Using Alexa On Your iPhone

You can access Amazon's Alexa assistant on your iPhone, but you don't do it through the Alexa app. Instead, you use the Amazon shopping app. You can access the same information and services that you do on an Echo device.

Video Transcript: So one of the most popular gifts over the holidays was one of the Amazon devices that you use to speak to Alexa. You know one of the Echos or Echo Dots. These are very popular, and of course there is really no way to access Siri in the same way. Apple is coming out with something called the HomePod later this year. But for now these devices are really cheap and it's easy to have Alexa throughout your house and you can ask about the weather, do shopping, and all sorts of things. 
But how can you access Alexa when you're not in your house? It seems like there is two opposites. Siri that you can access on your phone when you're out or at home and Alexa that you can only access when you're home near your device. But you can actually access Alexa from your iPhone. There's a way to do it through an app but it's not how you might think. 
So, you may already have downloaded the Amazon Alexa app which allows you to configure your Echo device and you can setup preferences and all sorts of things. You can even see your previous conversations. You would think that you would be able to use that and actually talk to Alexa through your phone. But you can't. So you think there is no way to do it. But there is!
The trick is to use the regular Amazon app. So the Amazon app itself, the one you use for shopping, this is where you can talk to Alexa on your iPhone when you're not at home. Or even when you are at home. 
So the trick is, of course, that you need to be logged in because you're using your Amazon account with Alexa so just like you would be logged in on your Echo you would want to login in the app. Once you're logged in you'll notice there's an Alexa icon at the top right just below the shopping cart. You tap that and now you can talk to Alexa. You don't even have to say Alexa before hand. 
So let's give it a try. Weather. Right now in Denver it's 13 degrees and with mostly sunny skies. Throughout the day you can expect more of the same with the high of 44 degrees and a low of 13 degrees. What's 824 times 17. 824 multiplied by 17 is 14,008. What's the population of New York City. The population of New York City is about 8,180,000. Give me my flash news briefing. Here's your flash briefing. From KMGH Denver 7 in Denver.
You can just press to stop at anytime that you want. You get little playback controls even in some cases like this with my news briefing. So it's really handy. A really easy way to access your information and use Alexa while on the go if you prefer to use Alexa over Siri. Or maybe you're already just using Alexa's whole ecosystem with messages and other things that you're doing with Alexa and you want to be able to do that even when you're not at home or maybe you're not in the room where your Amazon Echo is located.

Comments: 13 Responses to “Using Alexa On Your iPhone”

Peter Jenkins

6 years ago

This doesn’t seem to work in the UK?

Gary Rosenzweig

Peter: Do you not see the Alexa button in the Amazon app? Or is the button there and it doesn't work?

Dwream

This is a brilliant way to get more value from my 2 Echo devices! But it appears that I still need the “Amazon Alexa” app to view my shopping list at the store. Is that correct?

Dwream: Not sure. Unless there is also a way to view it in the main Amazon app.

Cyndi

Thanks for the Alexa tip. However, the icon does not appear on that app on my ipadpro. Please advise.

Cyndi: No, I don't think it is available on the iPad, just the iPhone.

jimwol

I live in Italy and I don't see the Alexa button either. I am guessing that either you have to also have the Alexa app or it only works in the USA.

Bob

Thanks Gary, I have 2 Echo Dots and had been wondering how I accessed Alexa when I’m not on my home WiFi. Always informative. Thanks.

Simon

Not in the UK, bah humbug!

Charlie

Thanks for the tip...... Works well !!!

Michael

Thanks, but I didn't like having the Amazon store app on my phone for security reasons. We can download Amazon Music app which also has Alexa. Can't wait to try it out on the road.

Unless you absolutely need to physically have an Echo or Dot etc, it does not work in Canada either. I even downloaded the Amazon Alexa app but no go. Oh well...

Lynn Young

I don't think this works in Canada. The Alexa icon does not show up on the Amazon home page.....only the shopping cart and the search icon.

Comments Closed.

Using Alexa On Your iPhone

Comments: 13 Responses to “Using Alexa On Your iPhone”

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