Low Alexa voice volume after using mute command

Echo Show with low voice volume

I finally worked out why my Echo Show would have a low Alexa voice volume low compared to music volume and how to fix it.

Alexa’s voice was often too quiet compared to music on my 1st generation Echo Show 8. It did not fix it by increasing the volume using the volume buttons on the device or saying “volume up/down”. That just increased the volume of both Alexa’s voice and music but voice was still much quieter than music.

If I unplugged the echo show and plugged it back in the problem went away. I then discovered what makes it happen again, issuing a mute instruction while music was playing.

When music is playing and I say “Alexa, mute” to take a call etc. and then say “Alexa, unmute” the music resumes. If I then ask anything that has a voice response such as “Alexa, what time is it” the voice volume is very low.

Changing the volume with up/down commands or buttons does not work it just changes the music and voice volumes relatively.

How to fix a low Alexa voice volume compared to music volume

The solution is to reboot the Alexa Show or set the volume using a number. To fix the low voice problem on an Echo Show set the volume with a command like “Alexa, volume 5“.

This is still a bug with Alexa on the Amazon Echo Show but now I have a work around without having to power-cycle my Echo Show.

Steps required to replicate this problem (from a freshly rebooted Echo Show):

  1. Say “Alexa, what time is it” – the volume will be normal.
  2. Say “Alexa, play some music” – Or any other command that will play music or a radio station. The volume will be normal.
  3. Say “Alexa, mute” – The volume will be muted
  4. Say “Alexa, unmute” – The music will resume at the same volume as before
  5. Say “Alexa, what time is it” – or any other command that will respond with Alexa’s voice. The voice volume will be low.
  6. Say “Alexa, volume 4” – or your preferred volume level (1-10).
  7. Say “Alexa, what time is it” – The voice volume will be back to normal, the same as the music volume.

The music I am listening to is BFBS Cyprus Radio using their BFBS Alexa skill which is similar to the BBC Sounds skill.

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