If you’ve just bought an Amazon Echo, our guide explains everything you need to learn to get it up and working with Alexa, and what she can perform.
The best way to set up an Amazon Echo will play in 24 seconds
If you have just taken your first Amazon Echo out of its box, then congratulations are in order. Soon, Alexa will be prepared to follow your every command: all you need to do is ask.
She is able to answer questions, set timers, play the radio, and offer you a weather forecast plus a lot more. It’s possible to control smart house gadgets with Alexa too, from switches and plugs to lights, blinds, kettles, garage doors: that the list is practically infinite.
Luckily, setting up an Amazon Echo is fast and easy. Listed below are the basic steps:
- Connect your Echo’s power supply
- Install the Amazon Alexa program on your phone
- Tap the Devices icon, then the + symbol
- Follow the on-screen instructions to connect the Echo to your Wi-Fi network and enter its password
- Alexa is ready for you to Allow skills
The installation process differs in case you have an Echo Display – a wise screen that’s a screen in addition to a speaker. Scroll down for specific Echo Show setup instructions.
How to Establish an Echo or Echo Dot
Once unboxing your Echo eliminate the plastic security, connect the power cable and plug the power supply to a mains socket.
You will observe the LEDs glowing and after a brief while, Alexa will inform you to use the program to complete the setup. Therefore, if you have not already done so, install the Amazon Alexa program on your own Android phone, iPhone. You can also utilize the Alexa app on an Amazon tabletcomputer.
You will need an Amazon account. If you do not have one, just sign up at www.amazon.co.uk/account. With this you can’t use your Echo. You do not need an Amazon Prime subscription, but you will lose out on a few attributes, like the ability to play music from Amazon’s library.
Hint: You can change the default music supplier by going to Settings > Audio > Link New Service.
When you start the Alexa program, you might observe a pop-up message requesting you to install your new Echo. If so, follow the directions.
Otherwise, tap on the Devices tab (1) and then on the + symbol at the top (two).
Tap Add Devices (3) and then on Amazon Echo (4).
Harness’Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus and more’ and then tap the correct model of Echo that you have purchased.
Make certain there’s an orange light on your Echo. Otherwise, you might have to reset it. The reset process is different for every device, so assess Amazon’s instructions here. But in most cases simply press and hold the’action’ button, that’s the one with just a tiny dot on it. Hold it for approximately 6-10 minutes till you find the orange light.
When you have the orange lighting, tap YES to verify your Echo is in setup mode.
The app will look for devices and you should then see the network name of your Echo appear.
Pick the Wi-Fi system you’d like it to link to. If prompted, enter the password to the network and after a short while you will see a screen saying”Your Echo is online”.
Alexa should declare that she is all set. For some Echo models you will see a last display which features help on linking external speakers.
However, you can now start using your Echo. Consider saying”Alexa, what’s the time?” And she must respond with the present time.
Note: in case you have more than one Echo device, each has to be installed individually in the app using the procedure above.
Following is a rundown of all of the current Echo models, in the event you decide you want extra smart speakers around your home.
Must I say”Alexa”?
No, however, the default wake term is Alexa. You can alter this to”Amazon”,”Echo” or”Computer” by going into the settings in the Alexa program. You can not select your own wake word.
To find the settings, tap on the 3 horizontal bars in the top-left corner of this app and choose Settings from the menu.
To be able to make her helpful, you should set your location in the Alexa app. That is again under Settings, and it is also on this menu page you can change the units of measurement for weather predictions and space.
You will notice that a’Matters To Try’ segment which is a fantastic introduction to Alexa’s abilities. However, for a full guide see How to use Alexa.
How do I install an Echo Show?
If you’ve got an Echo with a display, you can set it up with no telephone or tablet. Simply connect the power supply and follow the directions on the screen. An onscreen keyboard enables you to type on your Amazon account details and password.
Note that you can swipe down from the surface of the display on an Echo Show (or Spot) to get to the shortcuts and settings. This is the quickest way to upgrade the Wi-Fi password or network should you ever change your router.
Strategies for using Alexa
Your Echo is set up, you are going to wish to know what to say. That’s coated in our different guide on how to utilize Alexa.
You might also like to use Alexa to make voice and video calls to friends and family.
She is fantastic for the fundamentals, but really comes into her own when paired with gadgets that are compatible, like lights, thermostats, switches and much more. When your hands are full, it is really helpful to have the ability to state”Alexa, turn on the lights” if you walk into a dark room.
If Alexa can not control something straight and requires you to enable a Skill, you might need to use its title in your command.
If you’ve got a Nest thermostat, as an example, you can not just say”Alexa, set the heating to 20 levels”.
Instead, you will need to state”Alexa, set the [title of thermostat] into 20 degrees” or”Alexa, make the [name of thermostat] warmer”.
Where possible, change the titles of your devices to be easy and short so Alexa can more easily recognise and understand them.
We’ve also complied a list of this humorous things to say to Alexa in addition to the best games to play Alexa.
If you find a pulsing yellow, purple or other lights in your Echo, here’s what all the colors mean.
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