Amazon Removes Alexa Voice-Control Feature for Echo AUX Devices

Amazon has removed a feature that allowed users to control audio from devices connected to an Echo speaker’s AUX input using voice commands. The company has not explained why the Alexa feature was removed or how many users are affected.

Echo Users Can Still Connect Devices via Bluetooth

Amazon representatives said users can still connect their devices to Echo speakers via Bluetooth, which is currently the most common way to connect third-party devices to Amazon speakers.

An Amazon spokesperson also said that very few people use voice commands to control audio from devices connected to an Echo’s AUX input, suggesting that relatively few users may be affected by the change.

Users Question the Removal of a Purchased Feature

Still, the change is frustrating for customers who expected features on their purchased devices to remain available. An Amazon representative did not respond to questions about why the company removed the Alexa feature or how many users would be affected.

“Functionally, it’s not a security issue or anything. I don’t understand why they would simply remove a feature that is beyond its capabilities,” one Reddit user said in response to the news.

Alexa Feature Removal May Support Alexa+

Removing the feature could make Alexa easier for Amazon to maintain, particularly as the company puts more resources into improving Alexa+, its AI-powered, subscription-based version of Alexa.

Amazon Has Removed Other Echo Features

This is not the first time Amazon has removed a feature from its purchased devices. Last year, the company removed a feature that allowed users to prevent voice recordings of commands spoken to Alexa from being sent to Amazon from their Echo devices.

The voice-recording control feature was supported on the fourth-generation Echo, Echo Show 15, and Echo Show 10.