alexa still listening and recording everything I say?
No. Alexa is a part of your life only when you ask Alexa to be. By default, Alexa begins listening after your Echo device detects the wake word, so Alexa does not listen to your personal conversations.
But how can my device detect the wake word without hearing the rest of my conversations?
Echo devices use built-in technology called “keyword spotting” that matches spoken audio to the acoustic patterns of the wake word. Simply put, Echo devices are designed by default to detect only the sound waves of your chosen wake word, and everything else is ignored. Like water through a strainer, all other audio (people talking, faucets running, birds chirping) passes through the device until the wake word is “caught” and sent to Amazon’s secure cloud, where your request is reanalyzed to verify the wake word was spoken. Want to keep nerding out? Follow the journey of a voice request.
How does Amazon use my Alexa voice recordings?
Amazon is not in the business of selling personal information. Information from your Alexa interactions is used to fulfill your request, personalize your experience, and build a more inclusive Alexa. For example, your voice recordings help Alexa adapt to your voice and your preferences so your interactions are more accurate and convenient. Requests from a diverse range of customers also helps Alexa understand everyone better—people with all kinds of speech patterns, accents, and dialects. When we do collect and use customer data, we take steps to secure the data, protect our customers’ privacy, and ensure that we use it responsibly. Learn how Alexa data is used.
With all technology comes hacking risks. What is Amazon doing to help make sure that no one can access my account or devices without my permission?
We have safeguards in place to help protect Alexa and Echo devices from security breaches. Amazon has hundreds of employees dedicated to finding and fixing vulnerabilities in Amazon devices and services, including Alexa and Echo. We hire top notch talent in the security space to conduct ongoing security assessment and patching of Alexa services and Echo devices. We also build security solutions and automated tools to identify and eliminate vulnerabilities. Because our security teams work across all Amazon devices, they can see and address larger security patterns and deploy solutions sooner and faster. Let’s take a closer look at the layers of security that are at work behind the scenes to help keep your Alexa experience safe.
Does Amazon provide Alexa data to the police or the government?
Amazon does not disclose customer information in response to government demands unless we're required to do so to comply with a legally valid and binding order. Unless prohibited from doing so or there is clear indication of illegal conduct in connection with the use of Amazon products or services, Amazon notifies customers before disclosing content information. Where we need to act to protect customers, we do. We have repeatedly challenged government demands for customer information that we believed were overbroad, winning decisions that have helped to set the legal standards for protecting customer speech and privacy interests. We also advocate in Congress to modernize outdated privacy laws to require law enforcement to obtain a search warrant from a court to get the content of customer communications. That's the appropriate standard, and it's the standard we follow.
Does Alexa ever wake up by accident?
On some occasions, Alexa may wake up when no one has said the wake word. It’s similar to when a person walking down the street turns their head when they hear what sounds like their name. Alexa may react the same way, misinterpreting audio that sounds like the wake word, but isn’t. For example, you’re talking to a friend and you say, “My neighbor just bought a Lexus convertible.” There is a small chance that Alexa might incorrectly identify that as the wake word. (That’s getting better, by the way. We are constantly improving our wake word detection technology.) To understand why there was an accidental wake-up, you can simply say, “Alexa, why did you do that?” and Alexa will explain why that happened. Though accidental wakeups are infrequent, here’s a tip to make them even more infrequent. If “Alexa” is too close to the name of someone in your household, you can change the wake word to “Echo,” “Amazon,” “Computer,” or “Ziggy” in the Alexa app (Settings > Device Settings > [Select device] > Wake Word).
Can I delete my voice recordings? How can I review and update my Alexa privacy settings?
At Alexa Privacy Settings or in the Alexa app (Settings > Alexa Privacy), you can view, hear, and delete your voice recordings or choose not to have your voice recordings saved. To delete by voice, just say, “Alexa, delete what I just said” to delete your voice recordings from the last ten minutes or “Alexa, delete everything I've ever said” to delete all your voice recordings. To update privacy settings related to your voice recordings, you can always say, “Alexa, update my privacy settings.” Interested in reviewing or updating other privacy settings? Alexa Privacy Settings is also your go-to for managing your smart home device state history, seeing and updating the Alexa Skills that you've granted permission to access specific data, and managing how you help improve Alexa. View step-by-step guide.
Why would I want to save my voice recordings?
Your voice recordings help Alexa adapt to your voice and your preferences so your interactions are more accurate and convenient. But it’s not just you that benefits. Requests from a diverse range of customers helps Alexa understand everyone better—people with all kinds of speech patterns, accents, and dialects. Learn how data fosters inclusion. One immediate benefit to saving your voice recordings is the ability to create a voice ID for enhanced personalization. For example, if you ask Alexa to play music, you’re more likely to hear songs based on your past requests instead of those made by others in your household. Like reviewing your Order History on Amazon, saving your Voice History can also help jog your memory. What was that song you were dancing to last week? What about that funny joke Alexa told you this morning? Those answers are only a few clicks away if you save your voice recordings.