Your Cart is Empty
Familiar mode: You are gifted with the new Amazon Echo. I've heard from friends and family about all the wonderful things this machine can do, and I was excited to see what was going on all the hype. You connect the device, it is switched on and connected to the home network.
There sits, patiently waiting for you to ask him something.
You realize then that you are not sure what you will ask for. We are here to help. Below is a collection of the best Amazon Alexa commands from all over the Internet, sponsored and tested for work by us here at Hometoys. We hope this list is a good introduction to fun and useful things that Alexa can do, or a way to expand the list of things Alexa is already using. He shouted to everyone in The Ambient, Cnet, Komando, Beebom, and Tom's Guide who also compiled some of the great menus of Alexa commands in their own right and inspired the list we compiled.
Command: “Alexa, set a timer for [xx] minutes.”
Command:“Alexa, how long is left on the timer?”
Command:“Alexa, stop the timer.”
You can also give each timer it’s own name, which becomes particularly helpful if you set multiple timers. Alexa can update you on a timer based on it’s name. Example:
Command:“Alexa, set a [xx] minute [outdoor sprinkler] timer.”
Command:“Alexa, how much time is left on the outdoor sprinkler timer?”
Command:“Alexa, set an alarm for [time].”
Command:“Alexa, wake me up every day at [time].”
Command:“Alexa, wake me up at [time] to [music genre, artist, or radio station].”
Command:“Alexa, snooze for [xx] minutes.”
Command:“Alexa, what’s in the news?”
Command:“Alexa, what’s the traffic like?”
Command:“Alexa, what time is it in [location]?”
Command:“Alexa, what movies are playing around here?”
Command:“Alexa, what was the score of the [team name] game?”
Command:“Alexa, when is the next [team name] game?”
Command:“Alexa, what’s on my schedule?”
Command:“Alexa, what am I doing tomorrow?”
Command:“Alexa, add [task] to my to do list.”
Command:“Alexa, add an event to my calendar.”
Command:“Alexa, add [event] to my calendar for [date] at [time].”
Command: “Alexa, what’s the weather like [today/tomorrow/this week]?”
Command: “Alexa, what’s the weather today in [name of place]?”
Command:“Alexa, will it rain today?”
Command:“Alexa, what’s in the news?”
Command:“Alexa, what’s the traffic like?”
Command:“Alexa, what time is it in [location]?”
Command:“Alexa, what movies are playing around here?”
Command:“Alexa, what was the score of the [team name] game?”
Command:“Alexa, when is the next [team name] game?”
Command:“Alexa, how do you spell [word]?”
Command:“Alexa, flip a coin.”
Command:“Alexa, how do you make [food]?”
Command:“Alexa, play songs by [Artist].”
Command:“Alexa, play [Album] by [Artist].”
Command: “Alexa, play music like [Artist/Album/Genre]”
Command: “Alexa, play
from [Amazon Music/Spotify/Apple Music, etc.].”
Command: “Alexa, play the latest music from [Artist].”
Command:“Alexa, play Sunday morning music.”
Command:“Alexa, pair my phone.”
Command:“Alexa, louder”
Command:“Alexa, set the volume to [1-10].”
Command:“Alexa, turn the music off in [xx] minutes.”
Command:“Alexa, create a [Genre/Artist] playlist.”
Command:“Alexa, what is the IMDb rating for [TV Show/Movie]?”
Command:“Alexa, tell me about the movie [insert title of movie].”
Command:“Alexa, who stars in [TV Show/Movie]?”
Amazon has also built Alexa into their Fire TV line of products, including the the Fire TV Stick, Fire TV 4K, and the Fire TV Cube. The following commands can be used with the voice remote bundled with these devices, or if there is an Amazon Echo device nearby while using these Fire TV devices, simply by asking Alexa by voice alone. Try the following commands to easily control your Fire TV by voice.
Command:“Alexa, watch [TV Show/Movie].”
Command:“Alexa, open [Name of App].”
Command:“Alexa, pause.”
Command:“Alexa, fast forward [xx] minutes.”
Command:“Alexa, next / previous episode.”
Command:“Alexa, turn the volume down on the [name of Fire TV device].”
Command:“Alexa, show me [movies/TV shows] with [name of actor/actress].”
For those with Sonos devices, you can install an Alexa skill that will allow you control music played on most current-generation Sonos devices. Once completed, use the following command to play the music directly from Amazon Alexa:
Command:“Alexa, play [any combination of music commands above] in the [Sonos device name or room].”
Command:“Alexa, volume [xx] on the [Sonos device name or room].”
Command:“Alexa, repeat the song in the [name of room].”
Alexa also has useful communication features, including phone calls and intercom functionality if you have multiple Echo devices throughout your home. Try these commands to utilize Alexa as a communication device!
Command:“Alexa, call [name of contact].”
Command:“Alexa, answer call.” (incoming calls).
Command:“Alexa, hang up.” (ongoing calls).
Command:“Alexa, play messages.”
Command:“Alexa, drop in on [name of room].”
Command:“Alexa, announce [message].” (will play message on all echo devices on network)
If you have a Sonos Beam, the following commands are also available:
Command:“Alexa, turn on the TV.”
Command:“Alexa, turn it up.”
As you can imagine, Alexa would not be an Amazon product without the ability to shop on Amazon! The following commands should help you get started shopping on Amazon with nothing but your own voice. Something to keep in mind, Amazon will often run promotions that give you additional discounts on items sold on Amazon if you order them through Alexa. Hometoys recommends Slickdeals.net to discover when these promotions are taking place. Or, simply ask, “Alexa, what are your deals?” Here are some additional shopping commands.
Command:“Alexa, buy more [Amazon product].”
Command:“Alexa, order [Amazon product].”
Command:“Alexa, what is on my shopping list?”
Command:“Alexa, add [Amazon product] to my shopping list.”
Command:“Alexa, where’s my stuff?”
Amazon Alexa is great for providing information, keeping timers, playing and controlling media, but the real power and utility of Alexa shines when you start using it to control your smart home. Try these skills and associated commands to use Alexa to take control of your home. The link to the appropriate skill is included below.
Install the Philips Hue skill first, then try these commands:
Command:“Alexa, turn on [room name].”
Command:“Alexa, turn on [room name] to [xx] percent (brightness).”
Command:“Alexa, [dim/brighten] [room name] to [xx] percent (brightness).”
Command:“Alexa, turn on [Hue Scene] in the [room name].”
Command:“Alexa, set the [room name] lights to [color] (if supported).”
Command:“Alexa, make the [room name] [warmer/cooler] (if supported).”
Install the Nest Thermostat skill first, then try these commands:
Command:“Alexa, set the [name of room] to [temperature].”
Command:
