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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Useful Alexa commands cover quick questions, hands-free lists, music, and routines that combine several actions. Try the examples below as natural starting points: what works can depend on your Alexa device, account settings, location, and linked services.
What can I ask Alexa?
Alexa supports spoken questions and requests. The examples here are based on Amazon’s documented phrases, but they are not guaranteed scripts; wording and availability can vary by device and setup.
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Get a quick answer
Try: “Alexa, what is the weather today in [your city]?” Amazon’s example uses New York; substituting your location makes the request relevant to you. Weather details depend on the location associated with your account or device.
Add something to a list
Try: “Alexa, add batteries to my shopping list.” This is useful when your hands are occupied. List behavior and shopping features may vary with account settings and availability.
#1 Best Overall
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
Play music
Try: “Alexa, play jazz.” What plays depends on the music service and account linked to Alexa. On eligible configurations, Amazon Music Unlimited Family Plan users may receive music playback personalized by voice; that feature should not be assumed for other services or plans. Amazon explains supported Voice ID personalization.
How do I make Alexa do more with a routine?
A routine groups actions behind a trigger, so one spoken phrase or another supported event can start several steps. For example, Amazon documents “Start my day” as a routine that can turn on compatible smart lights and provide the weather. Device-control actions require compatible connected products; basic requests such as asking about weather, managing a list, or playing music do not require a smart bulb or plug.
Rank #2
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
Examples of routine actions
- Start a skill, play music, or provide a briefing or traffic report.
- Make calls or control compatible Fire TV devices.
- Turn compatible smart-home devices on or off, adjust dimmable lights, or arm a connected security system.
Routine triggers can include a spoken phrase, a scheduled time, sound detection, presence detection, or an alarm, depending on the device and setup. Amazon’s help page lists a limit of up to 200 routines per account; this is a product limit documented by Amazon, not a usage statistic. See Amazon’s Alexa Routines help.
Create a routine in the Alexa app
- Open the Alexa app and tap More.
- Choose Routines, then tap the plus sign.
- Select an event to use as the trigger.
- Add one or more actions, configuring any options shown for the selected event or device.
- Save the routine and try its trigger.
Amazon’s app labels and available actions can change, and the exact choices depend on your device and services. Amazon’s instructions for creating routines cover the current setup flow.
Rank #3
- Meet Echo Dot Max: Experience rich room-filling sound that automatically adapts to your space and fine-tunes playback. Features a built-in smart home hub and Omnisense technology for highly personalized experiences.
- Music to your ears: With nearly 3x the bass versus Echo Dot (2022 release), it fits beautifully in any space, delivering your personal sound stage with deep bass and enhanced clarity. Listen to streaming services, such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and SiriusXM. Encore!
- Do more with device pairing: Connect compatible Echo smart speakers and smart displays in different rooms, or pair with a second Echo Dot Max to enjoy even richer sound
- Simple smart home control: Set routines, pair and control lights, locks, and thousands of smart home devices that work with Alexa without needing a separate smart home hub. With Omnisense technology, you can activate routines via temperature or presence detection.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot Max doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
What can Alexa personalize?
Voice ID can personalize certain supported experiences, including calling and messaging, calendars, flash briefings, music and podcast defaults, reminders, shopping restrictions, and some skills. Support depends on the feature, profile, service, plan, and compatible device; setting up Voice ID does not make every Alexa feature personal or available. Check Amazon’s Voice ID information.
Where can I review or delete Alexa recordings?
Amazon says that when an Echo detects its wake word, a visual or audible indicator signals that audio is being recorded to stream to the cloud. To review and delete voice recordings associated with your account, use Review Alexa History under Alexa Privacy in the Alexa app; the option is also available on Echo Show devices. The controls described here concern voice recordings and should not be read as a statement about every kind of data or every device configuration. Read Amazon’s Alexa privacy information.
Rank #4
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
Choose a command type for the task
| What you want to do | Interaction | Extra setup |
|---|---|---|
| Ask about weather | One-off spoken question | Use the location relevant to your device or account; no smart-home device is needed. |
| Add an item to a shopping list | One-off spoken request | Account and shopping-list behavior may vary. |
| Play music | One-off spoken request | A linked music service or eligible account may affect what plays and whether playback is personalized. |
| Combine several actions | Routine triggered by voice or another supported event | Actions depend on connected services; controlling lights or other equipment requires compatible devices. |
Amazon’s developer guidance recommends using working utterances and approved Alexa responses and validating example utterances on the device being depicted. Treat command wording as something to try rather than a promise that every phrase will work on every device. No authoritative, dated ranking of the most-used Alexa commands is established here, so these are useful examples rather than a popularity list. Amazon’s voice interaction guidance.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- MEET ECHO SPOT - A sleek smart alarm clock with Alexa and big vibrant sound. Ready to help you wake up, wind down, and so much more.
- CUSTOMIZABLE SMART CLOCK - See time, weather, and song titles at a glance, control smart home devices, and more. Personalize your display with your favorite clock face and fun colors.
- BIG VIBRANT SOUND - Enjoy rich sound with clear vocals and deep bass. Just ask Alexa to play music, podcasts, and audiobooks. See song titles and touch to control your music.
- EASE INTO THE DAY - Set up an Alexa routine that gently wakes you with music and gradual light. Glance at the time, check reminders, or ask Alexa for weather updates.
- KEEP YOUR HOME COMFORTABLE - Control compatible smart home devices. Just ask Alexa to turn on lights or touch the screen to dim. Create routines that use motion detection to turn down the thermostat as you head out or open the blinds when you walk into a room.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
