How to delete Amazon Echo history and voice recordings

Echo and Alexa log and archive a huge number of requests on a daily basis. While they are generally very secure, some users are concerned about their privacy. Due to minor privacy issues some users have started wondering how to delete Echo voice history and recordings.

AMAZON AND VOICE RECORDINGS

Amazon has acquired a lot of bad reputation over the years due to its policy of collecting user voice recordings. Similar to Apple’s Siri and Google’s Assistant, Alexa records and stores everything that was said after the startup phrase (most commonly, it’s just “Alexa”).

On the one hand, there has been speculation that Amazon will keep recordings longer than it should. On the other hand, Amazon officials are adamant that Amazon itself is using recordings to improve the user experience and Alexa performance.

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However, after Alexa accidentally sent a private family conversation to a stranger, the pressure on Amazon increased to protect the privacy of Alexa and Echo users. Concerned and dissatisfied users also asked for more control over recordings.

In the past, Alexa users were not allowed to completely and permanently delete their recordings. However, Amazon is making progress in this area. Eventually, after years of pressure, Amazon has been launching two voice commands that will give users more control over the recordings made by Alexa. The solution is far from perfect, but it is a start.

DELETE BY VOICE

As mentioned, Amazon recently rolled out two voice options to clear the Echo request history. The first is “Alexa, delete everything I said today” and the other is “Alexa, delete what I just said.”

While they don’t yet allow you to erase all Echo registrations, they are certainly a step in the positive direction. But to be able to delete recent recordings with voice commands, you need to enable this feature in your Alexa app. Here’s how to enable wipe by voice:

1. Launch the Alexa app on your tablet or smartphone.
2. Open the main menu and go to Settings.
3. Then, choose Alexa Account.
4. Select the Alexa Privacy tab.
5. Go to Review Voice History.
6. In the Review Voice History section, there is the “Enable Voice Deletion” option. Tap the on / off switch to turn it on.
7. Confirm your choice by tapping the Enable button.

DELETE REGISTRATIONS THROUGH THE APP

You can also delete your recordings via the official Alexa app. They will be deleted from the app and will not be available if the smartphone falls into the wrong hands. However, there is no guarantee that the recordings or their transcripts will actually be deleted from all Amazon servers.

Here’s how to delete voice recordings via the Alexa app:

1. Launch Alexa on your smartphone.
2. Tap the Menu button.
3. When the sidebar opens, go to Settings.
4. Choose your Alexa account.
5. Next, you need to select the History tab. All your voice recordings are there.
6. Choose a recording you want to delete.
7. Tap the Delete Voice Recording button.

NOTE: You will need to delete the voice recordings one by one, as it is not possible to delete all of them.

Alexa also lets you listen to your voice recordings. If you want to hear them here’s how to find them:

1. Launch the Alexa app from the Home screen of your smartphone or tablet.
2. Go to the Settings menu.
3. There, enter your Alexa account.
4. Then, go to the Alexa Privacy section in the menu.
5. Go to Review Voice History. There, you will see a list of your voice recordings.
6. Select the file you want to listen to and press the Play button.

You can also use the Echo app to delete your voice history. Here’s how it works:

1. Launch the Echo app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Go to settings.
3. Select the Alexa Account tab.
4. Go to the Alexa Privacy submenu.
5. Finally, go to Review Voice History. There, you will get a list of requests and registrations made since the last cancellation. If you haven’t deleted anything from the app setup, all history will be there. Select the recording you want to delete.
6. Tap Delete.
7. If you want to delete all requests you made that day, you should choose the Delete all recordings for today option.

While not perfect, the last option allows you to delete all recordings made since midnight the night before. Alexa will continue recording immediately after completing the deletion process.

DELETE VIA AMAZON

If you are really worried about your recordings and want a more complete solution, you should delete them via Amazon’s Alexa Privacy Hub. This way, you will be able to delete all your recordings at the same time.

Amazon launched the Alexa Security Hub as a place where Echo and Alexa users can learn how to manage app and device privacy and find out what’s going on with their recordings.

If you still want to delete your Echo history, here’s how.

1. Launch your browser and go to Alexa Privacy Hub .
2. Click the Privacy Settings tab.
3. Scroll down and click the “Manage Smart Home Device History” link.
4. Log in with your Amazon account credentials.
5. Then, go to your devices.
6. Browse the list and find your Eco. Select it
7. Then, click on the Delete Voice Recordings option.
8. Amazon will warn you that you are about to delete all your recordings and you will see a message explaining why it may not be a good idea. If you are sure you want to delete the recordings, click the Delete button.

This method does not guarantee that Amazon will also delete transcripts of your recordings from all of its databases. If you’d like them removed, you’ll need to call Amazon customer service and submit a formal cancellation request.

YOUR REGISTRATIONS, YOUR DECISION

Deciding whether to delete or keep Echo’s voice recordings is not an easy choice. On the one hand, Alexa learns from your requests and adapts to you. On the other hand, there is a possibility that your recordings will end up in the wrong hands.

What’s your stance with Echo’s voice recordings? Do you think they should be deleted or kept? Share your thoughts in the comments below.