Customer Ratings & Reviews

Hello AllenH! Thank you so much for your time and review of your experience with your Echo Show 5 device! I am terribly sorry to read that your device is having issues hearing and responding to your requests. There are a few troubleshooting steps you can try. First and foremost, try power cycling by either pressing and holding the Mute button until it says Turn Off and pressing the same button to power back on, unplugging it directly from the outlet or back of the device for 30 seconds, or by going into the device settings in the Alexa smartphone app and selecting Restart Device. Any of these will work. Sometimes just a power cycle corrects any glitches or software updates that may be pending. You can also check on that software update in case it is held up and causing bugs like this to occur. You can go to Settings, Device Options, About, and Check for Software Updates. If there is a pending update, it will begin downloading it and install and possibly power cycle the device once or twice during the update. If neither of these improves your experience any, we would love the opportunity to troubleshoot further with you to see if we can resolve and improve your experience some. Contact us directly at Amazon Customer Support at 888.280.4331 for further assistance. Thanks again for your time and feedback and I hope you have a fantastic day!

Hello HoneyB26,
I am sorry to hear your Echo Show 5 did not work for you. At times devices need manual software upgrades as automatic ones do not always get pushed to device. If you have issues with devices in the future you can reach out to Amazon Customer Support 24/7 at 1-888-280-4331. Hope this helps, have a nice day!

Hi kayci,

Thank you for sharing your experience with the Echo Show 5. We're sorry to hear it's not listening or responding consistently — we understand how frustrating it is when a device doesn't do the one thing it's supposed to do.

Here are a few steps that may help improve responsiveness:

Check microphone placement: Make sure nothing is blocking the microphone holes on top of the device, and that the Echo Show 5 isn't placed near fans, air vents, or other sources of background noise that could interfere with voice detection.
Restart the device: Unplug the Echo Show 5 for about 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This can clear temporary software issues affecting responsiveness.
Check for software updates: Go to Settings > Device Options > Check for Software Updates to ensure your device is running the latest firmware.
Retrain your voice profile: In the Alexa app, go to Settings > Your Profile & Family > Voice ID and set up or retrain your voice profile. This helps Alexa better recognize your voice.
Adjust the wake word sensitivity: In Settings > Alexa on this Device, you may be able to increase the wake word sensitivity so the device picks up your voice more easily.
Check your environment: If the Echo Show 5 is in a large room, far from where you typically speak, or near a TV or speaker, try moving it closer to where you use it most.

If these steps don't improve things, please reach out to us at 1-888-280-4331 or through the Alexa app so our team can investigate further and make sure your device is working properly.


Thank you for your feedback — it helps us improve.

Hello, onsowhat995. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review on the Echo Show 5. I recommend that if you want the Echo Show 5 to stay on the clock, open the settings, scroll to Home & Clock, and select Home Content. Then, select all of the selected-on settings and turn them off. If you are still having issues, I recommend reaching out to Amazon Customer Support 24/7 at 1-888-280-4331. I hope these steps are helpful. Have a great day!

Hi MRJE,

Thank you for sharing your honest feedback about the Echo Show 5. We're sorry to hear that your experience hasn't lived up to expectations, especially when compared to your 2nd generation Echo Dot.

We understand your frustration with the responsiveness issues and the frequent prompts for paid subscriptions and purchases. That's not the seamless, helpful experience we want Alexa to provide—your smart display should feel intuitive and supportive, not pushy.

Since you're considering returning the device, we want to make sure you're aware of a few things that might help, though we completely respect your decision:

Potential improvements to try:

Check for software updates in Settings > Device Options > System Updates to ensure you have the latest performance improvements
Adjust your voice recognition settings in the Alexa app under Devices > Echo & Alexa > [Your Echo Show 5] > Recognition Improvement
You can disable shopping notifications and suggestions in Settings > Notifications > Amazon Shopping

However, if the device simply isn't meeting your needs and your 2nd gen Echo Dot works better for you, returning it is absolutely a valid choice. Best Buy should be able to process your return smoothly given your recent purchase.

We appreciate you giving the Echo Show 5 a try and taking the time to share this feedback—it helps us understand where we need to improve the user experience.

Hi Spyrow424,
I am sorry to hear you're having trouble with your Echo Show 5. You can try performing a soft reset by unplugging the device for a few seconds and then plugging it back in. Also, make sure your device is connected to a strong Wi-Fi signal. If these steps don't resolve the issue, feel free to contact Amazon Customer Support anytime at 1-888-280-4331. I hope this helps, and have a great day!

Hello JoeW! Thanks for reaching out. There are many differences in the Echo Show 5 vs Echo Dot. To name a few: You can see news and weather at a glance, make video calls, view compatible cameras, stream music and shows, and more. Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance. Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away. See more with the built-in camera – Check in on your family, pets, and more using the built-in camera. Drop in on your home when you're out or view the front door from your Echo Show 5 with compatible video doorbells. See your photos on display – When not in use, set the background to a rotating slideshow of your favorite photos. Invite family and friends to share photos to your Echo Show. Prime members also get unlimited cloud photo storage. Stay connected with video calling – Use the 2 MP camera to call friends and family who have the Alexa app or an Echo device with a screen. I hope this gives you ideas on what you can do with your Echo Show 5. If you need help with using or troubleshooting your Echo Show 5, reach out to Amazon customer service at 1-888-280-4331. Thanks and have a great day!

Hi! Thank you for sharing your frustration regarding the advertisements on your Echo Show 5. I understand how disappointing it can be to encounter promotional content despite being a subscriber to multiple Amazon services like Prime, Amazon Music, and Audible. There are several ways you can try to manage these display settings. You can start by using voice commands like "Alexa, turn off photo mode" or "Alexa, turn off background rotation" to reduce some promotional content. For more detailed customization, open the Alexa app, navigate to Devices > Echo & Alexa, select your Echo Show 5, and tap on "Home Content" to adjust what appears on your screen. For a simpler display, you can always say "Alexa, show me the clock" to switch to a basic clock face. If you want to completely remove advertising content, you may want to contact Amazon Customer Service at 1-888-280-4331, as some devices offer the option to remove special offers for a one-time fee. While these steps might not fully address your concerns about seeing ads as a Prime member, Amazon Customer Service can provide additional assistance and take note of your feedback regarding device features and content display.

Hello b4yp! Thank you so much for taking the time to provide feedback on your experience with your Echo Show 5! We appreciate any and all feedback as we are constantly working to improve upon our products and services to give our customers the best experience possible. While this device may not have been the best fit for what you were looking for in your specific use case, the Echo Spot would be perfect. It is our smart alarm clock and does not have any Alexa Suggestions that pop up like the Show did and still works perfectly as a music speaker! This will always show the clock on the display. I hope this suggestion helps get you to the proper solution for your needs and again we thank you for your time and feedback! Have a terrific day!

Hi Caselpad,
Thank you for your feedback. I understand you found the Echo Show 5's size and operation challenging. The 5.5-inch screen is indeed compact by design, as it's meant to fit in smaller spaces like nightstands or desks. However, I'd be happy to help make it easier to use:
For better control, try using voice commands with Alexa rather than relying solely on the touch screen. The device also includes a tutorial in Settings that can help familiarize you with basic operation.