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How to Set Up Echo Show Without Smartphone

How to Set Up Echo Show Without Smartphone

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to set up the Echo Show without a smartphone. The smart speaker is connected to the Alexa app and the app itself is used to change some of the more advanced settings.

Needless to say, this may create a lot of problems if you want to set up the Echo Show for an elderly person or someone with disabilities. You might try logging out of your Alexa account and creating a dummy account to complete the set-up.

However, this might cause problems in the long run and you might struggle to get through to the Echo Show. But is there light at the end of a tunnel? Keep reading to find out.

Get a Burner Smartphone

If you need to set up the Echo Show for someone who doesn’t use a smartphone, you’ll need to get a so-called “burner phone”. This is a device that stays put and is only used for the purposes of setting up and maintaining the Echo Show.

In all honesty, this adds seemingly unnecessary expenses to the set-up, but it saves you time and trouble in the long run. The Alexa app requires iOS 11.0, Android 5.1, or Fire OS 5.3.3 to work. This means you can turn your old iPhone or Android smartphone into a burner unit to complete the setup.

The important thing is to import or add some contacts to the burner smartphone so you can easily get in touch with the Echo Show. This way the person using the Echo Show will be able to communicate with you using voice commands. Plus, you won’t have any trouble to Drop In on your loved one.

Important Notes

The Echo Show should work just fine even when the burner smartphone turns off. But it would be best to keep it charged to avoid potential pairing and connectivity issues. What’s more, it’s advisable to check the app and the smart speakers for updates every now and again.

Setting up the Echo Show

The following guide requires a user to have an Amazon account and the Alexa app. We’ve already established that it’s best to use a burner phone to create an account for the person who’s going to use the device. Of course, you’ll be managing and setting up the account.

Before You Start

The first step is to properly place the Echo Show and hook it up to the power outlet. It’s best to place the unit on a desktop about ten inches from walls and other obstacles. You should also consider where the person spends most of their time.

For example, if an elderly person is bed-ridden or has limited mobility feel free to place the device on the bedside table. Also, make sure the screen and the camera are within easy reach.

echo show

Step-by-Step Set-up Guide

Step 1

Grab the burner smartphone and install the Alexa app. It’s worth noting that Amazon offers web-based set-up, but that would require the person to have a computer. Either way, you’d need to create an Amazon account for the person who’s going to use the Echo.

Step 2

Log into the Amazon account via the Alexa app and tap the hamburger icon – the three horizontal lines in the upper left corner of the screen. The first option you see should be “Add Device”, tap on it to initiate the set-up process.

Step 3

Select Amazon Echo under All Devices and choose Echo Show in the following window. At this point, you should check if your Echo Show is in the set-up mode. Alexa usually notifies you about that and the Echo Show should initiate the set-up as soon as you plug it in.

setup

Step 4

From here on, you can follow the Echo Show on-screen wizard to complete the set-up. You need to connect to the home Wi-Fi network, choose the time zone, and enter the Amazon account credentials. Sometimes the device might prompt you to do a software update so feel free to proceed with it.

echo

Step 5

After the update, the Echo Show plays an instructional video that can be skipped. Finally, Alexa tells you that it’s ready to use.

Why Is Drop In Important?

Assuming that you’re setting up the Echo for an elderly or disabled person, you need to allow Drop In on the device. There’s no ringing/answering with this feature and you can see and hear what the person is doing in an instant. Among other things, Drop In is one of the reasons you need a burner smartphone and the Alexa app.

Launch the app on the burner phone and tap the chat bubble icon to access Conversations. You’ll need to allow Alexa access to the contacts and verify the credentials. Now, you need to set the Drop In feature to “On” and manually allow each contact to Drop In.

Happy Chatting

It would be great if the Echo devices offered a special set-up procedure for people who don’t use smartphones. After all, the smart speaker can be an invaluable communication and entertainment portal for anybody, regardless of age or state of health.

Have you tried setting up the Echo Show without a smartphone before? Is there a person in your life that would benefit from a smart speaker? Drop us a comment below and share your thoughts with the rest of the community.

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11 thoughts on “How to Set Up Echo Show Without Smartphone”

Tammy says:
I need a smart speaker for my echo dot where do I get 1?
David says:
Just set it up using a ” burner phone” (my wife’s old IPhone 6s I had lying around I personally am an Android man). Created free Amazon account for my mom. Needed to supply a credit card on file. Created a free Gmail account too. Bought a GOPAY Ultra Sim Card on Ebay as the T- Mobile stores which sell them in my area were too far away. First iPhone (5s) didn’t work with sim, so beware. Service is only $3 month, limited, but in my case, for limited drop-in capabilities to check in on my mom. Credit card on file again. Set up was straight forward although the iPhone made it more complicated with double verification etc. so second phone was necessary to receive texts at first. Downloaded Alexa app. Once again iPhone made it complicated by making me sign up for App store account and providing a credit card. After set up, requested “make calls using wi-fi” hoping to save limited minutes. Left phone hooked to charger next to power strip out of the way. So far, so good.
GW says:
We got an Echo from our son so my wife could chat online from her nursing home. You can’t switch Alexa accounts from one phone, and it won’t work from my PC. I’d have to buy an entirely new (Alexa won’t even install on a semi-older phone, like from four years back) cell phone, which she can’t use. I got the home Alexa/Echo working, but it’s literally impossible once you do that to set up an additional Alexa account on the same phone. It won’t let you switch. It’s ridiculous.
LM says:
Ditch it and buy a Google nest hub. They are under $100; cheaper when on sale. Nicer interface, they don’t require a credit card, you can do e-mail to e-mail calling through DUO, but you still need a smartphone even for Nest HUB. On an Android phone you can create a separate account by using the phones secure folder. Amazon is claiming now that the echo show 8 second edition allows for e-mail to email calling, but the disadvantage is you still need to supply a credit card which is ridiculous.
Mousse Mama says:
Can I set up the Echo Show using my mother’s old iPad without telephonic capability?
GW says:
You can try to install the software app first. If it’s an older ipad or phone it may just tell you that it’s out of date and won’t let you install it. Apple is the same company that got caught dumbing down their older models, making them run slower, so you’d have to buy a new machine. Good luck.
Bernie says:
VERY COMPLICATED! WE WANT FOR MY HUSBAND IN ASSISTED LIVING. WE’VE BEEN TRYING TO SET IT UP SINCE JAN.7TH AND STILL NOT SETUP.
NOT VERY FRIENDLY!
GW says:
No. I didn’t buy ours, it was a Christmas gift from our son so we could chat with my wife who is at a extended care facility. You need to have an entirely new phone, or the software won’t even load on slightly older models. You can’t install it from a PC. You can’t install two separate Echo devices from one account, it won’t let you switch. You’re probably better off just getting a new tablet or phone and use facetime or a similar app, however they aren’t very user friendly for people with memory issues. :(
Laurie Carlson says:
I think it is truly false advertising to say that this product is a great way to connect with the elderly. We bought 5 so that we could video with my mother who is in an assisted living facility, only to find out after the fact, that she needs a smart phone in order to use it. Such a stupid set up! Why not have a web version letting the family manage and set up the contacts online. I am very disappointed and really feel we wasted $500.
GW says:
See if you can send it back. There is literally no way to set up two accounts on one phone. You’re right, you need to buy an additional new cell phone to get it to work. :(
Larry says:
I don’t have a smart phone. Therefore all these Alexa devices are worthless shit!
Miles D Sargent says:
I do not know why people keep saying you must have a smart phone to set it up…I don’t have a smart phone. I do have a lenovo portable tablet with android 9. I think I had to use it to set it up.
KEITH BROWNFIELD says:
You would think the requirement for a smart phone setting wasted beside the echo show would be listed on the box next to how great it is to video Grandma. This is the worst case of false advertising I have ever seen.
AMR1 says:
I don’t understand why Amazon (and many other companies) refuse to provide capabilities via web browsers, instead of forcing people to install an app on a recent model iPhone or Android smartphone. Users without smartphones, or smartphones which don’t meet the restrictive hardware requirements, such as a large portion of the elderly, including my mother in law (who we purchased an Echo Show for, along with multiple smart devices, so that she can still have some control of her life) are either out of luck, or we are forced to find some burner phone (which also must meet the restrictive requirements). Simply ludicrous.
LisaW says:
I need to set up echo show for my mother in la2 who is in an assisted living facility. She can use their Wi-Fi but has a landline, no mobile account. I had hoped to set this up for her without incurring extra monthly fees, using my own cell phone, so we can “drop in” on her during the COVID-19 restrictions. Does anyone have any info on how to do this?
Ashley Benedik says:
My mother in law does not have a smart phone but has a computer. Can we set it up through the computer or give her my old iPad with LTE and use that rather than a smartphone?
Colleeen says:
I just did this
I used my cell phone and number. Set it up as if it were moms. I had to load the app on my phone and log in as mom. Any time i tried logging out and logging in as myself it messed uvthe unit. I then added contacts but make sure you arent adding a contact listed as an email vs a phone number. It imports your contacts so some were just emsils. Or manually addcontacys making sure every field including nick name and relationship are listed. Enable drop in if they want to video call. If its a landline number she can still call but just no video. Again do not log out of the app on your phone. Leave it as your moms. Add yourself manually as a contact. What a PITA. Its great but set up or instructions could be easier.

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Oct 23, 2019

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