This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Setting Up Your Echo Device
Whichever Echo device you have, setup and operation is identical. When you first unpack your device, you need to connect it to your home Wi-Fi network, download the Alexa app to your smartphone or tablet, and then pair your Echo with the smartphone app. After that, you can configure a handful of settings to make Echo work better for you.
Set Up Your Device
Setting up the Echo in your home is a relatively quick and easy process. Just make sure you have a nearby electrical outlet and that your Wi-Fi wireless network is readily accessible. You also need to have the Alexa app installed on your phone or tablet; you can download it (for free) from the Amazon Appstore, Apple App Store, or Google Play Store, depending on what type of phone or tablet you have.
Connect one end of the supplied power cable to the Echo, and the other to a nearby power outlet.
Launch the Alexa app on your phone or tablet.
The Alexa app should recognize you from your Amazon account. (If it doesn’t, follow the onscreen instructions to sign in to your account.) Tap Begin Setup.
Tap to select the device you’re setting up—Echo, Tap, or Echo Dot.
On the next screen, select your language (if it isn’t English) then tap Continue.
Make sure your smartphone or tablet is connected to your home Wi-Fi network, and then tap Connect to Wi-Fi.
When your Echo is ready to connect, Alexa tells you so and the ring on the top of the device turns orange. When this happens, tap Continue.
Your smartphone now tries to pair with your Echo. When the connection is established, tap Continue.
You now see a list of available Wi-Fi networks. Tap to select your network from the list. (Make sure the network you choose is the same one to which your smartphone is connected.)
Enter the password for your network into the Password box.
Save this password, so you don’t have to enter it every time you launch the app, by tapping Save Password to Amazon.
Tap Connect.
Amazon prepares your Echo for initial use. This might take a few minutes and involve downloading the latest updates.
When the setup is complete, tap Continue.
If you’re connecting an Echo Dot, you’re prompted to indicate how you want to use the device—with a Bluetooth speaker, with an external speaker via audio cable, or with no additional speakers. Make your selection. You’re prompted to view a short video (if you want), and then you see the Alexa app’s home screen.
Changing the Wake Word
To ask Alexa a question or give her a command, you have to speak a wake word to your Echo device. By default, this wake word is “Alexa.” So, for example, if you wanted to know today’s weather forecast, you would say “Alexa, what’s the weather today?” If you don’t say the wake word, your Echo doesn’t wake up, and Alexa doesn’t hear you.
But what if you don’t like the wake word “Alexa”? What if your name is Alexa and you get tired of your Echo activating every time someone calls you by name? What if you just want to wake up your Echo with something cooler?
Whatever your reasons, Amazon enables you to change your Echo’s wake word. You can choose from four different words:
Alexa (default)
Amazon
Echo
Computer
That last one is a gift to Star Trek fans. Everybody on the starship Enterprise, whichever generation, interfaces with the ship’s computer by first saying, “Computer.” In fact, if you want to have a little fun, ask Alexa “Computer, beam me up” or “Computer, tea, Earl Grey, hot.” There are definitely some Trekkies on the Amazon programming team!
Change the Wake Word
- From the Home page of the Alexa app, tap the Menu (three-bar) button to display the left navigation pane.
- Tap Settings to display the Settings screen.
- In the Devices section at the top of the screen, tap your Echo device.
- Scroll down to the General section and tap Wake Word Alexa.
- Tap the down arrow in the first list box.
- Tap to select your desired wake word.
- Tap Save. You will now be able to wake your Echo with your new wake word.
