10 Alexa Privacy Settings You Must Manage

Smart speakers listen to our commands, and the thought of collecting data might make you uncomfortable.

That’s why you must manage your Alexa privacy settings.

Amazon provides a range of privacy options that allow users like me or you to control what data is stored and how it is used. You must proactively review and adjust these settings to safeguard your privacy.

Here is the list of all the Alexa privacy settings that, in my opinion, you should manage and stay on top of.

1. Disable or Secure Amazon Sidewalk

Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network that helps devices like Amazon Echo and Ring work better by bolstering their Wi-Fi connectivity. However, it also means a slice of your Wi-Fi is shared with your neighbors’ devices.

Switching off Sidewalk is as simple as toggling the Amazon Sidewalk setting to off. Go to the Alexa app and tap More, followed by Settings and Account Settings.

There, you’ll find Amazon Sidewalk. Click on it and toggle the switch to disable it.

By doing so, you’ll opt out of the network and no longer share a portion of your Wi-Fi.

Amazon claims Sidewalk uses multiple layers of encryption to protect your data, so if your only worry is security, you might consider keeping it active and finding ways to secure it. However, it might be wiser to deactivate this feature if you are concerned about connecting your network to a shared bridge without any apparent advantages.

2. Utilize Alexa’s Built-In Privacy Features

Alexa comes with several built-in privacy features that you can use to improve your privacy.

Firstly, the microphone. Each device has a mute button that electronically disconnects the mics when activated. If you consider yourself a privacy freak, you may want to keep the device muted when it’s not used.

There’s typically a camera shutter that you can close manually for an echo device with a camera. This will ensure no video is recorded or sent without your consent.

The Drop-in feature allows instant connection with another Echo speaker. While it’s nice to drop in on other Alexa devices, managing the settings is vital so only authorized contacts can drop in, especially outside my household.

3. Review Smart Home Devices Activity History

If you’re like me and have smart home devices connected to an Echo device, you might not know that their interactions are stored and recorded automatically. Deleting this history can help protect your personal information and reduce the amount of data that Amazon has about your daily habits and usage.

Open the Alexa app to delete your smartphone’s smart home device history. Select More, Settings, click Alexa Privacy, then Review Smart Home Device History.

There, you can see data on how the smart devices have been used with Alexa. To access the history, click on Manage my Smart Home Device history. On that page, you can select how long the history should be saved for or delete the whole history with the One-time Deletion Of History option.

Periodically review your smart home activity to maintain privacy and regularly check the settings in the Alexa app, as they might change with updates.

4. Manage Alexa Voice Recordings

Alexa devices automatically store a history of all user voice interactions. To manage your privacy, you could either review the recording or set rules for automatic deletion.

To access voice recordings in the Alexa app, go to More, Settings, followed by Alexa Privacy.

On the Alexa Privacy page, click Review Voice History. You can review your Alexa interactions and delete voice recordings.

To set how long to save recordings, scroll to Manage Your Alexa Data.

You can set the retention period there or decide not to save recordings.

You will maintain privacy with your Alexa devices by staying on top of these settings.

5. Secure Or Disable Voice Purchases

Making purchases with just your voice can be very convenient, but it also opens the door to accidental or unauthorized purchases. If you don’t use that feature, you may consider disabling it, or if you do, there are some things you may do to secure it.

To disable voice purchasing, open the Alexa app and go to Settings, followed by Account Settings.

In Account Settings, select Voice Purchasing and tap the toggle next to Voice Purchasing to turn it off.

Suppose you don’t want to disable it because you use it. It would be best to consider setting the required voice code during each purchase. On the Voice Purchasing page, navigate to Purchase Confirmation and tap Voice Code to set one.

With the PIN code configured, you can rest easily knowing that Alexa only places orders with your direct approval through the app or with your voice followed by the correct PIN.

Amazon also allows purchases only through voice profiles, adding another security layer.

6. Manage Detected Sounds History

Alexa also listens for specific sounds, like smoke alarms or breaking glass; if detected, you will be notified, and the sound will also be stored in the history. Here’s how you can check this detected sound history and manage the associated Alexa privacy settings:

In the Alexa app, go to Settings and Alexa Privacy.

Next, tap Review History of Detected Sounds, where you can filter by date and device and delete the whole history of recordings.

Perhaps you want to configure how long such history should be saved because, by default, it’s kept forever. Find Manage Your Alexa Data and Detected Sounds History on the Alexa privacy page. There, you can select how long it should be preserved.

7. Be Aware Of How Alexa Uses Your Voice Recordings

By default, Amazon uses voice recordings to improve Alexa, enhancing device understanding and responsiveness. However, this is not mandatory and can be disabled. Here is how to find this setting in the Alexa app.

In Settings, find Alexa Privacy, followed by Manage Your Alexa Data.

There, we can opt out of helping to improve Alexa and disable the toggle. You can also do it for individual Alexa profile users, as shown below.

8. Delete Unused Alexa Skills

Unused or unnecessary skills can potentially have access to data they no longer need. Here’s how to review and disable not needed Alexa skills:

In the Alexa app, tap More and Skills & Games. Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap Yours Skills.

Browse through installed skills, select unused ones, and disable them. This will automatically delete the still and unlink the account if it was linked.

Disabling a skill might cause me to lose any progress or data associated with it, but it will not affect the core functions of my Alexa device.

Using Voice Commands: Sometimes, when I’m in a rush, you can ask Alexa to do the job by saying, “Alexa, disable [Skill Name],” and she’ll do it.

9. Improve Amazon Account Security

Managing the privacy settings of your Amazon account should not be overlooked. I always recommend following appropriate security measures to protect personal information, such as home address and login details, from falling into the wrong hands.

Set Strong Password

Your first step in properly securing your Amazon account is to create a strong password. It’s not just about complexity but also about length. A mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols makes it tough for hackers to crack.

For example, rather than “password123,” you should use something more secure like “N@t1oNwiDe-S3cur3!” which is much harder to crack. Also, change it regularly.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Next, you enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for an additional layer of security. Even if your password is somehow compromised, 2FA is a second form of identification before granting access to your Amazon account.

This typically involves receiving a code on your phone that must be entered during login. It’s a simple step, but it significantly increases account security.

10. Consider Setting Up Family Profiles

Setting up family profiles can enhance convenience and privacy for all household members. With individual profiles, Alexa can personalize responses based on who’s speaking.

Here’s how I recommend you manage this feature:

Manage Contacts: In each family profile, you tailor the contacts, ensuring that Alexa recognizes who can drop in or make announcements.
Personalize with Voice IDs: Encouraging family members to create Voice IDs is crucial for personalized experiences. Say, “Alexa, learn my voice,” and follow the prompts.

Individual profiles add a level of privacy by differentiating between users. For instance, I’d see my shopping lists and calendar events, not my partner’s or children’s. They are similarly protected from seeing mine.

Why Use Family Profiles?

Convenience: Switching between profiles is easy, helping Alexa accurately cater to our individual needs without extra commands.
Privacy: It’s comforting to know that my interactions with Alexa won’t be confused with someone else’s, keeping our requests and data separate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any privacy risks associated with using Alexa?

Indeed, using Alexa brings potential privacy risks, such as unwanted recording and storing private conversations.

I regularly check and adjust my Alexa privacy settings to control the storage and manage the risk of exposing sensitive data. It’s a good practice to familiarize myself with the various privacy features Alexa offers to stay safe.

How can I prevent Alexa from recording conversations unintentionally?

I take a proactive approach with the Alexa privacy settings to prevent accidental recordings.

I ensure the ‘wake word’ recognition is calibrated correctly so Alexa activates only when I want it to. Additionally, I frequently delete my voice recordings. I also enable the feature to erase what I just said by saying, “Alexa, delete what I just said.”