Install EchoLocal

echolocal installs EchoLocal on the Echo over USB and connects it to your Wi‑Fi.

Get echolocal

Download echolocal for your computer from the latest release. It’s a single file. During install it downloads the EchoLocal build and boot image for your Echo, so the computer needs internet access.

macOS

cd ~/Downloads
mv echolocal_darwin_arm64 echolocal
chmod +x echolocal
xattr -d com.apple.quarantine echolocal

On an Intel Mac, the file is echolocal_darwin_x86_64.

Linux

cd ~/Downloads
mv echolocal_linux_x86_64 echolocal
chmod +x echolocal

On ARM, such as a Raspberry Pi, the file is echolocal_linux_arm64.

Windows

In PowerShell:

cd ~\Downloads
Rename-Item echolocal_windows_x86_64.exe echolocal.exe

On an ARM PC, the file is echolocal_windows_arm64.exe. Use .\echolocal.exe wherever this guide says ./echolocal.

Install

Plug the Echo in over USB and run:

./echolocal install --name kitchen

The installer detects the device, flashes its boot image, installs EchoLocal, and asks for your Wi‑Fi if the Echo isn’t on a network yet. The Echo reboots along the way; leave the cable in until it finishes.

The name is what Home Assistant calls the device. Renaming it later makes Home Assistant see a new device, so pick a name you’ll keep.

More than one Echo

./echolocal install --name bedroom --ssid MyWiFi --password 'your-password' --yes --reboot

Options

Option	What it does
--name kitchen	Name the device without being asked
--ssid MyWiFi --password …	Join this network without scanning
--wps	Join by pressing your router’s WPS button
--yes	Don’t ask before flashing the boot image
--reboot, --no-reboot	Reboot at the end without asking, or finish without rebooting
--serial G0XXXXXXXX	Pick an Echo when more than one is plugged in
--generate-key	Make the encryption key here, to paste into Home Assistant, instead of letting Home Assistant set it
--reflash	Flash the boot image again even if it’s already there

Other commands

Command	What it does
./echolocal wifi	Change Wi‑Fi networks (below)
./echolocal status	What’s installed and whether it’s running
./echolocal restart	Restart EchoLocal
./echolocal board	Which Echo this is
./echolocal key show	Print the Home Assistant encryption key
./echolocal key rotate	Make a new key and restart

Changing Wi‑Fi later

./echolocal wifi --force

--force lists the networks even when the Echo is already connected; without it, a connected Echo just reports where it is. It takes the same --ssid, --password, --wps and --serial options. Once the new network connects, the Echo forgets every other network; if it does not connect, the Echo goes back to the one it was on.

Next: add it to Home Assistant.