
Wow.
Alexa really knows how to ruin surprises.
“Thanks, Alexa.
Now, my partner knows what I’m getting for their birthday.”
And that’s when I learned how to disable Alexa’s yellow ring.
Ruined surprise…never again.
How did I turn off Alexa’s yellow light?
Read on to find out:
- 7 easy steps to fix Alexa’s yellow ring.
- Why your Alexa device is flashing a yellow light.
- What you can do if the yellow light doesn’t turn off.
- If having Alexa’s yellow ring is beneficial for you or not.
- And many more…
Why is Alexa flashing yellow?
Alexa is flashing yellow because Amazon sent you a notification. It could be your order’s ready for shipping or out for delivery. Since your Alexa device is connected to the Amazon store, Alexa notifies you of your order status. A blinking yellow light means you have a message from an Alexa contact.
Alexa yellow ring: 7 steps to fix it
#1: Open your Alexa app
Note: Steps #1 to #3 should take you 27 seconds to fix your Alexa yellow ring issue. However, if these don’t work, don’t let that discourage you. You’ll still have 4 additional steps to try after.
Before opening your Alexa app, there’s something worth trying first.
When you see a yellow ring, say either of the two commands:
- “Alexa, what messages do I have?”
- “Alexa, what notifications do I have?”
After, Alexa should respond and notify you of any messages you received.
But take note. This is only a temporary fix.
If you get a message 5 minutes from now, you’ll see the yellow light flash again.
So, open your Alexa app, and then…
#2: Tap “Settings”
On the app menu, you should see “More” listed in the bottom row.
It has three horizontal lines, so it’s hard to miss.
From here, follow these steps:
Step 1: Tap “More” on the Alexa app menu.
Step 2: Tap “Settings.”
In the settings menu, select Notifications.
Step 3: Select “Amazon Shopping.”
In the Notifications menu, you should see the following:
- “Reminders.”
- “Things To Try.”
- “Amazon Shopping.”
#3: Toggle off Delivery Notifications
On the Amazon Shopping menu, you should see “Delivery Notifications.”
Below it, you’ll see 2 options:
- Delivered.
- Out for delivery.
Beside each option, tap the slider to toggle off both notifications.
From there, your Alexa yellow light should stop flashing.
This also includes when you have new notifications.
#4: Reboot your Alexa device
If changing the settings on your Alexa app didn’t fix your issue…
It’s time for a cold reboot.
What does that mean exactly? It’s another term for resetting your device.
When your Echo Dot acts up, for example, turning it off and on jumpstarts its system.
In effect, a cold reboot should return your device back to normal and remove the yellow light.
Here’s how to do it:
- Unplug Alexa device.
- Wait for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Plug Echo device into your power outlet.
Read further: Alexa Device is Unresponsive: 16 Causes & Fixes
After your Echo device resets, you can say:
“Alexa, what notifications do I have?”
Do this to test if your Alexa device’s working normally.
If Alexa responds, try disabling the yellow light again through the app.
#5: Check your WiFi connection

If your WiFi signal is weak, Alexa may not respond to your voice commands.
Put simply, Alexa needs a strong WiFi signal to process your requests.
If you have several smart devices in your home like…
These all eat up your WiFi.
And that includes your tablet or iPad, laptop, TV, and mobile devices.
If your WiFi’s bandwidth can only handle 7 devices, keep it within that limit.
“What happens if you don’t?”
Your WiFi slows down.
Not to mention, lags, buffers, and WiFi connectivity issues will occur constantly.
And the worst part?
Alexa can’t function properly.
Since steps #6 and #7 need voice commands and strong WiFi to work…
Let’s reset your router first:
- Unplug your WiFi router.
- Wait for at least 30 seconds.
- Plug your WiFi router back into the power outlet.
- Test your Internet speed.
- Check if your Echo device is connected.
#6: Delete all notifications
When Alexa has a lot of notifications or messages…
The yellow light won’t stop flashing until you’ve heard every notification.
Instead of asking Alexa what your notifications are several times throughout the day…
Just say:
“Alexa, delete all notifications.”
After saying this voice command, Alexa’s yellow light should disappear.
However…
There are times when your Alexa device’ll still have a yellow ring.
And this last step aims to fix that for good.
#7: Delete notifications on all Alexa user profiles
Ask yourself:
“Do you share your Alexa device with another family member or partner?”
Because if you do, the notification could be for them.
Since Alexa recognizes your voice, it’ll only respond in a personalized way.
Meaning, Alexa will only say the notification registered to your profile.
So if your partner or family member is expecting a package from Amazon, then…
Alexa will say the notification when it hears their voice.
To solve this issue, try switching to their account. Simply say:
“Alexa, switch to (first name)’s account.”
After, follow-up with the command: “What notifications do I have?”
Don’t hear a response? It means Alexa doesn’t recognize the voice profile.
What does that mean?
If your partner or family member registered their voice profile, it means…
Alexa will respond to certain commands only if it hears their voice.
Take Spotify, for example.
When you ask Alexa to play music on Spotify, it plays music based on your playlist.
However, if your partner says the same command…
Your Alexa device’ll play Spotify music based on their playlist, not yours.
That said, be sure to check your “Recognized Voices” on the Alexa app.
Here’s how to access it:
- Open your Alexa app.
- Tap “More.”
- Tap Settings.
- Select “Account Settings.”
- Tap “Recognized Voices.”
If you see more than one voice profile, like your sibling for example, then…
You’ll have to ask them to say the same voice command you said to Alexa:
“What notifications do I have?”
After that, the yellow ring should finally disappear.
What are the benefits of turning on Alexa’s yellow ring?
Although Alexa’s yellow ring may be annoying at times, there’s one thing it can protect you from:
Porch pirates.
It’s another way of saying package thieves or those who commit package theft.
In the U.S. alone, package theft happens on countless occasions.
Out of the 2,000 consumers who do online shopping, 43% reported stolen packages.
According to C+R Research, out of the 43% that reported a stolen package…
64% have been victims of package theft at least once.
How does that happen?
Put simply, porch pirates use crafty ways to steal packages off your front porch.
For instance, they can carry an empty box and exchange it with the delivered package.
Now, security cameras or camera doorbells are useful.
However, porch pirates can cover their faces with a mask to hide their identity.
Read also: Can Alexa Be Hacked? 10 Shocking Security Facts
And that’s where Alexa’s yellow ring can help.
How exactly?
When the yellow ring flashes, you’ll know that a package is about to arrive.
Most likely within the day or the next hour or two.
Thanks to this information, you can claim your package the soonest it arrives.
Or, one family member can stay home to ensure the package’s delivered safely.
It’s also worth noting that some cities have higher package theft rates than others, such as:
- Austin, Texas.
- Portland, Oregon.
- Denver, Colorado.
- San Antonio, Texas.
- Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Hartford, Connecticut.
- Raleigh, North Carolina.
- San Francisco, California.
- Seattle, Washington State.
- Greenville, South Carolina.
Case and point…
It’s best to keep Alexa’s yellow light on most of the time.
But if you’re expecting a package to arrive for a special occasion as a surprise…
Turn it off as needed.
Apart from that, it’s safer to leave Alexa’s yellow light on, especially if you shop online often.