What to Know

  • In the Alexa app, tap Communicate > Get Started. Follow the on-screen directions to set up your device for calling and messaging.Use the phrases “Alexa, send a message” or “Alexa, make a call” to send texts and make phone calls.To send a text from the app, tap Communication > Message and choose a contact, then compose your text and send it.

Set Up Alexa for Calling and Messaging

If you don’t have the Alexa app already installed on your smartphone, you must first download and install it. Once you have the app set up, then you can come back to these instructions to enable Alexa Communications.

Tap the Communicate icon at the bottom of the screen.

On the Communicate screen, you see a welcome message. Tap Get Started.

On the next screen, select your name from the list that appears and tap Continue.

You’re prompted to grant Alexa access to your phone’s contacts. Tap Allow.

You must grant Alexa permission to access your contacts. This is how the device knows who to send your voice messages and calls to. If you don’t want to grant Alexa this access, you won’t be able to use this feature of the device.

When prompted, enter your mobile phone number and follow the instructions to verify that number. Alexa uses your mobile device for sending messages and making calls.

Once you verify your phone number, the process for setting up Alexa messaging and calling is complete. Now you can use your voice to stay in touch with friends and family.

Send Messages and Make Calls With An Alexa Device

  • Using an Alexa device say “Alexa, send a message.” or “Alexa make a call.”
  • Alexa responds with “To whom?”
  • Tell Alexa the name of the person you want to communicate with.
  • When you tell Alexa who you want to message or call, you should use the exact name listed in the contacts on your Mobile device. If not, it may get confused. Fortunately, it does repeat back the name of the person you want to reach, so if you’re paying attention you should catch any mistakes.
  • Once you have the recipient set, Alexa asks “What’s the message?”
  • Speak the message you want to send. When you finish speaking, there’s a short pause and then Alexa says, “Got it. Should I send it?”
  • Response “Yes” and Alexa sends the message to the person you selected.

Send a Text Message From the Alexa App

Sending messages using the Alexa app differs from the device just a bit.

Using an Alexa device say “Alexa, send a message.” or “Alexa make a call.”

Alexa responds with “To whom?”

Tell Alexa the name of the person you want to communicate with.

When you tell Alexa who you want to message or call, you should use the exact name listed in the contacts on your Mobile device. If not, it may get confused. Fortunately, it does repeat back the name of the person you want to reach, so if you’re paying attention you should catch any mistakes.

Once you have the recipient set, Alexa asks “What’s the message?”

Speak the message you want to send. When you finish speaking, there’s a short pause and then Alexa says, “Got it. Should I send it?”

Response “Yes” and Alexa sends the message to the person you selected.

  • If you’re using the Alexa app on your smartphone, select Message on the Communication page.
  • Choose a contact on the Start Conversation page.
  • Once you select a contact, you’re taken to the messaging screen for that person. If they have an Echo device that’s connected to your household, you see three icons at the top: Call, Video Call, and Drop In.
  • The Drop In feature is only available to Alexa devices within the same household. For privacy reasons, you cannot drop in on an Alexa device that belongs to a different household.
  • If you want to send a text message, enter the message into the Type your message text box at the bottom of the screen. You can also tap the blue microphone icon to send a voice message.
  • When you’re done, the microphone icon changes to an upward arrow. Tap that icon to send the message.
  • Your message is delivered to the Echo devices that person owns and/or to the Alexa app on their phone. If the person doesn’t own an Alexa device, the message is sent to their text app.

If you’re using the Alexa app on your smartphone, select Message on the Communication page.

Choose a contact on the Start Conversation page.

Once you select a contact, you’re taken to the messaging screen for that person. If they have an Echo device that’s connected to your household, you see three icons at the top: Call, Video Call, and Drop In.

The Drop In feature is only available to Alexa devices within the same household. For privacy reasons, you cannot drop in on an Alexa device that belongs to a different household.

If you want to send a text message, enter the message into the Type your message text box at the bottom of the screen. You can also tap the blue microphone icon to send a voice message.

When you’re done, the microphone icon changes to an upward arrow. Tap that icon to send the message.

Your message is delivered to the Echo devices that person owns and/or to the Alexa app on their phone. If the person doesn’t own an Alexa device, the message is sent to their text app.

The recipient also gets a notice on the Alexa app. They can view the message as text within the Alexa app or listen to the voice recording of the message. Users who don’t have the Alexa app on their phone receive a text message through their mobile carrier with the voice message attached as well.

Make Calls With Alexa

Where the process differs is if you’re using your Alexa app to make a call from your mobile device. Rather than routing the call through the Alexa device, it routes the call through your smartphone, leveraging your mobile network to make the call. You can still use the app to call Alexa devices (and make video calls to Alexa Show devices).

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