Congratulations on your very firstAmazon Echo smart speaker, and welcome to a new and exciting world of lightning-fast automation, music streaming, powerful home security, impressive search engine capabilities, and a means to connect with friends and family.
With so many features and so much potential, it’s no wonder Amazon’s smart speaker is revered among smart home adopters and audiophiles. Don’t get too overwhelmed thinking about the possibilities, though. First things first: Let’s get your Echo up and running.
Here’s a guide on how to do just that.
Step 1: Download the Alexa app
The free Alexa app is a must-have if you’re the owner of an Amazon Echo or Echo Dot. Download the app on any smartphone or tablet with iOS 11.0 or higher, Android 6.0 or higher, or Fire OS 5.3.3 or higher. Downloading the app on a computer? Make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi, then visit the Amazon Alexa website.
Step 2: Plug in the Echo
This is probably the easiest step in the whole process, as the Echo doesn’t require any batteries. Simply plug the included power adapter directly into the Echo, then connect the plug to a power outlet. When the light ring turns blue, that means the power is connected. Then, wait for it to turn orange, as this is a sign that Alexa is preparing to greet you. After that, you’ll hear Alexa’s voice telling you the device is ready for setup.
Step 3: Connect the Echo to Wi-Fi via the app
Next, you’ll need to connect your Echo device to your home Wi-Fi network. The latest versions of the Echo should guide you through this process. However, if you get stuck, simply open up the Alexa app and search through the available networks until you find yours. If you have multiple Echo devices, make sure you go to the Devices tab, then click the icon for Echo & Alexa in the top carousel and select your Alexa device. Under the Wireless heading, you should be able to see the state of the Wi-Fi network connection.
Once you’re connected, you have the option of saving your Wi-Fi password to Amazon, which makes it easy to connect to smart home devices. You can also set up a new Alexa device on the same network should you decide to purchase more Echo speakers for other rooms. You also have the choice of connecting your Echo to a public network, although the password won’t be saved on Amazon.
Step 4: Start talking to Alexa
To get started, say the wake word, which is “Alexa” by default. If there’s already someone named Alexa, Alexis, or similar in the house, you can change the wake word to something else. Simply tell the Echo, “Alexa, change the wake word.”
You can also change the wake word manually by opening up the Alexa app, tapping Help & Feedback, and selecting Change the Wake Word. Currently, you can change the Echo to respond to “Echo,” “Amazon,” or “Computer.” There’s no word on when Amazon will allow you to customize Alexa and call her a name of your choosing.
Step 5: Start using your Echo
Congratulations, your Amazon Echo is all set up and ready for use! To make sure everything’s working properly, you can conduct a simple test by trying out a few basic commands. For example, say the wake word and “Hello.” If your Echo is properly set up, Alexa should respond with a simple “Hello” in return. In the Alexa app menu, you will see two sections called Skills & Games and Things to Try. These are both excellent ways to see what Alexa is capable of.
Skills can help you customize Alexa by giving her certain abilities — think of them as mini-apps from many different creators that you can use for entertainment, organization, news, and much more.
You can start using your Echo device for a range of tasks. You can make to-do lists, find out the weather, check on traffic conditions, call your friends, send text messages to your family, or stream podcasts with simple voice commands. You also have the option to expand your digital network by connecting smart home devices. Everything from color-changing lightbulbs to home security cameras can communicate with your Echo. Alexa has thousands of essential and not-so-essential skills you can add, too. Check out some of the most useful things that the Amazon Echo can help you do.
Step 6 (optional): Connect smart home devices or an external speaker
Go to your Alexa app menu on your connected tablet or smartphone. Choose the Devices tab. At this point, Alexa may display an ad, which you can click out of. Click the + sign in the top right corner of the app, then Add Device. From here, you can choose the device you want to connect from the list. If you can’t find the correct one, you’ll want to tap Other.
Alexa will also attempt to locate any nearby smart devices to pair with while in this mode. You also have the option to create more advanced Scenes where multiple devices interact at once and can organize accessories into Groups. Check out our post on Routines for more information and tips on setting up these interactions.
It’s worth thinking about pairing an external speaker to your Echo device if you want to make sure you’re receiving a top-notch listening experience when jamming out to music or listening to audiobooks. For best results, choose a Bluetooth speaker that’s compatible with Echo devices, specifically. Keep in mind that your Echo can only connect to one Bluetooth device at a time, though. If there’s already a device paired up with your Echo, you’ll need to un-sync it first. Then, you can run through the setup process with the new accessory. Other smart home devices don’t connect via Bluetooth, though, so they remain connected. One example is your home security camera, which uses your Wi-Fi connection to speak with your Echo.
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