Smart assistant like Alexa, Siri, or Google are essential components in your smart home. Sure, you can turn lights on and off from an app on your phone, but being able to ask Alexa to do it for you is like living in The Jetsons. These assistants come to life via devices installed throughout your house. For Alexa, that means Amazon Echo, which comes in a whole line of different options.
Choose a device
Depending on where you’ll install your device, you want to choose an Echo that will serve you best. You need to be within listening distance of an Echo in order to use the assistant, so you might consider a fleet of small Echo Dots installed throughout the house. Mighty and mini, they fit just about anywhere, and can even be mounted to walls and ceilings. Each Echo is also a speaker, but sometimes you’ll want better sound, so an Echo Studio might be in order. In your kitchen, you might want the ability to watch videos or take video chats, so an Echo Display could be the right choice.
In any case, once you choose the right device or devices, you have to power them on and set them up to access your virtual assistant. If you’re just going to set your Echo on a counter, everything you need is in the box. You’ll just want to grab your wifi network password, and figure out where to plug the Echo in. If you plan to mount the Echo, you might need additional tools, whether a drill, level, or screwdriver, depending on instructions for the mount. You may also consider a cord cover.
Add a device
Next up, grab your device of choice and download the Amazon Alexa app for Android or iOS. Sign into your Amazon account to begin. In your app, choose add a device, and then allow the app to guide you through installation. Your Echo will display different colored lights on its face throughout the process. You’ll be guided through connecting it to the wifi network of your choice. In the future, you can change this network, if need be, by selecting the device and then going to the “status” menu.
Set up preferences
Now that you’re connected, Alexa can help you with all sorts of tasks. Your Echo can act as a smart hub for your home, to which you can add not only other Echo devices, but devices from other apps that work with Alexa. In your phone, go to the Alexa app and select add a device to see what other devices can be added. If a smart device uses Matter, it can always be added to Alexa.
Alexa knows best
The best way to learn what Alexa can do for you is to just ask it. Wake up Alexa anytime by saying “Alexa!” and then ask it to do something for you. Start by asking, “Alexa, what can you do for me?” You can ask for the time, the weather, for directions on how to make or do something, to translate measurements (“Alexa, how many tablespoons in 2.5 cups?”) or whether a nearby restaurant is still open.
Over time, you can build on this to ask Alexa to play from your music libraries, to play white noise or something else to sleep to, or even to read you a bedtime story. In fact, these hidden “Easter eggs” are a point of pride for developers of smart assistants. Alexa can learn your name, your voice, and the voice of everyone else in your home.
Amazon Echo troubleshooting
Some common problems with Echo devices are being unable to make your initial wifi connection or losing a connection over time. One of the most common reasons is wifi interference. You want your Echo device to be within a clear signal range of your wifi router or repeater. If the location you want for your Echo isn’t within a clear range, you might want to add a repeater or booster, or move the Echo closer. Remember that things like large appliances—particularly microwaves—can disrupt a clear range.
Performing a hard reset
Sometimes, the best way to get things online and in order is to start over. To do so, you need to perform a factory reset, which will depend on what kind of Echo device you have. On the standard Echo Dot, you hold the Microphone Off and Volume Down button at the same time, for twenty seconds. The lights on the Echo will confirm it’s going into setup mode, and if you do so, you’ll need to go through the above process all over again.
Enjoy your new virtual assistant
Your assistant won't become your new best friend, but it will become a habit to talk to Alexa throughout the day, as a hands free way to get quick information, listen to music, or control devices in your home. With the popularity of these devices, almost any issue you might have with an Echo device is sure to be documented on the internet, and a quick search can likely surface a solution. As an alternative, Amazon support for your Echo devices is just a quick click away.
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