Amazon has quietly removed Alexa voice controls for the AUX input on several older Echo speakers, frustrating users who relied on the feature. Commands like "Alexa, play from line in" and "Alexa, set AUX input" no longer work on affected devices, including the second-generation Echo Plus (2018), third-generation Echo (2019), original Echo Studio (2019), and fourth-generation Echo (2020). Amazon confirmed the change but did not explain why it was made, only stating that it had notified a "very small number of customers" who used the voice requests for AUX playback.
The AUX jack on these older Echo models still functions, allowing users to play audio from an external source or route Alexa's audio to another speaker. However, the physical connection now requires manual setup through the Alexa app, as voice commands are no longer available. Users must select the speaker in the app, find the AUX Audio settings, and choose "Line In" to play audio from an external source.
While the change may seem minor, it removes a convenient feature for those who used voice commands to switch between wired audio sources. The AUX port remains useful for connecting older devices, such as a Sony CD changer, to an Echo Studio through an RCA-to-3.5mm cable. However, upgrading to newer Echo devices, like the redesigned 2025 Echo Studio, will likely mean losing the AUX input feature altogether.
Despite the removal of voice controls, the AUX port itself continues to work, ensuring that users can still play audio through a cable. The Alexa app provides an alternative way to enable or disable AUX input, though it requires more effort than the previous voice command method.