We are fan(atics) for Amazon’s Echo technology. It is a low cost way to replace radios, clocks and ipods with a single device.
However, this morning (March 12th 2017), our Echo dot did not automatically adjust to daylight savings. Alarms went off an hour late and there was a stern set of inquiries asked of Alexa, including the all important “Alexa, what are the laws of robotics? ”
After much searching for a solution we started fidgeting with the thing and found that going to the Alexa application and switching the time zone to Amazon time adjusted the device time to match the correct Eastern Standard Time. This shouldn’t work (as Amazon Time should be Pacific Time since they are based in Seattle) but it did. Until the bug is fixed on the server side this is a work around for our fellow east coast folks.
To try this on your Amazon Echo dot,follow these steps:
- Start the Alexa Application on your tablet or computer
- Navigate to the Home->Settings area.
- Find the list devices of devices section.
- Select the device you want to modify and click on it or tap it.
- Find the section under General called Device Time Zone area.
- Use the menus to select US and Eastern Standard Time for the time zone combinations.
- Wait 30 seconds
- Test it buying ask the device the time. Confirm the time is correct and matches the day light savings time.
The America and Eastern Standard Time zone combination is the one that doesn’t work. If that fails for you the American and Amazon zone also gave me the correct time.
Perhaps a bug fix will come out in a few days. Recommendations on better ways to do this are encouraged and welcomed in the comments.
March 12, 2017 at 12:15 pm
According to a poster on Reddit this is indeed a bug – and is being worked by Amazon. So hang tight and it should be fixed!
December 9, 2018 at 8:27 am
I did it… no Techie here but I got my echo to change to CDST. Add calendar feature because the calendar seems to have Daylight Savings Time built into it. Works for me. Go to Settings on your Echo to associate a calendar to your Echo.