How to connect a smart plug to Alexa – Reviewed

Whether you use it on your phone or with an Amazon Echo smart speaker, the great thing about Amazon Alexa is that it’s easily programmable with a variety of affordable smart plugs. However, not all devices work with the Amazon Digital Assistant right out of the box. Samsung’s SmartThings smart plugs, for example, require a completely separate hub to be set up to work. However, the good news is that the Alexa app, available for Android or iOS, will guide you to success, even if you’re working with a brand you haven’t seen before.

Here’s how to set up a smart plug with the alexa app, with markings that allow for a seamless connection.

step by step:

what to match

Although Amazon Alexa works with a variety of smart homes and connected ecosystems, when you pair it with the app, you’ll see settings for a dozen brands. currently supported brands include:

• amazon
• tp-link
• wemo
• leviton
• samsung
• yours
• vesync
• jinvoo
• ewelink
• geeni
• ge

set up a smart plug with alexa

change devices

Whether you’re using iOS or Android, the instructions for pairing a smart plug with the Alexa app remain largely the same. tap the menu button on the top left corner, then select the first option to “add device”. On the next screen, the app will ask you about the type of device you are setting up. scroll down several lines and then tap on the “connect” option.

open the alexa app on your ios or android device to get started.

The next screen will ask you to choose your brand. For brands like the Amazon Smart Plug, the Alexa app will walk you through the permissions needed to use the specific hardware, and then search for available devices. Conversely, if you’re using a smart plug that requires registration with a cloud service, such as a tp-link smart plug, you’ll need to add it as a skill before you can pair the device. To enable a skill, go back to the menu screen in the Alexa app and select Skills & games further down the list. then you can search for your device by manufacturer.

• amazon: if you are connecting an amazon smart plug, alexa will ask you to approve some permissions (including the ability to access your smartphone’s bluetooth connection, the hardware of the camera and location information). tap the link to read amazon’s terms of use, and then tap next to begin pairing.
• tp-link kasa: alexa will prompt you to download the tp-link kasa app for ios or android and pair your smart plug from there.
• wemo: the belkin app for your wemo smart plugs is so easy to use, alexa tells you to pair your new device that way before dealing with the alexa app. Then, it tells you to add it as a skill.
• Smart Stuff: Samsung Smart Plugs are easily paired through the Amazon Alexa app as long as you have a Zigbee hub available. , either through the echo plus smart speaker (details on how to set this up below) or through a separate hub. if you already have a smartthings hub set up and wondering why the alexa app is asking you all this in the first place, try linking it with the smartthings app first and then add it as a skill like with the tp-link and wemo smart plugs. /li>
• tuya: tuya smart plugs require the help of the tuya app before you can pair them as a skill with alexa.
• vesync: alexa asks you to set up a vesync device through its proprietary app, then add it through the skills menu before it can be paired.
• jinvoo: jinvoo smart plugs are configured primarily through the skills menu.
• leviton: leviton smart plugs are popular devices, especially when combined with those of the brand. smart panels. Leviton requires your devices to be registered through their respective app before the skill can be enabled on Alexa.
• ewelink: This brand has an alexa skill that you can enable after setting it up through the ewelink mobile app.
• geeni: Like many of the devices featured here, the geeni smart plugs require configuration through the mobile app before it is available as a skill in the alexa app.
• ge: ge smart plugs are affordable and effective, which is why they’re a smart favorite. Unlike most of the devices shown here, you can directly pair a GE smart plug through the Alexa app. simply plug in your smart plug, put it into pairing mode by turning it off and on, then press the button to find it on your network.
• Other: If you’re using a brand of smart plug that Amazon doesn’t list in the Alexa app, try adding it from the skills menu by searching for the manufacturer’s name. , or the name of the app you used to pair it with your smartphone. If you can’t find a match, it’s likely that Alexa isn’t compatible with your plug.

once you’ve finished pairing a device, the alexa app will prompt you to add it to a group, or “room” as you might otherwise think of it, which is extremely helpful if you plan on pairing a mountain of plugs Smart besides him.

once your smart plugs are set up, controlling them from the alexa app is a breeze.

When you have finished pairing your smart plug with alexa, you will see a check mark on the screen and a message that your device is ready to use. To make sure Alexa recognizes your device, command it to control the device by name: an “Alexa, turn on the smart plug” should do the trick. If you can’t talk, you can also manually control a smart plug by tapping the “devices” option on the bottom dock. From here, you will be able to view the devices by type and by groups. then touch your smart plug’s name to reveal its on and off controls.

using an echo plus

you can connect your smart plugs to an amazon echo plus with the sound of your voice.

There is another method to pair smart plugs, and that is if you have an echo device with built-in zigbee protocol, one of the standards used to connect smart devices. Mainly, that’s why devices like Samsung SmartThings plugs require a smart hub to connect; that hub has all the necessary components inside it. If you’re not sure if your Amazon Smart Speaker has this capability, try asking, “Do you have a Smart Home Hub?”

To pair with your voice, do the following:

1. make sure the smart plug you’re pairing is plugged in and turned on.
2. say, “alexa, discover my devices.” the echo plus will enter pairing mode.
3. alexa will respond if the pairing was successful.

You can also pair a smart plug by adding it from the same add devices menu mentioned above. do the following:

1. In the alexa app, select “add device”.
2. select the type of device you want to connect, in this case a smart plug.
3. select the brand, then follow the instructions.

If your amazon smart speaker does not have the protocol built in, none of these methods will work and you will need to add the device via the skill.

When a smart plug is ready to use, you can use a voice command to turn it on and off. Or if you don’t feel like uttering a sentence, there’s also a device dashboard available in the Alexa app, where every device that’s paired and connected is available for a status check. The area is easily accessible via the navigation dock at the bottom of the Alexa app. from here, you can manually turn devices on and off.