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Get started with a smart speaker and Alexa

A smart speaker plays sound and responds to spoken requests. Echo is Amazon’s device family; Alexa is the assistant on it. Other brands use different assistants. Many features need an internet connection, and music services may need separate subscriptions.

2 min read·Smart speaker· 5 steps
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Before you start

  • Have home Wi-Fi, its password and the speaker’s supplied power adapter.
  • For Echo, have an Amazon account and the official Alexa app.

Step 1 of 5: Choose a useful position

Place the speaker on a stable surface near power. Choose a room where you will use timers or radio, rather than buying several devices at once.

Step 2 of 5: Follow its setup instructions

Plug it in and open the official companion app. Add the device when prompted, sign in and select your home Wi-Fi. The exact buttons depend on the speaker model.

Step 3 of 5: Try a short request

For Echo, say ‘Alexa, set a timer for one minute.’ Wait for the response. Say ‘Alexa, cancel the timer’ to practise stopping it.

Step 4 of 5: Review privacy and purchases

In the Alexa app, open More, then Alexa Privacy to review recording controls. Review voice purchasing separately and disable it if unwanted. Show everyone in the home the microphone-off button.

Step 5 of 5: Add only what you need

Try weather, a shopping list or your preferred radio station. Check any subscription or account-linking request before accepting it; a speaker purchase does not include every service.

Try it for yourself

Your small practice task.

Set a short timer, cancel it and locate the microphone-off button.

Completing the guide records your progress here; it does not check your device settings.

Path overview Finish this path

A common question.

Can Alexa hear requests when its microphone is switched off?

No. On supported Echo models the microphone-off button disconnects the microphones, and the red indicator shows that voice requests are unavailable.

Official help, if you need it.

These links provide the product’s own instructions or relevant public guidance. Settings can differ by model and software version.