In the realm of smart devices, Amazon’s Echo and its voice assistant, Alexa, have revolutionized our daily lives. They’ve transformed how we interact with technology, from playing our favorite tunes and providing weather updates to controlling smart home devices and more. But did you know you could also craft personalized messages to make Alexa say something from an app? Yes, that’s possible!
With Alexa skills and companion apps, you can tailor-make Alexa’s responses to your liking, adding a personal touch to your smart home experience. This guide aims to enlighten you on how you can make Alexa say something from an app, offering easy-to-follow, step-by-step guidelines for everyone, regardless of your tech proficiency. Let’s dive in!
A Brief Overview of Alexa’s App Integration
Amazon’s Alexa is more than just a voice-activated assistant; it’s an open platform that allows third-party apps to integrate and interact with it. This is achieved through what Amazon calls Alexa Skills, apps that give Alexa more capabilities. These skills, developed by various companies and individual developers, allow Alexa to do more, providing multiple interactions ranging from smart home control to personalized entertainment.
Now, you might wonder how to take advantage of this capability. Here’s where your smartphone comes into play. Using specific apps, you can script custom phrases or sentences for Alexa. And going further, Alexa has a few features that might help you quickly create custom messages.
Creating Custom Messages with the Alexa App
The first method to make Alexa say something from an app involves using Amazon’s Alexa app. This app offers a ” Routines ” feature that allows you to create custom messages. Here’s how:
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone.
- Navigate to the “More” section, then choose “Routines.”
- Click on the “+” symbol to add a new routine.
- Specify when this routine will happen.
- Add an action, and from the list of actions, select “Alexa says,” then “Customized.”
- Type in the phrase you want Alexa to say.
- Save your changes, and you’re done!
With these simple steps, you can make Alexa share a morning greeting, announce when dinner’s ready, or even remind you to drink water throughout the day.
Broadcasting Announcements with Alexa
Another exciting feature of Alexa is the ability to make announcements from your app. This is especially useful in larger households or when you want to simultaneously broadcast a message to every Alexa-enabled device in your home. For instance, if dinner’s ready, instead of calling everyone individually, you can make an announcement, and Alexa will broadcast it to all the Echo devices in the house. Here’s how to do it:
Creating Announcements via the Alexa App
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone.
- Tap on the “Communicate” icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Select “Announce.”
- You’ll then be prompted to “Write your announcement.” Type in the message you want to broadcast.
- Once you’re done typing, tap the blue arrow icon. Alexa will then broadcast your message to all compatible Echo devices connected to your account.
Making Announcements Using Your Voice
In addition to using the Alexa app, you can make an announcement using your voice. Here’s how:
- Say, “Alexa, make an announcement” to any of your Alexa devices.
- Alexa will then prompt you to record your message. Speak the announcement you want to broadcast.
- Once you’ve finished speaking, Alexa will broadcast your message across all Echo devices in your home.
Whether it’s to call everyone to the dinner table or to remind the kids that it’s bedtime, announcements are a convenient way to communicate with your household via Alexa. As with other Alexa features, remember to use announcements responsibly and respect the privacy of those in your home.
Utilizing the Drop In Feature with Alexa
One of Alexa’s unique features is the Drop In function, which allows you to instantly connect with other Alexa devices in your home, almost like an intercom system. This is particularly useful for quick check-ins or announcements to a specific room. Here’s how you can use this feature:
Setting Up the Drop In Feature
Before using Drop In, you must ensure it’s enabled in your Alexa settings. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone.
- Navigate to the “Devices” section.
- Select the Echo device you want to enable Drop In for.
- Go to “Communications,” then “Drop In,” and select “On.”
Repeat these steps for all the devices you want to use with the Drop In feature.
Using the Drop In Feature
Once you’ve set up the Drop In feature, you can instantly connect with other Alexa devices in your home. To drop in on a device:
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone.
- Tap on the “Communicate” icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Select “Drop In.”
- You’ll see a list of all your Echo devices enabled by Drop In. Choose the one you want to connect with.
You can also use your voice to drop in on a specific device. Say, “Alexa, drop in on [device name].” For example, if you have an Echo in the kitchen, you can say, “Alexa, drop in on the kitchen,” and instantly connect.
Making Alexa Speak via Third-Party Apps
Apart from the Alexa app, there are also third-party applications that can facilitate custom messages from Alexa. One of these apps is IFTTT (If This Then That), which connects different apps and devices to create automated actions, or “applets.” By linking IFTTT to your Alexa, you can script specific phrases or responses from Alexa based on different triggers. To make this happen:
- Download and install the IFTTT app on your smartphone.
- Connect your Amazon account to IFTTT.
- Create a new applet where the “This” is a trigger (like a specific time or a smartphone event), and the “That” is the custom message you want Alexa to say.
- Save the applet, and now Alexa will speak your custom phrase when the specified trigger happens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Alexa say something from any app?
As of now, only some apps support Alexa’s custom responses feature. However, you can use apps like Alexa or third-party applications like IFTTT to achieve this.
Can Alexa read my messages or emails?
Yes, Alexa can read your messages or emails if you enable the relevant skills or applets. However, privacy and security should always be your top priorities, and you should ensure these features are used responsibly. Learn more about how Alexa can read messages.
Is there any limit to the custom message length I can make Alexa say?
There needs to be an official word from Amazon on a specific limit for the length of custom messages. However, for the best experience, it’s advisable to keep the messages concise and straightforward.
Summary
This guide provides a clear pathway to making Alexa voice your custom messages, expanding its capabilities beyond the basics. By employing the native Alexa app or the third-party IFTTT app, you can create custom phrases for Alexa to announce, adding a whole new level of personal interaction with your virtual assistant. Using features like Alexa’s announcement and Drop In, you can turn your smart home network into an efficient, voice-activated intercom system. Remember to balance fun with privacy and security, and enjoy your more interactive, personalized Alexa experience.
Find more tips in the Alexa Archive.
