Where Not to Put Your Amazon Echo Speaker: 5 Suprising Places [CNET]

August 8, 2024August 8, 2024 Katie Teague technology

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Amazon Echo speakers are great to have all around the house, but that doesn’t mean you can put them just anywhere.

Katie is a writer covering all things how-to at CNET, with a focus on Social Security and notable events. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing in golf scrambles, practicing yoga and spending time on the lake.

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Chris Wedel Home Tech Editor

Chris Wedel is a fan of all things tech and gadgets. Living in rural Kansas with his wife and two young boys makes finding ways to stay online tricky — not to mention making my homestead smarter. However, by utilizing his years of experience in the tech and mobile communications industries, success is assured. When not conquering the outdoors and testing new gadgets, Chris enjoys cruising a gravel road in his UTV with some good tunes, camping, and hanging out with his family.

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Covered the mobile and smart home tech space for the past five years for multiple large publications.

Amazon Echo speakers come in all shapes, sizes and types, making these devices great for putting all around the house… or even the car. With so much flexibility for where you can use Alexa, it can be easy to slip up and place a speaker in an area that could end up disastrous for your smart speakers and smart displays.

You might know that putting your Alexa device near water isn’t safe, but did you know that intruders can access your smart home device from outside if it’s placed too close to a window? Not only could you damage your Echo, but you could also be taking some serious privacy risks.

Not to worry because we have a helpful list of where you should avoid placing your Echo devices, and the best spots for them to go instead. (For more Amazon Echo tips, check out which Alexa settings you should change ASAP and five useful Echo features.)

1. Keep Alexa away from your toilet

Placing an Echo near your toilet is, quite simply, gross. Think of all the germs that linger around that area, even in super-clean bathrooms. If you must have an Echo device in your bathroom (and we can see the appeal), try placing it as far away from the toilet as possible.

If you can, mount it on a wall with a sticky strip or a nail. Just make sure it’s secure so it doesn’t fall, and remember to place it near an outlet so you can plug it in. Also, keep it away from the bathtub. You wouldn’t want to fry your Echo… or anything else.

A bathtub and shower in a bathroom with tile floor — Don’t even think about putting your Echo near the bathtub.

Chris Monroe/CNET

2. Avoid putting Alexa near a sink

If you’re trying to drown out the sounds of Alexa’s voice, by all means, place your expensive Echo by a sink. If you want to keep it intact, never place it anywhere near water.

You don’t want to risk your kitchen water sprayer going haywire and soaking your Echo device, or a tall device getting tipped into the sink. Instead, place it on a different counter, like a kitchen island, or tuck it into a corner where it’s farther from splattering spaghetti sauce and water spray. It’ll stay cleaner and might sound better, too.

3. Don’t put Alexa by your windows

Keep your Echo away from all the windows in your house. The location could potentially give anyone from the outside access to your Echo, and that could give access to your other smart home devices. For example, if your car is connected to your smart speaker, someone may be able to unlock and start it.

An Echo Dot Kids on near a window — If your Echo is near a window, move it.

Chris Wedel/CNET

4. Alexa shouldn’t go under your TV

How many commercials are out there that say, “Alexa, play…” and activate your Echo? Or if the TV says anything that sounds a lot like “Alexa,” take a guess at what’s going to activate.

Not only does this interrupt the show you’re watching, but it also starts recording what’s said after the command. If you’re having a private conversation and Alexa kicks in, you’re risking your privacy. Placing it on a side table makes more sense and is more likely to keep the voice assistant quiet until you make a command.

If you really want to place your Amazon Echo device close enough to the TV that it can hear it, then you might want to consider changing the wake word for the device. There are five total wake word options for Echo devices other than Alexa, so you’ll have options that suit your home. There’s even a way to access fun Disney content, too!

5. Never put your Echo in front of a space heater

You should never expose your Amazon Echo to any heat sources, Amazon says. This includes space heaters, heater vents, radiators and stoves. Doing so could potentially cause a fire, or cause damage to your Echo device.

Instead, make sure it’s clearly placed away from the direction the heater is pointing to avoid a potential catastrophe. For instance, if you keep a space heater in your office, place the Echo on your desk and away from the heater.

So, where should you place your Amazon Echo?

In the corner of your living room (away from windows)
A place where it’s easily visible to you, so you can see when the light ring lights up
On your bedside table
On the edge of your kitchen counter, far away from your sink
On a mantle or shelf
Mounted on a wall that’s not facing a window

You can also read our story on the four best uses for your Amazon Echo device in each room of your home to help you decide where to place your Echo.

Ready for more tips on what to do with your Amazon Echo? Check out these surprising things you didn’t know your Amazon Echo could do and six things you haven’t tried with your Amazon Echo yet.