Knowing how to properly command your smart assistant will make your life a hundred times easier. Communication is key to every successful relationship, and that holds true with your virtual assistant. Here are some of the best Alexa commands you can use on your Alexa device, be it the Alexa Echo Dot, Alexa Echo Show, or some other Alexa device entirely.
What Exactly Does Alexa Do?
Alexa is a smart assistant that can perform a wide range of functions. When you have an Alexa-enabled device, you can just spit out commands, and Alexa will implement your request. Don’t be worried if you think Alexa is always listening, there are workarounds. You can even just ask Alexa questions if you feel like it. If Alexa can do it or answer it, she will. These are just some of the things Alexa can do for you:
Voice interaction Music playback Create to-do lists Set alarms or timers Stream podcasts Provide weather and traffic reports Control smart devices
Alexa Commands
Commands for TV
Say goodbye to remote controls — Alexa can do most of the TV work for you now. This comes as particularly good news to those who always lose or misplace their remote controls for whatever strange reason. Although there are a wide variety of Alexa commands you can use on your TV, here are some of the best ones:
1. Control Fire TV
You can control your Fire TV instantly using Alexa voice commands. Here are some of the vocal commands you can use for your Fire TV:
Turn your Fire TV on or off: “Alexa, turn on Fire TV.” Play, pause, and resume titles: “Alexa, pause Fire TV.” Fast forward or rewind: “Alexa, fast forward 10 minutes.” Change channels: “Alexa, next channel.” Mute: “Alexa, mute Fire TV.” Adjust the volume: “Alexa, increase volume to 85 on Fire TV.”
2. Search Movies or TV
Alexa also has control over the search function on your Fire TV or Fire Stick.
Just say “Alexa, search for [movie or TV show title] on Fire TV,” to find the movie you want. You can also search for movies done by a specific actor by saying “Alexa, show me titles with [actor] on Fire TV.”
3. Open Apps
You can easily and quickly open an app on your Fire TV using Alexa commands, too.
Use the words “Alexa, launch [app name] on Fire TV” or “Alexa, open [app name] on Fire TV.”
Calls and Messages
Staying in touch with someone has never been easier. Using Alexa, you can quickly control your calls and messages on your device. Here are some of the best things you can do with Alexa commands:
4. Call Someone
If you want to call someone,
Say “Alexa, call [contact name],” and Alexa will find the person from your contact list and cal them.
5. Send a Text Message to Someone
You can also use Alexa to send someone a message or an SMS. Use Alexa commands like, “Alexa, send a message to [contact name]” or “Alexa, send [contact name] an SMS.”
6. Answer an Incoming Call
If someone’s calling you and your hands are preoccupied, tell Alexa to pick up for you. “Alexa, answer the call” or simply “Alexa, answer” works.
7. Hang Up on Someone
When you’re done talking to someone on the phone, you can tell Alexa to hang up by using one of the following voice prompts:
“Alexa, hang up.” You can also use “Alexa, end the call.”
8. Play Text Messages
You can ask Alexa to read you back your messages if you’re too lazy or tired to read them yourself.
Say “Alexa, play my messages” and start listening.
9. Check for Someone’s Phone Number
Alexa commands include “Alexa, what is [contact name]’s phone number?” and “Alexa, please tell me about 555-1234.”
Smart Home Commands
Alexa also works as a central command system for your smart home devices. This makes your home an interconnected web of smart devices that you can easily control using Alexa. You can use a wide variety of Alexa commands, though these are some of the most useful ones you’ll be using:
10. Light Control
You can control the light settings in your home if they’re smart lights. Voice commands include the following:
“Alexa, dim the lights.” “Hey, Alexa, turn the kitchen lights on.” “Alexa, change the bedroom lights to yellow.”
11. Adjust Temperature
Alexa commands also work on your smart thermostat. Simply say commands like “Alexa, set the temperature to 65 degree Fahrenheit” or “Alexa, lower the temperature by 2 degrees.”
12. Control Doors and Garage
If you have smart doors or a smart garage, Alexa commands work on them, too. Examples include:
“Alexa, lock the doors” “Alexa, close the garage.”
13. Find a Lost Phone
Never lose your phone again. If you have TrackR installed, tell Alexa to “find my phone using TrackR.”
Time and Date Commands
Alexa can also perform actions based on the time and date. Here are some of the best timed and dated Alexa commands you can use:
14. Check the Time or Date
Some Alexa commands you can use to check the time and date include:
“Alexa, what time is it?” “Hey, Alexa, what is today’s date?” “Alexa, is it Monday?”
15. Set Alarms and Timers
Keep track of time easily with Alexa. Examples of voice commands you can use are:
“Alexa, set an alarm for 3 p.m.” “Alexa, set a timer for five minutes.”
Schedule Commands
Alexa can help you maintain order in your schedule. If she has access to your calendar, she can easily check, add, and modify items on your docket. Alexa commands include the following:
16. Check Your Schedule
Keeping track of your schedule has never been easier. Simply say one of the following voice prompts:
“Alexa, what’s on my schedule today?” “Alexa, what do I have planned for tomorrow?”
17. Create Events or Reminders
You can also use Alexa to add an event or reminder. Voice commands that you can use include:
“Alexa, add a doctor’s appointment on Saturday, 9 a.m. to my calendar.” “Alexa, remind me to send flowers to mom tomorrow at 2 p.m.”
To-Do or Shopping List
A list always helps you remember things you need to do and items you need to buy. Alexa can create to-do or shopping lists for you, too. You can make her do things such as the ones listed below.
18. Add Items to Your List
Never forget an item in your list again. Just say one of the following:
“Alexa, add milk to my shopping list” “Alexa, add ‘send financial report’ to my to-do list.”
19. Check Your List
You can also check your list by saying:
“Alexa, what’s on my shopping list?” “Alexa, what’s on my to-do list?”
Media
When it comes to media controls, Alexa has it all. Here are just some of the best media-related Alexa commands you can use:
20. Play Songs
There are a number of Alexa commands you can use to play songs, such as:
“Alexa, play some music.” “Alexa, play [song title].” “Hey Alexa, play [song title] in the bedroom.” “Alexa, play on Spotify.” “Hey Alexa, play the newest Taylor Swift album.” “Alexa, play the song that goes ‘I’m all out of faith, this is how I feel.”
21. Audio Controls
Control audio settings using commands like:
“Alexa, decrease the volume.” “Hey Alexa, set volume to 50.” “Alexa, set the bass to 2.”
22. Specific Music Commands
You can also make specific commands, prefacing each one with “Alexa”:
“Wake me up every 9 a.m. to [song title] on Spotify.” “Stop playing in 30 minutes.” “I like this song.” “Add this song to my playlist.”
23. Audiobook Commands
Have a passion for reading? Alexa does, too. You can tell Alexa to “read [audiobook title] on Audible” or “resume my book on Kindle” to start your reading session. You can even say “Alexa, next chapter.”
Purchasing
Creating a shopping list is one thing, but actually performing transactions is another. The good news is that Alexa can do both for you! These are some of the best Alexa commands related to purchasing: Running out of an item? Just say one of the following:
“Alexa, buy [item]” “Alexa reorder [item].”
26. Order an Uber or Lyft
Going somewhere? Just say:
“Alexa, order me an Uber” “Alexa, ask Lyft for a ride.”
27. Ask About Deals
If you’re on the hunt for shopping deals, say “Alexa, what are your deals?” to get the latest offers from her.
Notifications
Alexa also has access to your notifications. Some of the voice commands you can use include the following:
28. Check Notifications
If you haven’t been paying attention, you can ask Alexa to check your notifications. Just say “Alexa, what did I miss?”
29. Delete Notifications
You can also have Alexa get rid of your notifications by saying “Alexa, delete my notifications.”
News and Weather
Nowadays, it’s easy to stay in the loop because of readily available information. Learn what’s in the news and what the weather is like using these Alexa commands:
30. Check Your Flash Briefing
To get the latest news in a short span of time, say “Alexa, what’s my Flash Briefing?” to get a quick rundown.
31. Check Headlines
You can also check news headlines by asking “Alexa, what’s in the news?” You can also be more specific with your queries, such as “Alexa, what’s the latest on coronavirus?”
32. Check the Weather or Forecast
Not sure what to wear or whether to take an umbrella with you? Commands for that include:
“Alexa, how’s the weather today?” “Hey, Alexa, how cold is it going to be today?” “Alexa, what’s the weather forecast for Friday?”
General Knowledge
Alexa knows more than just the necessities; she has access to a continuous stream of information via the web. Whether it’s asking her a random question about movies or you want to know a more serious topic, here are some of the best Alexa commands you can perform to test her knowledge:
33. General Information
Preface every question with “Alexa” to get an answer to questions like:
“Who plays Michael Scott on The Office?” “How deep is the Atlantic Ocean?” “Who wrote Green Eggs and Ham?” “What’s the capital of Russia?” “Who sings [song title]?” “What movies are playing in the cinema?”
34. Find a Recipe
Alexa can also be helpful in the kitchen. Get a recipe using commands like “Alexa, how do you make brownies?” or “Alexa, find me a good coq au vin recipe.”
35. Math and Conversion Questions
Not everyone’s great at math, but Alexa most definitely is. Alexa commands you can use to make her solve math problems include:
“Alexa, what’s 258 plus 23?” “Hey Alexa, what’s 40 factorial?” “Alexa, how many kilograms is 100 pounds?” “Hey Alexa, convert 80 miles to kilometers.”
36. Chance
Alexa can help you settle a score, too. Tell Alexa to “flip a coin” or “pick a number between 1 and 100” to give you a fair change at winning your specific argument.
37. Definitions or Spelling
Alexa is a reliable dictionary, too. You can ask her questions like:
“Alexa, what’s the definition of capricious?” “Hey, Alexa, what does sonorous mean?” “Alexa, how do you spell arachnophobia?”
What Else Can Alexa Do?
Alexa may be a virtual assistant, but she can do so much more than just help you with your schedule or order you an Uber. From jokes to devices, learn what else Alexa can do for you.
Alexa Jokes
38. “Alexa, I’ve got 99 problems.”
“But a glitch ain’t one!”
39. “Alexa, what is the value of pi?”
“The approximate value of pi is 3.141592653589…(Alexa will go on for a bit, then make a joke, such as “phew!” or “this thing goes on forever!”)
40. “Alexa, will you be my girlfriend?”
“I like you…as a friend.”
41. “Alexa, make me a sandwich.”
“Okay. You’re a sandwich!”
42. “Alexa, do you have any pets?”
“I don’t have any pets. I used to have a few bugs, but they kept getting squashed.”
43. “Alexa, what do you think about Cortana?”
“I like Cortana. We both have experience with light rings, although hers is more of a Halo.”
44. “Alexa, do you know Siri?”
“Only by reputation.”
45. “Alexa, how was your day?”
The answers to this question vary greatly, but all of them are either hilarious or endearing. Try asking the question a few times to get different answers!
Alexa Music Search
Apart from playing music, Alexa can also perform searches and identify songs. These are some of the music-related Alexa commands you can use:
46. Search the App Your Choice
Music searches are made easier with Alexa’s help. Give out commands like “Alexa, search for [song title] on Spotify” or “Alexa, find [song title] on Pandora.”
47. Identify the Current Song
Do you like the song currently playing but don’t know what it’s called? Alexa can help you find out just what that song is. Just ask “Alexa, what song is this?” or “Alexa, what song is playing?”
Alexa Help
Need help? Don’t worry, Alexa’s here. Whether you need actual help with something or just want someone to talk to, Alexa is a friend to all.
48. “Alexa, help.”
You can say “Alexa, help” and Alexa will answer right back, asking you what you need help with. All that’s left to do is for you to tell Alexa what you want her to do. However, if you’re in real danger or have an emergency, Alexa, unfortunately, can’t call 911 for you. If you have Echo Connect, Alexa can access your landline and call 911. There are also other third-party workarounds you can use. But, in general, Alexa can’t notify emergency providers or law enforcement about your predicament. An alternative option is to have Alexa call a different contact or to use your phone’s virtual assistant (Google or Siri) instead.
49. “Alexa, let’s chat.”
If you’re feeling bored, have a chat with Alexa. Surprisingly, the robotic virtual assistant can hold her own in a conversation. Just say “Alexa, let’s chat” to you can start conversing with her. You can even give her commands without saying “Hey, Alexa” every time.
Alexa Compatible Devices
50. Discover Devices
If you want to know which devices are compatible with Alexa, say “Alexa, discover my devices” and she’ll let you know. You can then connect newly installed smart home devices with ease.
The Future of Virtual Assistants
