Alexa, Google Home, and similar devices stay connected to your WiFi all day, so they are one more always-on radio in the home. In lab tests, WiFi and Bluetooth smart-home devices had duty cycles under 1% and fields typically much less than 1% of safety limits [1].
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What a smart speaker adds to a room
Two different things run inside a smart speaker, and they get mixed up. The microphone that waits for its wake word is a privacy question. The Wi-Fi link that keeps the speaker reachable is the RF question, and it is the only one this tip counts.
Removing a device you do not need is a simple way to cut that source out [1][2].
Smart speakers add a small, always-on RF source to your home. Predictive modelling of one device in each of 23 smart-home categories, all operating near maximum, estimated 0.17% of the ICNIRP 2020 public limits at 1 m, so removing one is a small reduction that costs little convenience [2].
Unplugging or removing smart speakers takes the source out of the home
Remove or switch it off
The most reliable fix: wire it, schedule it off, or choose a model without the radio.
Move it away
Fields from a device fall off quickly with distance, so the nightstand beats the pillow.
Block the path
Only for what you cannot remove or move; it must cover the path fully to work.
Measure before and after
Use a meter that reads the field type the change targets, so you know it worked.
Remove the always-on radio.
The usual order of fixes: source first, shielding last.
Chart: frequencyblockers.com: Unplugging or removing smart speakers takes the source out of the home
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Taking it out without missing the convenience
Most smart speaker “conveniences” can be accomplished with a quick manual action. Ask yourself if voice control is worth having switched on all day [1].
- Timers and alarms: a kitchen timer or a plain alarm clock does the same job with no network at all.
- Music and radio: play it from a phone or a basic radio, started by hand when you want it.
- Lights and switches: the wall switch is still there, and most plug-in lamps work fine without an app.
- Quick questions: ask the phone when you actually need an answer, rather than keeping a device listening all day.
If you decide to keep one, put it away from the places where you sit or sleep. The mute button mostly silences the microphone and typically leaves the Wi-Fi link up, so it is a privacy step rather than an RF step.
Checking the difference with a meter
Use an RF meter, because the speaker’s signal is radio frequency. Take a reading beside the speaker while it is plugged in, then unplug it and read again from the same spot. Do the same from where you normally sit. Expect a small change, since the lab results quoted above show these devices transmit only a fraction of the time.
The router will dominate most readings in the room. If you want a handheld option, EMF testers that attach to a smartphone can show how the speaker compares with the router.
Braun Classic Analog Alarm Clock
Many smart speakers stay because they are the alarm or the clock. A battery analog clock covers that with no microphone and no radio.
View ProductWhen removing it is not worth the trouble
Some people rely on voice control for good reasons, such as limited mobility or hands that are busy in the kitchen. The measured exposure from one speaker is small, so giving up something you really use is a poor trade.
The tip makes the most sense for a speaker you hardly use, or one that sits near a bed or a favorite chair out of habit. In that case unplugging it costs nothing and is easy to reverse.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer research arm of the WHO, has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” a rating based on limited evidence about brain cancer risk. A 2024 WHO-commissioned review of human studies found that ever or regular mobile phone use was not associated with glioma risk, and the US National Cancer Institute says the evidence to date suggests cell phone use does not cause brain or other kinds of cancer. The steps in this guide are a low-cost precaution, not a response to a proven harm [4][5][6][7].
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Get the Complete GuideFrequently Asked Questions
Are smart speakers like Alexa and Google Home always listening to conversations in my home?
Smart speakers listen for a wake word and stay connected to your WiFi, so they are always on. In lab tests of WiFi and Bluetooth smart-home devices, duty cycles were under 1% and fields were typically much less than 1% of safety limits, so they transmit in short bursts rather than continuously [1].
What are the health effects of living with constant EMF exposure from smart speakers?
No health effects from smart speakers have been shown. Measured fields from WiFi and Bluetooth smart-home devices are typically much less than 1% of safety limits, and a WHO workshop report concluded that the evidence provides little support for adverse health effects from RF exposure below current standards. Some people still choose to remove always-on devices they do not need [1][3].
If I remove smart speakers from my home, how much will my EMF exposure decrease?
Removing a smart speaker removes one small source. Modelling of one device in each of 23 smart-home categories, all near maximum output, estimated 0.17% of the ICNIRP 2020 public limits at 1 m, so the drop in your total exposure is likely to be small [2].
What’s a practical alternative if I want voice control without the constant EMF exposure?
You can replace always-on smart speakers with voice-activated devices that don’t require continuous WiFi broadcasting, or simply use your smartphone for voice commands when needed and keep it in airplane mode otherwise. This approach gives you convenience without the constant RF shielding challenges that embedded smart speakers create.
References
- McKenzie RJ et al. Assessment of radio frequency fields in the 2.45 GHz band produced by smart home devices. Bioelectromagnetics (2024). PMID 38014861
- K.H. Joyner et al. Estimates and measurements of radiofrequency exposures in smart‐connected homes. Bioelectromagnetics (2024). PMID 39030829
- Peter A. Valberg et al. Workgroup Report: Base Stations and Wireless Networks, Radiofrequency (RF) Exposures and Health Consequences. Environmental Health Perspectives (2006). PMID 17431492
- Mireille B. Toledano et al. Cohort profile: UK COSMOS, a UK cohort for study of environment and health. International Journal of Epidemiology (2015). PMID 26534947
- International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC classifies radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Press release 208). International Agency for Research on Cancer (2011). source
- Karipidis K et al. The effect of exposure to radiofrequency fields on cancer risk in the general and working population: A systematic review of human observational studies – Part I: Most researched outcomes. Environment international (2024). PMID 39241333
- US National Cancer Institute Cell Phones and Cancer Risk. US National Cancer Institute (current). source
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice; consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any supplement. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
