Choose Your Own Adventure: “Alexa, Play Skyrim Very Special Edition”

Can’t get enough of Skyrim? You can play a spin-off of Bethesda’s classic MMORPG with Alexa. Skyrim: Very Special Edition is a choose-your-own adventure game that is surprisingly deep. Alexa sets up the scene with vivid descriptions and periodically asks you what you want to to do next. Exploring the world of Skyrim is a relaxing way to unwind since you never have to wait through long load times.

For Board Game Night: “Alexa, Roll Dice”

Can’t find the dice for your favorite board game? Alexa has you covered. Alexa rolls a single six-sided dice by default, but you can tell her to roll as many as you want. If you’re playing Dungeons & Dragons or another table-top RPG, you can say “Älexa, roll a 20-sided dice.” Alexa’s dice are also great for making decisions and resolving disputes, such as who gets to ride in the front seat on road trips.

Delete Your Alexa History: “Alexa, Delete Everything I Said Today”

Alexa Emergency Command: “Alexa, Call 911”

Enabling Alexa to call 911 can be a lifesaver, especially for seniors who live alone. To do so, you must set up your Echo to make calls using the Alexa app for your smartphone. Alternatively, you can use the Echo Connect to link Alexa to a landline or VoIP service. If you have children in your home, make sure they know to never give the command unless there’s a real emergency.

Activate Super Alexa Mode: “Alexa, Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start”

Get Zen: “Alexa, Enable Mindful Meditation”

There are dozens of meditation skills for Alexa, and Mindful Meditation is a good place to start. The meditations focus on different topics and each session last 3, 4, 5, 10, or 20 minutes. If you’re short on time, say “Alexa, open One Minute Meditation” for a condensed version.

Alexa the Actress: “Alexa, I Am Your Father”

It turns out that Alexa is a pretty good actress and comedian. Alexa’s programmers are obviously sci-fi fans considering the number of Star Wars-themed commands they included. For example, try asking her who shot first, or ask which movie is her favorite. You can even request a Star Wars joke. Alexa is also multilingual: She can speak both Klingon and Yoda.

Tired of Saying “Alexa”: “Alexa, Change Your Wake Word”

Random Learning: “Alexa, Tell Me an Interesting Fact”

Alexa can come in handy if you need a conversation starter or want to learn some surprising things. Say, “Tell me an interesting/random fact,” and you’ll get a bite of knowledge. If your info needs are more specific, you can ask particular questions. Need some units converted while cooking? Don’t know the definition of the word “loquacious”? Want to know the height of Mt. Kilimanjaro? Ask Alexa.

Keep Entertained: “Alexa, Play Rock, Paper, Scissors”

If you’re bored and know all the trivia already, Alexa will play a game with you. You can install specific Skills for games you can play with the assistant, but one of the classics comes baked in. Ask Alexa to play Rock, Paper, Scissors, and it will prompt you to pick one of the three options. Once you do, you’ll find out what the computer chose and whether or not you won.

  • How can I see all my Alexa commands?
  • To see your Alexa command history, open the Alexa app and tap More > Settings > Alexa Privacy > Review Voice History.
  • How do I make custom Alexa commands?
  • You can create Alexa Routines to run multiple tasks with a custom command. In the Alexa app menu, tap More > Routines > Add (+) > When This Happens > Voice.
  • What Alexa commands can I use with my TV?
  • If set up Alexa to control your TV, you can use Alexa voice commands to turn the TV on/off, open streaming apps, switch inputs, change the channel, search for movies, and control playback (play/pause/stop/forward/rewind).
  • Why isn’t Alexa responding to voice commands?
  • If Alexa isn’t responding to voice commands, make sure your device has internet access, and make sure the microphone is turned on. Also, make sure your smartphone and Alexa device are on the same Wi-Fi network. If you still have problems, reset Alexa on your device.

To see your Alexa command history, open the Alexa app and tap More > Settings > Alexa Privacy > Review Voice History.

You can create Alexa Routines to run multiple tasks with a custom command. In the Alexa app menu, tap More > Routines > Add (+) > When This Happens > Voice.

If set up Alexa to control your TV, you can use Alexa voice commands to turn the TV on/off, open streaming apps, switch inputs, change the channel, search for movies, and control playback (play/pause/stop/forward/rewind).

If Alexa isn’t responding to voice commands, make sure your device has internet access, and make sure the microphone is turned on. Also, make sure your smartphone and Alexa device are on the same Wi-Fi network. If you still have problems, reset Alexa on your device.

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