Setting up echo dot speaker

[Patrick1010]

I have recently bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G, and am trying to set up an echo dot speaker to work with it. That is to say, to get the echo dot speaker to play podcasts or music that I have linked to on the tablet. I can get them to play on the tablet itself, but not to play on the echo dot speaker.

I have previously posted about this problem on this user forum, and tried to follow the advice provided, but none of it has worked.

Anyway, I received an email from Amazon, titled "Your guide to set up your new Echo" It starts off by saying:
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Once you receive your Echo, follow the below setup steps.
1. Download the Alexa app

To set up your Echo device, you need to download the latest version of the Alexa app and follow the steps that include connecting to Wi-Fi and linking your Echo to your Amazon account.
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I think I have downloaded the Alexa app. At least, there is now an app on my tablet called Amazon Alexa, which I presume is the Alexa app, but I can't find any steps in the app about connecting to Wi-Fi or linking my Echo to my Amazon account.

I seem to have somehow paired the Echo with my mobile phone via Bluetooth, which is of no use to me, but I have been not been able to pair my tablet with my speaker. I am guessing "pair" is Amazon's technical term for getting the two to work together, but I am not sure.

I have spent quite a few hours watching videos and reading how-to guides, to no avail so far. So I don't know what to do next. Perhaps I just have a faulty tablet or speaker, I don't know how to test them.

So I am hoping someone might be able to help, or point me in the right direction.

[Joeeye]

Have you established a connection with Alexa on your home network? You'll need to set this up first in order to allow for streaming from your tablet (or any other devices) to your echo dot.

[Patrick1010]

Thanks for your reply

I think I have established a WiFi connection with the Echo Dot speaker, but I am not sure that this is the same as a connection with Alexa on my home network.

In the Alexa app on my tablet, in Device Settings / Echo Dot / Wi-Fi network / Connection / Echo Dot / [it says] Connection Health - Good - Your connection is good and can support high quality playback.

So does that mean I have established a connection with Alexa on my home network?

[Joeeye]

If the WiFi connection is showing as Echo Dot it means you have not set up the speaker on your home WiFi yet. The Echo Dot needs to be connected to your home WiFi and not directly to your tablet. This connection stage is usually in conjunction with establishing your home network credentials to your Echo. You should install the Alexa app and follow the instructions on how to set it up.

[Members_lpBhEpy]

Setting up an Echo is easy once you have installed the app. Install the app on all your devices for ease of use.

The echo will do all the set up for you really.

Open the alexa app. At the bottom press the light bulb icon to see all devices. You should see your echo dots. 

Say something like "alexa what is the time". You should get a response like a tone from your echo, as you say "alexa". Then alexa should say what the time is. If you have two echo dots then the closest should respond. Unless you have specified one to make responses.

If you are truly stuck go to amazon customer support and request a phone call. Someone will talk you through everything

[Patrick1010 · Accepted solution]

Explorer, Thanks for your answer. I can say "alexa what is the time", and Alexa on the Echo Dot speaker tells me the time. But that is not what I want, I would like the Echo Dot speaker to play music or podcasts that I link to on my Samsung tablet, that is what I bought the speaker for.

But now I think I may have been able to work out how to get the Echo Dot speaker to play music or podcasts that I link to on my Samsung tablet.

The key seems to be to swipe down from the top-right corner on the tablet, which brings up a collection of icons, including the Bluetooth one. When I do that, the Bluetooth icon is lit up, implying that Bluetooth is switched on and operating. But I don't think it is. What you have to do is tap the icon to switch it off, and then tap it again to switch it on. Then the speaker will be able to pair with the tablet, and play music from the tablet.

Quite easy once you know how. Why the instructions didn't tell me to double-tap the Bluetooth icon in the first place, I don't know. It would have saved me a lot of frustration.