Drop In Not Working
Amazon Smart Speaker
Severity: MinorWhat Does This Error Mean?
Amazon Echo Drop In fails when the feature is disabled in the Alexa app, the contact has not granted you Drop In permission, or both devices are not connected to the internet. Check Drop In settings in the Alexa app under your device communications settings.
Affected Models
- Amazon Echo Dot
- Amazon Echo
- Amazon Echo Plus
- Amazon Echo Show
- Amazon Echo Studio
Common Causes
- Drop In permission not enabled on the target device in the Alexa app
- The contact has not granted you household or all-contacts Drop In permission
- Target Echo device is offline or has a poor internet connection
- Do Not Disturb mode active on the target device
- Communications feature not enabled on the device
How to Fix It
-
Enable Drop In on your own Echo device in the Alexa app.
Open the Alexa app > Devices > select your Echo > Communications > Drop In. Set it to Household (for devices on your account) or Contacts (to allow specific contacts).
-
Ask the contact to enable Drop In from their side.
Drop In between accounts only works when both parties grant permission. The other person must open their Alexa app > More > Settings > Communications > Drop In and enable it, then also allow you specifically in their Contacts.
-
Check that Do Not Disturb is turned off on the target device.
Drop In calls are blocked when Do Not Disturb is active. In the Alexa app go to Devices > select the target Echo > Do Not Disturb and make sure it is off.
-
Confirm the target Echo is online.
In the Alexa app, the target device must show as Online. If it shows as Offline, the device needs to reconnect to Wi-Fi before Drop In will work.
-
Restart both Echo devices and the Alexa app.
Unplug both Echo devices for 30 seconds, plug back in, and give them 60 seconds to reconnect. Force-close and reopen the Alexa app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Drop In on an Echo without the other person knowing?
Yes — that is the design of Drop In. The target device answers automatically after a brief pulse. However, the other person must have previously granted you Drop In permission, so it is consensual.
Does Drop In work across different Wi-Fi networks?
Yes. Drop In between contacts works over the internet, so both devices just need an active internet connection — they do not need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.