The estimated reading time for this post is 3 minutes
Amazon has just released a new setting for Echo devices to make them work better for you. And what’s even more exciting is that this particular setting couldn’t be easier to set up.
So if you don’t want your Echo to work better for you, or you like complicated tech, then this article isn’t for you.
But if you want a very easy way to improve your Echo experience, then by all means read on…
Echo Adaptive Volume
Amazon has just launched a new setting for Echo devices called Adaptive Volume. With Adaptive Volume turned on, Echo devices will increase the volume of Alexa’s voice in noisy environments.
If you live in a less-than-quiet home, you may have asked Alexa a question only to miss its answer because you couldn’t hear it. Perhaps you live with children (or adults), who scream, cry, whine, or talk loudly. Maybe your roommate works from home and is constantly on loud Zoom calls. Or perhaps you live next to a construction site, playground, or airport.
Until recently, your only solutions were to ask Alexa to speak more loudly or to turn up the volume on your Echo device.
But you may not want Alexa responding in a loud voice later when your house is blissfully quiet. So you’d have to keep adjusting Alexa’s volume according to the noise in the room.
But now with Adaptive Volume turned on, your Echo device will adapt the volume of Alexa’s voice to the noise in the room. You don’t have to manually change the volume of Alexa’s voice to hear it over the din in your home.
Adaptive Volume means less work for you. If you’re running a noisy blender or a loud dishwasher, your Echo will increase the volume of Alexa’s voice. After the blending and/or dishwashing has stopped, Alexa’s voice will return to normal volume.
Check out => How to Turn Your Echo Show or Spot Into a Digital Photo Frame
How to Turn on Adaptive Volume for Your Echo Devices
Setting up Adaptive Volume for your Echo devices could not be easier. All you have to do is ask Alexa to do it.
Say, “Alexa, turn on Adaptive Volume.” Alexa will confirm your request: “Sure, Adaptive Volume is now on. I can now speak louder when I detect ambient noise.”
No need to mess with the Alexa app on your phone or the settings screen on your Echo Show. Just ask Alexa and you shall receive Adaptive Volume.
Even better, if you have multiple Echo devices, Adaptive Volume will be turned on for all of them based on a single request. You don’t need to ask each one individually.
Setting up Adaptive Volume is so easy, you should do it now. It’s okay, I’ll wait.
All done? Great, wasn’t that quick!
Don’t miss => 3 Helpful and Fun New Ways to Use Alexa — Zoom, Netflix, and Live Translations
What Else You Should Know About Adaptive Volume
According to The Verge, Adaptive Volume is currently only available for Echo devices in the U.S. Amazon has not yet indicated when or if Adaptive Volume will be coming to Echo devices in other countries.
Not all Echo devices are compatible with Adaptive Volume. I tried setting up Adaptive Volume on my Echo devices and found it was compatible with all of my Echo devices, except for an original Echo speaker from 2016. But Adaptive Volume worked on an Echo Show from 2017 and an Echo Spot from 2018. So you don’t need to have the latest Echo device to use Adaptive Volume.
If you ask Alexa to turn on Adaptive Volume for an Echo device that doesn’t have that capability, Alexa will tell you, “Hmm, Adaptive Volume is not supported on this device.”
Your Thoughts
Have you ever struggled to hear Alexa’s response because of the noise in the room? Do you like the idea of the volume of Alexa’s voice adapting to your noisy surroundings? Have you turned Adaptive Volume on for your Echo devices?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
____
*Listening image (edited) courtesy of Getty Images and PicMonkey
*Waiting image courtesy of Unsplash and PicMonkey
Yup. It was that easy! Huge help.
Thanks, Carolyn!