Amazon Echo Buds: An Easy to Follow Quick-Start Guide

People were waiting so long for the Echo Buds release, and now they are finally here. In a nutshell, they are a direct competitor to AirPods by Apple. That means that the Echo Buds are wireless and powered by Bluetooth technology.

They also have integrated Alexa support, which makes them ten times better. If you are looking to get a pair of Echo Buds for yourself, or you already got them, read on for an easy to follow guide to help you get started.

We’ll cover all the main uses, the setup, useful controls, and other features of Echo Buds.

Getting Started

Let’s talk about connecting your Echo Buds for the first time. The pairing process is dead simple and intuitive. All you need to do beforehand is to install the Alexa app on your smartphone. Here is the download link for the Apple App Store if you are on iPhone, and here’s one for Google Play Store if you are on Android.

There’s just so much you can do with Alexa combined with your Echo Buds that it would be a shame not to take advantage of that. Once you have the latest version of the Alexa app, you can pair your Echo Buds with your phone:

First, swipe down (or in some cases up) on your phone and enable Bluetooth.
Then, start the Alexa app on your device.
Open the Echo Buds’ charging case.
Hold the pairing button at the bottom of the lid for three seconds.
Once the blue light starts flashing, confirm the connection with Echo Buds on your phone. Just select them from the list of available Bluetooth devices.
You can now place the Echo Buds in your ears.
Go to the Alexa app on your phone.
Tap on Devices at the bottom of the screen.
Tap the plus icon in the top-right of your screen and choose Add Device.
Now, select Amazon Echo, followed by Echo Buds.
Follow the installation instructions on your screen.

Note that iPhones might have a more difficult time finding your Echo Buds than Android phones. Just be patient, and it will appear shortly on the list.

Using Echo Buds

Congrats, you have successfully connected your Echo Buds for the first time. You can use them straight away. Note that their battery lasts for around five hours. Charging is also easy, with the included micro USB cable. Wireless charging is sadly not yet available.

You’ll get used to Echo Buds pretty soon, as they are very user-friendly. You can change between two modes (pass-through or active noise reduction) with a simple double-tap. The noise reduction is outstanding because people from Bose helped design it.

If you hold onto the panel, Alexa will pop up. You can also add more commands such as changing the tracks, pausing or playing, muting the microphone, etc. If you prefer, you can add another voice assistant (Siri or Google Assistant).

The touch controls are slightly limited, and you will find yourself using voice commands more often. You can enable or disable the hands-free feature for Alexa within the app. Also, there is a sound equalizer, which is a nice touch missing from many other wireless earbuds.

How to Customize the Controls

You can easily modify the controls for the Echo Buds on the Alexa app. Just follow the steps:

With the Echo Buds on you, start the Alexa app on your phone.
Select the Quick Settings.
Choose Device Settings, and then select Touch Gestures from the Customization tab.
Tap on either left or right ear, though you’ll need to repeat the steps for the opposite ear in the end.
Select the options you prefer (play and pause, mute, last song, next song).
Now do the same for the other ear.
Voila! You can change these settings whenever you like. Tap on Reset to Defaults in the Touch Gestures menu if you’d like to start over.

As stated before, Echo Buds play along nicely with other voice assistants, and even with other music shops (Apple Music, Spotify, etc.). Of course, they work the best with Alexa, and you should set it as your default voice assistant.

Echo Buds Functionality

Echo Buds support many activities and features. Besides listening to music, you can use them for podcasts, listening to audiobooks, etc. Of course, they will sync with your smartphone, so you can also use them to make and receive phone calls.

Don’t forget about Alexa. Echo Buds have the same functionality as all other Amazon Echo devices, which means the options are nearly unlimited. Say Alexa followed by your voice command. There is a broad spectrum of commands you can give it, including calling, changing the volume, track, setting a reminder, alarm, making lists, etc.

You can tell Alexa to give you a battery status update, which is very useful. However, you can also check it manually in the Device Settings menu.

Your New Buds

Echo Buds are among the best buds you can buy. They won’t betray you unless they run out of juice. That’s easy to fix with a quick charge up.

The echo Buds are not too expensive. They also have decent audio quality, noise reduction, and a bunch of customization options. Samsung and Apple better beware because they finally got some genuine competition in the wireless earbuds department.

How do you like your Echo Buds so far? How long did it take you to get used to them? Let us know in the comments section below.