Amazon Alexa – Troubleshoot an Alexa Skill That Is Not Working

Category: Alexa > Skills

Answer:

If an Alexa Skill is installed but not working as expected, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to restore functionality.

Turn the Skill Off and Back On

1. Open the Alexa app.
2. Tap More.
3. Select Skills & Games.
4. Locate the affected skill.
5. Disable the skill.
6. Re-enable the skill.
7. Complete any required sign-in or account linking steps.

Good to Know

• Before disabling a skill, ensure you know the login credentials required to reconnect the account.

Verify the Correct Alexa Profile

If your household uses Amazon Household or Family Profiles, confirm the correct profile is active.

Voice Commands

• "Alexa, what profile are you in?"
• "Alexa, switch account."

Some skills are only available on the profile that originally enabled them.

Check Account Linking

Some Alexa Skills require linking a third-party account.

1. Open the Alexa app.
2. Tap More.
3. Select Skills & Games.
4. Open the affected skill.
5. Verify the skill account is linked.
6. Reconnect the account if necessary.

Verify Skill Permissions

Some skills require permissions to access specific Alexa features.

1. Open the Alexa app.
2. Tap More.
3. Select Alexa+ Store.
4. Tap the Settings icon.
5. Select Original Alexa Skills under Quick Links.
6. Open the affected skill.
7. Tap Settings.
8. Verify all required permissions are granted.

Troubleshooting Checklist

• Disable and re-enable the skill.
• Confirm the correct Alexa profile is active.
• Verify account linking is complete.
• Review required permissions.
• Sign out and back into linked accounts if needed.
• Update the Alexa app to the latest version.

Good to Know

• Many Alexa Skill issues are caused by expired account links or missing permissions.
• Skills provided by third-party companies may require separate subscriptions or accounts.
• Changes to permissions or linked accounts may take several minutes to update across Alexa devices.
• Skill settings can be managed through the Alexa app and Amazon account privacy settings.