In this tutorial, we’ll explain how to factory reset your Google Home Mini or Google Nest Mini.

Why Should You Factory Reset Your Google Home?

A factory reset deletes all the data on your Google Home device, restoring it to default settings. If you’ve forgotten your password or your device is playing up, a factory reset can get it working correctly with minimal effort.

We also recommend performing a factory reset before selling or throwing out your Google Home Mini. As with other digital devices, your Google Home stores your personal information. A factory reset will remove this information and protect your privacy if it ends up in someone else’s hands.

Remember that after a factory reset, you’ll need to sign back into your Google account, connect your Google Home to your Wi-Fi network, and reconnect any Bluetooth devices you connected earlier.

How to Factory Reset Google Home Mini

To reset your Google Home Mini (1st gen):

1. Turn your Home Mini upside-down and find the Factory Reset Button at the base of the power cord.

2. Press and hold the button for around 15 seconds. After 5 seconds, the device will begin its factory reset. After another 10 seconds, you’ll hear a sound to confirm that the factory reset is in progress.

How to Factory Reset Google Nest Mini

To reset your Google Nest Mini speaker (2nd gen):

1. Find the microphone mute button on the side of your device. The lights on top should turn orange, indicating the microphone is off.

2. Press and hold the button in the center of your Nest Mini, where the lights are.

3. After 5 seconds, the factory reset process will begin. After another 10 seconds, you’ll hear a confirmation chime indicating that the device will reboot.

Note: You can only reset Google Home devices via the factory reset button. It’s impossible to perform a reset through the Google Home app.

How to Factory Reset Other Google Home Devices

There are a handful of other Google Home speakers that you might want to reset. These include the Google Home Max, Google Nest Hub, Google Nest Audio, and Google Nest Hub Max.

To revert these devices to factory settings, you need to switch the microphone off, then press and hold the factory reset button for 15 seconds, as shown above. The Nest Hub is the only device that’s slightly different. To reset the Google Nest speakers, press and hold both volume buttons together for 10 seconds.

The factory reset button is found either on the back of the device or on top of the speaker where the LED lights are housed.

Smart Home, Happy Home

Smart home devices like Google Home and Amazon Alexa are becoming far more common and advanced. You can control other compatible devices using Google Assistant by connecting these Google Home gadgets to your Wi-Fi network.

The post How to Reset Google Home or Nest Mini first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

It’s a common belief that smart home automation is all about protecting your home from intruders. However, home security isn’t the only thing smart home tech is capable of. You can also use your smart gadgets to make the holidays easier and more fun for your family and friends.

Here’s how you can use your smart home devices this holiday season and the best smart tech you can find for the holidays.

How to Use Smart Home Devices For Decorating Your House

Decorating your house for the holidays can be exciting and dreadful if you have to do everything on your own. If you don’t have an extra pair of hands to help you, you can enlist your smart devices to make decorating your place easier and less time-consuming. Here are a few ways how you can do it.

Use Smart Christmas Lighting

One of the essential parts of Christmas decorating is the lighting. However, with the electricity prices rising, you don’t want to have your holiday lights on all the time, driving your energy bill up in case you or someone else forgets to switch them off.

That’s where the smart lights come in: they add remote control, scheduling, and automation to your everyday use of lighting, thus saving you money on energy use. Smart lighting comes in different types and shapes. Here are a few smart lights that we recommend trying.

Phillips Hue Smart Bulbs

Smart bulbs are the simplest way to cut energy costs while having festive lighting in your house. All you have to do is replace your standard light bulb with a smart LED one. It will last 25 times longer and use 75% less energy than an incandescent light bulb.

Phillips Hue has some of the best smart lights on the market. It offers a wide range of smart bulbs for both indoors and outdoors. You can use the Philips Hue smart bulbs to decorate your house for Christmas, a birthday, or a Halloween party and then keep them as your regular lights for occasional light therapy use.

Use Smart Plugs for Outdoor Lighting

Your living room isn’t the only place that requires holiday decorations. If you have a balcony or a patio, you’ll want to put some Christmas lights there.

Of course, you can use smart outdoor lights to decorate these areas. But you can also use your old lights with a smart outdoor plug. These smart plugs are water-resistant and can switch your lights on and off at the right time every day.

You can use your smartphone to control your smart plugs or voice commands via Google Home or Amazon Alexa. Check out our buying guide to find some of the best outdoor smart plugs that you can buy on Amazon.

Use Your Video Doorbell’s Holiday Chimes to Set the Mood

You can get your guests in the mood for Christmas at your front door with a festive holiday ringtone from your video doorbell.

Whether you have a Google Nest smart video doorbell or a Ring doorbell, you can change your ringtone to a fun Christmas tune or other holiday sounds. You can add holiday music to your doorbell using the Google Home / Nest app or the Ring app.

Aside from Christmas-related tunes, Nest offers timely chimes for different seasons and holidays, including Halloween.

How to Use Smart Home Devices During your Holiday Party

Besides decorating your house, your smart gadgets can help you start your party. Here’s how you can use your smart tech to entertain your guests during the holiday season.

Use a Voice Assistant to Run Your Party

Voice assistants make running your entire smart home setup easy without using various mobile apps on your smartphone. The all-new Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen) has an excellent speaker that can play your favorite tunes from a Christmas playlist throughout the party. If you have a big house, you can set up multiple Echos to play the same playlist in sync to cover bigger areas.

A smart speaker can do the same job if you don’t own a voice assistant yet. Many modern manufacturers include a pairing feature in their Bluetooth speakers, which allows you to connect multiple speakers around your house and play your music in stereo.

Use a Video Projector to Play Christmas Videos

If you have a plain wall or a window that you can use to set up a projector, you can spruce up your Christmas party with some fantastic holiday visuals. It could be videos of your previous holiday celebrations, music videos where Santa Claus makes an appearance, or videos of snow falling or a fireplace burning – whatever fits the theme of your party best.

Nebula Capsule 3 Laser

Need a portable video projector? Check out the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser by Anker – a portable projector that offers impressive specs for an affordable price.

This new portable laser bright projector by Anker is a great choice for playing holiday videos and movies indoors or outdoors. The Capsule 3 Laser weighs just 2 pounds, so you can easily carry it around. When using outdoors, you don’t have to worry about power thanks to the 52Wh built-in battery that can last up to 2.5h.

The Capsule 3 Laser displays 300 ISO Lumens of brightness in 1080p HD – perfect for any space lit by LED fairy lights. You can use Google Assistant to control it with voice commands or the Nebula Connect app to activate the projector right from your smartphone.

Use Your Action Camera to Make Memories

Everyone coming to your party will have smartphones to take pictures together. However, most of those shots will be unusable due to a lack of lighting and people not being able to stand still for a few seconds when the music’s playing.

If you want footage of the party to watch and share with your friends and family later, you can set up your action camera right in the middle of the party to record everything. If it’s a 360-degree camera, a fun idea would be to place the camera in the middle of your living room and leave it to record the whole party in timelapse mode.

Don’t forget to warn everyone about the camera presence in advance and make sure nobody feels uncomfortable about the recording.

How to Use Smart Home Devices for Post-Holiday Recovery

Finally, your smart gadgets can help minimize the after-effects of the party. Here’s how smart tech can make your “morning after” easier by taking care of simple tasks like waking up your family and tidying up the place after the party.

Use a Smart Alarm Clock to Wake Up to Christmas Carols

While getting up on Christmas day is easy for many people, waking up after a big party that you had to prepare and host yourself can be challenging even on such a day. Hearing cheerful Christmas carols first thing in the morning can help you restore the holiday spirit and enjoy this day to the fullest.

If you’re after the best smart alarm clock, we recommend choosing from a Google Nest Hub if you want a device with a big bright display or Amazon Echo Dot with a clock if you’re after something more simplistic. Both devices can be used as smart home controls to stay on top of your gadgets.

Use Smart Kitchen Appliances for Hassle-free Christmas Morning

Breakfast on a Christmas day is just as important as Christmas dinner. After a big Christmas party the previous night, you might not have the strength to make Christmas breakfast special as well. That’s where your smart kitchen appliances can help you.

Many simple tasks like brewing coffee, making tea, or making toast for the whole family can take up a lot of your time. Smart kitchen gadgets can help you prepare breakfast with just a few clicks and keep it warm until everyone gathers around the table.

Stagg EKG Pro Smart Kettle by Fellow

If your family members have their own drink of choice, a smart kettle is great for fast and convenient water boiling. Drinks like pour-over coffee, oolong tea, and English breakfast tea have their own boiling temperatures. You can set your smart kettle to the ideal brewing temperature and keep it hot for 15, 30, 45, or 60 mins.

If you’re also after a stylish look, we recommend the Stagg EKG Pro smart electric kettle by Fellow. This elegant gooseneck kettle will fit in any type of kitchen. It comes with a full-color LCD screen that you can set to communicate with you in English, French, or Spanish.

In case you need to check what temperature to set for your drink, the Stagg Pro has a guide mode to help you choose a preset temperature for different coffee brewing styles and different types of tea.

Among other nifty features, your Fellow Stagg kettle can alert you with a chime when the water is ready. You can also set a schedule for preparing the water for making tea or coffee when you wake up.

Use a Robot Vacuum for Post-Party Cleaning

Whether you’re planning a crowded Christmas party or a cozy evening with family, your house is bound to get messy after the holidays. The dreadful thoughts about post-party cleaning can quickly ruin any holiday spirit. A robot vacuum ensures you don’t have to think about cleaning your floors again.

Modern robot vacuums allow you to set cleaning schedules and automatically vacuum and mop your floors at a specific time every day. Some models, like the Trifo Lucy, even double as security cameras you can use to spy on your pets while you’re away from the house.

Use a Smart Massager for Stress Relief

Organizing even the most exciting party can be stressful and tiring. You deserve to take some time for yourself and properly relax your mind and your muscles. A smart massager can help you do just that.

Breo iNeck 3 Pro Smart Massager

Neck and back pains are the most frustrating pains that cause discomfort. When you don’t have anyone to give you a neck massage, the next best thing is to use a smart neck massager like the Breo iNeck 3 Pro.

This massager is perfect for relaxing in a chair or bed after a long day and taking it with you on a trip or to an airplane, as it’s shaped like a travel pillow. You can use this device hands-free and control it via the Breo app.

The iNeck 3 Pro has three modes that allow you to massage every part of your neck and upper back. There’s also a setting that turns on the hot compress and a speed setting to fine-tune your massage session. If you have a sensitive neck, it’s best to keep your massage sessions under 5 mins. And if you need the iNeck 3 Pro to work its magic, prolong your massage session to 10 mins to eliminate any strains and aches in your neck area.

The device’s battery lasts about 2 hours on a single charge, so you won’t have to worry about charging your neck massager more than once a week.

What About Sustainable Home Decorations?

Smart home devices can be of great help when decorating your home and organizing holiday parties. However, they aren’t always ideal if you want to reduce energy use and costs.

An alternative way to decorate your house for the holidays is to replace Christmas lights with candlelights. Egloo – a handmade candle heater – is a great example of eco-friendly house decor.

Egloo is a multifunctional eco-friendly device that functions as a candlelight, a heater, an oil diffuser, and an air humidifier. On their site, you can order your Egloo in natural terracotta color or select one of the fancy designs, including a Christmas-themed ceramic dome.

While it won’t replace your electric heater, this beautiful device will fill your living room with a nice essential oil scent and moisten your home air. Besides, Egloo is just very aesthetically pleasing and will add a unique feel to your room.

The post 8 Fun Ways to Use Your Smart Home Devices for the Holidays first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

It is simple to set up a Nest thermostat without the help of an electrician. In this article, you’ll see all steps required to install your Nest thermostat. But hopefully, before you buy one of these smart thermostats, you’ve followed the step-by-step instructions below to ensure that the latest generation of Nest works with your heating and cooling system.

Step 1: Use the Compatibility Checker

Google offers a useful online compatibility checker that helps you determine if a Nest thermostat is compatible with your HVAC system.

1. Just visit the site and select the Get started button to start the wizard.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions to remove and check the wiring on your original wall thermostat that you want to replace.

3. You’ll need to check and enter the wire labels on your original thermostat before selecting Yes, continue.

4. Finally, you’ll see the Nest thermostats compatible with your system based on the wiring you’ve entered.

Use this list to guide which Nest you decide to purchase. The best place to purchase a Nest is on Amazon since you’ll usually find the best price there. Once your new Nest thermostat arrives and you’re ready to do the installation, move on to the next section.

Step 2: Unpack and Prepare Your Nest Thermostat

Once you unpack the Nest thermostat box, you’ll find more than everything you’ll need to do the entire thermostat installation yourself.

The package includes:

• Nest thermostat
• Nest thermostat base for wiring (this is an adapter for your existing thermostat wiring)
• Optional trim plate and Nest base plate
• Screw set
• Screwdriver
• Installation guide and wire stickers

You’ll want to remove the wiring sticker sheet before moving on to the next step, where you’ll remove your current thermostat and disconnect the wiring. You won’t need any special connectors or tools for the steps below. Everything you need comes in the package.

Step 3: Remove Your Old Thermostat and Prepare Wiring

If you install the Nest app for Android, or the Nest app for iPhone, it will take you through the process of wiring. However, you can complete the DIY wiring process using the steps below without installing the app first.

1. Find your heating and cooling systems in your breaker box, and turn those circuit breakers to the “OFF” position.

2. Back at your old thermostat, make sure the power is off. The display will be blank, or if it isn’t, try enabling air conditioning or heating and make sure the systems don’t turn on. Then, remove the faceplate of your old thermostat from the base plate. You should see all the wiring underneath.

Note: For some thermostats, you must remove the batteries before removing the faceplate.

3. Take a picture of the thermostat wiring, so you don’t forget where each wire goes. Also, use the stickers included in your Nest thermostat box and apply the appropriate sticker letter to the wire, identifying where you connected those wires. Then, disconnect the wires from the terminals on your old thermostat (you may need the Nest screwdriver to do this). Remove any jumper wires that were installed.

4. Finally, remove the old thermostat trim plate from the wall with the included Phillips attachment on the Nest screwdriver.

Step 4: Install Your Thermostat on the Wall

Now, you’re ready to install the Nest thermostat hardware. Depending on how your original thermostat was attached to the wall, you can use either the optional trim plate or the box plate. Usually, the trim plate is the best option.

1. Press the Nest base for wiring onto the trim plate or the box plate, depending on which you’ve used. It will snap when attached. Then, thread all wires through the center hole and position it on the wall until the bubble level on the thermostat wiring base plate has the bubble in the center. Next, use the included Phillips screws to screw the base plate into the wall through the top and bottom screw holes.

Note: The attached screws are self-tapping and should adhere firmly to the drywall where your old thermostat was attached.

2. Pressing the thumb tabs on each port, press the bare copper end of each wire into the appropriate hole until the thumb tab stays fully depressed. Use the stickers you’ve attached to each wire as a guide.

3. Finally, carefully slide the Nest thermostat onto the wiring base, ensuring that the gray port at the bottom of the base inserts correctly into the port on the back of the Nest thermostat.

4. Return to the circuit box and turn the circuit breakers for your heating and cooling systems back to the ON position. When you return to the Nest thermostat, you should see it boot and eventually display the language selection menu.

5. Choose your selection by turning the outer frame of the Nest and then pressing down on the face of the thermostat to select. The Nest will then walk you through some initial setup steps, including displaying the HVAC equipment detected through the installed wiring.

6. You’ll need to tell Nest that you’re a homeowner doing their own installation and not a “Nest Pro” doing a pro installation (even though you may consider yourself a pro!).

7. Review the detected equipment and ensure that all the equipment you know should be attached is represented in the diagram on the screen.

8. Select Continue a couple of times to confirm your system equipment. Then you’ll see an option to select the fuel your heating system uses. Twist the Nest frame to choose it, and press in on the Nest display to select it.

9. Select the type of heating system you have. Use the same process described in the last step to select it.

10. Launch the Nest app portion of the setup process. Press in the Nest screen to select this and continue.

11. Launch the Nest app on your mobile device. When you see the option to enter the Entry code in the app (see the next section), press in on the Nest screen to see the entry code for this Nest thermostat.

You now have your Nest thermostat fully installed. You just have to go through the Nest app setup process below to finish the installation and start using your new smart thermostat.

Step 5: Complete Setup With the Nest App

You’ll need to log into your Google account when you first launch the Nest app on your Android or iPhone. If you already have a Google Home account, you’ll need to connect it to your nest. If you previously had a Google Nest account, you’ll need to migrate that account information to your app.

1. The app will detect this when you log in and walk you through the necessary steps to do either or both. If you have never had a Nest account, you’ll need to create one.

2. Once you’re logged into your Nest account, tap Add product to start adding your new Nest thermostat to your account. First, you’ll need to scan the QR code on the back of the thermostat and then tap Start installation on the next screen.

3. If you’ve already completed the hardware installation steps in the section above, just tap the generation of the Nest thermostat you own and tap through the next couple of screens until you get to the entry key screen. You’ll need to confirm that the wiring diagram is correct and you have a low-voltage and not a high-voltage system, and that the wiring diagram is correct.

4. Select Entry Key on your thermostat if it isn’t already displaying the code. Then type the code displayed on your thermostat into the Enter key field in the app. Next, select your Wi-Fi network from the list of available networks, and select Next on the account confirmation screen.

5. On the next step, tap the location in your house where you installed your thermostat. Adjust “Eco Temperatures”, which are the absolute minimum and maximum temperatures that you’re okay with your house getting to whenever you’re not home. Tap Next, and then Done on the final setup screen.

After that final step, you’ll see the Nest home screen in the app. This will display your current temperature settings. This is also where you can tap on that thermostat and change any settings you like.

Start Using Your New Nest Thermostat!

There are a lot of settings to start playing with via the Nest app that are outside this article’s scope. However, there are a couple of things you should set right away.

First, if you have a combination heating and cooling system (a heater and air conditioner) hooked up to your thermostat, you’ll want to enable both heating and cooling. To do this:

1. Tap the thermostat you installed and tap the mode icon at the bottom of the screen..
2. Tap Heat-Cool from the list of options.

Next, you should set up a heat and cool schedule to fully use the Nest thermostat’s efficiency.

1. Tap the Nest thermostat and then tap the Schedule icon at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap one of the days in the grid and then tap Add at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap a time in the day grid and adjust the upper and lower temperature range for that day and time.
4. Repeat this process until you’re done adjusting your desired indoor temperatures throughout the entire week.

Now the Nest thermostat will automatically adjust according to the schedule you’ve configured in this grid. No need to constantly lower the temperature when you go to bed and increase it in the morning!

Read Google’s Beginner Guide to the Nest to learn more about all the other available settings and other ways you can take full advantage of your newly installed Nest thermostat. You can also use various online smart home services to automate your Nest thermostat if you want.

The post How to Install a Nest Thermostat first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Besides the functionality and the cost, another reason to pick a different option is to ensure compatibility with other smart home devices. If you don’t want to be locked into the Amazon ecosystem, here are the five best video doorbells.

1. Google Nest Hello Video Doorbell

The fiercest competitor to Amazon’s Ring is Google’s Nest Hello doorbell. Though slightly more expensive than the standard Ring models, the Nest Hello justifies its cost with better audio quality and responsive design.

With a camera resolution of 1600×1200, it practically matches the 1080p HD capture resolution of Ring, recording everything in a 160-degree field of view. You can set up Activity Zones to focus on particular areas, receiving motion alerts for any activity in those zones.

Then there is the Familiar face detection system to recognize frequent visitors and build up a library of friends and family, alerting you when a new person shows up. This extends to detecting packages and notifying you of deliveries even when you are away.

Price: $142.00

2. Eufy Dual Camera Doorbell 2K

Eufy is the most powerful cost-effective video doorbell you can buy, as it lets you use features like package detection and facial recognition without having to pay a dime. You can even store weeks’ worth of footage on local storage without paying a subscription fee.

Not that it lacks features. Boasting 2K resolution videos with High Dynamic Range (HDR), the Eufy video doorbell will give you excellent video quality. Then there is the second low-angle camera to capture that pesky bottom part of the front door.

The Eufy security doorbell also includes a wireless door chime, saving you the effort of connecting it with your existing system. There is even a battery-powered version for those looking to avoid doorbell wiring altogether, though it is priced slightly higher.

Price: $199.00

3. Arlo Essential Video Doorbell

Arlo may not have tech giants like Amazon or Google backing it, but it offers some incredible features not present in any of its competitors. Add to that its low price tag and you have a winner.

The biggest difference is the viewing angle. Arlo uses a 180-degree field of view, capturing the entire head-to-toe image in a 1:1 aspect ratio. This means any packages lying on the ground will no longer be invisible to you.

The two-way audio combined with its smart notifications system reduces noise and transmits only relevant alerts, keeping you on top of things happening at your doorstep. The only problem with Arlo is the expensive monthly subscription, requiring $15 a month to unlock its full gamut of features.

Price: $127.22

4. SimpliSafe Doorbell

One of the most comprehensive smart video doorbells out there, SimpliSafe includes a heat sensor along with motion detection, helping it accurately detect people and cut down on false alarms.

A major selling point of the SimpliSafe Doorbell is the easy installation, allowing anyone with a screwdriver to set things up. It even works with mechanical chimes, making it the ideal video doorbell for old houses.

Its wide viewing angle and HDR camera enable it to capture some really clear videos, which can be stored on cloud video storage for just $5 per month. The SimpliSafe Doorbell integrates smoothly with the company’s home security system, making this doorbell camera a perfect choice if you want a complete security solution.

Price: $169.99

5. Lorex Video Doorbell

By far the cheapest option on our list, the Lorex is an excellent option for those who want complete control over their data and prefer a no-frills wifi video doorbell that gets the job done.

It doesn’t have any AI-based person detection technology or cloud storage options, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Any videos recorded by the doorbell are stored locally on a 16GB microSD card, safeguarding your privacy.

It doesn’t skimp on essential features either, possessing two-way talk and night vision even at this affordable price tag. You can even use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to control the Lorex video doorbell through voice commands.

Price: $49.99

What is the Best Ring Video Doorbell Alternative?

If you want to stick to a big name with a whole smart home ecosystem, then Google’s Nest doorbell is your best bet. This gives you equivalent or better features with Google’s patented face detection technology.

For people distrustful of cloud storage – or just seeking to save on subscription costs – the Eufy or Lorex video doorbells are perfect. Eufy is the more feature-rich version with an optional subscription, while Lorex is a straightforward video doorbell that gets the job done.

The Arlo or the SimpliSafe doorbell may not save you money, but they offer better security features than the Ring. They have a wider field of view, easily capturing packages on the ground, and the SimpliSafe doorbell even comes with a heat sensor to improve detection.

Any of these options are great alternatives to the Amazon Ring, and can successfully safeguard your doorway without being a drain on the pocket.

The post 5 Best Ring Doorbell Alternatives first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Here, we’ll show you how to create two Alexa skills for your business, an onboard guide and a business Q&A. All your employees or coworkers need is the Alexa app, but if they also have an Alexa device like an Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, or Echo Show, all the better!

Not only can these skills help your employees and coworkers but they’ll also save you time from fielding all of the questions yourself.

Using Amazon Alexa Skill Blueprints

The good news about creating a custom Alexa skill is that you don’t have to start from scratch. With Alexa Blueprints, you begin with a template. Then, just add the details for your own business or company.

Additionally, you can create a new Alexa skill on the web or in the mobile app. The Blueprints and steps are the same, so get ready to follow along on your computer or mobile device.

• On your computer, visit the Alexa Blueprints website and log in with your Amazon account.
• In the Amazon Alexa mobile app, open the More tab, tap See More, and select Blueprints.

Head to the Business section in your browser or the mobile app, and you’ll see the two skills here.

Create an Onboard Guide for New Employees

By creating an onboard guide, new employees can find all the details they need in one handy spot. From how to connect remotely via VPN to where the office supplies are stored, include as much information as possible to help those newbies.

Select the Onboard Guide Blueprint to get started. You can listen to a sample, review the steps to create the skill, and see how to use it. If you’re ready to begin, select Make Your Own and follow along below.

The Blueprint includes sections to help you add the details you need. These include where to find things, how to do things, and who to contact for what.

Where to Find Important Resources

Beginning with the Where to find important resources section, these are things Alexa will respond with when you ask, “Alexa, where is…?”.

1. You can keep the sample resources, replace them with your own, and include more with Add Item below the section.
2. Enter the location for each item. This can be like, “First floor, back of building.”
3. Optionally include a note. This should include anything they need to know about the location, such as “Company ID required for entry.”

How To Do Things

The next section is How to do things and includes responses from Alexa when you ask, “How do I…?”.

1. Like the above section, you can use the samples, replace them with your own, and add more with Add How To at the bottom of the section.
2. Enter the steps for each item.
3. Optionally include a note.

Contact Info

The final section is for Contact info. This section works differently in that Alexa responds with the list you set up with the voice command, “What’s the contact info?”.

1. Use the samples or enter your own and include more by using Add Contact.
2. Enter the name for each business area.
3. Add the contacts’ phone numbers. Note: You must enter the area code and seven-digit phone number.

When you finish the sections, select Next: Experience at the top.

Customize the User Experience

You can make Alexa sound more personal by entering Intro and Exit messages.

Enter a welcome message for those using the skill for the first time. Then, include messages that Alexa uses randomly each time your employee opens the skill.

Enter an exit message for when your employee closes the skill.

When you finish, select Next: Name at the top.

Name the Skill

The final step is to give your onboard guide skill a name. Again, try to use simple words that Alexa recognizes.

Select Next: Create Skill to complete the creation process. Be patient, the process may take a few moments. You’ll see a confirmation when complete.

Create a Business Q&A Skill to Answer Common Questions

Maybe a guide isn’t as effective as a simple Q&A skill. You might find people asking the same questions over and over. With this skill, you can enter those common questions with their answers.

Select the Business Q&A Blueprint to get started. Like the previous skill, you can hear a sample, review the steps, and see how to use it. Select Make Your Own when you’re ready to begin.

Because not everyone may word the question precisely the same, this Blueprint lets you add variations of questions. And like the previous Blueprint, you’ll see a couple of samples to help you.

Add the Questions and Answers

Begin with the first question by using the sample or replacing it with your own. Then, include a few variations of the question.

For instance, if someone asks Alexa, “What are the hours for IT,” “When is IT open,” or “Tell me the hours for IT,” they will each receive the same answer.

You can select Add Question Variation if you want to add more or the minus sign to the right of one to remove it.

Next, add the answer Alexa will respond with to the question and its variations.

After you enter a question, its variations, and the answer, select Add Q&A to set up the next question.

Continue the same process until you’ve entered all of the questions and answers you want. Then, select Next: Experience at the top.

Customize the User Experience

Like the Onboard Guide skill, you can personalize Alexa’s Intro and Exit messages for this skill too.

Enter a welcome message each time someone opens the skill and an exit message when someone closes it.

When you finish, select Next: Name at the top.

Name the Skill

Finally, give your Business Q&A skill a name. Remember to use simple words that Alexa will recognize easily.

Select Next: Create Skill to complete the process and you’ll see a confirmation when the new skill is ready to use.

Edit the Alexa Skills

As we all know, things change. You may move to a different location, hire a new contact, or change the steps for a task. You can edit your custom skill anytime, both on the web and in the Alexa app.

On your computer, return to the Alexa Blueprints website, log in, and choose Skills You’ve Made at the top. Pick the skill name and select Edit to make your changes.

In the Alexa mobile app, return to the Blueprints section. Go to the Your Skills tab, select the skill name, and tap Edit to make your adjustments.

Create Your Own Alexa Skill

To build Alexa skills, you don’t have to learn about Alexa skill development or be an Amazon developer. Instead, with Blueprints like these, you can make a custom skill in just minutes.

Now that you know how to create Alexa skills for your business, will you?

For more, look at cool tricks to try with Alexa, some fun skills for kids and teens, or visit our Smart Home section for related tutorials.

The post How to Create Alexa Skills for Your Business or Employees first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

However, you may be looking for something in particular. Maybe you want a trivia game about your family, a fairy tale where your child is the star character or a guide to your home and neighborhood for a houseguest.

Well, guess what? You can make your own skill using Alexa blueprints. Here’s how!

Browse Alexa Skill Blueprints

You can view and choose a blueprint on the Blueprints.Amazon.com website as well as in the Alexa mobile app. This makes it easy to create a skill on almost any device because a blueprint is basically a template.

Browse through the categories for At Home, Amazon Kids Recommended, Learning & Knowledge, Fun & Games, Storyteller, Greetings & Occasions, Communities & Organizations, and Business.

Select a blueprint to view more details and check out examples. This helps you see how the babysitter blueprint can help when you’re away, or the family jokes blueprint can liven up quality time.

If you find one you want, pick Make Your Own on the skill information screen.

Create a Skill

The steps are the same whether you’re creating a skill with a blueprint on the web or on your mobile device. However, those steps may differ depending on the type of blueprint you select.

For instance, you’ll enter different information for a birthday trivia skill compared to one for flashcards, the pet sitter, or bedtime stories. You can see these steps when you select a blueprint to view its details.

To show you just how easy it is, we’ll create one on each device.

Make a Chore Chart Skill on the Web

For this first example, we’ll use the Chore Chart blueprint to create a skill on the website. This skill helps keep track of household chores and who is responsible for each one.

1. Visit the Alexa Blueprints website, sign into your Amazon account, and choose a blueprint.
2. As described above, select Make Your Own directly below the skill name. If you see a short tutorial for building the skill, choose Start Now when you get to the end.
3. Next, you’ll be prompted to replace the details for the skill with your own. For the Chore Chart, we’ll fill in the names of our household members and chores.

4. Select Next on the top right to move to the next step.
5. Here again, you may be asked to enter more details for the skill. For the Chore Chart blueprint, we assign the chores to the household members. Just keep in mind that the number of prompts and requested details depend on the exact skill and blueprint.

6. Select Next to continue.
7. One step that you’ll find in most blueprints is for customizing the experience. This refers to how you interact with Alexa for that particular skill. For instance, you can enter introduction phrases for when someone opens the skill and then other phrases for when someone completes a chore. These are the phrases Alexa uses for that specific skill.

8. Select Next to finish entering the details.
9. The final step in creating a skill is to give it a name. Try to use something meaningful that you’ll remember but also something simple enough for Alexa to recognize.

10. Select Next one last time to create the skill.

After a few moments to process all the information, your skill should be ready to use!

Make a Whose Turn Skill in the Mobile App

For this next example, we’ll use the Whose Turn blueprint to create a skill in the Alexa app. This skill prompts Alexa to choose whose turn it is to do something.

1. Open the Alexa app on Android or iOS and select the More tab.
2. Pick See More in the top section and choose Blueprints.
3. Browse the options by category, just like on the website. Then, select the one you want to use and tap Make Your Own.

4. Replace the details for the skill with your own. For the Whose Turn skill, we’ll add the names for Alexa’s choices.
5. Tap Next on the top right to continue.
6. The next step for the Whose Turn skill is to personalize the experience. This allows you to customize how Alexa picks a name. After you ask a question, Alexa uses the phrases and sound effects you select in this section. Optionally, you can scroll down for additional customization options.
7. Tap Next to name your custom skill.
8. Select the text on the name line to edit it or enter your own. Again, pick a meaningful name and one that’s easy for Alexa to recognize.
9. Tap Next to create the skill.

You’ll see the progress as your skill is created and a confirmation when the process completes. You can tap the X on the top right to exit when you finish reviewing your skill.

Edit Skills You Create

Once you create a skill using Alexa Blueprints, you may want to make adjustments to it. You can do this on the web and in the mobile app too.

Your Skills on the Web

1. Visit the Alexa Blueprints website and sign in. Select Skills You’ve Made at the top.
2. You’ll see a list of your skills. Choose Details to the right to open the one you want to edit.

3. On the right side, select Edit or Delete. You’ll notice you can also pick Share With Others to make it easy for your family or friends to access or Publish to Skills Store for other Alexa users.

Your Skills in the Mobile App

You can edit your custom skills easily in the Alexa mobile app as well.

1. Go to the Menu tab.
2. Select See More > Blueprints.
3. On the Your Skills tab, select the blueprint you want to edit.
4. Use the buttons at the bottom to make your changes.

Take Advantage of Alexa Blueprints

Even though there are many premade skills you can pick from, creating your own Alexa skills gives you great ways to personalize the experience on your Alexa devices, get tasks done, or have a little fun!

So, what’ll it be? Family trivia with your Amazon Echo, a custom Q&A on your Echo Dot, a sci-fi story in the Alexa mobile app, or something totally different? Let us know!

The post How to Create Skills With Alexa Blueprints first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

The Ring Doorbell is one of the most popular video doorbells on the market. The company has a proven track record of outstanding security, innovative features, and high-resolution video feed. The setup process can be a bit intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. This guide will show you how to set up your Ring Video Doorbell. 

How to Set Up a Ring Doorbell

You can have your doorbell up and running in no time at all. Just follow these steps. 

Ensure the Battery Is Charged

The first step will be to ensure the doorbell’s battery has a full charge. The Ring Doorbell uses a removable battery, so you will have to remove the faceplate.

1. Unscrew the security screw from the bottom of the faceplate.

2. Slide the faceplate forward to release it from the doorbell’s body.

3. Press down on the slide that says Push to release the battery. It can then be slid out.
4. Use the included orange charging cable to plug into the back side of the battery. It will take between five and ten hours to fully charge.

5. Once charged, slide the battery back into the Ring Doorbell with the Push tab facing up, then reassemble the faceplate and reattach the security screw with a screwdriver, not a drill.

Set Up the Doorbell

Before you set up the doorbell, make sure you have the Ring app downloaded to your mobile device. It’s available for both iPhone and Android devices. You can find it on the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store. 

1. Open the Ring app (and make a Ring account if you have not done so.) 

2. Tap the three lines on the upper-left side of the screen.

3. Select Set Up a Device.

4. Select Doorbells.
5. Find the QR code on your Ring doorbell and scan it.

6. If you already have your home set up within the app, select it. Otherwise, allow Ring to access your phone’s location. Confirm your address and select Continue.
7. Acknowledge the warning screen and select Got It.

8. Select I have found the security screws and then select Continue.

9. Select a name for your Ring Doorbell. There are three default names (Front Door, Back Door, and Office) and the option to make a custom name. 

10. Insert the battery if you haven’t yet done so, then select Continue.

11. Have your Wi-Fi password ready and select Continue.

12. Wait for the Ring Doorbell to enter setup mode. This is indicated by a spinning white light on the LED. If it doesn’t enter setup mode, press and hold the reset button (the orange button) to the upper-right of the light for ten seconds. The faceplate must be off.
13. Select Got It when asked to join the Ring Wifi Network. 
14. Select Join.  

15. Select your Wi-Fi network, enter the password, and select Continue.

16. Select Got It.
17. Select Continue.

After you complete your doorbell setup, your Ring Doorbell will automatically download and install any available updates. While it’s doing this, the app will walk you through how to physically install your doorbell with a step-by-step guide. You can choose to follow this tutorial or skip it.

If you follow the tutorial, it will demonstrate where to drill holes and how to place the mounting bracket to secure your doorbell to the wall or door. It will also show how to connect your Ring to your doorbell wiring if you want to hardwire it into your home’s power. 

After the Setup

After the tutorial, you can choose whether to invite Shared Users to the Ring Doorbell. This is where you would invite family members to download the app and gain access. You will then be prompted to add Linked Devices; in other words, other Ring devices like doorbells and cameras that you have set up in your home.

If you have an existing doorbell chime, you’ll be asked if you want to connect it. You will then be prompted to optimize motion sensing on the Ring Doorbell. You can skip all of these and return to them later, and you can choose to tweak your settings at any time through the Ring app. 

Setting up a Ring Video Doorbell is a relatively simple process – there are just a lot of steps. Once set up, it integrates into Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant smart home platforms with ease. While it doesn’t officially work with Apple HomeKit, there are unofficial ways to connect it. Do so at your own risk, however, as these methods aren’t proven and aren’t endorsed by Ring. 

The post How to Set Up a Ring Doorbell first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

The best part is that these smart lights can pull you deeper into whatever you’re doing, whether watching a movie or playing your favorite game; all it takes is the Philips Hue Sync app. While it’s called the PC Sync App, it works on Mac devices just as well as on Windows. Here’s how to set it up and how it transforms your entertainment experience.

How The Hue Sync Desktop App Affects Your Entertainment Experience

Imagine that you’re watching a colorful movie (perhaps something from Wes Anderson.) You have Hue lights throughout your living room. You might be used to reaching for the light switch when you start watching a movie, but this time, enable Hue Sync and leave the lights on. 

As the screen shifts from one color to another, so too will your lights. A light strip around your monitor might shift to reflect the colors on the screen, while the individual bulbs throughout your living room change to produce an ambiance that pulls you deeper into the movie. 

The same works for video games, too. If you want greater, more fine-tuned control, an accessory called the Hue Play HDMI Sync Box connects directly to your TV. You can even connect a game console like the Xbox. Rather than using the colors of your computer monitor, the Hue Play HDMI Sync Box takes inputs directly from the console or TV and displays them on your lights.

It’s the ultimate in ambient light effects, but it comes at a cost. You can purchase one of these devices on Amazon for just under $300.

The Philips Hue smart home lighting system is a powerful option if you want to invest in high-end smart lights, but it isn’t budget-friendly. It also requires Wi-Fi to work, so if you prefer to hardwire everything and you don’t have a wireless network, the lights will not work. You can control your Hue with smart assistants like Alexa for even more convenience, too – but unfortunately, you can’t activate entertainment areas with a smart assistant. You have to do this through your phone or computer. 

What You Need to Use Philips Hue Sync

The application is free, but there are specific hardware requirements. First, you’ll need a computer running macOS or Windows. 

You’ll also need a set of Philips Hue lights and a Philips Hue bridge. You can get both at once by purchasing a Hue Starter Kit. While any of Hue’s lineup of connected smart lights will work, color Hue bulbs are the best option. If you plan to use the Hue Sync app to enhance the ambiance of your living room, a light strip with several individual lights will have a greater effect than just a single lightbulb.

How to Set Up And Use Philips Hue Sync

The Philips Hue PC Sync app is a free download from the Philips Hue website. Download it here by selecting Download the Mac or PC app. Alternatively, you can download the application from the Apple App Store, but it has numerous negative reviews. It’s better to download the official version from the site. 

How To Set Up Hue Sync

Once installed, the Hue Sync app is easy to use. 

1. Open the Hue Sync app.
2. There are two options available. For the sake of this article, we will assume you have already set up your Philips Hue smart lights. If not, select Help me set everything up. It will guide you through the process step-by-step. If you have already set up your lights and the Hue bridge, select Search for bridge.

3. Agree to the privacy policy while the application looks for your Hue bridge. Once it finds it, select Connect.

4. Press the physical button on the top of the Hue bridge. After you do this, select the entertainment area you want to use. You can always swap these and edit them later. If this is your first time setting up the Hue Sync app, you might not have entertainment areas set up yet.

5. The Hue Sync app is set up, and now you can use it to enhance the ambiance of your space.

Understanding Entertainment Areas

Once you open the Entertainment Area, you’ll see several options. You can turn the lights on or off by sliding the toggle beside the area’s name or adjusting the brightness with the slider beneath it. You can choose what type of entertainment it reflects between Scenes, Games, Music, and Video. 

The intensity of the effect is seen in one of four settings: Subtle, Moderate, High, or Extreme. This affects the rate at which the colors shift and how frenetic the transitions appear. If you’re watching a slow-paced film, Moderate is a good option. If you’re playing a video game, High or Extreme will be a better choice. These options will better keep up with the action.

With Games and Video, you can choose whether the audio affects the transitions by selecting the toggle beneath the effect strength. Music provides its own set of options in the form of specific color palettes. By selecting the plus sign beneath the preset palettes, you can create your own. 

How To Make Scenes in Philips Hue App

Scenes is a collection of preset color combinations that will appear on your light setup when chosen. If you have only a single lightbulb, you won’t see the full effect of the Scenes – but multiple lights provide a much more engaging experience.

Settings opens a menu that allows you to fine-tune your Hue Sync experience. You can change default app behavior here, but editing or creating a new Hue Entertainment Areas requires using the Philips Hue app on Android or iPhone.

1. Open the Hue app on your mobile device.
2. Select Settings.

3. Select Entertainment areas.

4. Tap the plus sign in the upper-right corner. 
5. Select whether the Entertainment area will be used for watching TV or a movie or for listening to music. (For gaming, choose movies or TV.)

6. Name your Entertainment area and tap Done.

7. Select the lights you want to use in this area and tap Next.

8. Use the diagram provided to position the lights according to their physical location within the room, then tap Next. Position their height with relation to the space and tap Done. 

9. After you complete this step, you can begin using the Entertainment area. Select Done.

The Philips Hue app lets you make the most of your smart lights. While it can initially be time-consuming to set up, once you’ve arranged your lights the way you like them, you can customize them on the fly in no time at all. 

The post How Philips Hue PC Sync Transforms Your Entertainment Experience first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

However, there are times when the app may say that the Philips Hue lights are unreachable. What causes this issue, and what can you do about it? In this article, you’ll learn the most common causes of this problem and how you can fix it and get your Philips Hue light bulbs connected to your overall smart home again.

1. Is Your Mobile Device On the Same Wi-Fi Network?

The most common issue when your Philips Hue lights are unreachable by the Philips Hue app is that your mobile device isn’t on the same network as the Philips Hue hub.

You can check this on your mobile device in a few ways. The first thing to check is that you actually have Wi-Fi enabled on your mobile device. On Android, you can quickly check this by swiping down on the home screen and checking that the Wi-Fi icon is enabled. On iPhone, just check the status bar at the top of the screen for the Wi-Fi icon.

If it is enabled, but Philips Hue lights are still unreachable, you’ll have to dig a little deeper. On Android, open your device Settings menu, select Connections, and look at the network name under Wi-Fi near the selector. On iPhone, choose Settings > Wi-Fi from your home screen. You should see a blue tick next to the name of the network you’re connected to.

If this network name doesn’t match the network connected to your Philips Hue bridge when you first set it up, you’ll need to change your mobile device network to that one before you can control the Philips Hue lights.

2. Make Sure the Philips Hue Lights are Powered On

This may seem like common sense, but you might be surprised how often forgetting a light switch is off leads to Philips Hue lights becoming unreachable by the app. 

Ensure the switches that control the correct Philips Hue bulbs are turned on. And if you’re using a dimmer switch to control the lights, make sure the switch is on, otherwise the lights may not work. Or you can purchase the Hue dimmer switch accessory if you want that feature.

3. Double-Check Philips Hue Bridge Connections

If you know that your mobile device is connected to the same network as your Philips Hue bridge, then the bridge itself is the next thing to check. 

First, trace each of the cables from the back of your Philips Hue bridge and make sure they’re correctly connected.

• The power cord should go to a nearby outlet, and you should be using the original factory power adapter supplied by Philips.
• The ethernet cable from the ethernet port should go into one of the numbered LAN ports on the back of your router. Make sure it isn’t accidentally plugged into the incoming internet port (usually labeled with a globe icon).

If you’ve confirmed everything is wired up correctly, the next thing to check is that the Philips Hue bridge is correctly connected to the network by checking the connection status in the Philips Hue app. 

Launch the app and select Settings at the lower right corner.

This will open the Settings window, where you’ll see all installed bridges listed under Hue Bridges. The status here should be green and Active. Select Hue Bridges and you’ll see the network connection information listed on the next window. This includes the connection status and its network IP address.

If you don’t see a green Connected status or no IP address listed, your Philips Hue bridge could be having a network connection issue. Try the following troubleshooting tips if that’s the case.

• Unplug the power from the Philips Hue bridge, wait a few seconds, and then plug it back in.
• Swap out the ethernet cable connecting the bridge to the router since this cable could be faulty.
• Reset the bridge by turning it over and using a pointed tool to press and hold the reset button for 5 seconds. This button is next to the label restore factory settings. 

If you do have to reset the bridge, you’ll need to go through the setup process again that you walked through when you first installed it.

4. Are the Philips Hue Lights Added to the Correct Room?

If you’ve set up multiple rooms in your Philips Hue app or enabling the switch for a room isn’t turning on the lights, there could be an issue with how you’ve added lights to each room in the app.

To check this, from the main app screen tap the room that you want to check. You should see every Philips Hue listed that you’ve installed and want to control in that room. If you don’t see one of those lights there, you’ll need to add it (usually, this involves moving it from a different room you may have accidentally assigned it to.

To do this, just tap the three dots at the top right corner of the screen in the Room window, and select Edit Room.

The last thing to check is that even if all of your lights are listed in the correct room, one of them could be disabled or turned off individually. You’ll see this if the switch is to the left and the light icon displays as a dark icon.

5. Reboot Your Wi-Fi Router

One thing that most commonly fixes connection issues, both on internal networks and the internet connection itself, is restarting your Wi-Fi router.

To do this, just follow the steps below.

1. Unplug your router’s power plug.
2. Wait at least 30 seconds.
3. Plug the router’s power cable back in.
4. Wait for all router lights to come back in their normal solid or green blinking state.

Once you’ve restarted your router, try connecting to the Philips Hue lights again.

6. Make Sure Your Router Isn’t Blocking the Hue Bridge

While it’s unlikely, there could be a setting in your router that changed and is blocking the Philips Hue bridge connection to the network.

Devices typically aren’t blocked by default, so someone would have had to set this up to cause a problem. But it’s a good idea to confirm that the bridge is at least connected to the router without any problems.

To do this, connect to your default gateway IP (this is usually 129.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1, but you can check this by typing the ipconfig command into the Command Prompt).

Log into your router as an administrator, and under the network connections menu (this varies from router to router), find the Devices option.

You should see all connected devices and their connection type. Since it’s likely that the Philips Hue bridge is one of the few devices connected via ethernet, you should see it listed with that connection type. 

The last four digits of the Device name will match the serial number on the back of your Philips Hue bridge.

Ensure this device isn’t blocked by checking Service Blocking or Device Blocking under Parental Controls (again, this may vary between routers).

Usually, this list will be blank. If you do see the Philips Hue bridge listed here, just remove it from the list.

It also can’t hurt to check that the router’s ethernet port properly detects a connected device. Check the Ethernet menu option in the router and look for anything other than Disconnected for the port number the Hue bridge is connected to.

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If the status is Disconnected, try switching your Philips Hue bridge to a different router ethernet port to see if that fixes this issue with your Philips Hue lights being unreachable. If you had to fix any of these settings, it’s likely your Philips Hue lights will reconnect.

7. Test a Replacement Philips Hue Bulb

Whether all of your bulbs aren’t connected, or it’s just a single bulb with a problem, it can’t hurt to purchase a single Philips Hue smart light to test if installing it fixes the problem.

If all of your lights aren’t working and a new light fixes one of them, maybe you’ll need to replace all bulbs as well.

Hopefully the troubleshooting tips above have helped you get reconnected with your smart lights!

The post Philips Hue Lights Unreachable? 7 Things to Try first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Shopping with Amazon Alexa goes beyond ordering a product. You can create shopping lists, reorder previous items, browse recommendations, and get delivery updates.

In this article, we’ll walk you through all the available options.

What Can You Buy With Alexa?

Everything you can buy from Amazon can be purchased using Alexa.

What you might not know, however, is that Amazon has expanded to groceries and prescription medications.

You can purchase groceries through Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market, now available in select cities. Visit each storefront and sign in with your Amazon account to see if they service your area.

If you’re interested in prescriptions through Amazon Pharmacy, visit that storefront, enter your insurance information and receive details.

If you’re familiar with grocery or prescription shopping through Amazon, read on to see how to add items to your cart or list with Alexa.

Buy Items with Alexa Voice Shopping

Making purchases is a great way to use Alexa, including adding items to your shopping cart and reordering things you buy regularly using 1-Click. 

If you want to buy items directly with Alexa, you can enable Voice Purchasing. Open the Alexa app on your Android or iOS device and select More at the bottom.

1. Pick Settings.
2. Choose Account Settings.
3. Open Voice Purchasing.

4. Select Purchase Controls and choose an option. You can allow only recognized voices, set up a four-digit code, or allow anyone to buy items.
5. Tap the arrow to go back and select Payment Settings. You’ll see that all transactions use the same 1-Click method offered on Amazon.com. Tap Edit Payment Method to choose a different card if necessary.

To find out more about Voice Purchasing, you can select Learn more below Manage voice purchasing preferences.

You can then continue to tap the arrow on the top left to exit the Account Settings.

Voice Commands

Once you set up Voice Purchasing, you can order items easily.

You can use simple commands like these:

• “Alexa, reorder coffee.”
• “Alexa, refill my prescriptions.”
• “Alexa, add vitamins to my cart.”
• “Alexa, order laundry detergent.”
• “Alexa, checkout my cart.”

If you change your mind about an order, just say, “Alexa, cancel my order.”

Manage Your Shopping Lists

The nice thing about shopping with Alexa is that you can manage your lists using your Amazon Echo or the Alexa app on your mobile device. With both methods, you’ll see your lists sync immediately in the mobile app.

Create a New Shopping List

To use your voice to create a list, say something like, “Alexa, create a Grocery list” or “Alexa, make a new Gift list”. The key is to give Alexa the name for your list.

Alexa will then ask what you’d like to add to your new list. You can answer with an item or say “nothing” to add to it later.

To use the Alexa app to create a list, start by selecting More at the bottom.

1. Choose Lists & Notes near the top.
2. Confirm you’re on the Lists tab and tap the plus sign next to Create List.
3. Enter a List Name and press Return or Enter on the keyboard.

Similar to creating a list with your voice, you’ll be prompted to add an item to your list. Tap Add Item to enter one or the back arrow on the top left to return to the Lists screen and add one later.

Add or Remove List Items

To add items to a shopping list with your voice, use the name of the list and the item you want to add. For instance, “Alexa, add milk to my Grocery list” or “Alexa, add sneakers to my Gift list”.

To remove items you’ve purchased, you can say “Alexa, remove bread from my Grocery List” or “Alexa, mark off scarf on my Gift list”.

To add items using the Alexa app, select More at the bottom.

1. Choose Lists & Notes.
2. Pick the list name on the Lists tab.
3. Select Add Item.
4. Enter the item and press Return or Enter on the keyboard.

To remove items in the app, follow the same steps above to open the list. Then, tap the item’s checkbox or slide the item from left to right.

Delete a Shopping List

If you have a list you no longer need, you can remove it easily. Using your voice, say “Alexa, delete my Gift list”. Alexa will ask you to confirm.

In the Alexa app, open More > Lists & Notes.

On the Lists tab slide the list from right to left and pick Delete. Alternatively, select the list to open it, tap the three dots on the top right, and pick Delete List in the pop-up at the bottom.

Notice, you can also Archive a list if you prefer not to Delete it.

Check on Your Orders, Returns, and Deliveries

Purchasing products is only one part of the shopping process. After you buy something, you want it to arrive, right? You can ask Alexa for updates on orders, returns, and deliveries.

To allow Alexa to provide this information or to keep Alexa from spoiling surprises, simply adjust the settings in the mobile app or online.

Access Notifications for Alexa on Amazon.com

If you happen to be doing some online shopping on the Amazon website, you can easily navigate to the Alexa Shopping Notifications section.

Open the menu below your Amazon username on the top right and select Account. On the following screen, scroll down to Communication and content and select Alexa shopping notifications.

You’ll then see your notification options with toggles on the right to turn them on or off. For a description of each, see below.

Access Notifications in the Mobile App

If you want to adjust your notifications in the Alexa app, start by selecting More at the bottom.

1. Choose Settings.
2. Select Notifications.
3. Pick Amazon Shopping.

Then select the options you want by turning on the toggles.

Alexa Shopping Notifications

The five sections at the top of the notification list are specific to shopping.

• Say or Show Item Titles: To hear the titles or names of products you’ve ordered or returned, turn on the toggles to the right. If you are gift shopping and want to keep these private, turn them off.
• Delivery Notifications: Receive alerts when your items are out for delivery, delivered, or both.
• Returns: Receive notifications about items you’ve returned.
• Order Updates: Receive notifications about items you’ve ordered.
• Shopping Recommendations: Receive recommendations for deals, reorders, or both based on your shopping activity

Once you’ve updated your Alexa Shopping Notifications, you can ask Alexa about various things based on your choices. Try commands like these:

• “Alexa, what are my notifications?” for all notifications.
• “Alexa, where’s my order?” for order and delivery status.
• “Alexa, find gifts for Valentine’s Day.” for gift recommendations.
• “Alexa, are there any good deals today?” for today’s deals.
• “Alexa, are there deals on shoes?” for deals on product types.

If you want to shop with Alexa on one of Amazon’s smart speakers, you have many ways to do it. For purchasing household items, apparel, gifts, food, and pharmaceuticals, it doesn’t get any easier.

For more, take a look at this list of over 50 useful Alexa skills and commands!

The post How to Shop With Alexa for All Your Shopping first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Philips Hue smart lights come in many varieties. Starter kits are the best value, with four white bulbs and the Hue bridge starting at $59.99, or four white and colored lights with the Hue bridge starting at $199.99. You can also purchase other Hue products like smart lightstrips from the Philips website or buy them from Amazon.

Whichever product you start with, the installation and setup process is roughly the same. You’ll need to install the new Hue smart light bulbs, physically connect the bridge to your router, set up Philips Hue software on your Android or iPhone and/or your computer, and configure the smart bulbs. In this guide, we’ll step you through the entire process.

Connect Philips Hue Lights Hardware

Before you can set up the Philips Hue apps and start controlling the new lights via your Wi-Fi network, you’ll need to connect the Hue system, including the Philips Hue Bridge and the Philips Hue light bulbs.

The first thing you’ll want to do is take the bulbs from the box and install them into the light fixtures where you’d like to use them.

Once installed, turn on the light switch to power the bulbs. Keep in mind that if your lighting system is controlled by a dimmer switch, you’ll need to place the dimmer in the full on position for the lights to work properly.

The Philips Hue bulbs may or may not light up immediately, but you don’t have to worry about that right now.

Remove the Philips Hue bridge from the box and place it next to your internet router. There are two connections on the back of the bridge, the power port, and the ethernet port.

Plug the included power adapter into the power port and install the plug into an outlet or power strip. 

Second, install one end of the included ethernet cable into the LAN port of the bridge, and plug the other end into an available LAN port on the back of your internet router.

Make sure to install it into one of the numbered LAN ports, not in the internet port (usually, this has a globe icon to identify it). That port is your main internet connection coming from your cable, fiber, or DSL modem.

The Philips Hue bridge should now have all lights active in a dark or light blue color. If any of these are not lit up or a different color, unplug the bridge and plug it back in again.

With both your Philips Hue bulbs and Philips Hue bridge powered up, and the bridge connected to your home internet, you’re ready to install the apps and start using your smart lights.

Setting Up the Philips Hue App

You can download the Philips Hue app for Android from the Google Play Store or for iOS from the Apple app store.

When you first launch the Philips Hue app, you’ll need to add your lights to a “room” in your house. A room, in the app, is a designated area of your home where the lights are installed.

To do this, select the three dots at the top right corner of the app window, and select Add lights.

When you tap that, it’ll open the Add lights wizard. You can either add lights by typing in the serial number from each bulb or using the Search button. 

The Search button enables the bridge to scan your local area for the presence of the bulbs and automatically identify them. If the bridge can locate the bulbs (maybe because they’re too far away from the Philips Hue bridge, just add them by serial number instead.

Once you’ve added the bulbs, you’ll need to add a new room to the app. To do this, select the three dots at the top right corner again, and this time select Add new Room or Zone.

This will open a new wizard for this. Select Room, and on the next screen you can select the type or room you’re adding, like Living Room or Office. On the final page, you’ll need to select the lights you want to assign to that room.

Once you select Done, your Philips Hue app is set up, and you’re ready to start controlling your Philips Hue lights!

Using the Philips Hue App

Now, whenever you open the Hue app on your mobile device, you’ll see the rooms available to control. When you select a room, you can control individual bulbs (brightness or color) or select a “scene”, which is a pre-programmed color combination that sets a certain mood or ambiance in the room.

You can also use the single switch at the top of the Room window to control all of the bulbs assigned to that room at once.

There are several additional very cool features and functionality available in the Philips Hue app.

• Automations: Choose from creative ways to automate your lights, like turning them on or off to a timer or having them turn on or off when you arrive or leave home.
• Entertainment Areas: Assign specific bulbs to entertainment “areas” in a room in your house so that you can sync them with media or music playing in that room via your computer (see below).
• Voice Assistants: Connect with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa so that you can control your lights via voice command. This also lets you control your lights via the Assistant app, your Google Home app, the Amazon Alexa app, or your Amazon Echo.
• Widgets: Customize a widget for your mobile device’s home screen. Before this works in the app, you’ll need to long-press the home screen and add the Philips Hue widget from there. Then, go back to the app to customize it. 

How to Sync Philips Hue Lights With In-Room Media

There are three ways that you can have your lights automatically change color to match movies, music, or other media you’re enjoying in that room.

• Connect the app with your Spotify account.
• Purchase the Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box. 
• Download and install the Philips Hue Sync software for Windows or Mac.

For the most control at the lowest cost, the Philips Hue Sync desktop app is the way to go.

So long as you’ve created Entertainment Areas with the Philips Hue mobile app, you’ll see those listed in the desktop Philips Hue Sync application.

Before you can do this though, you’ll need to select Settings and then select Philips hue from the left menu. Select Connect new bridge if you haven’t connected the app to your bridge yet.

You can also select Entertainment areas from the left menu to see what areas are available for you to control.

Select General preferences from the left menu to configure exactly how syncing behaves when launching the app. 

You can configure:

• Whether the Sync program starts on system startup
• Start Syncing automatically with media you play whenever the Sync app launches
• Enable “background” lighting, which will ensure you’re never left in the dark even if the movie you’re watching goes completely black.

When you’re ready to watch the media and have your lights sync with it, just select the Start light sync button at the bottom and enjoy the immersive show!

The post How to Connect Philips Hue Lights first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Of course, it can only do this if it has a solid Wi-Fi connection. Without Wi-Fi, Google Assistant can’t sync with your smart home devices, your Google Nest products, or basically any of the traits that make it so useful. Here is how to connect Google Home to Wi-Fi.

How to Connect Google Home to Wi-Fi

There are two ways to connect your Google Home device to your Wi-Fi network. The first is during the setup process of the device. The second is through the Google Home app.

How to Connect Google Home to Wi-Fi During Setup

If you have a brand-new Google Home or Google Nest device, you can connect it to Wi-Fi during the setup phase. In fact, you’ll be required to. If you have already connected a previous device to Wi-Fi, it will automatically detect your Wi-Fi network and attempt to connect without any further input from you.

1. Select the device you want to set up.

2. It will begin connecting to your new device.

3. Listen for the chime from the device. This confirms it has connected to the correct Google Nest device.

4. Continue through the on-screen setup instructions until you reach the Wi-Fi screen. Select your Wi-Fi network.

After you have connected the device to Wi-Fi, you’ll have several more options to select from. Google Assistant will walk you through every step of the setup process, but you can also choose to skip most of this and do it later.

How to Connect Google Home to Wi-Fi from Google Home App

If you’ve set up a new router and you need to connect your device to the new Wi-Fi network (or you’re troubleshooting other issues), you can connect your Google devices to Wi-Fi through the Google Home app.

1. Select your device within the Google Home app.

2. In the top-right corner, select Settings > Device Information.

3. Select Wi-Fi.

4. Select Forget This Network.

5. Confirm your choice by selecting Forget Wi-Fi network again.
6. This returns you back to the home screen for the Google Home app. From here, follow the steps above to re-setup your device and connect it to the proper Wi-Fi network.

Troubleshooting Google Home

There are times when your Google Home app or your Google Nest device might suffer connectivity issues. If this happens, there are several things you can do to clear up these problems.

Update the Google Home App

If your Google Home app is out of date, it might not connect to your Wi-Fi network. Update the app on your iPhone or Android device. Ensure that you have granted the proper permissions to your app.

Move the Device Closer to the Router

In theory, your new device should work as long as it can connect to your wireless network. However, sometimes it’s easier to connect it to the Internet if it’s closer to the router. Once connected, unplug it and move it to where you want to keep it.

Power Cycle Your Device

Unplug your Google Nest device from the wall for roughly one minute before plugging it back in. This will perform a soft reset of the device that can solve many common issues.

Reset Your Router

Sometimes the problem lies with your router itself. You can perform a reset of the router the same way you would your Google device. Unplug it from the wall for at least sixty seconds before reconnecting it. Remember that your router will need time to reconnect, so give it several minutes before you test your device again.

Perform a Factory Reset

If all else fails and you can’t connect your Google Nest device to your wireless network, you might need to start from scratch. You can perform a factory reset of the devices by following the correct steps. We have a full guide on how to reset these devices. 

Can Google Home Devices Work on Hotel Wi-Fi?

Some people try to take their smart assistants with them while traveling. While the devices can lend quite a bit of utility to your day-to-day life, using them on hotel Wi-Fi is difficult for several reasons.

While it can be done, hotels tend to isolate individual connections for security reasons. This makes it difficult for your mobile device to see your Google Nest device, even if you have an internet connection.

The “easiest method” (that still requires extra accessories) is to invest in a travel router that you can connect to the hotel Wi-Fi over Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Once you have this router up and running, you can connect your Google Nest device to it. You’ll need to follow the setup process just like you would at home. Think of the travel router as a sort of adapter to ensure the proper operation of your Google Home device.

There are a lot of benefits to connecting Google Home to Wi-Fi outside of just asking it questions or having your voice assistant read your morning news. Your Google Home device can control your smart TV through Roku, alert you to notifications within your Google account, and can even start up game consoles for you.

Follow the steps above to ensure your Google Home device is connected to the internet. You’ll be up and using Chromecast like a pro in no time. 

The post How to Connect Google Home to Wi-Fi first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

From jokes and stories to games and Easter Eggs, this list of 10 cool Alexa tricks will keep you entertained.

1. Ask Alexa to Sing to You

Whether you enjoy rap, love cats, or want a moment of praise, Alexa can sing you a song. Try one of these little ditties.

• “Alexa, give me a rap.”
• “Alexa, give it up for science.”
• “Alexa, sing a song about cats.”
• “Alexa, sing a Thank You song.”
• “Alexa, sing ‘America the Beautiful’.”
• “Alexa, sing a song about space.”
• “Alexa, sing a blues song.”
• “Alexa, sing a barbershop quartet.”
• “Alexa, sing a football song.”

Want to hear how far Alexa’s musical talent goes? Say “Alexa, beatbox for me”. You won’t regret it!

For more music from Alexa on your Amazon Echo, open the Alexa app and go to More > Skills & Games. Then select Categories > Music & Audio. 

Along with recommendations and trending Skills, you’ll see relaxing sounds and podcast options.

2. Ask Alexa to Tell You a Joke

It’s simple enough to say “Alexa, tell me a joke” but if you have a particular theme in mind, Alexa will comply.

You can ask for a joke about animals, light bulbs, coffee, Star Trek, Star Wars, programmers, Jimmy Fallon, autumn, food, zombies, ghosts, Halloween, dads, barbecue, video games, and the list goes on.

For a puzzling joke each day, you can also ask “Alexa, what’s the riddle of the day?” for a good giggle.

3. Learn a Prank From Alexa

If you’re a jokester yourself, you can get some terrific ideas from Alexa. Start with “Alexa, teach me a prank.”

You can learn how to gross someone out by eating from a mayonnaise jar or make them curse when their computer mouse doesn’t work. Just keep in mind when payback time comes, the person you’re pranking might also use Alexa and Amazon Echo for ideas.

4. Ask Alexa About Shows and Movies Books

You may not realize it, but Alexa has quite a memory for TV shows and movies. If you want to hear a response from a famous line or give an instruction, try one of these:

• “Alexa, you had me at hello.”
• “Alexa, there’s always money in the banana stand.”
• “Alexa, eat my shorts!”
• “Alexa, E.T. phone home.”
• “Alexa, I need more cowbell.”
• “Alexa, speak Klingon.”
• “Alexa, begin my Jedi lesson.”

If you’re interested in Skills for TV and movies, you can check out this category in the Alexa app. Go to More > Skills & Games and then select Categories > Movies & TV. 

You’ll see everything from top Skills to featured ones and you can use the search at the top for something specific.

5. Ask Alexa to Play a Game

Taking a break from your day and feel like playing a game? You can put down that recently played game on your cell phone and have some fun with this cool Alexa trick instead.

Here are some games you might enjoy:

• “Alexa, play Common Knowledge.”
• “Alexa, play Twenty Questions.”
• “Alexa, start the Weird Word Quiz.”
• “Alexa, open Queen Trivia Challenge.”
• “Alexa, play Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”
• “Alexa, play Jeopardy!”

You can also add games via Skills through the Alexa app. Go to More > Skills & Games and then select Categories > Games & Trivia. 

You’ll see recommended Alexa Skills, trending game Skills, and even games for kids to enjoy.

6. Ask Alexa to Be Creative

Alexa can be just as creative as a writer or poet, well, almost. You can ask to hear a story, poem, or limerick. 

Here are several things to try:

• “Alexa, tell me a story.”
• “Alexa, give me a bad poem.”
• “Alexa, read me a spooky story.”
• “Alexa, tell me a poem by Robert Frost.”
• “Alexa, tell me a limerick.”
• “Alexa, tell me a St. Patrick’s Day limerick.”
• “Alexa, tell me a winter poem.”

To see what Skills are available for stories and poems in the Alexa app, just do a search. Tap the search icon at the top, enter “story” or “poem,” and tap Search.

You’ll see a nice collection of story and poem Skills for adults and children.

7. Ask Alexa for Celebrity Voices

Want to meet Samuel L. Jackson, Shaquille O’Neal, or Melissa McCarthy? Ask “Alexa, introduce me to Samuel L. Jackson” or one of the others. You’ll hear about the types of things you can do on your Amazon Echo courtesy of the voices of these stars.

Just note, after hearing the descriptions, Alexa may ask if you’d like to purchase the voice with a one-time payment, which is currently $4.99. 

8. Follow Alexa on TikTok

If you ask, “Alexa, are you on TikTok?” you’ll hear a resounding “Yes”! Alexa will let you know the handle is @alexa99.

You can open TikTok on your mobile device, tap the search icon at the top, and type in Alexa’s handle. You’ll see the official Alexa account indicated by the icon. Tap to view details and then select Follow to jump on board.

Then browse through the various videos for ways that other users make the most of Alexa on their Amazon device.

9. Find an Easter Egg

You know about Easter Eggs, those hidden messages or images you can find tucked away in things like software or video games? Well, Alexa hides Easter Eggs too! Say “Alexa, find me an Easter egg.”

Alexa will speak your clue and it’s up to you to figure it out and respond correctly. 

10. Just for Fun

If you just feel like messing around with Alexa to see what kind of responses you get, here are several cool phrases to say.

• “Alexa, scream.”
• “Alexa, surprise me.”
• “Alexa, what’s up?”
• “Alexa, who inspires you?”
• “Alexa, let’s have fun.”
• “Alexa, talk like a pirate.”
• “Alexa, share the love.”

Let us know if you’ve found any hidden gems or have recommended Alexa Skills for Amazon Echo!

The post 10 Cool Alexa Tricks to Try With Your Amazon Echo first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

As it turns out, sunlight is a driving factor in our moods, as it provides us with vitamin D, which can help increase the mood-boosting chemical serotonin in our brains. Light itself also helps our bodies maintain the circadian rhythm, which tells our bodies when to wake up and when to fall asleep. 

For those suffering from SAD, researchers found that light therapy can be immensely helpful in elevating mood. Light therapy is when you expose yourself to a bright light source for at least 30 minutes, typically starting during fall when natural levels of sunlight begin to lessen. 

Although light therapy doesn’t give us vitamin D as sunlight does, it has proven to help beat wintertime depression. 

Using Philips Hue Bulbs for Light Therapy

There are many devices available for light therapy. Typically, they only have one setting and are extremely bright. If you decide to use Philips Hue Bulbs, you can control how your lighting appears. There are multiple ways you can use these bulbs for light therapy. 

Hue bulbs are connected to your home Wi-Fi network, and you can use the Philips Hue app on your smartphone to control these bulbs. There are many different light settings, and you can also set up automations. 

You can set routines that turn on or change the light to certain settings. They are a great way to start light therapy as it’s automatic, so you don’t even need to worry about setting up your lights every day. 

Here’s how to use Automations for light therapy:

1. In the Philips Hue app, tap on Automations at the bottom menu.

2. If you haven’t set up an Automation before, you can select Create automation. 

3. Tap on the Custom option, or the blue plus icon in the top right corner if you have opened Automations before. 

4. Choose what time of day you want the automation to occur. This should be the time you want to either wake up or when you want to do light therapy. Tap on Next.

5. Select the lights you want to use for this automation.

6. On the next screen, tap on the lights and select what kind of lighting you want to occur at this set time. For light therapy, you’ll want to set it to Bright or Energize options. These will also work well for wake-up lights. When you’re done, tap Next.

7. Name your automation. 

You can also use Hue Labs formulas for a more customized experience. To use these, follow these steps:

1. In the Philips Hue app, select the Automations tab at the bottom. 

2. Underneath Other, tap on Hue Labs. 

3. To look through the Hue Labs formulas, tap on the Formulas option in the top left corner. 

4. Find a formula you want to use with your Hue lights, and tap on the Try it! button. 

5. Go through the settings and customize them how you wish. When you’re done, tap Install at the bottom. 

6. You can change your formulas by tapping on the Hue Labs Controls tab at the bottom of the page. You can also stop the formulas whenever you wish. 

What Light Settings Work Best?

You can use many settings with your Hue smart lightbulbs, so which ones are the best to improve your mood?

The answer may be different depending on your personal preferences. Below is a list of scene settings that may work well for specific situations. 

For more energy: The Energize or Concentrate scenes are great for gaining more energy. If you want to do custom lighting, anything that includes some blue and white hues will help with energy.

To improve mood: Try using yellow hues to enhance your mood, such as those in the Bright or Savanna Sunset scenes.

To relax: For relaxation, lower the intensity of the light. For example, use pink or red hues such as those in the Dusk or Tropical Twilight scenes. 

To wake up: Use bright light settings and use blue or yellow hues. Bright or Energize scene settings are suitable for this.

To go to sleep: Avoid any blue hues when you’re trying to sleep. Yellow, orange or red will help your brain begin to relax before bedtime. The Nightlight or Dimmed settings are good choices.

If You’re Experiencing Low Moods

You could be experiencing seasonal affective disorder if you find that your mood is consistently low and you’re having a hard time doing things you typically enjoy. This often happens during winter.

Light therapy can be a good aid, but it shouldn’t be used as a cure if the feeling persists. Ensure you see a doctor or therapist. Other lifestyle changes such as diet or exercise can be a factor in improving mood. Facing a mental health condition should be cared for carefully, and only a doctor can help you navigate this. 

If you are doing these things already, adding light therapy can be very beneficial, and the Hue lights are a great way to customize your lighting experience. 

The post How to Use Philips Hue Bulbs for Light Therapy first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Amazon makes it easy to change Alexa’s language. There are several ways to do this, and you aren’t limited to just a single language–Alexa can speak more than one language at a time. Here’s how to make the change.

What Languages Does Alexa Speak?

At the time of writing, Alexa can speak in eight different languages and several dialects. If the language you want isn’t one of them, don’t give up–Amazon constantly brings more languages and support to the Alexa platform, so there is a good chance any major language will be added in the future. 

Alexa speaks:

• English
• Spanish
• English/Spanish (English primary, Spanish secondary)
• Spanish/English (Spanish primary, English secondary)
• German
• German/English (German primary, English secondary)
• Canadian English
• Indian English
• Australian English
• French
• Italian
• Portuguese
• Hindi
• Chinese

How to Change Alexa’s Language

If you decide to change Alexa’s language, you’ll need to do so device-by-device. You can’t change all of your devices at once. The good news is, it’s easy to make the change no matter which Echo device you use.

First, open the Alexa app. Tap More > Settings > Device Settings and select the Echo device you want to change. Scroll down and tap Language, and then select the language you want to use. The options are divided into two sections.

The first section consists of fully-supported languages. In the United States, that means English and Spanish. The second section consists of supported languages that may have some compatibility errors due to location–which means certain Alexa functions won’t be supported.

If you choose a language that isn’t supported, you will receive a warning that says “The selected language does not match your Amazon Account and is not fully supported in your country.” Tap OK to continue and finalize the change.

If you don’t like the way the new language works with Alexa, just follow the above steps to change the language back to English.

One thing to note is that there are multiple versions of English that you can swap between. For example, you might want Alexa to speak with a British or Australian accent. Don’t be afraid to play around with the language options until you find the one that best suits you.

How to Turn On Bilingual Mode

Alexa is capable of speaking two languages at once. Once activated, all you have to do is speak to Alexa in one of the two languages and it will respond in turn. For example, you can ask a question in Spanish and receive an answer in Spanish.

Think of it a bit like Whisper Mode, Alexa’s intelligent response algorithm. If you speak to Alexa in a whisper, she will respond quietly. If you speak in a normal voice, she responds at normal volume.

In the same way, Alexa is able to differentiate between different languages and speakers and respond accordingly. You can ask a question in English and receive an answer in English, while someone else can speak Spanish and receive a Spanish-language answer.

To activate this mode, just say “Alexa, speak English and Spanish.” When you speak to Alexa in English, she will respond in English, and vice-versa with Spanish. However, on-screen text is displayed in the primary language.

If at any point you want Alexa to stop speaking the second language, just say, “Alexa, stop speaking Spanish (or whichever language you chose.)” This will restore Alexa to the default language–in most cases, English.

Why Change Alexa’s Language?

Although the process to change Alexa’s language is easy, you might not see the point. After all, why have Alexa speak another language other than your own? There are a few reasons.

The first is if you have a family member who doesn’t speak English, you can give them the ability to use Alexa. If they are visiting from abroad, it’s an easy way to make them feel a bit more welcome in what might be a strange country. For example, they could order takeout, get directions to local attractions, and more. All using their own language.

The second reason is that it gives you an easy way to practice a second language. If you’re trying to learn one of the supported languages, talking to Alexa is one way to test your pronunciation. If Alexa understands your request, you know you’re on the right track. 

If you aren’t satisfied with the language on your Echo or you just want Alexa to be multilingual, follow the steps above to change the language. It won’t take long, and if you don’t like it, well–you can always change it back.

The post How to Change Alexa Language to Spanish and Other Languages first appeared on Online Tech Tips.