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Amazon Disables Alexa Control of AUX Input on Some Echo Devices

5:16 PM ETDeveloping

Technology Desk

In Short: Amazon has disabled the ability for Alexa to control audio from devices connected to certain Echo speakers' AUX ports via voice commands, according to an email sent to users this week.

Amazon has disabled the ability for Alexa to control audio from devices connected to certain Echo speakers' AUX ports via voice commands, according to an email sent to users this week.

Users have reported receiving an email from Amazon informing them that voice commands like 'Alexa, play from line in' or 'Alexa, set aux input' will no longer work.

Despite the removal of this feature, the physical AUX inputs on these devices continue to function, allowing users to listen to audio from a connected device.

Amazon’s spokesperson confirmed the news to Ars Technica, noting that users can still connect devices to their Echo via Bluetooth, which is likely the most common method today.

The spokesperson also stated that very few people use voice commands to control audio from a device connected to an Echo’s AUX, suggesting that the change may not significantly impact many users.

However, one Reddit user expressed frustration, stating, 'They had the functionality, it’s not like it was a security issue or anything. I cannot understand the reason they’d simply remove a function beyond enshittification.'

When asked about the reasons for removing this Alexa capability and the number of users affected, Amazon’s representative did not provide answers.

What this adds

What's still developing

• Amazon hasn’t made an Echo with a 3.5mm port in six years.
• The change affects only some older Echo devices: the Echo Plus 2nd Gen (released in 2018), Echo 3rd Gen (released in 2019), Echo Studio 1st Gen (released in 2019), and Echo 4th Gen (released in 2020).
• They can also continue to use the Alexa app to enable or disable a supporting speaker’s AUX input.

Sources

• Ars Technicalink