Alexa records audio only after it hears its wake word

Amazon's Alexa does not record your conversations continuously. The device stays in listening mode but does not send audio to Amazon's servers until you say the wake word — usually "Alexa," though you can change it to "Amazon," "Echo," or "Computer." Once Alexa detects the wake word, it records what you say next and sends that audio to Amazon to process your request.

The distinction matters: your Echo device listens locally for the wake word, but it does not upload that listening data. Only the audio after the wake word gets sent to Amazon. However, the device does occasionally send short audio samples to train its wake-word detection, and false activations can happen — meaning Alexa may record and upload a snippet of conversation if it mistakenly hears something that sounds like the wake word.

You can see what Alexa recorded by opening the Alexa app, going to More, then Account Settings, then Alexa Privacy, then Review Voice History. There you will find a list of every recording Alexa sent to Amazon, along with the transcript of what it understood you to say. You can delete individual recordings or your entire history from that same menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Alexa only records and uploads audio after hearing the wake word; it does not continuously record your home.
  • False wake-word detections do happen, and Alexa may record short clips of conversation if it mistakes background noise or speech for the wake word.
  • You can review every recording Alexa sent to Amazon by opening the Alexa app and navigating to Account Settings > Alexa Privacy > Review Voice History.
  • Amazon uses some voice recordings to improve Alexa's ability to recognize the wake word, though you can opt out of that sharing in the privacy settings.
  • Deleting your voice history from the Alexa app removes the recordings from your account, but Amazon may retain some data for legal or security reasons.

How the wake-word detection actually works

When you first set up an Echo device, it downloads a small machine-learning model onto the device itself. That model runs locally and listens for the wake word you chose. This local processing means Amazon is not listening to everything you say — the device is doing the listening work without sending data back to Amazon's servers.

The wake-word detector is not perfect. It can be triggered by words or sounds that resemble the wake word, by people in the background saying something similar, or even by TV dialogue. When a false activation happens, Alexa records a few seconds of audio and sends it to Amazon. You will see these false activations in your voice history, usually marked with a transcript that shows what Alexa thought it heard.

You can reduce false activations by adjusting the wake-word sensitivity in the Alexa app. Go to Devices, select your Echo, then tap the wake-word setting and choose a sensitivity level. Lower sensitivity means fewer false activations but also means you may have to speak the wake word more clearly or loudly.

What happens to your recordings after Amazon receives them

When Alexa sends a recording to Amazon, the company uses it to process your request — to understand what you asked for and send back an answer. Amazon also keeps that recording in your account history unless you delete it. The company says it uses voice recordings to improve Alexa's accuracy, but you can turn off that sharing in your privacy settings.

To opt out of sharing your voice recordings for product improvement, open the Alexa app, go to More, then Account Settings, then Alexa Privacy, then Improve Alexa. Toggle off the setting that says "Help Improve Amazon Services and Develop New Features." This prevents Amazon from using your recordings to train its models, though the company will still keep them in your account history.

Amazon has stated that human reviewers may listen to some recordings to improve Alexa's understanding of accents, background noise, and regional speech patterns. If you do not want human reviewers to hear your recordings, you can opt out of that program in the same Alexa Privacy menu under "Use of Voice Recordings."

How to delete your voice history

You can delete individual recordings one at a time, or you can delete your entire voice history at once. To delete one recording, open the Alexa app, go to More, then Account Settings, then Alexa Privacy, then Review Voice History. Find the recording you want to delete, tap the three-dot menu next to it, and select Delete.

To delete all your voice history at once, stay in the Review Voice History screen and look for a menu option (usually three dots or lines in the top right corner). Select the option to delete all voice history. Amazon will ask you to confirm, and then all your recordings will be removed from your account.

Deleting your voice history from the Alexa app removes the recordings from your account and from the voice history you can see. However, Amazon may retain some data for legal, security, or compliance reasons. The company does not disclose exactly how long it keeps deleted data or under what circumstances it may retain it.

What other data Alexa collects besides voice recordings

Alexa collects more than just voice recordings. The device logs every request you make, every routine you set up, every device you control through Alexa, and every shopping list or reminder you create. It also tracks which skills you enable, which music services you use, and which smart-home devices are connected to your Echo.

Amazon also collects information about your device itself: its location in your home, its network connection, how often you use it, and whether you have enabled features like Drop In (which lets other people call your Echo without you answering first). This metadata is separate from voice recordings but is still tied to your Amazon account.

You can review and delete some of this data in the Alexa app under Account Settings, but not all of it. Some data, like device logs and network information, is harder to access or delete through the app. If you want a complete picture of what Amazon has collected, you can request your data through Amazon's privacy portal, though the process can take several weeks.

Privacy settings you can change right now

The Alexa app gives you several privacy controls. In Account Settings > Alexa Privacy, you can turn off voice recording for product improvement, opt out of human review of your recordings, and manage which Alexa features have permission to access your data. You can also turn off shopping by voice, which prevents Alexa from adding items to your cart without your confirmation.

For each individual Echo device, you can disable the microphone entirely using the physical mute button on top of the device. When the mute button is on, the device will not listen for the wake word and will not record anything. Some Echo devices also have a camera (like the Echo Show), and you can cover the camera lens or disable it in the app.

If you have multiple Echo devices, you can manage privacy settings for each one separately. Go to Devices in the Alexa app, select the device you want to adjust, and tap the settings icon. From there you can change the wake word, adjust microphone sensitivity, or turn off specific features for that device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Amazon listen to me without saying the wake word?

No, not intentionally. The device only records and uploads audio after detecting the wake word. However, false activations do happen — Alexa may record a few seconds if it mistakes background noise or speech for the wake word. You can see these false activations in your voice history and delete them.

Does Alexa record when the mute button is on?

No. When you press the mute button on top of your Echo device, the microphone turns off completely. Alexa will not listen for the wake word or record anything until you unmute it. The mute button is a hardware switch, so it works even if the device is powered on.

Can I delete my voice history permanently?

You can delete your voice history from your Alexa account through the app, and it will no longer appear in your account. However, Amazon may retain some data for legal, security, or compliance reasons. The company does not publicly disclose how long it keeps deleted data or under what circumstances.

What should I do if Alexa keeps recording false activations?

Lower the wake-word sensitivity in the Alexa app under Devices > Your Device > Wake Word. You can also change the wake word itself to something less common, like "Computer" instead of "Alexa." If false activations continue, check whether a TV, radio, or other device in your home is triggering them.

Does Amazon share my voice recordings with other companies?

Amazon does not sell your voice recordings to third parties. However, the company does use them to improve Alexa and may share them with human reviewers to improve speech recognition. You can opt out of both of these practices in the Alexa app under Account Settings > Alexa Privacy.