Smart Speaker Notification Lights: Alexa vs Google vs Others
Alexa's yellow ring and Google Home's yellow pulse both mean notifications — but work differently. Compare all smart speaker notification lights.
Signal: Alexa Yellow Ring Light
Full page| Brand | What it means on this brand | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
Amazon Echo (all generations) | Yellow pulse = pending notification. Spinning yellow = Wi-Fi connection issue. Solid yellow = not a standard Echo state — contact support. | Say 'Alexa, what are my notifications?' to clear. |
Amazon Echo Dot (3rd, 4th, 5th gen) | Same as Echo — yellow pulsing ring around the top. Dot's ring is smaller but behavior is identical. | Same: 'Alexa, what are my notifications?' |
Amazon Echo Show (screen models) | Echo Show displays a small yellow bar at the top of the screen in addition to audio notification. The notification icon appears in the header. | Swipe down from the top of the screen or ask Alexa verbally. |
Signal: Google Home / Nest Pulsing Yellow Light
Full page| Brand | What it means on this brand | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
Nest Audio | Yellow pulse = pending notification. Orange = device in setup mode. White pulsing = listening for voice command (brief — only when active). | Ask 'Hey Google, what are my notifications?' |
Nest Mini (2nd gen) | Four dots around the top pulse yellow = pending notification. Four dots white = listening. Four dots pulse teal = processing. Solid white dot = microphone muted. | Same: 'Hey Google, what are my notifications?' |
Google Home (original) | Base ring light pulsing orange/yellow = notification waiting. This model is older and more limited in notification type range. | 'OK Google, what are my notifications?' |
Summary by brand
Amazon
Alexa Yellow Ring Light: Yellow pulse = pending notification. Spinning yellow = Wi-Fi connection issue. Solid yellow = not a standard Echo state — contact support. — Say 'Alexa, what are my notifications?' to clear.
Alexa Yellow Ring Light: Same as Echo — yellow pulsing ring around the top. Dot's ring is smaller but behavior is identical. — Same: 'Alexa, what are my notifications?'
Alexa Yellow Ring Light: Echo Show displays a small yellow bar at the top of the screen in addition to audio notification. The notification icon appears in the header. — Swipe down from the top of the screen or ask Alexa verbally.
Google Home / Nest Pulsing Yellow Light: Yellow pulse = pending notification. Orange = device in setup mode. White pulsing = listening for voice command (brief — only when active). — Ask 'Hey Google, what are my notifications?'
Google Home / Nest Pulsing Yellow Light: Four dots around the top pulse yellow = pending notification. Four dots white = listening. Four dots pulse teal = processing. Solid white dot = microphone muted. — Same: 'Hey Google, what are my notifications?'
Google Home / Nest Pulsing Yellow Light: Base ring light pulsing orange/yellow = notification waiting. This model is older and more limited in notification type range. — 'OK Google, what are my notifications?'