Alexa, How Do I Set Up My Amazon Echo?

There is not any lack of digital assistants to speak with—Siri, Cortana, Bixby, the Google Assistant—however for Amazon, the audio assistant of alternative is Alexa, the know-how inside its Echo and Hearth TV units, to not point out different third-party audio system and devices.

Amazon Echo audio system actually showcase Alexa’s capabilities. Echo is a standalone speaker that wants nothing greater than Wi-Fi and energy connections. There’s the orb-like Echo and Echo Dot, the high-end Echo Studio for actual acoustic snobs, and now a whole line of touch-screen Echo Present units. All of them have their variations, however the setup is basically similar.

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Obtain the Amazon Alexa App

Get it free on iOS(Opens in a brand new window), Android(Opens in a brand new window), or Hearth OS(Opens in a brand new window) on Amazon’s personal tablets. Newer Hearth tablets ought to have it already, although first- and second-generation tablets will not be supported.

Decide a Machine to Set Up

Echo Setup in iOS

You want an Amazon account to make use of Alexa, however you do not want Amazon Prime(Opens in a brand new window). Sign up on the app. Then click on Extra on the decrease proper and choose Add a Machine. Right here you’ll be able to add any variety of Alexa-supported units to your account, from good lights to good plugs. However we’re centered on Echo units, so faucet Amazon Echo. On the subsequent display screen, choose which Echo you’ve got; it covers virtually each sort of Echo created since 2014, even the discontinued units. Be certain that your Echo gadget is plugged in.

Enter Setup Mode

Echo Dot in Setup mode
(Photograph: Eric Griffith)

Once you enter setup mode, the Echo’s mild ring or bar will flash blue after which orange. Should you do not see orange, press and maintain the Motion button for 5 seconds. Finally, Alexa will perk up and inform you it is “now in Setup mode.” (You may additionally want to carry down the microphone and quantity buttons for as much as 20 seconds till the sunshine goes from yellow to blue to get it into Setup mode.)

Hook up with Wi-Fi

Amazon has an possibility to avoid wasting your Wi-Fi credentials—the community’s SSID and the safety password/code—so you do not have to enter them on a regular basis when establishing Amazon merchandise. Should you’ve already executed this earlier than, Wi-Fi setup on a brand new Amazon Echo is a breeze. As soon as the app detects the brand new Echo, press the identify (like Echo Dot-BG8) and you may see it seek for Wi-Fi, hook up with your saved community, and make sure the Echo is on the community.

Echo Wi-Fi setup steps with a saved community.

It is a bit of totally different when you did not save your Wi-Fi data (otherwise you did, however wish to arrange the Echo on a special Wi-Fi community, even in the identical location). On this case, you will see an inventory of obtainable Wi-Fi networks seen to your telephone or pill; choose your most well-liked Wi-Fi community. Enter the Wi-Fi password when requested, you probably have one. (You must actually put a password on the Wi-Fi.) That is additionally the place it can save you your community credentials to Amazon.

Echo Wi-Fi setup with no saved community.

As soon as all the information has been despatched to the gadget, Alexa will say “Your Echo is prepared,” and the orange lights exit. Choose the language to make use of and set the Echo’s location.

Wi-Fi password-saving works throughout Amazon’s Hearth tablets and Kindle e book readers as nicely. Here is extra on what Amazon does(Opens in a brand new window) with saved Wi-Fi passwords. Should you change the Wi-Fi password in your router, you will have to vary the saved Wi-Fi password utilized by your Echo(s) at the least as soon as.

Say ‘Alexa’

Now you can ask your Echo gadget to do your bidding through the use of the wake-word “Alexa.” You may change the wake phrase on every particular person gadget from Alexa to Echo, Amazon, or Pc within the cell app by way of Settings > Machine Settings > [Your Echo] > [gear icon] > Wake Phrase (you’ll be able to’t change them abruptly.) Now you can join your Echo to music apps, exterior audio system, and different Echo units (for multi-room music playback) round the home.

Particular Observe for Amazon Echo Present Units

As a result of the Echo Present line comes with a display screen, the setup is simpler—no cell app on the telephone is required. But the fundamentals are the identical: Plug it in, choose a language, hook up with the Wi-Fi (together with coming into the Wi-Fi password on the display screen if it is not saved), log in to your Amazon account, and also you’re able to go.