How to Fix: Alexa Drop-In Not Working

Several users have reported that they are no longer able to use Alexa Drop-In not working. Most afflicted customers indicate that the problem arose suddenly and that they are unable to recall any changes that may have caused it.

What is Drop-In Alexa?

For Amazon Echo devices, Alexa Drop-In is a feature that functions a lot like an intercom. With the help of this capability, users may make calls to any Alexa device from within their home. Usually, it’s used as an intercom between several Alexa devices or to check in with the house instead of calling certain individuals.

Why is Alexa Drop-In not working properly?

We looked at this specific issue by examining many user reports and the standard repair techniques for this kind of issue. Our research has revealed a number of potential perpetrators who could be in charge of this specific problem:

Automatic Drop-in is not configured — A recent upgrade from Amazon turned off this feature by default. You will not be able to use the drop-in feature automatically unless you want to configure it. If you want to use Drop in with a specific device and are seeking a quick remedy, you can use the manual technique by speaking with Alexa.

Alexa Drop-In not working functionality is not allowed for this user account. Another reason you might be experiencing this problem is if the user account you are utilizing isn’t set up to make use of the drop-in feature. If this is the case, you can fix the problem by enabling drop-in functionality for your user account.

Some of the devices you are connected to have disabled communications – Situations in which some of your devices’ device communication is disabled could also result in this problem. In this situation, you can fix the problem by turning on communication between all of your linked devices.

Application problem: It appears that Amazon included a bug in one of the most recent applications, which prevented many impacted users from using drop-in capability. Reinstalling the Amazon Alexa app was the solution for similar users who experienced the same problem. It appears that both iOS devices and Android have successfully fixed the issue.

This post will provide you with many troubleshooting steps if you’re having problems fixing the same error message. You can see a list of techniques that other users who have encountered this error message were able to fix below. At least one user who battled to overcome the exact same problem has attested to the effectiveness of each of the techniques listed below.

Since the approaches are arranged according to severity and efficiency, follow them in that sequence for optimal outcomes. No matter who ends up being the cause of the problem, one of the possible solutions will undoubtedly work.

Method 1: Make use of the Drop-In feature manually

It turns out that an update that was concurrently deployed to the iOS and Android apps appears to be the cause of this. It appears that a recent upgrade may have caused part of the Alexa Drop-in not working or functionality to malfunction. Many impacted customers have found that you may still perform automatic drop-in manually, even though it is no longer functioning as intended. Saying “Alexa Drop in” will allow you to do this, and a number of possibilities (with compatible devices inside your household) will be displayed. Even though it necessitates some human input, this is still preferable to not utilizing the Drop-In option. Proceed to the following approach below if this problem isn’t working for you or if you’re looking for a different solution to restore the automated feature.

Method 2: Enabling drop-in for your user account

If you try to use the drop-in feature from an account that isn’t allowed to, it’s another very common reason why it’s not working in a home. A number of impacted users have stated that by using a smartphone to visit the Contacts tab of the Alexa app and turning on the drop-in option for their account, they were able to fix the problem.

Note: If you tap the conversation bubble at the bottom of the screen, Alexa may also ask you to allow this feature through a pop-up window.

If Alexa did not ask you to enable the drop-in feature when you used the chat feature, you can manually enable it by doing the following steps:

1. Press the action button located in the upper-left corner of the screen while the Alexa app is open. Select Contacts from the newly displayed drop-down menu.
2. From the Contacts tab, click on your profile (it should be listed at the top).
3. Inside the next screen, make sure that the toggle associated with Allow Drop In is enabled. Then, confirm your selection by tapping OK.
4. Try utilizing the drop-in feature once more to determine whether the problem has been fixed.
5. Proceed to the next technique below if this one didn’t work or if you’re searching for an alternative solution.

Method 3: Verifying that every device has communications enabled

Some devices are prohibited from communicating with other devices, which is another reason why the drop-in feature doesn’t work for those devices. The Communications tab of the Alexa App allows you to change these settings. A number of impacted users who have been experiencing this specific problem have mentioned that by opening the Alexa app and turning on Communications for every device, they were able to fix the problem. Here’s a brief how-to instruction for doing that:

1. Launch the Alexa app. Download the relevant version if it’s not already installed (iOS or Android)
2. When the menu symbol appears in the upper left corner of the Alexa app, tap it to bring up the Settings menu.
3. Select Amazon Household from the options menu.
4. Make sure the toggle next to Communication is turned on by tapping on the first device on the Devices page.
5. Check that Communication is enabled on all linked devices by going back to the device’s screen.
6. Check to see if the problem has been fixed by using the Drop-In feature.

Method 4: Alexa app reinstallation

Amazon appears to have acknowledged the error in their upgrade and discreetly released a new version that should restore the previous functionality. Unfortunately, since it won’t fix the problem, just waiting for the Alexa app to update is insufficient. Many impacted customers have stated that uninstalling and reinstalling the most recent version of the software was the only way to fix the problem. It has been noted that this fix works on both iOS and Android. There are two tutorials on how to remove the Alexa app below. Refer to the guide that corresponds with the operating system you are now using.

1. Android: Reinstalling the Amazon Alexa app
2. Select the Settings icon on your home screen.
3. ROM the Contacts tab, and click on your profile (it should be listed at the top).
4. Inside the next screen, make sure that the toggle associated with Allow Drop In is enabled. Then, confirm your selection by tapping OK.
5. After the removal is finished, use an Android device to access this website (here) and reinstall the most recent version of Amazon Alexa. You can manually download the app by opening the Google Play Store.
6. Try utilizing the Drop-In feature once more to determine whether the problem has been fixed.

Putting the iOS Alexa app back in

1. Open the Settings app from your home screen.
2. Tap on General from the Settings menu, then choose “Device” Storage.
3. Next, navigate through the list of apps on the screen that appears, find Amazon Alexa, and touch on it.
4. Select the Delete App option from the Amazon Alexa window.
5. ROM the Contacts tab, and click on your profile (it should be listed at the top).
6. Inside the next screen, make sure that the toggle associated with Allow Drop In is enabled. Then, confirm your selection by tapping OK.

FAQS

Why is my Alexa not letting me drop in?

If the Alexa Drop-in not working, that feature might be turned off in the app, so you may have to opt in to use it. In the Echo device settings, look for the section that says Communications, and select it. The Communications section will have a Drop-in section. Make sure that Drop is turned on

How do I fix Alexa not working?

Here are some ways to troubleshoot your Alexa Wi-Fi connection:

1. Check the internet connection. …
2. Restart your modem and router. …
3. Restart your Echo device. …
4. Make sure your Wi-Fi password is correct. …
5. Make sure your Alexa-enabled device is in Wi-Fi range. …
6. Reduce Wi-Fi congestion. …
7. Reset the Echo to factory settings.