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Amazon has removed Alexa voice commands for controlling the AUX line-in on four older Echo models, but the speakers’ physical 3.5 mm inputs still work. Owners can continue using the input through their device settings in the Alexa app, according to reporting, or connect a compatible source over Bluetooth.
What changed with Echo AUX input?
Commands such as “Alexa, play from line in” and “Alexa, set aux input” no longer control line-in on the affected speakers. Ars Technica reported on October 6, 2026, that Amazon confirmed the change. The email wording quoted in the report said voice commands to control the Echo’s AUX input were no longer available; Ars described it as language from a customer screenshot, not a separately published Amazon notice. Ars Technica’s report has the details.
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Echo models named in the report
- Echo Plus (2nd generation, 2018)
- Echo (3rd generation, 2019)
- Echo Studio (1st generation, 2019)
- Echo (4th generation, 2020)
The reported change is specifically about voice control. It does not disable the physical 3.5 mm input on these devices.
How to keep using a connected audio source
Use the AUX input through the Alexa app
Ars reports that owners can still use the Alexa app to enable or disable AUX input on a supporting Echo speaker. Amazon’s app labels and menu locations can change, so open the affected speaker’s device settings and look for its audio or AUX input controls rather than relying on a fixed menu path.
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- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
Keep the wired connection
If the current cable is too short or damaged, a replacement 3.5 mm AUX audio cable can maintain the wired connection to the speaker. A cable cannot restore the removed Alexa voice commands.
Connect over Bluetooth
Amazon’s spokesperson said a source device can still connect to an Echo through Bluetooth, as reported by The Verge. Whether this works for a particular setup depends on the source device and Echo; the reporting does not establish compatibility for specific adapters.
Rank #2
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
Why did Amazon remove the voice commands?
Amazon has not given a reason in the reporting about the change. Ars Technica said its questions about why the capability was removed went unanswered. The Verge quoted Amazon spokesperson Claudia Chavira Velez describing the affected group as a “very small number of customers” who used voice requests to play or pause AUX audio, but she did not provide a count or rationale.
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Amazon’s support material describes Echo Input as a way to add Alexa to an external speaker using a 3.5 mm cable or Bluetooth. That documentation explains how Echo Input connects; it does not establish that the product is currently available or that it restores voice control of the affected Echo’s AUX input. See Amazon’s Echo Input setup information and Bluetooth connection guidance.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- MEET ECHO SPOT - A sleek smart alarm clock with Alexa and big vibrant sound. Ready to help you wake up, wind down, and so much more.
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- KEEP YOUR HOME COMFORTABLE - Control compatible smart home devices. Just ask Alexa to turn on lights or touch the screen to dim. Create routines that use motion detection to turn down the thermostat as you head out or open the blinds when you walk into a room.
Rank #4
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
Rank #3
- Meet Echo Dot Max: Experience rich room-filling sound that automatically adapts to your space and fine-tunes playback. Features a built-in smart home hub and Omnisense technology for highly personalized experiences.
- Music to your ears: With nearly 3x the bass versus Echo Dot (2022 release), it fits beautifully in any space, delivering your personal sound stage with deep bass and enhanced clarity. Listen to streaming services, such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and SiriusXM. Encore!
- Do more with device pairing: Connect compatible Echo smart speakers and smart displays in different rooms, or pair with a second Echo Dot Max to enjoy even richer sound
- Simple smart home control: Set routines, pair and control lights, locks, and thousands of smart home devices that work with Alexa without needing a separate smart home hub. With Omnisense technology, you can activate routines via temperature or presence detection.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot Max doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
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