On a compatible Amazon Fire tablet, turn off Alexa hands-free to stop wake-word responses and, in Show Mode, camera-based motion detection. To review or delete stored voice history, use the Alexa app’s privacy controls. These are separate controls: deleting recordings does not switch off hands-free Alexa.
Turn off hands-free Alexa
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On the tablet, open Settings > Alexa > Hands-Free Mode.
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Turn Hands-Free Mode off. The tablet will no longer respond to the Alexa wake word.
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You can also use the Alexa Hands Free icon in Quick Actions after swiping down, or press and hold Volume Up and Volume Down together for three seconds. In Show Mode, Amazon documents an Alexa Microphone/Camera on/off icon. The shortcut and label available can vary by tablet model and software.
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With hands-free off, Amazon says the tablet also stops detecting motion in view of its camera while in Show Mode. Its Fire tablet guidance describes a combined hands-free control; it does not establish a separate camera-only toggle for Fire tablets. Outside Show Mode, you can still access Alexa by pressing and holding the Home button.
Know when the tablet sends audio
Amazon describes a two-stage process: on-device keyword spotting looks for the wake word; after it is detected, the tablet streams audio to the cloud, including a fraction of a second from before the wake word. Amazon says a blue light bar appears when Alexa is recording and sending a request. As Amazon puts it in “Learn About Using Alexa on Your Fire Tablet”, “You’ll always know when Alexa is recording and sending your request to Amazon’s secure cloud because a blue light bar appears on your tablet.” This describes wake-word detection followed by request streaming, not continuous cloud transmission of all ambient speech. Amazon also says Alexa interactions are encrypted in transit; that statement alone does not resolve every downstream privacy concern.
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Review or delete Alexa voice history
Use the Alexa app
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Open the Alexa app and tap More > Alexa Privacy.
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Choose Review Alexa History to view or hear recordings and review activity.
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To manage voice-recording use, go to More > Alexa Privacy > Manage Your Alexa Data.
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- Stream or download your favorite shows, movies, and games (like Minecraft, Roblox, and more). Enjoy your favorite content from Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported. Subscription for some apps required).
Amazon also documents voice commands for deleting the last request or everything said that day; available options may depend on the device and account settings. The Alexa Privacy Hub provides another place to manage Alexa data.
Understand what deletion does
Deleting voice recordings, transcripts, and typed requests may reduce personalization or cause some features to stop working. Amazon says it may retain other records tied to requests, such as actions taken, products searched for, information shared, and data needed to provide certain functions. Deleting voice history is therefore not a promise that every record associated with Alexa use has been erased.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check compatibility and device-specific settings
Hands-free Alexa is available only on certain Fire tablets, and Amazon says privacy settings are device-specific. If the menu or shortcut described above is missing, confirm your tablet model and check its on-device Settings. Whether Alexa can respond with the screen off may also depend on whether the tablet is connected to power. App labels and supported controls can change over time; Amazon’s Fire tablet and Alexa privacy information describes the device-dependent behavior.
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