Amazon’s Alexa offers a multitude of features designed to simplify your daily life, and one of the most convenient is Drop In. This feature allows you to instantly connect with compatible Alexa devices in your household, whether you want to check in on family members, communicate between rooms, or simply feel more connected. Think of it as a modern intercom system, but with added smart capabilities. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to use Alexa Drop In effectively and securely.
Setting Up Drop In on Your Alexa Device
Before you can start using Drop In, you need to enable the feature on each Alexa device you wish to access or be accessed through. This setup process is straightforward and managed through the Alexa app on your smartphone. Here’s how to enable Drop In:
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Open the Alexa App: Launch the Alexa app on your Android or iOS device.
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Navigate to Devices: Tap the Devices icon located at the bottom of the screen. This icon typically resembles a house or a stylized device.
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Select Your Device: You’ll see a list of all your Alexa-enabled devices. Choose the specific device on which you want to enable or disable the Drop In feature.
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Access Device Settings: Once you’ve selected a device, tap the gear icon in the top right corner of the device’s pop-up window to access its settings.
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Go to Communications: Scroll down through the settings menu until you find and select Communications.
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Find Drop In Settings: Within the Communications settings, tap on Drop In.
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Enable Drop In: On the Drop In settings page, you’ll have options to control who can Drop In on this device. You can choose from:
- On: Allows permitted contacts (those in your contact list who have Drop In permission) to Drop In, as well as household members.
- My Household: Restricts Drop In access to only members of your Amazon Household.
- Off: Disables the Drop In feature entirely for this device.
Select your desired level of access to enable Drop In according to your preferences.
Drop In settings page in Alexa app showing 'On', 'My Household', and 'Off' options
Granting Drop In Permissions to Specific Contacts
If you want to allow someone outside of your immediate household to Drop In on your Alexa devices, you need to grant them specific permissions. This is particularly useful for caregivers, close family members, or trusted friends. Here’s how to give Drop In permissions:
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Go to Communicate: In the Alexa app, navigate to More (usually found at the bottom right, represented by three horizontal lines or dots) and then select Communicate.
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Access Contacts: Tap the icon that resembles two people, typically located at the top right of the Communicate screen. This will take you to your Contacts list.
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Select or Add Contact:
- Existing Contact: If the person you want to grant Drop In permission to is already in your contacts, simply tap on their name.
- New Contact: To add a new contact, you can either tap Add New and then Add Contact, or tap the three dots in the upper right corner and select Add Contact. You can also import contacts from your phone by tapping Import at the bottom of the screen.
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Modify Permissions: Once you are on the contact’s page (whether new or existing), scroll down until you find the Permissions section.
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Allow Drop In: Toggle the Allow Drop In switch to the “on” position. This grants the selected contact permission to Drop In on your Alexa devices (provided Drop In is enabled on those devices). You can toggle it off at any time to revoke permission.
How to Initiate a Drop In Call
Once everything is set up, initiating a Drop In call is incredibly simple using voice commands.
To Drop In on a specific device, use the command:
“Alexa, Drop In on [Device Name]”
Replace [Device Name] with the name you’ve given to the Alexa device you want to connect with. For example, if you want to check on the Echo Show in your kitchen, and it’s named “Kitchen Echo Show,” you would say:
“Alexa, Drop In on Kitchen Echo Show”
When you initiate a Drop In, the target device will chime briefly, and if it has a visual display, the screen will activate, and a green light indicator will appear. You will then be able to communicate through audio, and if both devices have cameras, you can also use video. This allows for a seamless two-way conversation or a quick visual check-in.
To end a Drop In connection, simply say:
“Alexa, hang up”
This will disconnect the Drop In session.
Managing Your Drop In Settings and Privacy
While Drop In is a convenient feature, it’s important to be mindful of privacy. Regularly review your Drop In settings in the Alexa app to ensure that permissions are granted only to those you trust. You can adjust the Drop In settings for each device individually, giving you granular control over who can connect to which devices.
By understanding how to set up and use Alexa Drop In, you can leverage this feature to enhance communication within your household and stay connected with those who matter most.
