Amazon Echo Dot F28 Error Code Guide (Fast Fix)

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What This Error Means

F28 on an Amazon Echo Dot means setup or update failed because the Dot can’t complete its connection to Amazon’s servers.

Translation: the Dot is talking to your Wi‑Fi, but the handshake to Amazon (account or internet side) is breaking, so it bails out and throws F28.

  • Shows up most often during first-time setup or after a firmware update.
  • Light ring usually goes orange, maybe purple, then setup fails in the Alexa app with F28.
  • Root causes: weak Wi‑Fi, wrong password, router security settings, blocked ports, or a glitched registration on your Amazon account.

Official Fix

Do it the way Amazon expects first. Follow this order so you don’t chase your tail.

  • 1. Power-cycle the Dot
    • Unplug the Echo Dot from power.
    • Wait 30 seconds.
    • Plug it back in and let it fully boot (light ring settles) before retrying setup.
  • 2. Confirm your Wi‑Fi actually works
    • On your phone, connect to the exact same Wi‑Fi network you’re trying to use for the Dot.
    • Open a browser and load a couple of sites. If that’s flaky, fix the internet first. F28 will never clear on bad internet.
  • 3. Use a simple 2.4 GHz network
    • Echo Dots are happiest on 2.4 GHz with normal WPA2 security.
    • If your router has 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz with the same name, temporarily give 2.4 GHz its own SSID (like MyWiFi_24).
    • Avoid guest networks that need a browser login, hotel Wi‑Fi, or enterprise networks.
  • 4. Re‑run setup cleanly from the Alexa app
    • Open the Alexa app.
    • Go to Devices > “+” (Add Device) > Amazon Echo > Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Pop.
    • Put Dot in setup mode if needed (orange ring): usually hold the Action button until the ring turns orange.
    • Select your Dot, choose the correct Wi‑Fi, and type the password slowly. One wrong character = F28.
  • 5. Check Amazon account and region
    • In the Alexa app, make sure you’re logged into the same Amazon account you used to buy / register the Dot.
    • If the Dot was someone else’s, have them deregister it from their Amazon account first.
  • 6. Turn off router weirdness (temp)
    • On your router, temporarily disable: MAC filtering, parental controls, and any “block new devices” feature.
    • Make sure Wi‑Fi security is set to WPA2-Personal (AES), not WPA3-only or mixed TKIP junk.
    • Reboot the router after changes, wait 2–3 minutes, then try setup again.
  • 7. Factory reset the Echo Dot (last official step before calling support)
    • Echo Dot 3rd/4th Gen: Hold the Action button for ~25 seconds until the ring goes off and back on.
    • Echo Dot 2nd Gen: Hold Mic Off + Volume Down for ~20 seconds.
    • Wait for orange ring (setup mode), then re‑add it in the Alexa app as a new device.
  • 8. If F28 still shows up
    • At this point, Amazon’s official line is: contact Customer Support and they’ll walk the same tree again and maybe offer a replacement if it’s clearly a hardware issue.

The Technician’s Trick

When the official dance doesn’t kill F28, this is what actually works in the field.

  • 1. Bypass your router with a phone hotspot
    • On your phone, turn on a personal hotspot. Keep the name and password simple (no emojis, odd symbols).
    • In the Alexa app, run setup again and connect the Dot to that hotspot.
    • If it sets up fine and stops throwing F28, your Dot is fine and your router is the problem (security mode, firmware, or blocking Amazon).
    • Now you know where to focus: router settings or new router.
  • 2. Hard-deregister, then re‑add
    • On a computer, go to Amazon > Content & Devices > Devices.
    • Find your Echo Dot, click it, and hit Deregister.
    • Unplug the Dot for 30 seconds, plug back in, wait for orange ring, then add it as a brand new device in the Alexa app.
    • This clears weird half-registered states that often trigger F28.
  • 3. Lock router Wi‑Fi to basic settings
    • On the router’s Wi‑Fi settings, set:
    • Mode: 802.11b/g/n (no “ax only” / Wi‑Fi 6 only).
    • Security: WPA2-Personal (AES only).
    • Channel width: 20 MHz on 2.4 GHz.
    • Save, reboot router, then redo Echo setup. This removes 90% of compatibility weirdness that causes F28.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Echo Dot is under 5–6 years old, powers on fine, and F28 only shows during Wi‑Fi setup — fix it; this is almost always network or account, not a dead speaker.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Dot is older, Wi‑Fi is known flaky, and you were already planning a router upgrade — maybe bundle the fix with a new router or mesh system instead of fighting F28 all weekend.
  • ❌ Replace: Dot won’t hold power, constantly reboots, or fails even on a clean phone hotspot and different account — the radio or board is likely toast; replacement Echo is cheaper than hours of troubleshooting.

Parts You Might Need

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See also

Need to decode other F‑series or smart device errors? These guides help you move faster: