The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →To set up an Amazon Echo Show, plug it in, connect it to Wi-Fi, sign in to your Amazon account, and follow the on-screen prompts. Then use the device’s Display & Appearance settings to choose home-screen content, add supported widgets, or switch to Photo Frame. Menu names and available features vary by model and Alexa interface, so use the paths below as a guide and check the options shown on your device.
What you need before setup
- Your Echo Show and its included power adapter.
- Your Amazon account email address or phone number and password.
- Your Wi-Fi network name and password.
Amazon’s published setup sequence specifically covers the Echo Show 11 (2025 release). For that model, the sequence is to plug in the device, choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, sign in to your Amazon account, and follow the remaining prompts. The on-screen QR code can open guided setup in the Alexa app; you can also complete setup on the Echo Show itself. If you have not created an Amazon account password, set one when prompted. See Amazon’s Echo Show 11 setup instructions.
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If setup gets stuck
- If you cannot sign in, reset your Amazon account password.
- If your Wi-Fi network does not appear or the connection fails, follow Amazon’s Wi-Fi setup troubleshooting.
- If you are unsure of the Wi-Fi password, contact your internet provider.
Choose what appears on the home screen
On models covered by Amazon’s general home-screen guide—Echo Show (1st Generation), Echo Show (2nd Generation), Echo Show 5, Echo Show 8, Echo Show 10, Echo Show 11 (2025 release), Echo Show 15, and Echo Show 21—you can switch home-content categories on or off. Amazon notes that the Echo Show 5 menu can vary by generation.
- Open Settings. With the original Alexa interface, say “Go to Settings” or swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Settings. With Alexa+, use Menu > Settings.
- Choose Display & Appearance > Home Content Categories.
- Switch each listed category on or off according to what you want to see.
Content timing and frequency depend partly on what you open and engage with. For details, see Amazon’s guide to managing Echo Show home-screen content.
#1 Best Overall
- Alexa can show you more - Echo Show 5 includes a 5.5” display so you can see news and weather at a glance, make video calls, view compatible cameras, stream music and shows, and more.
- Small size, bigger sound – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
- See more with the built-in camera – Check in on your family, pets, and more using the built-in camera. Drop in on your home when you're out or view the front door from your Echo Show 5 with compatible video doorbells.
- See your photos on display – When not in use, set the background to a rotating slideshow of your favorite photos. Invite family and friends to share photos to your Echo Show. Prime members also get unlimited cloud photo storage.
Suggested content and sponsored ads are different
Categories such as Amazon Recommendations, Your Frequent Orders, and Explore Local Places are home-screen content that you can manage with the category switches. Sponsored recommendations—including movies, shows, and products—are ads. Amazon says these ads cannot be turned off; you can skip one by swiping from right to left. You can also adjust interest-based ad preferences in Alexa privacy and data controls, or hide an individual ad for 30 days. See Amazon’s guide to ads and suggested content on Echo devices with a screen.
Add widgets for quick access
Widgets can provide shortcuts or glanceable information, including Calendar and Reminders, Smart Home, Shopping List, Music, and Notifications. Amazon also lists games, sounds, news, weather, and other options. Availability is listed for Echo Show 5, 8, 10, 11 (2025 release), 15, and 21; the number and size of available widgets varies by device, and only some can be resized.
Open Widget Gallery and add a widget
- Open Widget Gallery. In Alexa+, go to Menu > Widget Gallery, or press and hold a home-screen widget and choose Add Widget.
- With the original Alexa interface, use the Widget Gallery icon. On Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 21, swipe down and choose Widget Gallery.
- Select a widget and tap its plus control to add it.
Amazon’s paths and compatibility lists differ across its widget help pages, so the exact gallery controls depend on your model and interface. Check Amazon’s widget availability guide and widget gallery instructions for the options your device supports.
Rank #2
- MEET ECHO SHOW 15 - A stunning 15.6" Full-HD (1080p) smart display that's perfect for your kitchen and ready to show you more. Use customizable widgets to keep your day on track, watch your favorite shows with Fire TV and powerful vibrant sound, and enjoy natural video calling, with 3.3x zoom and wide field of view.
- FAMILY ORGANIZATION HUB - See your top widgets at a glance, like your family’s calendars and to-do lists, local weather, smart home, and more.
- ALL YOUR FAVORITES, ALL RIGHT HERE - Built-in Fire TV unlocks endless entertainment, so you can enjoy your favorite content from thousands of apps like Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV, and more (subscription may be required). Fire TV remote included. Plus, now you can quickly add a device to play music with Active Media - start playing a song in the kitchen, then add the living room and bedroom on the fly.
- SMART HOME CENTRAL - Control smart devices with your voice or a few taps using the smart home dashboard. Easily turn on all your living room lights at once or check live camera feeds to see what's happening around your home.
- YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES ON DISPLAY - Brighten your space (and your day) by turning your home screen into a photo slideshow that displays your favorite memories. Auto curate your images and show off your favorite family memories.
Rearrange or remove widgets where supported
On devices that offer these controls, press and hold a widget, choose Rearrange Widgets or Remove Widget, and drag widgets to change their order. Amazon’s separate arrange-and-remove guide lists Echo Show 8, Echo Show 10, Echo Show 15, and Echo Hub. It does not establish that the same controls are available on Echo Show 5, 11, or 21, so verify the menu on your device before relying on them. See Amazon’s widget arrangement guide.
Choose how the screen behaves when you approach
Adaptive Content changes what appears based on how far away you are, and Amazon says it is on by default. Depending on the model and software interface, look under Settings > Display & Appearance for either Home Screen Layout choices—Auto Partial View, Auto Full View, or Manual View—or an Adaptive Content switch. When Adaptive Content is off, the documented alternatives are Full-Screen View or Widget View.
Rank #3
- New size, more viewing area: The 11“ smart display features a vibrant Full-HD touchscreen with 60% more viewing area versus Echo Show 8 (2025 release), built-in smart home hub, AZ3 Pro chip for powerful performance, and Omnisense technology for highly personalized experiences.
- Content looks and sounds incredible: Watch shows on Prime Video, Netflix, and more on the vibrant Full-HD 11" screen and enjoy room-filling spatial audio, crisper vocals, wider sound stage, and up to 2x bass versus Echo Show 8 (2023 release). With Alexa+, find the name of that song you love and discover new shows based on your preferences.
- Your everyday assistant: The 11" display makes it easy to see recipes and calendars at a glance, find meal inspo, and manage your shopping lists. With Alexa+, find recipes based on foods you love, make reservations, order groceries, and more.
- Simple Smart Home control: Pair and control thousands of devices that work with Alexa without needing a separate smart home hub. Easily view your camera feeds. Manage lights, thermostats, and more using the display or your voice. With Omnisense technology, you can activate routines via temperature, presence, or visual ID detection.
- Crystal-clear video calls: Video calls feel natural on the vibrant 11" screen with a centered, auto-framing camera, 3.3x zoom, and noise reduction technology. Use live view to check in on your family, pets, and more while you're away.
The feature does not work if the camera is disabled, its shutter is closed, or the microphones/camera disable button is pressed. The physical control can temporarily disable it. Amazon’s Adaptive Content instructions describe the model and interface variations.
Use Photo Frame for a rotating image display
Photo Frame displays images from selected collections for up to three hours. While it is active, it replaces the usual home content, including the clock, notifications, and themes. Say “Start Photo Frame” or use the relevant screen menu or swipe path to start it; say “Go home” or use the Home gesture to return. Settings and menu paths differ between Alexa+ and the original Alexa interface, and Amazon flags menu variation across Echo Show 5 generations. Follow Amazon’s Photo Frame instructions for your device.
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- Alexa can show you more - Echo Show 5 includes a 5.5” display so you can see news and weather at a glance, make video calls, view compatible cameras, stream music and shows, and more.
- Small size, bigger sound – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
- See more with the built-in camera – Check in on your family, pets, and more using the built-in camera. Drop in on your home when you're out or view the front door from your Echo Show 5 with compatible video doorbells.
- See your photos on display – When not in use, set the background to a rotating slideshow of your favorite photos. Invite family and friends to share photos to your Echo Show. Prime members also get unlimited cloud photo storage.
Change the clock on Echo Show 5
Amazon documents clock-face editing specifically for Echo Show 5; do not assume these exact controls apply to other models. On a supported Echo Show 5, open Settings > Home & Clock > Clock & Photo Display, select a category, edit the style or colors, and save. Select the check icon to apply the choice. A change may take a few minutes to appear in the home-content rotation. See Amazon’s Echo Show 5 clock and photo display guide.
Which home-screen option should you use?
- For useful glanceable information: Keep the categories you want enabled and add the widgets your model supports.
- For a screen that adapts as you approach: Use Adaptive Content or an automatic layout if your model offers it, and keep the camera available.
- For an image-only display: Start Photo Frame; it temporarily hides ordinary home content.
- For a customized clock: Use the documented clock controls if you have an Echo Show 5.
Amazon’s US English help pages do not provide one exhaustive feature matrix for every model, generation, region, and software interface. If a path or control is missing, check the help page for your exact model and follow the labels visible on the device.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Powerfully smart, beautifully built: The redesigned 8.7" smart display features a vibrant HD touchscreen with 15% more viewing area versus Echo Show 8 (2023 release), built-in smart home hub, AZ3 Pro chip for powerful performance, and Omnisense technology for highly personalized experiences.
- Content sounds incredible: Stream music or watch shows on Prime Video, Netflix, and more. All with room-filling spatial audio, crisper vocals, wider sound stage, and up to 2x bass versus Echo Show 8 (2023 release). With Alexa+, find the name of that song you love and discover new shows based on your preferences.
- Your everyday assistant: See recipes and calendars at a glance, easily find meal inspo and manage your shopping lists. With Alexa+, find recipes based on foods you love, make reservations, order groceries, and more.
- Simple Smart Home control: Pair and control thousands of devices that work with Alexa without needing a separate smart home hub. Easily view your camera feeds. Manage lights, thermostats, and more using the display or your voice. With Omnisense technology, you can activate routines via temperature, presence, or visual ID detection.
- Crystal-clear video calls: Video calls feel natural with a centered, auto-framing camera, 3.3x zoom, and noise reduction technology. Use live view to check in on your family, pets, and more while you're away.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
