Alexa is past most popular home assistant and, according to figures from Statista, a quarter of all smart speakers sold worldwide use Amazon Alexa.

Whether you lot're virtually to ready your first smart speaker, or simply want to know the correct mode to get Alexa upwardly and running on your latest purchase, you'll find all y'all need to know right here. Alexa is bachelor on more devices that merely smart speakers: the assistant is integrated into Amazon's Fire tablets, Echo Buds earphones, the Echo Car for cars, and fifty-fifty some dash cams.

The procedure is easier than always, and the first step is to install the Alexa app on your phone if you don't have it already. (If your device with Alexa isn't made by Amazon, you may still be able to set up information technology up using the Alexa app, merely cheque the quick-first guide provided with the device to come across if a unlike app should be used.)

You volition demand an Amazon business relationship to use the Alexa app and an Repeat device. If you don't have one, simply sign upwardly at www.amazon.co.uk/business relationship. You don't need an Amazon Prime subscription to apply Alexa, but you'll miss out on a few features, such as the power to play music from Amazon'southward library. You lot can, however, ask Alexa to play music from other services such as Spotify and Apple Music.

Here are the basic steps to set up an Amazon Repeat:

  1. Install the Amazon Alexa app on your telephone and sign in with your Amazon business relationship
  2. Connect your Echo's power supply and turn on the switch at the socket
  3. Open the Alexa app. You may see a notification that an Echo is fix to set up. Tap on information technology.
  4. If y'all don't encounter a notification, tap More (bottom right), and then Add a Device
  5. Tap Amazon Echo
  6. Cull the appropriate model and follow the instructions on-screen
  7. Once Alexa is connected to your Wi-Fi network, set-up is complete

The setup process is slightly different if you take an Repeat Evidence - Amazon's smart displays which have a touchscreen as well as speakers. You'll discover specific Echo Testify setup instructions below.

How to ready an Amazon Echo speaker

Annotation: if you have more than one Repeat device, each has to exist prepare individually in the Alexa app.

Afterward unboxing your Repeat remove the plastic protection, adhere the power cable and plug the power supply into a mains socket.

You'll see the LEDs glowing and after a short while, Alexa will greet you and tell y'all to follow the instructions in the Alexa app. Then if you haven't already done so, install the Amazon Alexa app on your Android phone, iPhone. Y'all tin too use the Alexa app on an Amazon Fire tablet.

How to set up an Amazon Echo

When y'all open the Alexa app, you might see a pop-up bulletin asking you lot to set up your new Echo. If so, tap Continue.

How to set up Alexa on Amazon Echo

If non, tap on the More (1) and then on Add a Device (two).

How to set up Alexa on Amazon Echo

Tap Amazon Echo (three) and and so on Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus and more than (iv).

Then tap the exact model of Repeat that you have.

Make certain there is an orange lite on your Repeat, which indicates that it'south in setup way. If not, yous may accept to reset information technology.

How to set up Alexa on Amazon Echo

The reset procedure is different for each device, and then check Amazon'due south instructions hither. Yet, in well-nigh cases simply press and hold the 'activity' push, which is the one with a little dot on it. Hold it for nigh 6-10 seconds until you see the orange light and Alexa announces "Now in setup style".

When you come across the orange lite, tap YES to confirm your Echo is in setup mode.

The app volition search for devices and you should then see your new Echo appear in the list.

Tap it, and then await while the Repeat searches for bachelor networks to connect to. Pick the Wi-Fi network (usually your dwelling house router). If prompted, enter the password for the network and after a short while you'll see a screen confirming that the Echo is connected.

How to set up Alexa on Amazon Echo

Alexa should announce that at that place is a connection to the internet, and the app volition prompt yous to select which language to utilise.

Next, you'll be asked for your address, then you can become local weather forecasts and other location-based information such as how long information technology volition take to go to work or other places. Lastly, specify in which room y'all've placed the Echo. This is for various things such as group smart devices and playing music.

At the end of the setup process, yous'll see the screen beneath. Tap Let'southward Get to finish.

How to set up Alexa on Amazon Echo

Alexa, on your Echo, should run through a few functions, including showing you how to set an alert and a reminder, what the alarm sounds like and more.

In the app, you might run into a prompt to set upward smart home devices (which could be smart plugs, smart lights, or other gadgets). Y'all can tap Skip if you don't take any, or Yes if you accept one and are ready to set it upwardly.

For more information on what you can say and what'due south on offer, see our guide on how to use Alexa.

Exercise I have to say "Alexa"?

No, just the default wake word is Alexa. Y'all tin can alter this to "Amazon", "Echo" or "Computer" past going into the settings in the Alexa app. In the US, you can besides choose "Ziggy", and in some countries you can enable "Hey Santa" which is fun at Christmas, but a bit strange at other times of the year.

You can't choose your ain wake word.

To find the voice settings, tap Devices (1), Echo & Alexa (2) and then select your Echo from the list (three). Tap the settings cog (4) and so ringlet downwards to Wake Word (v) and tap on the word you want to utilize.

How to set up Alexa on Amazon Echo - change wake word

Each Echo has its own settings so you can have different wake words for each one.

There are other settings hither, such as Alexa's Vox where you can choose from Original (female person) and New (male).

Tip: y'all can likewise go Alexa to whisper her replies.

How practice I prepare an Repeat Show?

For Echos with screens, you don't need the Alexa app for setup. Simply connect the power supply and follow the instructions on the screen. An on-screen keyboard lets you type in your Amazon account details and Wi-Fi password.

You can swipe down from the top of the screen on an Echo Evidence (or Spot) to go to the settings and shortcuts. This is the fastest way to update the Wi-Fi password or network if you lot always change your router or the name of the Wi-Fi.

How to set up Alexa Echo Show or Spot

Tips for getting the most out of Alexa

At present your Repeat is set upwards, you lot will want to know what to say. That'due south covered in our split guide on how to use Alexa.

You might likewise similar to use Alexa to make voice and video calls to friends and family unit.

She is great for the nuts, simply really comes into her ain when paired with compatible gadgets, such every bit lights, thermostats, switches and more. When your hands are full, it'south actually useful to exist able to say "Alexa, plough on the lights" when yous walk into a dark room.

If Alexa can't control something direct and requires y'all to enable a Skill, you may need to employ its proper noun in your command.

If you have a Nest thermostat, for case, you can't just say "Alexa, set the heating to twenty degrees".

Instead, you need to say "Alexa, set the [name of thermostat] to xx degrees" or "Alexa, make the [name of thermostat] warmer".

Where possible, modify the names of your devices to be simple and brusque so Alexa can more hands recognise and understand them.

We've also complied a list of the funny things to say to Alexa as well equally the all-time games to play on Alexa.

If you see a pulsing yellowish, imperial or other lights on your Echo, here's what all the colours mean.

We've also put together some useful tips & tricks for getting the most from Alexa.

Hither'due south a rundown of all the current Echo models, should you make up one's mind you want to have extra smart speakers around your home.