Check these settings now

We’re all concerned about online privacy these days, and that includes keeping control over our recording history of Echo and Alexa activity.  

Alexa makes it easy to manage your device history via simple voice commands.

1. If you want to erase your most recent command or request, say “Alexa, forget what I just said.”
2. If you want to delete the record of your entire day, say, “Alexa, forget everything I said today.”
3. If you want to go ever further, say, “Alexa, delete everything I’ve ever said” and she will delete all of your transcriptions. 

Pro Tip #1: Curious as to what she remembers? Ask “Alexa, tell me what you heard” and she’ll repeat any command you gave her in the last minute or two. 

Pro Tip #2: Curious to see what commands and activity she has recorded? For any recent command, just ask, Alexa, what is my most recent command?” and she’ll repeat back anything within the last minute or two.

Or you can dig deeper via the app.

1. Go to the Alexa app and tap More.
2. Scroll down and tap Activity. Here you can review your Voice History for the day, for the last 7 or 30 days, or for a custom amount of time.

You can see all activity across all devices, or just check a certain one. You can also delete today’s transactions by clicking on the link. 

Pro Tip #3: You can also set it up so Alexa erases your voice history on an ongoing basis.

1. Open the Alexa App, and tap More in the bottom right
2. Tap Settings, then tap Alexa Privacy.
3. Tap Manage Your Alexa Data
4. Use the menu bar at the top or scroll down and tap Manage Your Alexa Data. Here you can set up how long you’d like recordings saved, in three categories: Voice Recordings, Smart Home Device History and Detected Sounds History. 

Note: You’ll see a notice that deleting recordings may impair Alexa’s ability to understand you. That said, I have mine set to erase all recordings over 18 months old, and I haven’t seen a change in her ability to understand me