UK power outage causes Alexa to temporarily disable basic functions such as alarms and timers.
On August 14, 2025, thousands of UK residents faced unexpected disruptions to their morning routines as Amazon's Alexa began experiencing issues with timers, alarms, and reminders.
The Problem
Reports of these issues started to increase around 08:00 local time, coinciding with many users' morning alarms. The problem appears to be a widespread technical failure on Amazon’s side affecting Alexa's alarm and timer services in the UK. One Reddit user claimed that unplugging the device only temporarily stopped the alarm, which resumed when the device was powered back on.
The Impact
Alarms, timers, and reminders could not be set or canceled. Users faced missed wake-up calls and disruptions to daily routines. Attempts to cancel alarms through the Alexa app produced error messages like “Unable to cancel alarms at this time.”
The Solution
Restarting the device could temporarily stop the alarm, but it often resumed on reboot. Users were advised to wait until Amazon resolved the backend issue since in-app or voice command fixes were ineffective during the outage. Monitoring official Amazon forums and status pages for updates was recommended.
The Extent of the Problem
The problem seems to affect various Alexa-enabled devices, not just Echo devices. Some users have resorted to unplugging their Echo devices to stop the persistent alarm noise. In some cases, scheduled wake-ups that were supposed to be deleted are still going off for some users.
The Aftermath
Amazon has not yet responded to questions about the cause of the Alexa malfunction. Users are resorting to old-school solutions like kitchen timers, phone alarms, and wristwatches. The malfunctioning Alexa is not limited to just endorsing political figures or refusing to discuss certain topics.
As of now, the issue remains unresolved, leaving many users hoping for a swift resolution from Amazon. Stay tuned for updates.
[1] Reddit user reports: https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonecho/comments/v1r09j/alexa_issues_on_august_14th/ [2] Amazon support advice for Sengled bulbs: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201964140 [3] DownDetector complaints: https://downdetector.com/status/amazon-echo/map/ [4] TechCrunch article: https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/14/amazon-alexa-outage-uk/
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