Smart displays like the Amazon Echo Show are more than just voice assistants; they can also serve as beautiful digital photo frames when idle. Instead of a blank screen, you can display your cherished memories, turning your Echo Show into a dynamic display that showcases your favorite photos. Setting up your Echo Show to display pictures is simple and allows you to enjoy your photos in a new way.
The Echo Show family, including models like the Echo Show 5, Echo Show 8, Echo Show 10, and the Echo Show 15, are all excellent choices for digital photo frames. The easiest method to display photos is using Amazon Photos, which offers unlimited photo storage for Prime members. However, you also have the flexibility to use Facebook albums or upload directly from your phone.
This guide will walk you through the steps to set up your Echo Show and add your personal pictures, transforming it into a stunning digital photo frame.
Setting Up Your Photo Sources: Amazon Photos, Facebook, and Your Phone
To begin using your Echo Show as a digital photo frame, you need to connect it to your preferred photo source. You can choose from three primary methods to add photos to your Echo Show: Amazon Photos, Facebook photo albums, or your smartphone’s photo library. All of these methods utilize the Alexa app to stream photos to your device; photos are not stored directly on the Echo Show itself. You can even use a combination of these sources simultaneously to create a diverse photo display.
Using Amazon Photos:
Amazon Photos is a seamless way to display your pictures on your Echo Show, especially for Prime members who benefit from unlimited photo storage. Here’s how to set it up:
- Download the Amazon Photos app: Get the app from your device’s app store. It’s available for iOS, Android, and desktop.
- Enable Auto-Save (Optional but Recommended): In the Amazon Photos app, navigate to Settings > Upload Settings > Save Photos. Turning on “Save Photos” will automatically back up photos from your camera roll to Amazon Photos, ensuring your latest memories are readily available.
- Manage Auto-Save via Alexa App (Alternative Method): While the Amazon Photos app is essential, you can also manage auto-save settings through the Alexa app. Go to Settings > Photos > Auto-Save. Under “Upload Settings,” tap Manage and toggle on Auto-Save.
Once your photos are uploaded to Amazon Photos, they are ready to be displayed on your Echo Show.
Connecting Facebook Photo Albums:
If you have albums on Facebook that you’d like to display, you can easily link your account to your Echo Show:
- Link Facebook Account in Alexa App: Open the Alexa app and go to Settings > Photos > Facebook.
- Enable Facebook Photos Skill: Select Link Account and follow the on-screen instructions to grant Alexa access to your Facebook photos.
After linking your account, your Facebook photo albums will be available as a source for your Echo Show photo display.
Uploading Photos from Your Phone:
For quick uploads or specific photos you want to display, you can directly upload from your phone via the Alexa app:
- Navigate to Photos in Alexa App: Open the Alexa app and go to More > Settings > Photos.
- Select Your Echo Show: Tap Devices and choose the specific Echo Show device where you want to display your photos.
- Upload Photos: Tap Upload Photos.
- Select Photos: You can select up to 10 photos at a time for upload. You can repeat the upload process to add more.
Uploaded photos will be grouped as an album and will be accessible on all your Echo Show devices linked to your Amazon account.
Activating Your Echo Show as a Digital Photo Frame
With your photo sources set up, you can now activate the digital photo frame feature on your Echo Show. There are a few ways to do this:
Using Voice Commands:
The simplest way to initiate the photo display is with your voice:
- Say, “Alexa, set up my photo display.” Alexa will guide you through the setup process.
Using Touch Screen Settings:
Alternatively, you can access the settings directly on your Echo Show’s screen:
- Access Settings: Swipe down from the top of the Echo Show screen to open the quick settings menu and tap Settings.
- Navigate to Photo Display Settings: Select Clock & Photo Display. (On Echo Show 5, it might be Home & Clock > Clock & Photo Display).
Choosing Your Photo Sources:
Once in the “Clock & Photo Display” settings, you can select which photo sources you want to use for your display. Your options typically include:
- Amazon Photos albums: Choose specific albums you’ve uploaded to Amazon Photos.
- This Day: Display photos taken on this day in previous years, offering a nostalgic look back.
- Daily Memories: Alexa automatically selects a collection of your pictures to display daily, providing a fresh rotation of memories.
- Facebook photo albums: Select albums from your linked Facebook account.
- Photos from your phone: Access the albums you’ve uploaded directly from your phone.
Using the Amazon Photos App for Personalization:
You can also personalize your Echo devices directly from the Amazon Photos app:
- Access Profile: In the Amazon Photos app, tap the Amazon Smile icon usually located in the top left corner to access your profile menu.
- Personalize Amazon Devices: Select “Personalize Amazon Devices” from the menu. You’ll see a list of your compatible devices, including Echo Shows and Fire TV devices.
- Choose Device and Albums: Select your Echo Show and then choose the specific albums you want to display on that device.
After selecting your desired sources, your chosen photos will start appearing on your Echo Show screen when it’s idle. You can swipe left or right on the screen to manually browse through the photos, or simply let them rotate automatically, creating a dynamic and engaging display.
Tips for Enhancing Your Echo Show Photo Display
To further customize your photo display experience, here are some helpful tips:
Voice Commands for Album Selection:
Alexa offers voice commands to control your photo display. Try these commands:
- “Alexa, show photos from This Day.” – To specifically view your “This Day” collection.
- “Alexa, launch photos of my [album name] album.” – To display a specific album by name (e.g., “hiking album”).
- “Alexa, tell me more about this photo.” – To get details about the currently displayed photo.
- “Alexa, show photos from last summer.” – To view photos from a specific time period, if tagged accordingly in Amazon Photos.
Sharing Photos:
You can even share photos directly from your Echo Show with your Alexa contacts. Simply say:
- “Alexa, share this photo with [Contact Name].” – To share the current photo with a specific contact.
Customizing Home Content:
If you prefer your Echo Show to exclusively display photos and minimize other home screen content, you can customize the “Home Content” settings:
- Access Home Content Settings: On your Echo Show, go to Home > Settings > Home Content.
- Toggle Off Unwanted Content: Toggle off any options you don’t want to appear on your home screen, leaving only the photo display active.
Full-Screen Photo Frame on Echo Show 15:
For Echo Show 15 users, you can easily switch to a full-screen photo frame mode:
- Activate Photo Frame Mode: Swipe down from the top of the Echo Show 15 screen and tap Photo Frame. This will maximize the photo display, removing other interface elements for an immersive viewing experience.
By following these steps, you can easily transform your Amazon Echo Show into a personalized digital photo frame, bringing your cherished memories to life in your home. Enjoy your photos and the added dimension they bring to your smart display!
