How To Register Contacts In Alexa App

How to use Alexa: Tips, tricks and general instructions

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Knowing how to use Alexa will help you make the most of your virtual assistant. Alexa, the brain that powers all the best Alexa speakers, is an asset in your smart home as long as you're using it properly.

Alexa is available in all shapes and sizes. If you own any Echo speaker, including the fourth-generation Amazon Echo, Amazon Echo Dot, and Amazon Echo Show 10, the Alexa voice assistant is ready for you to use.

When you know the best Alexa skills, you can ask the assistant to navigate you to a destination, keep track your schedule, order products off of Amazon, read books, find local restaurants and answer your questions.

Several third-party gadgets have Alexa built in, too, especially in the smart home category. All of the best Alexa compatible devices, be them the best smart light bulbs or best smart plugs, can be controlled using Alexa.

The voice-controlled assistant lives inside the Fire TV Cube and other Amazon streaming devices, too. There's also a free companion app for Android and iOS devices that shows you how to use Alexa wherever you are, so you can control the best smart home devices while you're out.

You'll want to make sure you're taking full advantage of this personal assistant. These tips on how to use Alexa will help you set up your Alexa speaker, connect it to your smart home devices, play music, and much more.

How to set up Alexa

Best Alexa speakers
Before you purchase an Alexa-enabled speaker, make sure you're getting the one that best suits your needs and budget.

How to set up the Amazon Echo
The Amazon Echo is the company's flagship smart speaker. Here are our instructions for getting it up and running.

How to set up Amazon Echo Dot
The Echo Dot is Amazon's least expensive and most popular Alexa speaker. Here's how to get it set up.

How to set up Amazon Echo Dot with Clock
It's not all that much different from the standard, third-generation Echo Dot. But the added LED display supports certain settings you might not know about.

How to change Alexa's voice
Give Alexa a different accent, use a completely different language or switch to Alexa's male voice.

Alexa tricks and easter eggs
Amazon's Alexa can keep you and your family entertained if you know the right words.

Why is Alexa flashing?
Seeing a strange-colored light on your Echo? Here's what it means.

How to use Alexa to make voice and video calls

How to manage Alexa settings for kids

I use this one Alexa skill to keep my child from waking us up too early
Pair your Alexa device with an Echo Glow to keep your kid in bed.

How to manage Alexa privacy settings

How to use Alexa with smart home devices

Alexa smart light colors
You can use Alexa to change your colored smart LED bulbs to any of 123 colors; here's a list of all the colors.

How to connect a Nest Thermostat to Amazon Alexa
Voice control your Nest smart home thermostat by connecting the Amazon Echo to it. But first you'll want to connect the Echo to IFTTT.

How to connect your Ecobee to Alexa
The Amazon Echo directly supports the Ecobee smart thermostats right out of the box.

How to connect WeMo smart plugs to Alexa
The WeMo smart plugs are the best smart plugs, and are useful for turning a lamp or light into a smart device. Here's how to control them with Alexa.

How to create an Alexa smart home routine
You can have Alexa turn on (or off) connected smart home devices at certain times, or when you say a specific phrase. Here's how to set up a routine.

How to set up and use Alexa Guard
Alexa Guard can let you know when it hears a concerning sound in your home. Did you know the best skill for keeping your home safe is also free?

How to use Alexa to play music and podcasts

How to play Apple podcasts on an Amazon Echo speaker
Listen to your favorite Apple podcasts with any Echo speaker

How to use Alexa for smart TV and streaming

How to use a Fire TV Stick
here's our guide for how to use the Fire TV Stick, which is one of the company's most popular and affordable streaming device

How to use Alexa for reading books

How to get Alexa to read you a book
Alexa can read select Amazon Kindle books to you. Here's how.

How to use Alexa to increase productivity

Other fun things to do with Alexa

How to set up the Amazon Echo
The best smart speakers to buy
How to watch birds using a security camera and a smart display

Kate Kozuch is a senior writer at Tom's Guide covering wearables, TVs and everything smart-home related. When she's not in cyborg mode, you can find her on an exercise bike or channeling her inner celebrity chef. She and her robot army will rule the world one day, but until then, reach her at kate.kozuch@futurenet.com.