If you have an Amazon Echo speaker, you can use Alexa Guard as a basic security system for free. Then you will get alerts sent to your smartphone when Alexa hears something dangerous happening inside your house. Here’s everything you need to know about how to set up Alexa Guard on your Echo speakers.
What Is Alexa Guard?
Alexa Guard uses the microphones in your Amazon Echo speakers to listen for the sound of glass breaking or smoke and carbon monoxide alerts. Then it will send a notification to your smartphone, so you can play a sound recording or drop-in on your Amazon Echo device to hear and speak in real-time.
The free version of Alexa Guard will also turn your smart lights on and off to deter criminals when you’re away. There is a premium version of Alexa Guard that gives you more features, but it comes with a monthly subscription fee.
How to Set Up Alexa Guard
To set up Alexa Guard on your Amazon Echo device, open the Alexa app on your smartphone, and go to More > Settings > Guard > Set Up Sound Detection. Then select the alerts you want to enable, and tap Done.
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone. If you don’t already have the app, you can download it from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
- Then tap the More tab. You will see this three-line icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
- Next, select Settings.
- Then scroll down and tap Guard.
- Next, tap Set Up Sound Detection.
- Then tap the slider next to the alerts you want to enable. It is recommended that you add the smoke and carbon monoxide, and glass breaking sounds alerts to fully utilize Alexa Guard.
- Finally, tap Done.
Alexa Guard is now enabled on your Amazon Echo devices, but you will still need to turn it on in order to start using it.
How To Use Alexa Guard
After you set up Alexa Guard, you can start using it by saying, “Alexa, I’m leaving” to your Echo speakers. Or you can also turn it on with the Alexa app by going to More > Settings > Guard andtapping Home to enable Away mode.
From here, you can add more Echo speakers to Alexa Guard. Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner of the screen and select Echo Devices to add more speakers. Or you can tap Away Lighting to add smart lights that will turn on and off to make it look like someone’s home when you’re away.
Read More: How to set up routines for your Alexa devices
How To Turn Off Alexa Guard
To turn off Alexa Guard, just say “Alexa, I’m home” to your Echo speakers. You can also turn off Guard with the Alexa app on your smartphone by going to More > Settings > Guard and then tapping the toggle for Away to enable Home mode.
What Is Alexa Guard Plus, and How Much Does It Cost?
Alexa Guard Plus is a paid subscription that gives you more features than the free version of Alexa Guard. It costs $4.99 per month and gives you alerts for other sounds that Alexa hears inside your home, as well as additional deterrents and an emergency helpline you can call from your Echo devices.
Alexa Guard Plus offers 24/7 access to an Emergency Helpline that you can call just by saying, “Alexa, call for help.” The Helpline has trained agents who can dispatch responders to your location.
With “activity sounds,” Alexa will notify you about sounds when you’re away, like footsteps, talking, doors opening and closing, and more. You can customize which sounds you want Alexa to notify you about during the setup process. Then Alexa will play a loud siren on your Echo devices to scare potential intruders.
Alexa can also play the sound of a dog barking when it detects motion or noise outside your house to frighten unwanted visitors.
