Early Access by invite | Free during Early Access | How to sign up | Which devices | How to end it
Overview
Alexa+ is the next generation of Alexa, and Amazon opened Early Access in the UK on 19 March 2026. This guide covers how Early Access works, how to sign up, which Echo devices Amazon built for it and how to go back to the original Alexa, using Amazon’s UK launch announcement and Amazon’s UK help pages.
Early Access, by invite
Amazon announced “Alexa+ Early Access rolls out in the UK today” on 19 March 2026. It works by invitation: Amazon says “we will send you an invite to join the programme”, and that it planned to invite “hundreds of thousands of customers in the coming weeks”.
Amazon’s July 2026 UK announcement says “Alexa.com rolls out to all UK Alexa+ Early Access customers”. The Amazon pages we used give no date for a wider UK release.
Is Alexa+ free?
During Early Access, yes. Amazon says “During Early Access, Alexa+ is free”, and that “it will be free for Prime members in the UK”. Amazon’s Alexa+ activation page also says Alexa+ is included with Prime.
How to sign up
Amazon’s activation page gives two ways in: sign up at amazon.co.uk/alexa+, or say “Alexa, upgrade!” to your Echo. Then wait for the notification on your phone and the welcome email. Alexa+ then sets up your profile and offers Voice ID.
Amazon’s launch announcement also says a new eligible Echo device gets immediate access.
Which Echo devices are built for it
Amazon says “The all-new Echo Show 8, Echo Show 11, Echo Dot Max, and Echo Studio are purpose-built for Alexa+”. Those are the Echo Show 8 (2025 release), Echo Show 11, Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio (2025 release). Amazon’s UK article on the 2025 Echo range has more on each.
Amazon’s UK help pages don’t list every compatible device; they point to amazon.co.uk/alexaplus instead. Amazon’s UK smart home page lists the newest Echo Dot (the 5th Gen), Echo Show 5, Echo Spot and Echo Hub “with Alexa+ Early Access”. The Amazon pages we used don’t confirm whether the Echo (4th Gen), Echo Pop, Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) or Echo Studio (2019 release) can use Alexa+, so check Amazon’s Alexa+ page for your device.
Devices that will never get Alexa+
Amazon’s compatibility page says these devices “will never be compatible with Alexa+”: Echo (1st and 2nd Gen), Echo Plus (1st Gen), Echo Buds (1st Gen), Echo Show (1st and 2nd Gen), Echo Spot (1st Gen), Fire TV devices on FireOS 5 and Fire tablets on FireOS 7 or earlier.
If your account moves to Alexa+, Amazon says those devices “will continue with the original Alexa experience”. The Echo Spot on that list is the original model, not the Echo Spot (2024 release).
Who can use it
Amazon’s Alexa+ requirements page says you need a supported language and location, and that Alexa+ is for personal accounts only: Amazon says a device on a Business or Enterprise account must be factory reset. It also says “Not all features and services will be available at once.”
How to end Early Access
Amazon’s End Early Access page gives two ways: say “end early access”, or go to Your Memberships & Subscriptions > End Early Access and follow the on-screen steps. Your device then goes back to the original Alexa.
Alexa+ on an Echo Show
On Echo devices with a screen, Amazon’s help pages give two ways to open Settings. On Alexa+, tap Menu, then Settings. On the original Alexa, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Settings. On either, you can say “Go to Settings”. Amazon’s brightness page adds that on Alexa+ there is also a brightness slider in Menu. Our Echo Show guides, such as the Echo Show reset guide, give both versions.
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