These steps come from Amazon’s guide for an Echo Show screen that has lines or won’t turn on, with the screen settings from its brightness guide. They apply to every Echo Show model.

What This Problem Means

Amazon’s screen guide says a restart resolves most issues. For a black screen, or a Show that stays on the Amazon logo, it gives a longer wait: 3 minutes unplugged, rather than the 15 seconds in its reset guide. It also says to check you are using the power adapter that came with the device. A screen that is only dim is a different case: check the brightness settings.

Common Symptoms

• The screen stays black when the Show is plugged in
• The Show is stuck on the Amazon logo
• Lines across the screen
• The screen is very dark but not fully off

Safe Checks You Can Try

1. Unplug it for 3 minutes

Unplug the power adapter, wait 3 minutes, then plug it back in. Amazon gives this longer wait for a black screen or a Show stuck on the logo, so don’t cut it short.

2. Check the power adapter

Amazon says to verify you’re using the power adapter that came with your device. Amazon’s UK safety pages list a 30 W adapter for the Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen), Echo Show 8 (2025 release) and Echo Show 11, and a 22 W adapter for the Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen). Check it is pushed fully into the Show’s power port and the wall socket.

3. Restart if you see lines

If the screen has lines on it, Amazon’s first step is also to restart the device. A normal restart is to unplug it, wait 15 seconds and plug it back in (Amazon’s restart wait for screen devices).

4. Check it isn’t just dimmed

If the screen is dark but not fully black, say “Go to Settings”, then open Display & Appearance > Display and use the Brightness slider. Amazon says Auto-Dim dims the screen after 10 minutes of inactivity, and Adaptive Brightness adjusts it to the light in the room.

5. Update once it starts

When the screen comes back, open Settings > About this Device > Check for Software Updates (Amazon’s update guide). Amazon’s reset guide lists About this Device under Device Options, so look there if needed. Amazon notes that Settings menu items on the Echo Show 5 may differ from its guides.

6. If the picture is back but touch isn’t

If the screen lights up but doesn’t respond to touch, work through our Echo Show screen not responding guide.

When To Contact Support

If the problem is still there after these steps, Amazon’s Echo Show support page lists all of Amazon’s help topics for devices with a screen. Contact Amazon customer service if you still need help, and say which steps you have already tried, including the restart. Echo Show 21 owners can also start from Amazon’s Echo Show 21 support page.

Last resort: factory reset. If nothing else works, reset the Show. You do this on the device, not in the Alexa app. Amazon’s reset guide for devices with a screen gives two methods: press and hold the Microphones & Camera and Volume Down buttons until you see the Amazon logo, about 15 seconds. Amazon gives the button method for screen devices in general, not model by model, and the Echo Show 21 has a Microphones off button instead, so use the on-screen method on that model. Or open Settings > Device Options > About this Device > Reset to Factory Defaults and choose Reset. Either way, you then follow the on-screen instructions to set the Show up again. Full steps are in our Echo Show reset guide.