Alexa & Echo guide · Based on my original video
Alexa Privacy Settings: What I Would Check First
My original video was called ‘7 Alexa Features You Need To Turn OFF Right NOW.’ This written guide keeps the useful settings review while separating preferences from security claims and accounting for changes since that older walkthrough.
The main takeaway
Review what Alexa stores, which skills have permission, who can communicate with your devices and whether you want cameras or Sidewalk enabled. Make each choice deliberately rather than switching everything off without understanding the tradeoff.
Best for
Echo owners who want to review permissions and reduce unwanted behavior.
Before you start
You need an exact match to a different Echo generation or software interface. Check the model and feature notes below before following older demonstrations.
Device or topic
Alexa Privacy Settings
Original walkthrough
2020-12-05
Start here
Begin in Alexa Privacy
What helps
- A written companion to my hands-on video
- Practical setup steps and examples
- Model and software differences called out
What to know
- Settings and privacy options can change
- Deleting history does not make Alexa an offline assistant
- My older Sidewalk concerns were not evidence of a demonstrated network exploit
Begin in Alexa Privacy
Open the Alexa app's settings and find Alexa Privacy, or use Amazon's Alexa privacy settings website. Review the history and data controls associated with the account that actually owns the devices. Household members can have different profiles, so make sure you know which account and device a setting applies to. This is a settings review, not proof that a device is compromised. My older video used forceful language about turning features off; the more useful approach is understanding what each feature does, then keeping the permissions that match how you use the household's devices.
Review voice history and retention
Look through the available voice history and choose the retention options that fit your preferences. Amazon provides controls for reviewing and deleting recordings, with settings that may vary by account and Alexa experience. Check the current wording rather than copying the exact month options from my 2020 video. Voice deletion and automatic retention are separate things to review. Also remember that deleting stored history is not the same as preventing every request from being processed online. If you use a voice command to delete something, confirm the relevant permission is enabled and review the result in your account.
Remove skill permissions you no longer need
Skills and linked services can accumulate as you try different smart-home products. In the privacy controls, review the permissions granted to those skills and remove access that no longer has a purpose. Also review services you do not use anymore. Before disabling a skill that controls a household device, check whether a routine relies on it so you do not accidentally break an automation someone uses daily. The goal is a smaller, understood set of permissions. You do not need to assume every permission is malicious to decide that an unused service no longer needs access.
Check Drop In and your contacts
Drop In is useful precisely because it does not behave like an ordinary call that must be answered. That also means its permissions deserve attention. Review who is allowed to Drop In and which household devices permit it. Disable it on devices where you do not need that form of communication. Announcements and ordinary calls are different features, so check them separately rather than assuming one switch changes everything. In my later walkthroughs I preferred adding selected contacts instead of importing my entire phone address book. That keeps the intended communication circle easier to understand and maintain.
Use camera and microphone controls intentionally
If you do not need a camera for calls or Home Monitoring, turn it off using your device's available controls. The older Echo Shows in my videos have physical shutters; not every future model should be assumed to use the same hardware. A closed shutter blocks that camera's view but does not automatically mute the microphones. Review the microphone control separately. If you enable Home Monitoring, understand who can access the live feed and what indicators or privacy options are available. Explain those choices to the people using the room rather than leaving a shared camera feature as a surprise.
Make an informed Sidewalk choice
My old video raised concerns about sharing connectivity through Amazon Sidewalk. That preference should not be confused with a demonstrated vulnerability. Amazon describes Sidewalk as a community network using compatible bridges and encrypted connections for supported devices; it is not the same as handing neighbors your home Wi-Fi password. Review the Sidewalk settings offered for your account and supported devices, and decide whether you want to contribute connectivity. I am not repeating the old video's speculation as evidence that strangers can access your home network. If broader IoT network separation is your concern, the networking series covers that as a different topic.
Reduce interruptions without confusing them with privacy
Not every annoying behavior is a security issue. Review suggestions, Hunches and home-screen content according to what your software actually offers. Brief Mode is another option: it can shorten responses and sometimes substitute a tone for spoken confirmation. Amazon documents it under Voice Responses. That can make a light command less disruptive, but it does not change your recording-retention settings. Make one change, test it and decide whether the tradeoff helps. Turning off a feature you like simply because its name appeared in an old video is not a useful goal.
Revisit settings after major changes
After adding a new Echo, linking a new service or moving to a different Alexa experience, revisit the settings you care about. Check camera behavior, communication permissions, linked skills and data choices rather than assuming every preference carried over exactly. Keep useful household tasks working while reducing access you do not need. You do not need another device to complete this checklist; the product links are optional references for the hardware discussed elsewhere in this series. If the hardware you already have is doing its job, the valuable improvement here is understanding its settings.
Sources and feature checks
More Alexa, Echo and smart-home guides
Alexa Tips and Tricks: Get More From Your EchoEcho Dot Max Guide: Music, Smart Home and SettingsIs Your IoT Network Actually Isolated?Common questions
Does deleting voice history stop Alexa from using the internet?
No. Stored-history controls and online request processing are different things.
Does closing the camera shutter also mute the microphone?
No. Review the microphone control separately from the camera controls on your exact model.
Do I need to buy anything to review these settings?
No. Start with the Alexa app and the account associated with your existing devices.
Compare before you buy
Which Amazon Echo Should You Buy?Watch the full walkthrough