Colin FosterBy Colin Foster

Learning how to unlink Alexa devices lets you remove a speaker, plug or smart bulb from your Amazon account without losing the rest of your setup. This guide walks through unlinking in the Alexa app, removing third-party skills, handling devices you no longer own, and fixing the snags people run into most often. Expect about 15 minutes for a typical single device, longer if you are clearing out a whole household.

Before You Start: Decide What “Unlink” Means for Your Setup

People use “unlink” to describe several different actions, and the steps differ. You might want to remove a device from your Alexa app so it stops responding to voice commands, disconnect a third-party account like a smart lock brand, or sever a device from a shared household. Pinning down your goal first saves you from undoing the wrong connection.

Shopping for one? See our guide: 9 Best Alexa Compatible Devices for Smart Home Setups (2026).

  • Remove a device from your account: the device stops appearing in the app and no longer responds to your voice.
  • Unlink a skill or third-party account: the connection between Alexa and another brand’s cloud service is removed, but the physical device may still be on your network.
  • Unlink a shared or guest device: you stop sharing a device with another adult or household member.

If you are moving a device to a different owner or home, you may also want to read How to Share Alexa Devices with Another Account (Step-by-Step) so you know which option fits.

Tools and Information You Will Need

Gather these items before you begin so the process goes smoothly:

  1. The Alexa app on your phone, signed in to the account that owns the device.
  2. The Amazon account password and access to your two-step verification method, if enabled.
  3. The device’s name as it appears in the app, or its physical location in your home.
  4. Physical access to the device, in case you need to reset it afterward.
  5. For third-party devices, the login details for the brand’s own app.

This is the most common task. The steps below apply to Echo speakers, Echo Dot, Echo Show and most Alexa-compatible smart home devices that were added directly through the app.

Step 1: Open the Devices Tab

Open the Alexa app and tap the Devices icon in the bottom navigation bar. Your devices are grouped by type, such as Echo & Alexa, Lights, Plugs and Cameras.

Step 2: Locate the Device

Scroll to the device you want to remove. If you have many devices, use the search icon at the top of the screen. Confirm you have the right one by checking the room and device type, since two devices can share a generic name.

Step 3: Open Device Settings

Tap the device, then tap the gear or settings icon in the top corner. On some device types, you may need to tap the three-dot menu first.

Step 4: Remove the Device

Scroll to the bottom of the settings page and select Remove Device or Delete, depending on your app version. Confirm when prompted. The device disappears from your list and stops responding to voice commands tied to your account.

Step 5: Reset the Hardware if You Are Reselling or Giving It Away

Removing a device from the app does not erase its stored Wi-Fi settings or account link on the hardware itself. Manufacturers generally recommend a factory reset before the device leaves your possession. Look for a small reset button, often on the bottom or back, and hold it for the duration printed in the manual, commonly around 10 to 20 seconds for Echo speakers.

Many smart home devices connect to Alexa through a skill, which is a third-party integration that links a brand’s cloud account to your Alexa account. Unlinking the skill cuts that connection without necessarily removing the physical device from your Wi-Fi network.

Disabling a Skill in the App

Tap More, then Skills & Games, then Your Skills. Find the skill, tap it, and choose Disable Skill. Disabling is reversible, so it is a good first step if you are not certain you want a permanent break.

Unlinking the Account

From the skill’s page, select Disable Skill and then Unlink or Deauthorize if the option is shown. If your devices still respond after unlinking, log in to the brand’s own website or app and check for a connected-services or authorized-apps section, where you can revoke Alexa’s access directly.

Unlinking Shared Devices and Household Members

If another adult or household member has access to a device you want to unlink, the process differs slightly. Shared users can be removed from the Household or from individual device sharing settings. Changes apply quickly, but the other person may need to refresh their app before the device disappears from their list.

For a full walkthrough of sharing controls, including how to revoke access, see How to Remove Devices from Alexa: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners.

Unlinking Devices You No Longer Own or Can’t Reach

Sometimes the device is lost, broken or already sold, and you cannot reset it. In that case, removing it from the app is enough. The device will no longer be controlled through your account, and any routines or groups referencing it will need manual cleanup. Open More, then Routines, and remove the old device from each one.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Deleting the wrong device: Two devices with similar names are easy to confuse. Check the room and model before confirming.
  • Forgetting routines and groups: Removing a device does not automatically update your routines. Review them afterward.
  • Skipping the hardware reset: Selling or giving away a device without resetting it can leave the new owner unable to set it up.
  • Assuming disabling equals unlinking: A disabled skill can still hold stored tokens. Revoke access from the brand’s side for a clean break.
  • Unplugging instead of unlinking: Powering a device off does not remove it from your account, and it will show as offline rather than gone.

Occasionally a device refuses to disappear. Try these fixes in order:

  1. Force-close and reopen the Alexa app, then try again.
  2. Confirm your phone has a working internet connection, since the change must reach Amazon’s servers.
  3. Sign out of the app and sign back in with the owning account.
  4. Update the Alexa app from your app store.
  5. If the device is a camera or doorbell that appears twice, check whether it is listed under both a skill and a native device entry, and remove both.

If the device reappears after removal, it may still be linked through a brand account. Check that brand’s app and remove the connection there. Problems with devices that drop off the network after a power outage are a separate issue, covered in Smart Devices Offline After a Power Outage? How to Fix It.

A few inexpensive items make the reset and handover steps easier, especially if you manage several devices.

  • Pin or paperclip for reset buttons: Many devices have recessed reset holes that a small tool reaches more easily than a fingertip. View on Amazon
  • Labeled cable ties or tags: Tagging each device by room before you remove it prevents mix-ups during a large cleanup. View on Amazon
  • Smart plug with energy monitoring: Useful for confirming whether a removed device is still drawing power after you have unlinked it. View on Amazon

FAQ

Does removing a device from Alexa delete it from my Wi-Fi network?

No. Removing the device from the Alexa app only breaks the link to your account. The device may remain connected to your router until you reset it or remove it from the router’s connected-device list.

Will unlinking a device delete my routines?

No, but routines that reference the device will stop working for that step. Open each routine and remove or replace the deleted device.

Some devices can be unlinked from the manufacturer’s own app or website, particularly when they connect through a brand skill. The Alexa app is still the primary place to remove native Alexa devices.

It stops responding to Alexa voice commands and disappears from your device list. It usually keeps working with its own brand app if it is still powered and connected.

Do I need to reset the device after unlinking?

Not always. A reset is recommended before selling, giving away or recycling the device, so the next owner can set it up cleanly.

Can I re-add a device after unlinking it?

Yes. Run the setup process again from the Devices tab, or enable the skill and sign in to the brand account. Re-adding is usually straightforward if the device is still on your network.

Why does my unlinked device still show in another person’s app?

Shared users may need to refresh their app or sign out and back in. If it persists, remove their access in the sharing settings.

Conclusion

Unlinking an Alexa device usually takes just a few taps, but the right steps depend on whether you are removing a native device, disabling a third-party skill or revoking shared access. Start by deciding your goal, then work through the app and the brand’s own account if needed. Reset any hardware before it leaves your hands, and clean up routines so nothing breaks unexpectedly.

Ready to choose one?

Colin Foster

About Colin Foster

Colin Foster is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our smart home guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.