How to Fix Alexa Drop-In not Working

When Alexa’s Drop-In feature stops working, it can cause calls to fail or devices to not respond correctly. This happens when the Drop-In function is turned off, set up incorrectly, or doesn’t have the right permissions in the Alexa app.

The main cause is wrong settings, but other reasons might be a weak network connection, outdated software, incompatible devices, or app glitches.

In this article, we will discuss different ways to solve this error.

1. Use the Manual Drop-In Feature

Manually starting Drop-In lets you skip possible app problems and directly check the feature on specific devices. This ensures that the Drop-In function is turned on and working, helping you figure out if the issue is with the device settings or the app.

2. Allow Your User Account to Use Drop-In

Allowing your Alexa account to use Drop-In makes sure the feature is set up and working correctly. Without this permission, Alexa can’t start or receive Drop-In requests because the account doesn’t have the needed access. This step checks that your account settings meet the feature’s needs, fixing any related problems.

Note: Alexa might prompt you to enable this feature via a pop-up if you tap the chat bubble at the bottom of the screen.

If using the chat function didn’t prompt Alexa to ask whether you want to enable the Drop-In function, you can enable it manually by following these steps:

1. Open the Alexa app and tap the action button in the top-left corner of the screen. From the drop-down menu, tap Contacts.
2. In the Contacts tab, click on your profile (it should be listed at the top).
3. Try the Drop-In feature again to see if the issue is resolved.

3. Ensure that Communications Are Enabled for Each Device

To ensure smooth communication between devices, make sure the Communications feature is turned on for each Alexa device. Without this setting, Drop-In and calling won’t work correctly because the devices can’t send or receive voice data. Turning on this option ensures the feature works as it should.

1. Open your Alexa app. If you don’t have it, download the appropriate version (iOS or Android).
2. In the Alexa app, tap the menu icon (top-left corner) and select Settings.
3. Tap on Amazon Household in the settings menu.

   

4. In the Devices screen, tap the first device and make sure the Communication toggle is enabled.

   

5. Make sure all connected devices have Communications enabled.

   

6. Test the Drop-In feature to check if the issue is resolved.

4. Reinstall the Alexa App

Reinstalling the Alexa app removes any problems with corrupted files or bugs that might stop the Drop-In feature from working correctly. This gives you the latest version of the app without any old settings getting in the way.

4.1 Reinstall the Amazon Alexa App on Android

1. Open the Settings app on your home screen.
2. In the main settings, tap Apps (Apps & Notifications), then tap Apps again.
3. Find Amazon Alexa in the list and tap on it.
4. In the App info screen, tap Uninstall and confirm.

   

5. After uninstalling, go to this link (here) on an Android device to reinstall the latest version of Amazon Alexa, or find it in the Google Play Store.
6. Try the Drop-In feature again to see if the issue is resolved.

4.2 Reinstall the Alexa App on iOS

1. Go to your home screen and open the Settings app.
2. In Settings, tap General, then ‘Device’ Storage.
3. Find Amazon Alexa in the list of apps and tap on it.
4. Tap Delete App in the Amazon Alexa window.

   

5. Tap Delete App again to confirm.
6. Follow this link (here) to download and install the latest Amazon Alexa app. Alternatively, search for the app in iTunes.