iPhone 16 Pro Connecting to Random Peoples Echo Dots as I walk through neighborhood?

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iPhone 16 Pro Connecting to Random Peoples Echo Dots as I walk through neighborhood?

This has been a problem with both my iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro. As I walk through the neighborhood my AirPods will get garbled or slow down or just stop for a few seconds. I was never able to figure out why. Today I just so happened to be looking at the bluetooth settings while it happened and I noticed that the phone is connecting to random Echo Dot bluetooth devices as I walk around. The show as connected in the connected list, however they don't have the little circle "I" next to them. Once I walk away they disconnect.

I don't even own an Amazon Echo Dot

iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Dec 19, 2024 3:29 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

KaeBFly

Level 6

8,801 points

Dec 19, 2024 5:26 PM in response to kmc0929

I assume you have the Alexa app on your iPhone (because what you are describing is associated with that) or your iPhone is one of the devices connected to your account. Go into that app and locate the Amazon Sidewalk setting. Disable it if it is on. You are passing by echo and ring devices that the owners are allowing to participate in Amazon Sidewalk.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G7BKGVUDG7GEN49X

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Answer 2

Dec 19, 2024 3:51 PM in response to kmc0929

There may be apps on your iPhone the are connecting and disabling the I button. Don’t worry, it’s not as nefarious as it sounds. Please follow this path,

iPhone > Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth > Disable Amazon apps.

One of your apps is connecting to the devices automatically. The app is probably setup that way by Amazon.

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Answer 3

Dec 20, 2024 6:52 AM in response to kmc0929

That’s what I was going for in my prior post. Whatever app it is, it got to be connected to Bluetooth. If you disable an apps ability to connect to Bluetooth, the Dots won’t be try to connect. Amazon apps were the easy solution. Now you’ve got to try turning off apps and enabling them one by one.

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Answer 4

Dec 19, 2024 4:29 PM in response to kmc0929

I'm not sure what page that is, but when you open Settings on the main page just below Wi-Fi is Bluetooth. Tap there and screenshot it. If you had an actual connection to an Echo Dot, even if you are not currently connected, it would show there. If you don't see an Echo Dot in the list of Bluetooth devices you are or have been connected to, then you didn't connect to anyones Echo Dot.

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Answer 5

kmc0929 Author

Level 1

25 points

Dec 19, 2024 5:03 PM in response to lobsterghost1

Yes, in the "my devices" section of bluetooth, it shows an Echo-Pop as "connected". I'll need to walk around the hood again to try to get a screenshot this time. It happens 5-6 times during a one mile walk. All different names of Echos, but all of them are Echos of some sort.

It DOES however disappear from the "My Devices" list after about 5-6 seconds. During which my AirPods go through a lot of static / slowdown etc.

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Answer 6

Dec 19, 2024 5:16 PM in response to kmc0929

Any Bluetooth device which was successfully paired to your iPhone, will remain in the Bluetooth List, even if not currently connected. If it's disappearing, after you're out of range, it wasn't actually connected.

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Answer 7

kmc0929 Author

Level 1

25 points

Dec 19, 2024 5:46 PM in response to KaeBFly

So this sounds pretty accurate and like it may be the issue. However I do not have the Alexa app on my phone. Years ago we did have an Echo for the kids however we got rid of it. No idea where it went. Worried maybe that setting was checked back then? Now when I download the Alexa App and login, I do not have the option of Sidewalk anywhere. I even tried the web browser to go into Amazon's settings to remove Sidewalk however it was not available.

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