How to change the wake word on an Echo speaker or smart display

If you’re getting tired of saying “Alexa” to get your smart speaker’s attention, or if Amazon’s voice assistant keeps thinking you’ve called on it when you haven’t, it might be time to try a new name.

Perhaps you’d prefer to invoke the capabilities of the assistant with the word “Computer,” and mimic life on the Starship Enterprise from the comfort of your home. Or maybe you’re one of the parents of the 6,000 babies who were named Alexa in 2015 before the AI was a household name (a number that unsurprisingly plummeted to 1,900 by 2019).

Either way, it’s simple to change the Amazon voice assistant’s wake word, and there are a few different words to choose from. Here’s a look at how you can evict Alexa in favor of a new wake word. 

Select your smart speaker in the Alexa app and go to its Settings page to choose a new wake word.

You can change the wake word of any Echo speaker or smart display from “Alexa” to “Ziggy,” “Echo,” “Amazon,” or “Computer” for free. (Note: If you are using a third-party device with Alexa built in, you may not have the option to change the wake word.)

You can also opt for a celebrity wake word, which will change Alexa’s voice. Current options include Hey Samuel (Samuel L. Jackson), Hey Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal), and Hey Melissa (Melissa McCarthy). These cost $4.99 to enable. See our guide on How to change Alexa’s voice for more on this.

Swipe down from the top of your Echo Show device to access the settings menu, or just say “Alexa, change your wake word.” Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

You can change the wake word directly on your Echo device using voice commands. 

If you have an Echo Show, you can also use the touchscreen to change the wake word.

A “Hey Disney” custom voice assistant is due to arrive this year. Image: Amazon

The custom voice assistant will live alongside Alexa and be able to help with specific Disney Resort questions as well as provide jokes, fun facts, and over 1,000 “magical interactions” presented by Disney characters, according to Amazon. You can sign up here to be notified when it goes live.

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