To disable voice purchasing on Amazon Alexa, open the Alexa app, go to Settings > Alexa Account > Voice Purchasing, and turn off Purchase by Voice.
This guide also covers the softer options, such as a voice code and approval for kid skill purchases, plus how to handle orders and subscriptions once voice buying is off.
How to disable voice purchasing on Amazon Alexa
The switch lives in the Alexa app on your phone or tablet, and it applies to every Echo and Alexa device on the same Amazon account.
- Open the Alexa app and sign in with the Amazon account your Echo devices use.
- Open Settings in the app.
- Tap Alexa Account.
- Tap Voice Purchasing.
- Turn off the Purchase by Voice toggle.
- Leave the screen. The change saves on its own and reaches your devices through your account.
With Purchase by Voice off, a kid skill user cannot buy premium content either, because that setting overrides Kid Skills Purchasing.
Understanding voice purchasing with Alexa
Voice purchasing covers two kinds of buying: physical products from Amazon and premium content inside Alexa skills. Both charge the payment options on your Amazon account.
| What you say or do | What Alexa does | Where the money goes |
|---|---|---|
| "Order [item]" | Adds a matching item to your Amazon Cart and walks you through placing the order | The payment method on your Amazon account |
| "Checkout my Amazon cart" | Starts checkout for what is already in your cart | The payment method on your Amazon account |
| Saying "yes" to a skill's product offer | Buys a one-time product, consumable or subscription inside that skill | The default payment method on your Amazon account |
| "Cancel my order" | Cancels the order you just placed by voice | No charge if the order is cancelled |
| After any purchase | Amazon emails an order confirmation or receipt | Check the email against your bank statement |
Some items cannot be finished by voice, and Alexa asks you to complete the order in the Amazon app or on the Amazon website.
Potential risks of voice purchasing on Alexa
Alexa answers anyone who says the wake word within range of the microphone. That convenience is the same thing that makes unwanted orders possible.
| Risk | How it happens | Setting that stops it |
|---|---|---|
| Children buying products | A child says "order" followed by a toy or snack name | Purchase by Voice off, or Voice Code on |
| Children buying premium skill content | A kid skill offers a product and the child says "yes" | Kid Skills Purchasing off, or Purchases Require Approval on |
| Guests and visitors ordering | Anyone in the room can speak to the device | Voice Code on |
| Accidental confirmations | A misheard "yes" accepts an offer from a skill | Voice Code on, so a spoken code is needed too |
| Recurring charges | A skill subscription renews until it is cancelled | Cancel the subscription or turn off auto-renew in the Alexa app |
Why disable voice purchasing on Alexa, or use a voice code instead?
Turning purchasing off is the safest choice, but it is not the only one. Pick the row that matches your household.
| Your situation | Use this setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You never buy anything by voice | Purchase by Voice off | Removes voice buying completely, including kid skill purchases |
| You reorder by voice but have kids or guests | Purchase by Voice on, Voice Code on | Only people who know the code can finish a purchase |
| Kids use premium kid skills you are happy to pay for | Kid Skills Purchasing on, Purchases Require Approval on | You get a link by SMS or email and approve each request |
| Kids should never buy skill content | Kid Skills Purchasing off | Kid skill users cannot buy premium content at all |
| You share the device with one other adult | Voice Code on, and share the code with that adult only | Keeps buying possible for the two of you |
Require an Alexa voice code for purchases
A voice code keeps voice shopping available but asks for a spoken code before a purchase goes through. It works only while Purchase by Voice is on.
- Open the Alexa app and open Settings.
- Tap Alexa Account, then tap Voice Purchasing.
- Make sure Purchase by Voice is on.
- Turn on Voice Code.
- Follow the prompts in the app to set the code.
- Say the code when Alexa asks for it during your next purchase.
Do not say the code where children can hear it, because anyone who repeats it can complete an order.
Block or approve Alexa kid skill purchases
Kid skills in the US can sell subscriptions and one-time purchases. The account holder controls them with two separate switches.
- Open the Alexa app and open Settings.
- Tap Alexa Account, then tap Voice Purchasing.
- Tap Kid Skills Purchasing.
- Turn off Kid Skills Purchasing to block premium kid skill content entirely.
- Or leave it on and turn on Purchases Require Approval so each request needs your approval.
- When a child asks to buy something, open the link Amazon sends by SMS or email and approve or decline the purchase within 24 hours.
A request that is not approved within 24 hours expires. If Voice Code is also on, the child has to say the code before the request is made.
Check that Alexa voice purchasing is turned off
- Close and reopen the Alexa app so it loads your saved settings.
- Go to Settings > Alexa Account > Voice Purchasing.
- Confirm Purchase by Voice shows as off.
- If you used a voice code instead, confirm Voice Code shows as on.
- Open Kid Skills Purchasing and confirm the switches match what you chose.
- Open Your Orders in the Amazon app or on the Amazon website over the next few days and confirm no new voice orders appear.
Managing Amazon purchases without Alexa voice commands
Turning off voice purchasing does not touch your Amazon account. You still shop, track and cancel orders the usual way.
| Task | Where to do it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Place an order | Amazon app or Amazon website | Unaffected by the Alexa setting |
| Track or cancel an order | Your Orders in the Amazon app or on the website | Covers orders placed by voice before you turned it off |
| Change the card that gets charged | Payment Settings in your Amazon account | Alexa and skill purchases use the payment options on this account |
| Cancel a skill subscription | Ask Alexa to cancel it, or turn off auto-renew in the Alexa app | Subscriptions renew until cancelled |
| Undo an accidental skill purchase | Contact Amazon Customer Service | Ask for a refund on the in-skill purchase |
| Buy skill content without voice | The skill's page in the Alexa Skills Store | In-skill products can also be bought from the skill detail page |
Premium skill content bought before you turned purchasing off stays available on your devices.
Turn Alexa voice purchasing back on
- Open the Alexa app and open Settings.
- Tap Alexa Account, then tap Voice Purchasing.
- Turn on Purchase by Voice.
- Turn on Voice Code if other people can reach your Echo devices.
- Review Kid Skills Purchasing before you leave the screen.
Alexa voice purchasing problems and fixes
Alexa placed an order you did not want
Voice purchasing was on and someone, or a misheard phrase, confirmed the order.
- Say "Alexa, cancel my order" straight away.
- If the order still appears, open Your Orders in the Amazon app and cancel it there.
- For premium skill content, contact Amazon Customer Service and ask for a refund.
- Turn off Purchase by Voice, or turn on Voice Code, so it does not happen again.
Alexa says "Sorry, I'm not able to make in-skill purchases on this device"
The skill cannot complete the purchase on that device or under the current purchasing settings.
- Open Settings > Alexa Account > Voice Purchasing in the Alexa app.
- Check whether Purchase by Voice or Kid Skills Purchasing is off.
- If you meant to block purchases, no action is needed.
- If you want to buy, turn the setting on or buy from the skill's page in the Alexa Skills Store.
A child can still use premium content after purchasing was turned off
Content bought before the change stays available; the setting only blocks new purchases.
- Confirm Purchase by Voice or Kid Skills Purchasing is off in the Alexa app.
- Ask Alexa to cancel any skill subscription you no longer want, or turn off its auto-renew in the Alexa app.
- Contact Amazon Customer Service about a refund for content the child bought without permission.
Additional safety tips for using Amazon Alexa
Purchase settings stop spending. These controls limit what Alexa hears and keeps.
| Tip | How to do it | What it protects |
|---|---|---|
| Mute the microphones | Press the microphone on/off button on the Echo device | Disconnects the mics, so Alexa cannot hear any voice command |
| Watch the light indicator | Look for the light that shows Alexa is listening and sending a request to the cloud | Shows when a request is being processed |
| Ask what Alexa heard | Say "Alexa, tell me what you heard" | Reads back your most recent voice request |
| Ask why Alexa acted | Say "Alexa, why did you do that?" | Gives a short explanation of the last response |
| Review your history | Open Alexa Privacy in the Alexa app or on the Amazon website | Lets you review and manage your chats and smart home history |
| Check skill permissions | Review skill permissions under Alexa Privacy | Limits which skills can access specific account data |
| Use a voice code | Settings > Alexa Account > Voice Purchasing > Voice Code | Blocks purchases by anyone who does not know the code |
Alexa voice purchasing FAQ
How do I turn off voice purchasing on Alexa?
Open the Alexa app, go to Settings > Alexa Account > Voice Purchasing, and turn off Purchase by Voice. The setting applies to every Alexa device on your Amazon account, and it also blocks premium purchases in kid skills.
How do I turn off Alexa voice commands completely?
Press the microphone on/off button on the Echo device. It disconnects the microphones, so Alexa ignores all voice commands until you press it again. This is separate from voice purchasing, which only controls buying.
What is an Alexa voice code?
A voice code is a spoken code Alexa asks for before it completes a purchase. Turn it on in the Alexa app under Settings > Alexa Account > Voice Purchasing > Voice Code. It needs Purchase by Voice to be on.
Can I cancel an order Alexa placed by voice?
Yes. Say "Alexa, cancel my order" right after the purchase. You can also open Your Orders in the Amazon app or on the Amazon website and cancel the order there, as with any other Amazon order.
Can kids buy things through Alexa skills?
Kid skills in the US can sell subscriptions and one-time purchases. Turn off Kid Skills Purchasing to block them, or turn on Purchases Require Approval so you approve each request from an SMS or email link within 24 hours.
Does turning off voice purchasing remove content I already bought?
No. Premium skill content bought before you turned the setting off stays available. Subscriptions keep renewing until you cancel them, so ask Alexa to cancel them or turn off auto-renew in the Alexa app.
Which payment method does Alexa charge?
Alexa purchases use the payment options on your Amazon account, and skill purchases use its default payment method. Change the card in Payment Settings on your Amazon account, and watch for the confirmation email Amazon sends after each order.
Can I get a refund for an accidental Alexa skill purchase?
Yes, you can ask. Contact Amazon Customer Service and request a refund for the in-skill purchase. Then turn off Purchase by Voice or turn on Voice Code to stop the same thing happening again.
How can I check what Alexa heard before an order?
Say "Alexa, tell me what you heard" and Alexa reads back your most recent voice request. For older requests, open Alexa Privacy in the Alexa app or on the Amazon website and review your chats.
Should you turn off Alexa voice purchasing?
Turn off Purchase by Voice if nobody in your home buys by voice, and use a voice code if someone does. Turning purchasing off removes accidental product orders and kid skill purchases in one switch, while a voice code keeps reordering possible for the people who know it.
The setting does not affect your Amazon account itself, and the Alexa app for Windows PCs is a separate download from the phone app used here.
