What You Can and Cannot Ask Alexa to Do

Alexa can do only what its link was given. A link starts with no access; see How to Connect Amazon Alexa.

What works by voice

Where the link was given the function on the device:

• Turn lights, switches and plugs on and off, and set brightness, colour and colour temperature.
• Set a thermostat's mode and temperatures, a fan's speed, and the position of blinds and covers.
• Play, pause, skip and set the volume on speakers, run scenes, and start or stop an EV charger.
• Ask Alexa for a device's state, or read temperatures, door and motion sensors in the Alexa app.

Questions you can ask

Say "Alexa, ask kamo devices…" and ask which doors are unlocked, what is open, how a device is, the temperature in a room, which alarms are open, which devices are offline, the state of the security system, or what has been detected recently. Answers cover only the devices the link can see. When a value is 15 minutes old or more, Alexa says how old it is.

What needs more than a grant

• Security controls (lock, close a door or gate, arm a security system) are given to a link one at a time, by name, never by safety class.
• Unlocking, opening a door or gate, and disarming need three things together: a grant that names that exact function on that one device, given by someone who also holds the Manage IoT Settings right, and the voice code you set in the Alexa app, which Alexa asks for. Without all three the request is refused.
• A security control that has not been verified as working is not offered to Alexa.

What is never available by voice

• Safety-critical controls, cameras and live video, and health readings.
• Google Nest, Google Home and Apple Home devices.
• Anything at all, if your organization handles protected health information.
• Anything the link was not given.

Good to know

• An automation can Tell an Alexa routine by pulsing or setting one of the link's virtual sensors. The Alexa routine then runs with the Amazon account's permissions, outside this organization's controls. The step offers only virtual sensors that already exist, and no screen creates one yet: with none, the step says "There are no virtual sensors. Add one in the Alexa settings first."
• Voice commands are recorded in the command log with the name of the link, so you can tell a voice command from one made by a person.
• A link can send up to 30 commands a minute.
• When a device does not confirm a command in time, Alexa tells you the device is not responding. Check the command log: see What an Uncertain Command Means.