Does Alexa Work Without Being Plugged In

Does Alexa Work Without Being Plugged In

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Alexa is a part of all smart homes, and this voice assistant is accessible for all smart home devices from Amazon, referred to as echo devices. The Echo Dot devices have to be plugged in to work with Alexa, and this is true for a range of Amazon’s Echo devices, which includes Echo show, Echo plug, Echo flex, and echo studio. These devices need to be plugged into the wall at all times, and without power, you won’t be able to summon the voice assistant.

Also, the devices should be near the Wi-Fi network to make sure that they have access to the internet. Thus, the Alexa-enabled devices require a constant power supply to connect with the Wi-Fi and process the subsequent voice commands, as they do not have an internal battery for power backup.

Further reading: What Is Alexa And What Does Alexa Do?

Alexa Requires Power To Work And Needs To Be Constantly Plugged In

Without a constant power supply and connection with the Wi-Fi network, the Alexa-compatible devices will not be able to follow your command nor understand why you are trying to access Alexa with your voice commands. Also, the echo devices will not connect with Amazon, where Alexa exists, without internet connectivity.

Thus, they require power to connect with amazon’s cloud to have life, or they stay as mere decorative items in the house. Before understanding why power is inherent for the appropriate functioning of the Alexa devices, let us first understand how Alexa works.

Alexa generally works by listening to the voice commands of the users and converting them into text. Generally, we interact with Alexa in a conversational tone, and the voice assistant also answers all types of questions. Alexa will transfer the user’s query to the Amazon clouds and request an answer from the servers. The answer also comes to Alexa from Amazon’s servers in the form of text. After receiving the answer, the echo devices convert this text to audio and transmits it through its in-built speakers.

Alexa comprises a small processor, a speaker, and a microphone. This processor can convert text to audio and also helps perform simple tasks such as playing music, which requires a constant supply of power. Alexa is required to be plugged into the wall outlet all the time to work and there cannot be any other alternatives for this mechanism to happen. When the Alexa-enabled devices do not get a power supply, then they will turn off and will lose all their connection with Amazon’s cloud servers.

Does Alexa Work Without Being Plugged In
Amazon Tap – Alexa-Enabled Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Can Alexa Work With Battery Support?

Alexa generally doesn’t come with inbuilt battery support and is designed to be plugged into the wall at all times for optimal functioning. Amazon now offers a battery-powered version of the Alexa devices, namely the Echo tap. Perhaps the echo tap is the only Alexa-enabled device that features a rechargeable battery system. The rest of the devices are generally corded and are required to be plugged into the wall outlet for them to work.

Also, some third-party agencies have come up with battery packs that are compatible with some of the Alexa devices, such as the Echo Dot, so that people don’t always have to rely on power and the hardwired system. Also, it is important to note here that some of the Alexa-enabled devices can work and last for days if they are connected with a power source through a USB battery pack that can power the device efficiently, and making it possible for Alexa to listen and execute the voice commands.

Unplugging Alexa Devices To Save Power

As we have said very clearly that Alexa works only when they are plugged in, except for the few newer versions that are capable of working with battery packs and USB drives. Some users may be worried about their utility bills as these devices are constantly plugged in day and night. But there should not be any trouble in leaving Alexa to be plugged in at all the time, as it hardly uses any electricity when it is not active.

Alexa automatically goes to sleep when it is not in use, and as it doesn’t consume much electricity generally, this shouldn’t be a great issue. However, some users prefer to unplug the Alexa devices at night, but generally, there is no harm in leaving them plugged in overnight. But even if you prefer to unplug them from the electrical outlet when it is not in use, there shouldn’t be much problem and the device will boot up again when it is plugged back in.

Does Alexa Work Without Being Plugged In 01
Image Credit: Yoshina

You may also like: What Are The Best Alexa-compatible Devices?

Alexa Devices That Can Be Made Portable

The answer is, it depends on the device. Some of the Alexa devices, such as Echo Dot are made portable, and you can get them by searching for portable power Echo Dot at the amazon website. If you are in luck, you will find accessories that will help you to carry your portable Echo Dot around your home. But this doesn’t mean you can take your Alexa devices when you are camping outdoors and for your vacation, as they still require an internet connection to function. Thus, though they can be made partially portable with battery packs and USB devices, the need for a stable internet connection makes the process trickier.

There is a device in Amazon known as Amazon tap. This can connect with the phone’s internet to connect with Amazon’s servers and not rely on the home Wi-Fi connection. But unfortunately, this device is no longer available at Amazon’s portal. You can still consider Amazon loop, which is Alexa on a ring or glass frames, and consider Echo auto that uses phone data to use Alexa in the car.

Bottom Line

Thus, all the Alexa-enabled smart devices are intended to stay plugged in and have reliable internet connectivity to function. If they are not plugged in, they simply cease to function and can reboot after plugging them in. There are few exceptions, as some Echo Dot devices work on battery packs, but these exceptions are reserved for very few Alexa-enabled devices.