Alexa is one of the best virtual assistants on the market. It can be used for a wide range of Amazon devices such as Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Studio, allowing users to do a lot of cool things using their voice command.
Alexa now operates as a standalone app, meaning that you only need to download it from your platform’s App Store even if you don’t have an Amazon device at home. If you are now tied into Apple’s ecosystem, the good news is the Alexa app also works on an iPhone.
Apple iOS is more like a closed ecosystem and there are some restrictions on which sorts of devices you can use with your iPhone. Fortunately, there are no such limits for Amazon devices, meaning you can connect your iOS device to any Alexa-enabled device like you’d do with other Bluetooth speakers.
In this tutorial, we will show you how to set up and use the Alexa app on your iPhone. Before we dive in, we suggest you have the latest firmware update on your devices.
How to Set Up Alexa On iPhone
The Alexa app now works independently without an paired Amazon speaker. You can easily download it from the App Store and run through its first-time setup. Here is how.
Step 1: Head to the App Store and download the Alexa app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Tap OK to allow Alexa to have access to your Bluetooth to set up or connect with certain devices.
Step 3: Now sign into your Amazon account (If you don’t have one yet, make sure you create one).
Step 4: Agree to Amazon’s terms and conditions. Tap Yes or No to set up your device.
Step 5: Confirm your identity and hit Continue to proceed.
Step 6: You will be asked if you want to give Alexa access to your contacts. If you do, you can trigger Alexa to call a specific person in your contact list using a command.
Step 7: Simply follow the on-screen instructions to finish the setup. Once it’s done, hit the blue Alexa icon at the top of the screen to trigger the virtual assistant or say “Alexa” and then speak your request.
Remember that your iPhone’s Bluetooth needs to be turned on so Alexa can work properly. If Alexa fails to show up, check if your Bluetooth is enabled or not.
Can You Add the Alexa Widget to Your Home Screen?
The answer is Yes. In iOS 14 or later, you can add widgets to your iPhone’s Home Screen, allowing you to quickly check the calendar or emails without launching the apps. You can easily add the Alexa widget to your Home Screen for easy access. Here is how.
Step 1: From your iPhone’s Home Screen, swipe left until you see widgets.
Step 2: Tap and hold one of the widgets until you see a pop up, then tap Edit Home Screen.
Step 3: Hit the “+” icon at the top left corner and hit the Amazon Alexa icon.
Step 4: Now, select Add Widget and reposition it to your preferred location, then hit Done.
Step 5: The Alexa widget should show up on your Home Screen.
How to Pair Your iPhone to Amazon devices via Alexa app
You can use the Alexa app to pair your iPhone to any of Alexa-enabled devices (Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Studio, etc.) out there. The process is the same you would use to pair any device to your iPhone via Bluetooth.
Step 1: Put your Bluetooth device into pairing mode and then launch the Alexa app.
Step 2: When you are in, tap Devices and then hit Echo & Alexa.
Step 3: From the list of options, select your preferred device, then tap Bluetooth Devices and hit Pair a New Device.
Step 4: The next time you connect, all you need to do is to enable Bluetooth and say “Pair Bluetooth” to initiate the automatic pairing.
What Can You Do with an Amazon Device?
There are a lot of cool things you can do with an Amazon device connected to your iPhone. One of our favorite things to do is to control audio playback. Indeed, when you listen to music via an Amazon speaker like Echo Dot or Echo Studio, you can pause, skip, and resume using your command.
Another thing is that you can send and receive calls and messages even without touching your mobile device. To do so, simply trigger Alexa and say “Alexa, call (someone)”.
One of the best things you can do with an iPhone connected to an Alexa-enabled device is find your iPhone. You can install the Find My iPhone Alexa feature and then ask the virtual assistant to locate your iPhone if it goes missing.
