Amazon Turned Your Echo Show Into a Billboard, Here’s Why Users Are Angry

If you own an Echo Show, you may have noticed something new (and annoying): full-screen, “sponsored” ads popping up out of nowhere. Many users feel their once-useful smart display has turned into a glorified ad board. But is this just a few complaints or a real shift in how Amazon treats its hardware? Let’s dig into the facts, the backlash, and what Amazon is (or isn’t) doing about it.

What Changed: The New Advertising Regime

Echo Show devices have long displayed hints of commercial content suggestions in Alexa, “shopping” links, or small promos, but recent updates have escalated this into full ads that appear between your photos or content cards. These new “sponsored” ads are major, unavoidable, and often not opt-out.

• Ads appear even in Photo Frame mode, interrupting slideshows you expected to be personal memories.

• Users report that the ads show products they never expressed interest in herbal supplements, generic items, and random gadgets.

• Unlike Kindle devices, where you pay less for ad-supported models, no discount for Echo Shows that include ads.

• Turning off suggested content doesn’t fully prevent these sponsored ads. Some users tried toggling settings, yet still see them.

In short, the ads are now a core part of the “Show” experience, whether you want them or not.

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User Reactions & Backlash

Echo Show owners aren’t taking this quietly. On Reddit, forums, and Amazon’s community boards, many have voiced frustration:

“Intrusive ads in my living space … I never agreed to turn my device into a billboard.”
“They forced a new update that turned my Echo Show into a digital billboard.”

Some people discussed unplugging their devices. Others tried changing languages or enabling “Do Not Disturb” modes to suppress ads. Some even sought refunds after complaining.

In community forums, users say they have all relevant home screen suggestions turned off, yet the ads persist. 
Many feel betrayed that an expensive smart home device they paid for is now serving Amazon’s advertising agenda.

Why Amazon Is Doing This (From Their Point of View)

From Amazon’s side, this shift is part of a bigger strategy:

1. Revenue drive: Ads offer a recurring income stream from hardware.

2. Product discovery: Amazon claims sponsored content helps users discover things relevant to them.

3. Alexa Plus & ad programs: Through new programs (Alexa Native, Home Screen Display), Amazon expanded ad placements in 2025.

4. “Add-on” framing: Amazon executives argue that if an ad is relevant, it’s not an interruption; it’s an “add-on” feature. But many users disagree.

Still, the execution seems clumsy ads often interrupt personal content, and users have little control over what shows up or when.

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The Problems & Dangers

This shift introduces several issues:

• Privacy concerns: If your device is showing ads based on browsing or buying habits, users fear more intrusion.

• User experience degraded: The core features,s photo frames, recipes, and news, get interrupted, reducing enjoyment.

• No opt-out: Many ads can’t be disabled. That feels unfair, especially for people who bought the device expecting a clean experience.

• Brand trust erodes: Users feel betrayed by a company turning hardware they paid for into an ad platform.

• Consistency issues: Ads reportedly appear inconsistently across devices; some Show units see them, others do not.

What You Can Try: Workarounds & Fixes

While there is currently no guaranteed solution, here are common steps users are trying:

• Go to Alexa app → Settings → Home Screen Content / Suggestions and turn off categories.

• Use “Do Not Disturb” or night mode to lull the screen into a less active state.

• Change the device language to a non-U.S. variant (English Canada, etc.), and some report fewer ads this way.

• Contact Amazon support and demand ad removal or a refund (some users succeeded).

• Use the device mostly for voice, and mute or disable the screen features as much as possible.

Note: Many report that these only mitigate ads; they don’t stop them completely.

Where This Leaves the Echo Show

What was once a smart display that blended into your home is now more of a billboard with interruptions. Amazon’s aggressive ad placement is straining trust between the company and users.
For buyers considering an Echo Show, this is now a risk factor: you’re purchasing hardware that may bombard you with ads, whether you want them or not.

Unless Amazon reverses course, we may see more users ditching the device or demanding a paid no-ads version.

Final Word

Amazon’s giant ads have undeniably damaged the Echo Show experience. Where users once had a personal device for photos, recipes, or video calls, they now see random ads they can’t disable. The backlash is real and loud. If you own one, check your settings, push Amazon to let you opt out, and decide if you’re comfortable paying for hardware that carries ad load.