Did your Alexa say, “Sorry, I’m having trouble understanding you right now, please try a little later?” Sounds annoying!! No? Well, don’t break up with Alexa. She is really a darling.
You may have encountered Alexa not working situation before; when Alexa doesn’t respond at all.
However, there could be various reasons that cause ‘Alexa Not Understanding You Right Now‘ problem. But what to do when Alexa refused to obey you? Don’t panic.
Why is My “Alexa Having Trouble Understanding Right Now”?
Well, the Alexa Having Trouble Understanding error is occurring and there is nothing you can do, then you do not have to worry as there are some steps that can help you out. There are some causes for Why Is my Alexa Having Trouble Understanding right now, that might be responsible for the Following issue.
Lost The Wireless Connection and Internet Not Working
The reason could be when you have lost the wireless connection or when the internet service is down.
Troubles Connection With Amazon Servers or Network
When Alexa having trouble understanding, this error occurs when the Amazon echo is getting trouble contacting the Amazon servers. This is why it is not able to figure out and then understand the command properly. Amazon Account connectivity or login issues with their servers and Wi-Fi.
Weak Internet Speed
You have weak internet Speed and poor signal.
Outage Range Of the Wi-Fi Signal
Alexa keep the outage range of the Wi-Fi signal.
Alexa Skill is Not Enable
The Alexa skill is not enabled and updated.
Not Use the Wake Words
You’re not using clear language commands or wake words that Alexa doesn’t understand.
Problem With Temporary Hardware Malfunction
There is a temporary hardware malfunction.
The can be an issue on the Amazon end as well. Well, whatever the reasons may be, there is only one solution and that is to fix it.
Let us have a look forward to the troubleshooting steps for Alexa Having Trouble Understanding.
Simple and Easy Steps to Fix “Why is my Alexa Having Trouble Understanding Right Now”
Step1: Restart the Alexa-Enable Smart Speaker Device
There are times when a simple restart might help you to resolve the issue. This step has been tried and tested troubleshooting method. Well, restarting the echo device is what you would need to do in order to restart the device.
Step2: Need to Check the Weak Internet Connection/ Poor Internet Connection
There are at times when your internet service is down and which is why Alexa will not be able to work. Well, if you see that your is not up and is not running, you need to take some steps in order to restore the connection.
Step3: Check Wireless Network Connection/ Wi-Fi Connection
Well, the next step is to check the internet connection. The echo device will connect to the dual-band Wi-Fi networks and is going to use the 802.11a/b/g/ n standard. If you see that the Wi-Fi is down, then you have to reset it and then see if the Alexa is working again or not.
If you are still facing the issue of Alexa Having Trouble Understanding, then follow the next step.
Step4: Alexa Echo Enable Device keep in Wi-Fi Range
Well, your Wi-Fi might be available and the internet might be streaming but again that is of no help if your Alexa-enabled device is too far away. You need to move it closer to the wi-fi router that might help you in resolving the wi-fi range issue.
Step5: If Needed then Reset the Alexa Device Factory
Well, your Echo might be having a software issue so it won’t be able to resolve the issue on its own. Well, resetting the Alexa-enabled device back to factory defaults might help you fix the issue. If you are still unable to fix it, then try out the next step.
Step6: Check the Amazon Alexa App End Problem
Well, the issue can be on Amazon’s end as well. What you need to do is to get in touch with Amazon support. See if the company is experiencing any kind of issues. Make sure that you also check Amazon’s outages.
Step7: Change the Wake Words
- There are various wake words through which you will be able to command Alexa. Sometimes, you are going to choose a word that Alexa will have difficulty in understanding.
- You can try to update the wake-up word to echo, computer, or Amazon for something easy that is very easy to understand so that the Alexa will be able to understand the issue.
Step8: Alexa Echo a Reset
The first thing you should do (when your Alexa has trouble understanding you) is Power off and on Echo device. Also, close the Alexa app in your smartphone and get back on. For further troubleshooting, reboot your wi-fi network devices as well. That means you need to restart:
- Echo device
- Alexa app
- Your Modem
- Wi-Fi Router
Turn every device off, give it a rest of a few seconds, and turn on again. Reconnect everything with each other. Don’t hurry-scurry, provide enough time to let each device reboot and get ready to start working.
Any minor Alexa issue gets resolved with this step only. In case Your Alexa is still having trouble to understand you, move to the next step.
Step9: Uninstall And Reinstall Alexa App
- Not a specific reason, but when the apps keep running, they become unresponsive at times. In such a case, you face errors like Alexa Not Responding or Alexa Device Offline.
- Moreover, when Alexa reply, “Sorry, I’m having trouble understanding you right now. Please try a little later ” for every command you give that means Alexa app is behaving problematically.
- Uninstall the Alexa app from your device and reinstall it back. This will also give you a chance to have an updated version of the Alexa app. Now take up Alexa Setup task and connect Alexa to Wi-Fi.
- Once you get into the wi-fi network, try giving the command to Alexa again.
Step10: Check Internet Speed and Wi-Fi Network
- Are you getting excellent and uninterrupted internet speed? There are various online tools to check your internet speed. Mind it slow speed internet or no data transfer could result in many failures.
- Your given voice-commands goes to Amazon cloud where all the transcription process takes place. The slow internet can disrupt this translation process.
- As a result, Alexa wouldn’t get clear instructions from her server and thus unable to respond. She may also reply with “Sorry, I’m having trouble understanding you right now. Please try a little later ” for whatever you ask her to do. Or you may get some other Alexa Echo Error.
- For internet speed and server problem, you should connect to your ISP. Before moving to the next step, check if your Alexa is correctly connected to your Wi-Fi network.
Step11: Move Alexa Close To A Wi-fi Router
- Have you placed your Alexa outside your wi-fi range? Check the position of your Alexa, placing it in a dead zone or weak signal zone can also cause problems.
- Putting it in such area won’t let her receive strong network signals. Thus Alexa can reply
“Sorry, I’m having trouble understanding you right now. Please try a little later. “
- Try to place Alexa as close as possible to the Wi-Fi router. Also, remove any smartphone or the digital device placed between the path.
- The transmission signals from these devices can create a problem for Alexa (while communicating with the server.), and Alexa won’t connect to Wi-Fi correctly.
Step12: Did You Forget To Enable Alexa Skill?
- Are you sure you added the Alexa skill for which you are giving commands? Didn’t understand, ok let us re-narrate the issue.
- For example, if you need to listen to the weather forecast or news updates. You first need to activate related skills in Alexa.
- In case you didn’t enable such Alexa skills and asked her to respond to your commands. She will reply, “Sorry, I’m having trouble understanding you right now. Please try a little later.”
- Alexa is a quite intelligent virtual assistant and comes with many pre-loaded skills. If you wish to make it more helpful, you need to add required Alexa skills.
There are various paid and free Alexa skills. You can easily get Alexa skills downloaded from Amazon store.
Have no idea about ‘how to enable Alexa skills?’
Step13: Alexa Service or Amazon Server Is Down!!
- Remember that Alexa App or your Echo speaker doesn’t understand your voice commands. Your said commands are received by Amazon server and get processed.
- The entire transcription and execution of commands happen on Amazon cloud. If the amazon server goes down, your Alexa becomes unresponsive, and the Echo device become just speaker.
- If you have tried and tested all above explained troubleshooting steps but still your Alexa Not Working, then it might be Amazon server, who is the culprit.
- You can’t do anything in this situation. Sit tight and wait for Amazon server to back in service.
Step14: Need Help for Alexa Expert
Well, even if after trying loads of steps you are still not able to make out the solution for the Alexa Having Trouble Understanding, then you must get in touch with our experts and they are experienced. They will help you with the best troubleshooting information and you are going to find your right answer there.
There could be some issues on the Amazon Ends as well, which is why you have to face the issue.
If you need additional help for troubleshooting Alexa not working issue. We suggest you reach us once and talk to our team of Alexa experts.
