Even though Alexa has been on the market for a little over 8 years now, many users still find it challenging to navigate the device’s many features.
“Live View Mode,” introduced in 2020, is a highly sought-after technology, especially by photographers and hobbyists, who can benefit from its convenience and accessibility.
However, due to the fact that the feature is still relatively new, users have often found themselves having a hard time accessing it.
Alexa says “Live View Not Supported” because of a weak connection, usage of incompatible devices, and connection to different routers. If none of these causes seem to be the root of your problem, there might be a deeper technical issue with your device.
In the following sections, I’ll take you through a full troubleshooting process you can follow when your Alexa says “Live View Not Supported.”
Where possible, I’ll also give some examples of quick, easy fixes you can attempt yourself before having to get your system looked at by a professional.
Reasons Why Alexa Might Say “Live View Not Supported”
Given that live view is still a new feature for Amazon’s Alexa, many find themselves frustrated and confused when faced with the “Live View Not Supported” tab.
Luckily, by learning more about the issue’s possible causes, you’ll be able to run an easy and effective troubleshooting process in no time.
Here are a few reasons why you may not be able to access Alexa’s “live View” feature:
- The viewing device isn’t properly connected.
- The viewing device isn’t eligible for “Live View.”
- You have multiple routers.
- There’s a deeper technical issue.
The Viewing Device Isn’t Properly Connected
This might seem like an easy concern to avoid, but you’d be surprised how many people spend hours trying to figure out their “Live View” problem without stopping to check whether their connection is strong enough to allow for a clean photographic sensor output.
Therefore, when faced with this type of issue, this would be the best first step to take, not to mention it takes minimal time and effort to complete. This is what you’ll need to do:
- Open your Alexa App.
- Tap on the tab labeled “All Devices.”
- Scroll through your devices and select the one you’re having trouble with.
- After clicking on it, an “About” section should pop up, where it should be clearly stated through which channel that device is connected to Alexa.
- If you see this section, your device is properly connected, and communication between the devices isn’t the issue.
- On the other hand, if you see a connection settings menu come up, you’ll have to connect the device first before attempting to enable “Live View” again.
This can happen much more often than you’d think, even if the device’s wires are stored away in an area of the house with little to no foot traffic.
This is because even the strongest connectors can suffer from wear and tear while collecting dust and other debris.
The Viewing Device Isn’t Eligible for “Live View”
If the connection doesn’t seem to be the problem, the issue might lie within the viewing device itself.
The fact that you’ve successfully connected a piece of equipment to your Alexa doesn’t necessarily mean said equipment will be eligible for the “Live View” feature.
Looking into whether this is the issue you’re dealing with or not only requires quick research.
Unfortunately, this is the kind of problem that can only be prevented, not fixed, because if you’ve already purchased a non-compatible device, there’s nothing you can do to make the “live View” feature work.
The best way to figure out whether this is the issue you’re dealing with is to research your device’s make and model followed by “Alexa Live View.”
Doing so can help you get a better grasp of how eligible your equipment is to support this Alexa feature.
You Have Multiple Routers
This is one of the most commonly overlooked issues when it comes to why Alexa isn’t supporting its “Live View” features.
Sometimes the problem has nothing to do with the devices themselves but with the routers responsible for completing the connection between them.
When you have multiple routers, they all create subnet networks for your devices.
Depending on your router’s placement, it’s likely that the devices between which you’re trying to make a connection have linked to the modem that’s closest to them.
As you can imagine, two devices linked to different subnets can’t directly access one another, which is why they won’t be able to communicate.
As a result, the “Live View Feature” will not be supported.
Luckily, this is one of the easiest issues to fix on this list.
All you have to do is turn off one or more of your routers and reconnect all your devices to a single modem, making it possible for them to communicate.
There’s a Deeper Technical Issue
If the troubleshooting process thus far hasn’t yielded any results, chances are there’s a deeper technical issue preventing your devices from supporting the “Live View” feature.
Those who are lucky might be able to solve any internal issues through a simple reboot.
Oftentimes complex technological devices might experience a signal overload which could be resolved by shutting them down, allowing them time to cool off, and then turning them on again.
However, if, after doing so, you’re still experiencing the same issue, it might be time for you to contact Amazon’s Support Team for further guidance.
The severity and range of technical problems that might be affecting your system are varied, which is why it can be hard to diagnose a problem without having adequate technical knowledge first.
Conclusion
“Live View” is a relatively new feature for Alexa, which is why many users have found themselves struggling to understand why their devices don’t seem to support it.
By going through a quick and simple troubleshooting process, you’ll be able to figure out the root cause of your issue in no time.
Most of the problems that cause Alexa to say “Live View Not Supported” are fairly easy to detect and promptly fix.
However, if you can’t seem to find the reason why your devices are acting out, it might be time to call for the help of a professional.