How to Make Phone Calls with Alexa: A Step-by-Step Guide

Alexa, Amazon’s versatile voice assistant, can significantly simplify your daily routines. One of its most convenient features is the ability to make and receive phone calls, hands-free. This guide will walk you through setting up and using this feature on your Alexa-enabled devices, ensuring you can easily connect with contacts using just your voice.

Setting Up Your Alexa Device

Before you can make calls, you need to ensure your Alexa device is properly set up and connected. This initial setup is straightforward and only needs to be done once.

Download the Alexa App

First, you’ll need the Amazon Alexa app, which acts as the central control for your Alexa devices. This app is available for free on a variety of platforms:

• Android devices: Download from the Google Play Store.
• iOS devices (iPhone, iPad): Get it from the Apple App Store.
• Amazon Fire devices: It’s available in the Amazon Appstore.

Install the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet to begin the setup process.

Plugging In and Connecting to Wi-Fi

Once the app is installed, physically set up your Echo device:

1. Power Up: Plug your Amazon Echo device into a working power outlet.
2. Setup Mode: Wait for your Echo device to power on. The light ring at the top will initially glow blue, then change to orange, indicating it has entered setup mode and is ready to connect.

Now, use the Alexa app to connect your Echo to your home Wi-Fi network:

1. Open the Alexa App: Launch the Alexa app on your mobile device.
2. Sign In: Log in using your Amazon account credentials.
3. Access Devices: Tap the “Devices” icon located at the bottom right of the app screen.
4. Add New Device: Tap the “+” icon, usually found in the top right corner.
5. Select Device Type: Tap “Add Device,” then choose “Amazon Echo,” and select the specific type of Echo device you are setting up (e.g., Echo Dot, Echo Show).
6. Follow On-Screen Instructions: The app will guide you through the remaining steps to connect your Echo device to your home Wi-Fi. Make sure you have your Wi-Fi password handy.

Talking to Alexa

With your Echo device connected to Wi-Fi, it’s time to test it out:

1. Wake Word: Simply say the wake word, “Alexa,” to activate your device.
2. Give a Command or Ask a Question: After the wake word, Alexa is listening. Try asking a question like “Alexa, what time is it?” or giving a command such as “Alexa, play music.”

If Alexa responds, congratulations! Your device is set up and ready for further customization, including making phone calls.

Setting Up Alexa Calling and Messaging

Now that your Alexa device is operational, you can enable the calling feature. This step links your phone number to Alexa, allowing you to make and receive calls.

Setting up Alexa Calling

To enable Alexa calling, follow these steps within the Alexa app:

1. Open the Alexa App: Launch the Alexa app on your mobile device.
2. Go to Communication: Tap the “Communicate” icon at the bottom of the screen.
3. Follow Prompts: The app will guide you through the setup process. This usually involves entering and verifying your mobile phone number. Alexa may send a verification code via SMS to ensure the number is yours. You will also need to grant Alexa permission to access your contacts so you can easily call them by name.

Making a Call with Alexa

Once calling is set up, making a call is as simple as speaking to Alexa:

1. Initiate a Call: Say “Alexa, call [contact name]” to start a call. For example, “Alexa, call John Smith.”
   • Important Note: For Alexa to call a contact, the person you are calling must also have Alexa Calling set up. Alexa-to-Alexa calling is the primary function.
2. Call a Specific Device: If your contact has multiple Alexa devices, you can specify which device to call by saying, “Alexa, call [contact’s name]’s Echo Dot,” for example.

Answering a Call with Alexa

Receiving calls on your Alexa device is equally straightforward:

1. Incoming Call Alert: When someone calls you via Alexa, your Echo device will ring, and the light ring will turn green, signaling an incoming call.
2. Answer the Call: To answer, simply say “Alexa, answer.”
3. Ignore a Call: If you don’t want to answer, you can say “Alexa, ignore.”

Hanging up a Call

Ending a call is just as easy:

1. End the Call: Once you are finished with your conversation, say “Alexa, hang up” or “Alexa, end call.” The call will disconnect immediately.

Important Reminder: While Alexa is excellent for hands-free calls to friends and family who also use Alexa calling, it cannot be used to call emergency services like 911 or local emergency numbers via voice command. For emergency calls, always use a traditional phone.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Encountering issues with Alexa calling is not uncommon. Here are a few troubleshooting steps for typical problems:

1. Alexa Can’t Find Contacts:

   • Permission Check: The most common reason is missing contact permissions. Go to the Alexa app settings and ensure you’ve allowed Alexa to access your contacts. Usually, you can find this under “Permissions” or “Contact Permissions” within the app settings.

2. Alexa Isn’t Responding:

   • Power and Connection: First, ensure your Echo device is correctly plugged into a power source and powered on. Check if the device is connected to your Wi-Fi network. You can verify this in the Alexa app under “Devices,” then select your device and look at its Wi-Fi status.
   • Internet Connectivity: If the Wi-Fi connection seems fine, check your overall internet connectivity. Try restarting your router if necessary.

3. Poor Call Quality:

   • Wi-Fi Strength: Poor call quality is often due to a weak or unstable Wi-Fi connection. Check your Wi-Fi signal strength near your Echo device. If it’s weak, try moving your Echo closer to your Wi-Fi router or consider improving your Wi-Fi network coverage.
   • Internet Speed: Ensure your internet speed is sufficient for voice calls. While voice calls don’t require extremely high bandwidth, a stable and reasonably fast connection is needed.

Geographical Availability: Keep in mind that Alexa’s communication features, including calling and messaging, are not available in every country and region worldwide. Check Amazon’s official Alexa feature availability list for your location to confirm support for these features.

By following these steps, you can set up and start using Alexa to make and receive phone calls, adding another layer of convenience to your smart home experience.