How-To: Alexa Calling, Messaging & Drop-In on Amazon Echo

[@podfeet]

I am NOT making this up. Right when Joe says "what's that smell?" and calls Joe in the kitchen who is cooking peppers, my Nest Protect smoke alarm went off! Joe is a wizard with this Home Automation stuff!

[@SmarterHomeLife]

+nosillacast all of your Nest Protect are now belong to us 😉

[@Alex-jn1ez]

nosillacast don’t they test daily? If that’s so then it may have been perfect timing!

[@PastorDTBrown]

cool

[@scarffyvr]

@@SmarterHomeLife ur mom?

[@bobthebuilder9416]

Why so many dislikes? Such a nice guy with a clear walk through

[@skydog7544]

Not sure I could promise my first words on a drop in wouldn't be "Bridge to Engineering..." 😂

[@AlexO7O4]

the drop in feature will be a useful tool in my mission to annoy my kids .

[@thomasrademaker233]

Or my siblings haha

[@itachisupremacist2025]

amen

[@adrianmotley8855]

Just put your Alexa in airplane mode!

[@CeeWorld69]

Alex Lopez or to just listen in on people having sex

[@brittanythompson7204]

Definitely how I annoy mine!

[@tobyhines7587]

Do You have a video on how to set this up. I have no idea were to even start.

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Yes, it was linked in this video. It's an article on our site and there's a related video as well. Start here: smarterhomelife.com/everything/2017/5/11/how-to-make-a-phone-call-on-your-amazon-echo

[@carololiver9283]

I love your personality....too funny! Thanks for making learning this stuff fun!

[@markiewiczdental1566]

Thanks for the information! I do have an additional question. I want to hear the drop-in conversations in my bluetooth headphones. Instead, the drop-in conversations always are projected through the echo speakers (even if I have the bluetooth headphones set up and working). Do you know how to fix this?

[@grahamwing7278]

I can announce from echo 1 to echo 2 but not the other way round, any ideas???? Thanks

[@nicholasgathings7321]

how do I turn on the drop-in function?

[@lisajimenez5017]

I have two echos and one dot in my home. All three have permission to allow my sister to drop in. My question is, what do I have to do so that when she drops in, all three devices notify me rather than having me run to my office when I hear the chimes because that is the only device of the three that rings. I've looked everywhere for this answer. Hope you can help and great video!

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Thanks for your kind words. I can't fully test this for you since I have only two Echo Dots. There doesn't appear to be a "default" device setting for Drop-Ins. From the Alexa app, when using Drop-In, it requires you to pick the Echo device to Drop-In on. You might try testing this with your Echo devices by dropping-in on yourself. Just talk to one of your Echo devices and initiate the drop-in with your own name. Check to see if only one, or both, of your Echo devices gets the Drop-In alert, or if Alexa asks you to specify which Echo to contact. I think the problem is that Drop-In automatically connects the mics at the other end instead of requiring someone to say "Answer". If it connected to all Echo devices in a home, that could be really problematic for the audio. If the Drop-In to multiple devices won't work, then using the "calling" feature will probably be your best bet.

[@katesmissen]

This is useful thank you but with the calling feature - I have a similar set up, an Alexa plus, and two echo dots in each children's room. My sister has the same at her house - how can my sister call direct to one of the dots in the children's rooms? @@SmarterHomeLife

[@ancalder6361]

Do you know if my family and I have different alexas with different accounts, can we still use it as intercoms? The thing is that my father got alexas for my sister, mother and I and he wants us to log in with his account (where he has other alexas from around the house) so all of them can intercom, but each of us prefer to have our own accounts, so can you answer my question please? Thanksss, have a nice day

[@braadwellcastro3287]

Hi Joe, thank you for all that information. I have a question. Can I have one amazon account and have two echo devices, but! In different countries? I want to call my self and play a book in a different country. Is that possible?

[@marcel911]

We just got this in the UK today. I love it so far. Fantastic speech quality when the message is left from my iPhone.

[@snehalamol6607]

Does drop in feature works only when both devices are connected to same wifi??

[@lifewithlele5410]

can you use the Echo dot to work the Amazon fire stick?

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Yes - there's even a video on it :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGPHaoGPpZeMqq8

[@lifewithlele5410]

can you use the dot to access and control kodi which is on my fire stick?

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Not 100% sure. The Alexa control works with most apps. I would recommend giving it a try :)

[@Modest661]

You're skits earned my sub to you its hilarious how ur snooty and rude to you're self

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Thanks! ;-)

[@seansandals4698]

Hi,can you turn off the messages that come from Amazon the tell you that your product are arriving ??Many thanks

[@dawnn8221]

I know this is off topic...but where did you get that white lamp in your office to the left of your computer? It is very good looking

[@SmarterHomeLife]

No worries, it's actually just a little plastic lamp from IKEA called Lampan. They used to have it in several colors, and now it's just one. Super-cheap at like $5! :) www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80399067/

[@brianbard9073]

Can you make a phone call if your cell phone is out of range of the device or does not have cell service?

[@annettelopez8650]

How do you connect the voicemail and Alexa echo

[@djt5782]

I just got an Echo Show and I ran into this video exactly a year to the day that this was posted...

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Nice! :)

[@tarveywilliamson8012]

With those glasses and those eyes i believe everything this man is saying

[@outbackeddie]

I had no problem enabling the drop in feature on my Dot, but I wasted a bunch of time trying to find this feature on the Echo Tap. I wish I would have seen your video earlier. But now I am wondering why the feature isn't enabled on the Tap. I would like to have the intercom feature but I'm not going to buy another Dot just to get a feature that Amazon should have enabled on the Tap. Amazon - hear that? Please enable the feature on the Tap.

[@Chris-go9ti]

You said call kitchen. How do I name them for the room they are in?

[@jerrybeard8995]

I am assuming under settings / general / device name.. I am waiting on our second one to arrive

[@meyhemmikey7311]

Hi how are you please can you help me please my Contacts is not working I do not know why

[@deecreswell1853]

does the drop in feature work for amazon alexa? or only echo?

[@jamietolassi9544]

My brother just got an Alexa for Christmas. I have one too. I can’t seem to send him messages, there’s no check mark next to his name.. how to I send him a message?

[@jimmybones3283]

My girlfriend bought a new echo and it just made a noise and when I went in the front room it was on and it was green. Is she ease dropping on me?!..... 🤔🤨 I need to read up on this echo device.

[@TomMarkel-gplus]

Nice job with the video as very well done and informative as well as funny.

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Thank you!

[@kairobb9886]

Hello

[@dronexfun8469]

I got my niece and nephew echo dots for xmas and they want to be able to talk to me through the dot. Is this possible?

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Yes, just go through the Alexa Communications setup on the various Alexa accounts via the app. (Conversations tab should kick off the setup process once you tap on it.)

[@rikholliday8899]

Can you drop in on a device on a different network? I notice you can call the device (Echo) but not drop in.

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Yes. The account owner of that device has to enable you for Drop-In, but after that, you're good to go!

[@rikholliday8899]

Thanks for the input. Here's my situation. I open up my Amazon Alexa App.Go to Settings. Select my (Alexa) devices. Select Drop in. Select On. I am unable to Drop in. Note that one of the Alexa devices is on a different Network. I can make a call between the two but not drop in. Any idea?

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Hmm, on this one I'm not sure. So Drop-In is enabled for both devices on both networks but you can't actually do the Drop In between them? I haven't tested this when both devices are tied to the same account but on different networks, but have done it successfully with a friend's Echo many miles away...obviously on a separate network and on a different account. Maybe that's part of it? This issue might be best for Amazon Support.

[@davidgonzalez9435]

The acting lmao 😂😂😂

[@craig-tj7rm]

has anyone else noticed that when you use alexa to make a phone call to a moblie phone. the phone does not have a constant ring tone it only has a little beeb at the start and then starts to vibrates. can any help me with this. as making a phone call from alexa is pointless if the person you are ringing does not even know you are phoning them if its a silent phone call. any advice would be greatly appreciated ??

[@missavuh]

When your dropping in, can you drop in on an echo that isn’t connected to your phone? Like if my grandma has an echo could I drop in on her if it’s connected to a different phone than mine is?

[@ajquimby5729]

I connected my someone else's phone number to test it but now I want to connect mine does anyone know how to disconnect a phone number

[@silverdf1]

Is there a way when you have more than one echo device in your home that you can just contact one of those devices without disturbing the others?

[@AshleyBrauer]

Does each "room (echo dot)" need a phone number and phone to be able to "call" or "drop in?"

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Nope. They don't use traditional phone numbers for communications, only for matching up you and your contacts from your device's phonebook. Once you run the quick setup process, you'll be able to see who you can call, message and "drop in" on in the Alexa app.

[@AshleyBrauer]

I have them set up, but I have one in the kitchen and playroom that don't have phone numbers to make as a contact in my Alexa app. The office and Master bedroom has ties to our cell phones, but then we wanted to put one in the guest room and kitchen and the playroom.

[@SmarterHomeLife]

+Ashley Brauer They don't individually need phone numbers by themselves, as long as they are tied to your account, you will be able to use them. Within a household, the main thing that you can do between Echo devices is the drop-in feature. On the same account, they will all share the same contacts list.

[@Paullebbon]

Thanks buddy, I learnt a couple of new things from your video. :-)

[@moneycalling8457]

How you call from alexa usa to alexa in colombia

[@shahed2147]

Can you call from Alexa to Alexa from USA to Australia and vice versa?

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Not sure on country-to-country, but it's all data so technically it should work.

[@rsk00000]

Can u block drop ins from other devices in the house

[@sharkdorito]

Mine hard reset itself and now I can't use some of the things I used to even know they r already set up it still says to set them up, about to throw this thing

[@sugarush5811]

Can you drop in from echo to google home

[@thomasrademaker233]

Amazon doesnt have google home on their website so i doubt it

[@eyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyye2794]

me and mum have been getting creeped out because we keep getting our Alexa turn yellow as if people are listening to us, is there a setting to change this?

[@nothingkillsbomberbutbombe7788]

Hi when calling people with alexa she hides my phone number is there a way to change that?

[@StagArmslower]

I use Drop on Alexa (Echo and Echo Dot)when my wife doesn't answer the phone, she is usually in the kitchen downstairs or bedroom and can't hear the phone ringing she left elsewhere

[@tattedbutterflygirl]

You can drop in on different households?

[@212x3]

I cannot get my echo to drop in on my dot (vice versa). I have enabled the drop in feature on the app, but my app doesn't show the "drop in" blue bar on the top. Help!

[@VHOcollectives]

What is 1st one

[@plpno]

The Drop-In “feature” is the reason I returned the 3-Pack Google Mini(s)!...It’s 2-way communication, unlike Google Mini’s which is just 1-way.

[@Skatercrush]

This is super useful , thanks bro !

[@jeannineperry1619]

how in the heck do i set up the drop in feature with multiple echo dot's??

[@lifewithlele5410]

can you tell Alexa to call someone on the echo dot? Can you talk to them on the echo if you can call them?

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Yes and yes, but remember it's all only within "Alexa Calling" for now. It doesn't support calls to phone numbers yet.

[@jerrybeard8995]

so that is something they just added? I have called numbers with mine

[@JimiFigDrix]

The wine that the end 😆😆😆🍷 I love it

[@marlaglazer4204]

Hi can you drop in on an echo device using your cell phone

[@SproutyPottedPlant]

Marla Glazer you can 🌞 but not the other way around.

[@marlaglazer4204]

Knuckles the Echidna how is this done

[@SmarterHomeLife]

It's done via the Alexa app. Just tap the Messages "bubble" icon at the bottom of the app and there will be a blue "Drop In" bar at the top of that screen. If it isn't there, you'll need to enable Drop In on your various Echo devices under "Alexa Devices" in the app (under Communications for each device). Hope that helps.

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Tap that blue "Drop In" bar/button to start a drop-in from the app and it will ask which Echo device you want to drop-in on.

[@ChelseaStarkPhotography]

Hi my name is Chelsea. I am legally blind and was thinking of getting a Alexa to help me run my house. But was wondering about the accessibility functions.

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Both Alexa and Google Assistant are quite excellent for those with disabilities. Home automation can make unlocking and opening doors, among other tasks, easier by voice-enabling them. A number of months back there was a video done with a viewer in a wheelchair and he had excellent commentary on home automation for those with disabilities - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHfFgqyQj6Znm5I

[@SproutyPottedPlant]

Smarter Home Life you may need to use the screen reader on your phone or have sighted assistance for the initial set up with the app or I think you can set it up using the browser.

[@molono1451]

Wait is this showing how to have one echo call another echo instead of on the app?

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Yes

[@alambe7275]

i wouldnt call my devices computer that sounds a little weired. plus you didnt show how to set up drop-in. why? thanks

[@tommyblaze1904]

Can the alaxa dot make income calls?

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Yes, there's now a special add-on device to make it work called the Echo Connect. amzn.to/2rlaiiK

[@fathiyahyazdy6207]

Alexa can make free call anywhere??

[@EKTORF]

It could be great if an SIP number can be assigned to an echo unit.

[@mixindave1]

drop in is a good feature for calling home quick isnt it :)

[@ugotitr456]

How do i connect my Android CELL phone to the echo dot?

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Open (download, if needed) the Alexa app on your Android phone. You probably would have used the app, or the Alexa app to do the initial setup of the Echo Dot originally. If you haven't run the basic setup yet, it will prompt you to get setup once you open the app.

[@eyeonart6865]

No one told use you have to use Android 5.0 phone to setup dropin feature . we bought to use intercom cannot use tablet so we returned the 3 we bought!

[@wolfm.9541]

The new DROP IN feature is awesome, it works great for me checking in on my sick mother especially as I live in another country and shes not a tech savey person either. It's an immediate intercom communication tool. Alexa I love this new feature.

[@KevinBritain]

Great stuff.. really wish drop in could be activated without a US phone number..

[@kitetastic]

does this not work in the uk then

[@archerzzy]

Do u think google home to catch up soon?

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Not quite yet actually. Calls to real phone numbers are coming soon to Google Home. Amazon will probably follow afterward. Google Home / Assistant definitely has better voice recognition and a "friendlier" voice and attitude, but for the moment, Amazon has more devices in the hands of consumers.

[@goatlps]

I'm here because my Echo just made the alert tone then I could hear a woman & man talking. A few seconds later the tone went again and a small child was talking! The Echo is only connected to my WiFi!

[@MrsCourt]

Goatlips CREEPY!!

[@SL0421]

I couldn't find massage icon in Alexa app

[@kitetastic]

where is the new drop in / voice call feature in the app carnt find it

[@SmarterHomeLife]

The middle tab at the bottom of the app, called Conversations, is the center of all the new communications features. It will prompt you to set it up if needed.

[@captozone]

Mine doesn't have the communications in the bottom middle, and I'm not able to figure this out.

[@chucknorris3784]

Click the middle icon click contacts,click your name and turn on drop in. Back out and it'll be there

[@thnhtexas383]

If someone is dropped in and my Alexa is mute, can they still hear me?

[@LoLoo-wg3wj]

Unlike free phone calls via Alexa...sms texts are charged to your phone. Not free!

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Just to be clear, Alexa Messages, as demonstrated in this video are free. For Android users only, Alexa can also (natively) send SMS messages. Those are sent from your phone and not thru Alexa Messaging, and you might be charged for them based on your phone plan. Regardless of Android/iOS, if you are not on Wi-Fi, the data to run Alexa’s messaging and voice services will count against your data plan.

[@jafarrahman2069]

From which eye is he reading?

[@midnightruby7367]

From which brain are you bing stupid

[@someperson4712]

Can I receive calls or messages?!!!!!

[@deborahcarr4574]

Can Alexa's voice be changed ? To a man or with the English accent for example ?

[@damiandwyer7901]

Can you call a calling Alexa please

[@gustavogutierrez7871]

he did not explain how to do the setup

[@littlebit670]

Joe: Rude! (Flips off “Someone”)

[@mrinmoybairagya3211]

thanks for such a informative video..

[@hangfire5005]

Meatless fajitas?! Abomination!

[@jenjen1423.]

Or.. Cancer free fajitas yay

[@daaaamn188]

Jen Jen get yo weird old cat lady ass outta here

[@jenjen1423.]

Daaaamn no but thanks! =^.^=

[@supergokufan23498]

6:23

[@supergokufan23498]

6:20

[@harlempunk4481]

I like the idea of drop in but I hope there was a feature to accept the call first before it happens. Imagine your grandmother dropping in and you're watching some hardcore porn.

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Calls have to be "answered" but the Drop-Ins just connect without warning :(

[@googlehas]

I didn't know you have crosses I do too

[@iaintaft1478]

Excellent video, thank you very much 👍👍

[@Boilerup05]

Wasn't this guy on the show Criminal Minds?

[@MichaelEbel]

Boilerup05 HAHAHHA

[@AileenGaza]

Your echo is ready

[@weaverron3751]

your video doesnt tell to how to get to those apks .

[@Rifatart136]

Hello

[@shailasharley5669]

That’s true

[@nishab6698]

Awesome video! I just got 2 echo dots! Thanks for this.

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Awesome, and thank you!

[@terkfranks1538]

Ok. I paused it because I almost stopped watching when you told me to mute my devices, instead of you editing out the trigger word... and now I resume watching at least or until you start triggering my shit... lol

[@rockyh.5459]

Great information Thanks..

[@MrsLucky0929]

Did I miss something? How do I drop in on my elderly parents who have a echo dot at their house?

[@SmarterHomeLife]

They'll need to allow you to "drop in" on their Echo devices. Under the "Conversations" icon (bottom of the Alexa app), tap the top-right icon (contacts), they will then need to locate your name, and select it. Then enable "Allow Drop In", then you should be able to drop in on them.

[@MrsLucky0929]

@@SmarterHomeLife but they have to have a cellphone with your number in it right? That they have their echo connected through.

[@SmarterHomeLife]

Correct, the Alexa Communications system uses cell numbers to match up contacts.

[@TheDomZilla]

great video... thanks

[@Curtsheffer1998]

My echo is blinking yellow

[@natephillips6890]

Curt Sheffer same

[@rickyrodrigues6314]

It means you guys need to set it up get the Alexa app and follow the steps

[@rightbackagain]

It usually means that you have a (notification or message), ex. An amazon shipment has arrived. It took me awhile to figured that out too.

[@kairobb9886]

I got living room and kitchen

[@5555amira]

very helpful

[@hanksgavin]

So why don't I just use my phone by itself?

[@vlrmrt11]

This is very helpful. Thx

[@paulinacastaneda50]

Why you call her computer? Her name is Alexa