Why Is My Echo Pop Red? (Don’t Panic, Easy Fix!)
Asking why is my Echo Pop red? This is not an issue, and may not require troubleshooting!
The red light on Echo Pop, as well as on any Amazon Echo speaker means that the microphone has been disabled (muted) and Alexa is not listening.
The primary indication for a muted mic is a solid red light, which doesn’t change and remains on for as long as the microphone is muted.
Here’s what to do to fix the issue instantaneously:
Why is My Echo Pop Red? – Quick Fix in Easy Steps!
Note: Are you confident that the light is red? If it’s orange, this means a network-related issue!
1. Unmute the Microphone
As mentioned, the solid red light on Amazon Echo Pop simply indicates the microphone has been muted and Alexa is currently not listening.
To unmute the microphone, you must locate the microphone button on the Echo Pop, found next to the light indication with a line through it.
One press is enough!
If your Amazon Echo Pop’s microphone has been muted, one single press of the mic button will unmute the unit, and the red light will disappear.
If the red light doesn’t go away, press the button more firmly.
If the button is stuck, keep reading!
2. Unstuck Echo’s Mic Button
If your Echo Pop has red light and the microphone mute button feels unusual upon pressing it or doesn’t go all the way in, it’s not excluded that it doesn’t make contact.
This primarily happens after spilling sticky liquid on your device, which hardens the button to a point where it can’t go all the way in and execute.
The solution is to clean the button using a soft cotton dipped in lukewarm water and a toothpick by reaching into the microphone button recess.
Try to remove all dust and debris as well as moisten the cavity. Then press the button using a mild force and repeat several times.
This should unstick the button and finally unmute the mic.
If the button doesn’t seem stuck or sticky, the red light is probably a result of a system bug!
3. Soft-Reset Amazon Echo Pop
If you’re pressing the mic mute button on the top of your Echo Pop, but you still see the red light, it’s possible that you’re encountering a system bug.
So, the perfect method to apply is to soft-reset (power cycle) your Echo Pop, by temporarily unplugging the unit from the wall outlet.
This is very easy, as follows:
- Unplug your Echo Pop from the outlet.
- Wait for at least 60 seconds for a cycle.
- Connect your Echo Pop to the power.
While your Echo Pop is starting up, you’ll see pulsating cyan light, which lasts for about 30 to 40 seconds. When the cyan light disappears, you should no longer see the red light.
If you still see the red light, try pressing the microphone mute button again to check whether it will work.
Note: If the red light shows up immediately after plugging in your Echo Pop, the device might not be paired properly with the Alexa app.
4. Unpair & Pair your Echo Pop
If the Echo Pop red light won’t disappear, regardless of what you’re trying, it’s time to unpair and pair the speaker from the Alexa app.
The entire problem with the persistent red light may be a result of a system-related blunder, or glitch, involving the Alexa application directly.
How to Unpair Echo Pop from the Alexa App?
- Open the Alexa app and go to “Devices.”
- Locate and select the Echo Pop speaker.
- Then, tap on the Cogwheel at the top right.
- Select “Bluetooth Devices” from the menu.
- Tap on the arrow to expand your settings.
- Lastly, tap on “Forget Device” and confirm.
How to Connect Echo Pop to the Alexa App?
- Unplug and reconnect your Echo Pop.
- Open the Alexa app and go to “Devices.”
- Tap “Add Device” and select Amazon Echo.
- Choose “Echo Pop” from the device’s list.
- Follow the on-screen steps to pair the unit.
When your Echo Pop is paired with the Alexa app, the red light should no longer be apparent.
Quick Tip: If you still see the red light, try pressing the microphone mute button again to test!
5. Update the Echo Pop Firmware
Typically, Amazon Echo devices, including Echo Pop update automatically. However, there is a way to force an update, which is by pressing the microphone button.
Yes, that’s correct, when you mute your speaker, and leave it for 15 minutes to an hour, any pending updates will install.
Hence, this is exactly what you might have done accidentally.
So, we recommend leaving the Echo Pop, with the microphone muted for about 30 minutes, while observing whether a blue light will appear.
If yes, your Echo Pop is updating so wait.
Tip: You can check if your Echo Pop runs the latest software in the Alexa App → Devices → Echo Pop → Settings → About.
6. Factory Reset your Echo Pop
If you still see the Alexa Echo pop red light it’s time for a factory reset.
This will not only reset any possible system bugs keeping the red light on but also help you find out if the microphone mute button is working or not.
- To reset your Echo Pop, verify that the device is plugged in and press the Volume Down + Microphone button for 20 seconds.
The light on your Echo Pop should turn off for a few seconds then you will see a cyan color, which means that the device is starting up.
If your Echo Pop doesn’t go into a reset mode after holding the button for 20+ seconds, this straightforwardly shows that the mic mute button is not working.
Echo Pop Mic Button Not Working?
If you’ve come to the conclusion that the microphone button on your Echo Pop is not working, perhaps it’s time for servicing.
If you’re a tech enthusiast and your speaker’s warranty is over, you may go for a teardown, but it is unclear whether you’ll get to the bottom of this problem.
The general recommendation for users with active warranty is to attempt claiming it and for the ones with expired/voided warranty, bring the speaker to a technician.
Finn Wheatley, a Master’s graduate in Computer Science from UCL, London, honed his skills at small data science consultancies. There, he helped large corporations enhance their data capabilities by deploying cutting-edge machine learning analytics and resolving technical hurdles.