Smart Speakers: Privacy Settings to Check
Smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Nest can record and store what you say to them. Both let you control how long recordings are kept and delete them, but the settings are in different places and work differently. A few minutes checking each device’s privacy settings makes a real difference.
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Why this is worth checking
Millions of UK homes now have a smart speaker or voice assistant, mainly Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant on Nest devices. These devices listen for their wake word and can save recordings of what you say afterward. People often set up a smart speaker once and never revisit its settings. Voice recordings can build up for months or years unless you actively manage them.
Amazon Alexa privacy settings
4 steps
Google Nest / Google Assistant privacy settings
4 steps
General habits for any smart speaker
3 steps
Frequently asked questions
Is my smart speaker always listening?
It is always listening for its wake word locally, but recordings are typically only sent and saved once it hears that word, or is triggered by mistake.
Does turning off voice history stop the assistant from working?
No, both Alexa and Google Assistant continue to function normally either way.
Can I delete everything at once?
Yes, both Alexa and Google let you bulk-delete your voice history.
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