In the Alexa app, open More > Settings > Account Settings > Amazon Sidewalk and turn the feature off. The setting applies to the Amazon account's eligible Sidewalk devices. If you do not see it, first check that you are signed in to the account associated with a compatible Echo device.
Turn Sidewalk off in Alexa
- Open the Amazon Alexa app on your iPhone.
- Tap More, then Settings.
- Choose Account Settings, then Amazon Sidewalk.
- Switch Amazon Sidewalk off and confirm any prompt shown.
Return to the same page to verify the switch is off. Amazon Sidewalk is an account setting, so you do not normally repeat this for each eligible Echo device on the account. The setting can be absent if the signed-in account has no compatible device or if the feature is not available for that account.
What does turning it off affect?
Sidewalk lets certain compatible devices contribute to a shared, low-bandwidth network intended to help supported devices work beyond ordinary home Wi-Fi range. Turning it off disables that participation for your account's eligible devices. It does not turn off your home's Wi-Fi or disconnect every Echo device from the internet. Features that depend on Sidewalk may be unavailable or have shorter reach.
If the app option is missing
Confirm the correct Amazon account in Alexa and that the app is current. Amazon also provides a web route: under Manage Your Content and Devices, open Preferences and find Amazon Sidewalk. The website can be useful when the iPhone app layout has changed. If neither route shows the setting, check Amazon's eligibility information instead of changing unrelated network or privacy controls.
Check whether this setting applies to your devices
Sidewalk is a shared connectivity feature for eligible devices, including certain Echo and Ring products. It is not a setting for every Alexa-compatible device. Amazon says compatible devices can help supported devices stay connected beyond ordinary home Wi-Fi range, using a small share of internet bandwidth and approximate device location. The feature can be useful for supported items near the edge of a home network; whether that benefit matters depends on the devices you actually own.
Open the Sidewalk page in Alexa before changing anything and identify the signed-in Amazon account. A household can have several accounts and devices. If the page is absent, do not assume the feature is on or off for another family member's account. Amazon's settings and eligibility information are the right place to check. Linked Ring and Amazon accounts can share Sidewalk preferences across their eligible Echo and Ring devices, according to Amazon's Alexa FAQ.
Sidewalk versus your home Wi-Fi
Sidewalk is not a replacement for the Wi-Fi that your Echo uses for normal internet access. Turning Sidewalk off should not require changing the home's router password or turning Wi-Fi off on an iPhone. It affects Sidewalk participation and features that use that network. A device that depends on Sidewalk for extended range may no longer work in that specific way after you disable it. If an Echo itself stops responding to Alexa after the change, check its normal Wi-Fi connection separately.
This distinction matters when troubleshooting. If your concern is network speed, first check whether the slowdown occurs on ordinary Wi-Fi devices and whether your internet service is working. If your concern is Sidewalk participation, the account setting is the direct control. Changing router settings because the Sidewalk switch is missing can create unrelated connection problems.
Voice-history controls are separate from Sidewalk participation. You can review Alexa voice history on your iPhone to inspect recordings, transcripts, and retention settings without changing the Sidewalk network preference.
Verify, reverse, or use the web route
After switching Sidewalk off, leave the settings page and reopen More > Settings > Account Settings > Amazon Sidewalk. Confirm that the control still shows off under the intended account. If you later decide you want the feature, return to the same page and turn it on. You can also use Amazon's web preferences route from Manage Your Content and Devices > Preferences when the app layout is difficult to navigate. Sign in to the same account before comparing the values.
If you also manage a Ring account, check whether it is linked to Amazon and read the setting there before treating the two apps as independent. Avoid toggling controls repeatedly across accounts without recording which device belongs to which account; a missing or unexpected control often reflects account or eligibility rather than a failed save.
Frequently asked questions
Does turning Sidewalk off disable Alexa? No. Alexa's ordinary online functions use the device's normal connection. Sidewalk-dependent extended-range features can be affected, but this switch is not a master power or Wi-Fi control. For the other things you can switch off, see how to turn Alexa off on an iPhone.
Do I need to change every Echo individually? Amazon presents this as an account preference for eligible devices. Verify the account, especially in a household with multiple Amazon logins, instead of repeating the same steps blindly on every device.
What if the switch turns back on? Reopen the page after closing the app and confirm the signed-in account. Check a linked Ring account if applicable. If the preference does not persist, use Amazon's account help rather than making an unrelated network change.
For another Alexa device setting, see how to rename an Alexa device.
Amazon's Sidewalk settings help page gives the account path and eligibility details.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
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