How To Set Up Echo With Lights

Alexa Baby-sit is a complimentary feature of Amazon Echo devices, like the Echo Show v (second-gen) and Echo (fourth-gen), that has the power to alert y'all to the sound of security threats like fume detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and breaking drinking glass when you lot're away from home. You tin unlock even more Echo security features bachelor when you pay for Alexa Guard Plus, like using Alexa to call for emergency help.

The features aren't a substitute for DIY warning systems or professional person monitoring, but they tin provide an extra layer of safety to your setup past alerting you to small problems before they plough into large ones. Hither'due south what yous need to know about Alexa Guard and Alexa Guard Plus to use the services finer with your Echo devices.

What is Alexa Baby-sit?

Alexa Guard is a no-cost, audio-detecting security characteristic available on all Repeat smart speakers and smart displays that uses the device'south born microphones to mind for fume detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and breaking glass when you're not domicile. To become the most out of Alexa Guard, it'southward all-time to have several Echo speakers (or smart displays) sprinkled throughout your home to maximize coverage.

In the Alexa app, you can decide which sounds you want to activate for notifications. Push button alerts are then sent to your mobile telephone when your Echo device hears whatever of the available noises you lot've selected. (Currently, Alexa Guard can't filter out racket from pets, which may accidentally trigger simulated notifications.)

One time you lot receive an alert, you lot can click through to open the Alexa app to either drib in alive on the action or review the recorded sound clip for more than information. Alexa Baby-sit can also pair with your smart lights to turn them on and off randomly, giving the appearance you're at home when you lot're not.

What is Alexa Guard Plus?

Alexa Guard Plus comes with all of the listening benefits of Alexa Guard and adds fifty-fifty more perks. The paid plan, which costs $4.99/month or $49/year, can proceed an ear out for footsteps or closing doors and send push button alerts to your phone if these noises are heard when you're abroad.

Guard Plus also has enhanced rubber features to assist deter unwanted houseguests, like mimicking the sound of dogs barking when motion is detected outside on a compatible device similar a Ring video doorbell or sounding a siren on your Echo device to deter possible intruders when activity is detected inside.

Baby-sit Plus also gives you vocalization-controlled access to an emergency helpline; only say, "Alexa, call for help." Trained agents will be waiting on the other end to request the aid of emergency responders based on the information you provide during your call. Currently, Baby-sit Plus is included with Band Protect Pro warning plans. Amazon has plans to bring Guard Plus to other smart home devices from Abode, Lookout man Alarm, Resideo, A3 Smart Abode, and Wyze downwards the route.

How do I enable Alexa Guard and Alexa Guard Plus?

The Amazon Alexa and Amazon apps. — Credit: Reviewed / Rachel Irish potato

1. Open the Amazon Alexa app.
2. Tap More in the bottom right corner.
iii. Tap Settings > Guard.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup of your device'due south Guard feature.
5. To upgrade to Alexa Guard Plus, continue in the Alexa app and tap the Settings icon in the height correct corner.
half-dozen. Tap "Larn More." This will open up up the Amazon app.
7. Select the monthly or annual paid plan and submit your payment details.

Subsequently checking out, submit your emergency (home) address. The subscription will non be active until this step is completed. From in that location, you're free to offset making the most of your Guard Plus characteristic. A free calendar month of Alexa Guard Plus is bachelor for first-time sign-ups.

How practice I utilise Alexa Guard and Baby-sit Plus?

When you leave, set Alexa Guard mode to "Away" in the Guard section of the app. Or, for a hands-free alternative, yous can tell Alexa "I'chiliad leaving" to control the arrangement to pivot into a monitoring state.

In the Alexa app settings, yous can customize features like which of your Repeat devices you want to work with Alexa Baby-sit. Equally touched on higher up, if you have connected smart lighting, you can choose specific lights for the feature to automatically toggle on whenever you enter into "Away" style.

To reiterate, Guard won't take the place of a home security arrangement. It does, withal, offer the ability to arm your existing Band Alarm or ADT security system whenever Guard goes into "Away," mode. And with Amazon Astro, the company's yet-to-be publicly released home monitoring mobile robot, you'll anytime be able to connect your very own security guard to patrol the hallways while you're away.

Unless yous're in the market for constant, unnecessary updates while you're moving about your own home, it'southward crucial to revert the Baby-sit characteristic into "Home" mode whenever you return to your abode. Doing this, either by going into the app settings or saying "Alexa, I'g home," will prohibit Guard from keeping an ear out for problematic sounds until you toggle it to "Away" mode again. Currently, automation of Alexa Guard modes using geofencing is non possible.

While Alexa Guard and Guard Plus won't make your home a mod-mean solar day Fort Knox, they tin can be incredibly useful features to incorporate alongside other smart security devices to help ensure that your space feels safe, fifty-fifty when yous're not around.

Privacy

Amazon Echo speaker muted — Credit: Reviewed / Rachel Irish potato

In the same way an Amazon Echo speaker or display is always listening for its wake word, Alexa Guard, when enabled, is always listening for the sounds yous tell information technology to. You tin delete your Alexa Guard alert history in the Baby-sit department of the Alexa app. Alexa Guard subscriptions tin be canceled at any time in the app, too.

If you don't want your Amazon speaker listening, press the mic mute button on the tiptop of your Echo speaker (or tap the top of your Echo Prove display).

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