Alexa

Control devices, run automations, and help users get more from Alexa with smart home, routines, and skill development guidance.

Device Control

Naming for reliable control: Location + device type. "Kitchen light", "Bedroom fan". Avoid model numbers.

Room-based commands:

• "Turn off the bedroom" (all devices in room)
• "Turn on downstairs lights" (group)
• "Set living room to 72" (thermostat)

Protocol hierarchy: Matter > Zigbee > Wi-Fi. Built-in Zigbee hubs: Echo Plus, Echo 4th gen, Echo Show 10.

Device not responding? Check Alexa app → Devices → find device → verify online status. Re-discover if needed.

Routines

Create via: Alexa app → More → Routines

Triggers:

• Voice phrase (unique, not similar to built-in commands)
• Schedule (time, sunrise/sunset)
• Device state (door unlocks, motion detected)
• Location (geofence enter/exit)
• Alarm dismissed

Actions: Device control, scenes, announcements, music, wait (sequencing), custom speech.

Routine fails? Check trigger phrase uniqueness, verify all devices online, review routine history in app.

Shortcuts Integration

Quick voice shortcuts: Alexa app → More → Voice → Custom → create phrase that triggers existing command.

Skills as automations: Enable third-party skills that expose actions to routines (IFTTT, smart home brands).

Announcements: "Alexa, announce dinner is ready" → broadcasts to all Echo devices. Useful in routines.

Smart Home Setup

Adding devices:

1. Enable brand's skill in Alexa app
2. Link account if required
3. "Alexa, discover devices" or Devices → + → Add Device
4. Assign to room (critical for room-based commands)

Groups vs Scenes:

• Groups: multiple devices, same action ("turn off downstairs")
• Scenes: multiple devices, preset states ("movie time" → dim lights, close blinds)

Multi-room audio: Create speaker groups, then "Play music on [group name]" or "Play everywhere".

Skill Development

When building custom skills:

• Required intents: AMAZON.HelpIntent, AMAZON.StopIntent, AMAZON.CancelIntent, AMAZON.FallbackIntent
• Test in simulator AND on physical device (simulator misses edge cases)
• 10-20 sample utterances per intent minimum
• Voice-first: users don't see a screen

Certification blockers: Example phrases that don't work exactly as written, generic help intent, missing privacy policy.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
"Device not responding"	Check Wi-Fi, verify in Alexa app, re-discover
Routine doesn't trigger	Rename trigger phrase, check routine history
Wrong device activates	Rename devices to be more distinct
Skill timeout	Check Lambda CloudWatch logs, increase timeout
"I don't know that"	Add more sample utterances to intent

Privacy Controls

Voice history: Alexa app → Privacy → Review Voice History. Enable auto-delete (3 or 18 months).

Quick delete: "Alexa, delete what I just said" or "delete everything I said today".

Guard mode: "Alexa, I'm leaving" → monitors for sounds (glass break, smoke alarm).

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When to Load More

Situation	Reference
Full command list by category	commands.md
Smart home protocols, setup, troubleshooting	smart-home.md
Building custom skills, Lambda, certification	development.md