8 Amazon Echo Settings to Disable for Privacy (2026 Guide)
Secure your new Amazon Echo by disabling these 8 invasive settings. Learn how to turn off Sidewalk, voice purchasing, and ad tracking for better privacy in 2026.
By Team Gimmie
Updated January 31, 2026
8 ALEXA SETTINGS EVERYONE SHOULD DISABLE ON A NEW AMAZON ECHO
You have just unboxed a shiny new Amazon Echo. It is January 31, 2026, and if you were lucky enough to get one of these speakers as a gift, you have likely spent the last few weeks asking it about the weather or playing your favorite music. But here is the reality: when you set up a new Echo, the default settings are designed to benefit Amazon's ecosystem, not necessarily your privacy or your peace of mind.
Adjusting your Alexa settings is like adjusting the mirrors in a new car. You wouldn't drive off the lot without making sure you can see what is behind you, and you shouldn't let a smart speaker into your home without setting some ground rules. Think of this guide as a way to reclaim your digital borders.
SECTION 1: RECLAIMING YOUR PRIVACY AND SECURITY
-
DISABLE AMAZON SIDEWALK Amazon Sidewalk is a low-bandwidth network that shares a tiny slice of your home internet with your neighbors to help keep smart devices connected. While it sounds helpful in theory, it is enabled by default and essentially turns your home into a neighborhood bridge. If you'd rather not share your bandwidth, here is how to turn it off. Path: Open the Alexa app, tap More, tap Settings, tap Account Settings, tap Amazon Sidewalk, and toggle the setting to Disabled.
-
LOCK DOWN VOICE PURCHASING Voice purchasing is incredibly convenient until a television commercial or a precocious toddler decides to order a four-foot tall cat tower on your behalf. You don't have to disable it entirely, but you should at least add a security hurdle. Path: Open the Alexa app, tap More, tap Settings, tap Account Settings, tap Voice Purchasing, and toggle Voice Purchase Settings to Off or set a four-digit Voice Code.
-
STOP INTEREST-BASED ADS Alexa isn't just listening for her wake word; she's also keeping track of your interactions to build an advertising profile. If you have ever talked about a specific product and then seen an ad for it on Amazon five minutes later, this is why. To stop this cross-site tracking, you need to dig into your privacy data. Path: Open the Alexa app, tap More, tap Settings, tap Alexa Privacy, tap Manage Your Alexa Data, and toggle off the setting for Interest-Based Ads.
