You want to unwind and relax when you get home from a long workday. Alexa can help with that. An Amazon Echo or other Alexa-enabled speaker is perfect for kicking back after a long day. You can listen to music, hear the news, get answers to general knowledge questions, or plan your upcoming schedule with just a few voice commands.
With an Alexa device at home, it's also easy to control lights and thermostat settings in different rooms. You might not immediately think of these devices as home assistant hubs, but they make perfect assistants once you bring them home. And because there are so many ways to use Alexa at home, we've listed some helpful tips to get started with your new smart speaker system.
Choosing The Right Location
When outfitting your home with an Echo or other Alexa-enabled device, one of the first things you'll want to decide on is where you'll place it. When selecting a spot for your smart speaker, remember that the ideal distance between your device and your voice is between 2 and 9 feet. Any further than that, Alexa might not hear your request; any closer and the device might start recording you by accident. Ideally, the best place to set up Alexa is either in the middle of the room or at a spot where you spend a lot of time.
If you want to use Alexa as an alarm, you'll want to place your device in an area where you can hear it loud enough to wake you up in the morning. Otherwise, you could need a deafening alarm to wake you up.
How To Set Up Alexa with Amazon Echo?
Play music, set alarms, and timers, answer basic queries, manage smart home devices, and much more. According to Amazon, it works best in common areas such as living rooms and family rooms.
- Plug your gadget into a wall unit or surge protector to turn it on.
- Get the Alexa app for your mobile device.
- Select Devices in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- To add a device, click the "+" symbol in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Choose Add Device.
- Set up your Echo, Echo Dot, or another device according to the instructions.
- To begin, say "Alexa" into the gadget with your normal voice. That's what jolts her awake. Whenever you want to talk to Alexa, you must first wake up the device by saying "Alexa." This instructs the gadget to record and transmit your request to Amazon's secure cloud.
Sync Amazon Echo with Your Existing Devices
In addition to setting up Alexa at home with a brand new device, consider syncing your existing devices with your Echo. For example, you can pair your Amazon Echo with WeMo plugs to turn off or on your lights from your device. Similarly, if you have a smart thermostat, you can sync it with your Amazon Echo to adjust the temperature from your device. You can also use IFTTT recipes to connect your smart home devices with your new or existing Echo device.
Set a Timer With Alexa
Some people like to use their smart home assistants to set timers for various activities. For example, to set the timer for boiling an egg, you can tell Alexa to set a timer for 15 minutes. When the time is up, your device will let you know. When setting a timer with your device, you'll need to give Alexa the full length of time you want the timer to last. For example, if you wish to have a 10-minute timer, you'll need to tell Alexa to set a timer for 10 minutes.
Turn on the Lights With Alexa
There are many options if you need help determining which lights are compatible. You can find smart light bulbs that work with Alexa in many different styles and colors. You can also turn on connected smart lights via plugs or switches. In addition, you can use Alexa to turn on the lights if you have a Hue hub connected to your Wi-Fi. If you want to use this method, you'll first need to connect your Hue hub to the internet and then connect it to your Amazon Echo.
You can also use Alexa if you have a smart plug connected to your lights. You can also use Alexa to turn off the lights if you have a Wink hub connected to your Wi-Fi. If you want to use this method, you'll first need to connect your Wink hub to the internet and then connect it to your Amazon Echo.
Stream Music With Alexa
If you want to stream music with your device, you can use Amazon Music, Prime Music, Sirius XM, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and Pandora. You can also use your device to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. You'll need to subscribe to the service if you want to play podcasts or audiobooks. If you're a new Amazon Music user, you can get three months free when you link your account with your Amazon Echo device.
Get Answers With Alexa
You can ask Alexa about facts, general knowledge, weather, and news. For example, you can ask for the weather forecast or the latest headlines from different publications. You can also ask for sports updates or trivia facts. You can even use Alexa to play games like trivia or word searches.
If you want to ask for facts or get general knowledge answers from Alexa, you can use the following syntax: "Alexa, what is the capital of Arizona?" or "Alexa, what is the population of Wyoming?" You can also ask for weather forecasts for your area. For example, ask, "Alexa, what is the weather forecast?" or "Alexa, what is the forecast for today?"
Adjust the temperature with Alexa
If you have a compatible thermostat, you can use Alexa to adjust the temperature in your house. For example, you can say, "Alexa, raise the temperature by two degrees." or "Alexa, lower the temperature by two degrees." You can also say, "Alexa, turn on the heat." or "Alexa, turn off the heat."
Setting Up Alexa At Home: Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you're all set up, it's time to take a step back and learn all there is to know about privacy, factory settings, kid safety, and more.
How can I link Alexa to my Wi-Fi network?
- Open the Alexa app's left navigation panel, then Settings.
- Choose Set up a new device.
- On your Echo device, press the Action button until the light ring becomes orange. Then, your mobile device will connect to your Echo. The app will provide a list of accessible networks.
- Choose your network and type in your home network password (if required).
- If your Wi-Fi network isn't visible, scroll down and choose to Add a Network (for hidden networks) or Rescan.
- Choose Connect. A confirmation message should appear.
How does Alexa ensure privacy?
Amazon builds numerous levels of privacy protection onto its Alexa and Echo devices. You have much control over your experience, from microphone and camera options to the ability to examine and erase your voice recordings.
When you see the blue light indication or hear an audible tone on your Echo device, Alexa starts recording (and sends your request to the secure cloud).
To activate the Do Not Disturb mode, say, "Alexa, switch on Do Not Disturb." During this time, your device will still react to the wake word but will not accept incoming calls or texts.
Say, "Alexa, remove what I just said" or "Alexa, tell me what you heard" to either replay or delete what Alexa heard.
Can I make my Amazon Echo device more kid-friendly?
You may activate Amazon FreeTime in the Alexa app for no additional cost. With parental controls in the dashboard, FreeTime filters explicit music and lyrics, adds already-approved contacts, sets time restrictions, and more. Your children may also access Audible books, playlists, and podcasts for a reasonable monthly charge.
Conclusion
If you have an Amazon Echo or other Alexa-enabled device at home, you can use it for many different things. However, there are plenty of different ways to use Alexa at home, and this article has discussed just a few. With all the different ways to use Alexa at home. Continue reading our blog Hoe.com for more updates on making your home smart.
