By reading this article you will learn how to connect smart bulbs to Alexa. How to connect Alexa to smart lamps? It’s a snap to connect smart bulbs with Alexa and Amazon Echo, read on. If you like the idea of smart lights in your home but don’t understand anything about electricity, don’t worry.
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Smart bulbs, smart switches and/or hubs can be easily configured in an instant using Amazon Echo. Here is a look at the different ways to connect your smart lights to Alexa.
Smart light bulb, how to choose
How to connect smart bulb to Alexa – Before you start
Before you start trying to connect lights with Alexa, there are a few things you need to do:
- Make sure that the smart bulb, switch or hub you want to connect to is compatible with Alexa.
- Use the manufacturer’s instructions to configure the smart device before connecting the lights to Alexa, including assigning a name to each device. Use easy-to-understand names, such as “Hallway”, “Living room switch” or “Bedroom lamp”, as this will help you connect to Amazon Alexa much more easily.
- Connect the smart lamp to the same wireless network that Echo is currently active on.
- Download the Alexa app to your mobile device, if you haven’t already done so.
Unless you’re using Amazon Echo Plus, you’ll need to install Alexa’s skills for the devices you want Alexa to see. This is not a complicated process, but you will need the login information for each of the smart device ecosystems you intend to add.
This is because an Alexa ability effectively links your Amazon account to that of Lifx, Philips Hue, Hive, Nest or whatever other services you are using. The easiest way to install the Alexa skill is to go to the app, open the side menu and select Skills and games from the list, then search. The app will guide you through the process of adding login details.
How to connect a smart bulb to Alexa
To connect a smart bulb to Amazon Alexa, you must first install the bulb, according to the manufacturer’s directions. Usually, this simply means screwing the smart bulb into a working outlet, but be sure to refer to the instructions if there is a hub other than Alexa.
- Open the Amazon Alexa app on your mobile device.
- Tap the Menu button, which looks like three horizontal lines, in the upper left corner of the Home screen.
- Select Smart Home from the menu.
- Make sure the Devices tab is selected and then tap Add device. Alexa will search for all compatible devices and present a list of detected devices.
- Scroll down to find the smart light you want to connect. It will appear as a light bulb icon with the name assigned during the initial setup.
- Touch the name of the light to complete the configuration.
How to connect a Smart Switch to Alexa
To connect a smart switch to Alexa, you must first install the switch. Most smart switches will need to be wired directly into your home’s wired system, so refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for details on how to install the switch. If in doubt, ask a certified electrician to make sure the switch is wired correctly.
- Open the Amazon Alexa app on your mobile device.
- Tap the Menu button, which looks like three horizontal lines, from the top left corner of the Home screen.
- Select Smart Home from the menu.
- Make sure the Devices tab is selected and then tap Add device. Alexa will search for all compatible devices and present a list of detected devices.
- Scroll down to find the smart switch you want to connect. It will appear as a light bulb icon with the name assigned during the initial setup.
- Touch the switch name to complete the configuration.
How to connect a Smart Hub to Alexa
Only one device from the Amazon Echo product line includes an integrated hub for smart devices- Echo Plus. For all other versions, you may need to use a smart hub to connect smart devices.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to set up the smart hub, then use these instructions to connect to Alexa:
- Tap the Menu button, which looks like three horizontal lines, from the top left corner of the Home screen.
- Touch Skill.
- Browse or enter your search keywords to find the skills for your device.
- Tap Enable and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the linking process.
- Select Add device in the Smart Home section of the Alexa app.
Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for any special steps specific to your hub. For example, to connect Alexa to Philips Hue you must first press the button on the Philips Hue bridge.
How to turn your home into a smart home
How to set up lighting groups on Alexa
If you want to be able to turn on multiple lights with a single voice command via Alexa, you can create a group. For example, a group could include all the lights in the bedroom or all the lights in the living room. To create a group you can control with Alexa:
- Touch the Menu button and select Smart Home.
- Select the Groups tab.
- Tap Add group, then select Smart Home group.
- Enter a name for your group or select an option from the list of common names.
- Select the lights you want to add to the group, then tap Save.
Once installed, all you have to do is tell Alexa which group of lights you want to control. For example, “Alexa, turn on living room lights.”
Smart dimming lights
Although Alexa understands the “Dim” command, some smart bulbs dim and some don’t. Look for dimmable smart bulbs if this feature is important to you (smart switches generally don’t allow dimming).
