Communication
Staying in touch with friends and family is easy, thanks to Alexa. Call, message, send a hug and make announcements between Echo devices or via the Alexa app.
Communicate with friends & family
Staying connected with other Echo devices or the Alexa app has never been easier. To set up Calling and Messaging, follow these steps:
1. Download the latest version of the Alexa app and sign in on your mobile phone.
2. Along the bottom of your app, select Communicate.
3. Add and verify your mobile phone number and grant permissions for calling and messaging.
4. You can import your mobile phone's contact list when prompted or add contacts individually in the Communicate page. To do this, select the person-shaped icon in the top right corner of the screen, followed by the three dots in the top right corner.
5. If you have any difficulty linking your phone number, contact Customer Service.
1. Download the latest version of the Alexa app and sign in on your mobile phone.
2. Along the bottom of your app, select Communicate.
3. Add and verify your mobile phone number and grant permissions for calling and messaging.
4. You can import your mobile phone's contact list when prompted or add contacts individually in the Communicate page. To do this, select the person-shaped icon in the top right corner of the screen, followed by the three dots in the top right corner.
5. If you have any difficulty linking your phone number, contact Customer Service.
How to use Alexa communication
To use Alexa Communication:
Try saying, “Alexa, call Ben” *
Try saying, “Alexa, message Mum” *
Try saying, “Alexa, send Grandma a hug” *
Try saying, “Alexa, how do I send a hug?”
*Examples only. Contact names must match the names in your linked contact list.
Try saying, “Alexa, call Ben” *
Try saying, “Alexa, message Mum” *
Try saying, “Alexa, send Grandma a hug” *
Try saying, “Alexa, how do I send a hug?”
*Examples only. Contact names must match the names in your linked contact list.
Drop In
Like a modern-day intercom, this feature allows you to drop in on supported Alexa-enabled devices. When you receive a drop in, the light indicator on your Echo pulses green and you connect to your contact automatically. Remember: before you can get started, you and your contacts will need to opt-in to use Drop In. To setup, follow the steps below:
1. In the Alexa app, select the Devices icon located at the bottom right of the screen.
2. Select Echo & Alexa and then select the device you’d like to enable.
3. Select Communication.
4. Select Drop In and then select which permissions to enable.
1. In the Alexa app, select the Devices icon located at the bottom right of the screen.
2. Select Echo & Alexa and then select the device you’d like to enable.
3. Select Communication.
4. Select Drop In and then select which permissions to enable.
How to use Drop In
Drop In is turned off by default for all contacts in your contact list. To allow contacts to drop in, select the Contact in your Alexa app and turn on Allow Drop In. Your contacts will also be required to enable Drop In before using this feature.
To Drop In on your devices from the Alexa app, go to the Communicate option in the app and tap Drop In near the top of the screen.
To Drop In on your devices from the Alexa app, go to the Communicate option in the app and tap Drop In near the top of the screen.
To use Drop In, just say:
“Alexa, drop in on Kitchen Echo”
“Alexa, drop in on Dad”
“Alexa, drop in on Sarah”
“Alexa, drop in on Dad”
“Alexa, drop in on Sarah”
Favourite Contacts
When a person is marked as a favourite, they’ll show up at the top of your app contacts list and Alexa will make them your default contact. To setup favourite contacts, follow these steps:
1. In the Alexa app, go to Communicate.
2. In the top right of the screen, go to Contacts.
3. Select Contact and Add to Favourites.
To limit calling and messaging to just your favourite contacts, go back to your Contacts view and follow these steps:
1. Select the vertical three dots on the top right of the home screen.
2. Select Contact Access and Favourite Contacts Only.
1. In the Alexa app, go to Communicate.
2. In the top right of the screen, go to Contacts.
3. Select Contact and Add to Favourites.
To limit calling and messaging to just your favourite contacts, go back to your Contacts view and follow these steps:
1. Select the vertical three dots on the top right of the home screen.
2. Select Contact Access and Favourite Contacts Only.
Find my phone
With this feature, Alexa can help put an end to the days of saying, “Has anyone seen my phone?” As long as you're signed in to the Alexa app, you can have your Echo device call your phone.
To try it, just say:
“Alexa, find my phone”
Device Naming
You can use the Alexa app to update your device's name.
Open the Alexa app
Select Devices
Select Echo & Alexa
Select your device and Edit Name
To try it, just say:
“Alexa, find my phone”
Device Naming
You can use the Alexa app to update your device's name.
Open the Alexa app
Select Devices
Select Echo & Alexa
Select your device and Edit Name
Group Calling
With Group Calling, you can connect with multiple people at once. You can easily create and name groups in the Alexa app.
To set up:
Open the Alexa app
Open Communicate
Select Contacts
Select Add New
Select Add Group
Add group members and select Continue
Name the group and select Create Group
To set up:
Open the Alexa app
Open Communicate
Select Contacts
Select Add New
Select Add Group
Add group members and select Continue
Name the group and select Create Group
FAQs
Q. Can Alexa call 000?
A. No, Alexa cannot place calls to 000.
Q. What is Drop In?
A. Drop In is an optional feature that lets you connect instantly to supported Alexa-enabled devices, like an intercom. Visit this page to learn more about Drop In.
Q. How do you set up Drop In?
A. To drop in on your household devices, first ask Alexa to drop in and she will request your permission to enable the feature. Once enabled, members of your household account will be able to drop in on household devices. To drop in on a contact with a different Amazon account, your contact must first grant you Drop In permissions using the Alexa app. You cannot control which of your contact’s Alexa-enabled devices you drop in on.
Q. How do I avoid audio feedback?
A. For best results while using Drop In, enable Drop In on only one device per room.
Q. How do I use in-call reactions and effects?
A. During an Alexa-to-Alexa video call or drop-in, tap the smiley face or effects button in the bottom-left corner of the screen to expand the menu. Select the reaction or effect to play on all sides of the call. Reactions disappear on their own. Remove an effect using the Clear button.
A. No, Alexa cannot place calls to 000.
Q. What is Drop In?
A. Drop In is an optional feature that lets you connect instantly to supported Alexa-enabled devices, like an intercom. Visit this page to learn more about Drop In.
Q. How do you set up Drop In?
A. To drop in on your household devices, first ask Alexa to drop in and she will request your permission to enable the feature. Once enabled, members of your household account will be able to drop in on household devices. To drop in on a contact with a different Amazon account, your contact must first grant you Drop In permissions using the Alexa app. You cannot control which of your contact’s Alexa-enabled devices you drop in on.
Q. How do I avoid audio feedback?
A. For best results while using Drop In, enable Drop In on only one device per room.
Q. How do I use in-call reactions and effects?
A. During an Alexa-to-Alexa video call or drop-in, tap the smiley face or effects button in the bottom-left corner of the screen to expand the menu. Select the reaction or effect to play on all sides of the call. Reactions disappear on their own. Remove an effect using the Clear button.
