The Alexa packed inside theAmazon Echo Showhas hundreds of different capabilities. But, pairing Alexa with aRing cameraopens even more possibilities. With the Ring skill, Alexa can answer the door, display a live view of the room, or even arm the Ring Alarm. The motion sensor inside some Ring cameras can also be used to trigger Alexa routines, like turning on a smart light bulb after you walk into your front door.
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While Ring is an Amazon-owned company, the accounts for Ring and Alexa are separate. That means if you want to use your Ring camera with your Echo Show, you’ll need to link your accounts. Thankfully, connecting a Ring camera with an Echo Show is a straightforward process using the Ring Alexa skill. Here’s what you need to know to get your Echo Show and Ring cameras connected — and what new tasks Alexa can manage once linked.
How to connect a Ring camera to an Echo Show
Once your Ring cameras are connected to the Ring app, connecting those cameras to Alexa simply involves linking those two accounts together. As you set up your Ring camera inside the Ring app, be sure to give it a memorable name, such as the name of the room where the camera is located.
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That camera name is what you use during Alexa voice commands, such as “Alexa, show me the living room.” If you use an obscure name, you’ll have to instead say, “Alexa, show me Bob’s Echo Show 1234.” Using simpler names makes Alexa voice commands a bit easier. Once you have set up your camera inside the Ring app itself using the instructions that came with the device, use these steps to link up with Alexa:
How to add additional Ring cameras to Alexa
Once you link your Alexa and Ring accounts, in most cases, new devices are automatically added. Walk through the set-up process in the Ring app, and once connected, Alexa should automatically add the new device as well. If Alexa doesn’t automatically find the new device, with the Ring camera on, ask your Echo Show, “Alexa, find my devices.” Or, inside the Alexa app, tap devices, then tap the plus icon in the corner and follow the on-screen instructions.
How to trigger an Alexa routine with a Ring camera
Ring cameras and doorbells can also be used totrigger a routine through Alexa. For example, when motion is detected, Alexa can turn on a smart light for you. Or, you could even have Alexa tell you a joke every time you walk into a room, play a certain song, or even remind you to clean up. Alexa also works great withRing Doorbell routines.
How to turn on Alexa announcements with Ring doorbells and cameras
The person and package detection that comes with theRing Protect Plancan also be used to have your Echo announce when a package or person is at your front door. A paid Ring Protect Plan is required for this feature.
What can Alexa do with a Ring camera?
“Alexa, show me the [room name]”
Name your Ring camera for the room it will be in as you set it up, and then you’re able to simply ask to see live footage from that camera. For example, you can say, “Alexa, show me the playroom” to check on the kids while you’re cooking dinner.
“Alexa, talk to the [room name].”
You can use your Echo Show to talk to someone at the front door with a Ring Doorbell or to have a conversation with someone in another room using a Ring indoor camera. Just ask to talk to the name of the Ring device you want to reach. Use “Alexa, stop” or “Alexa, end” to end the conversation.
“Alexa, show me my cameras.”
The Echo Show can display a feed of all of your Ring cameras, with up to four camera views shown at once.
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With Ring Protect: Alexa, rewind ten seconds.
While viewing footage from your Ring doorbell or camera, you’re able to ask Alexa to do things like rewind the video. This requires the Ring Protect subscription that allows you to save your Ring videos.
With Ring Protect: “Alexa, arm Ring or Alexa, disarm Ring”
If you have a Ring Protect subscription, you’re able to also ask Alexa toarm or disarm the alarm systemwhen you leave or arrive home. To do this, you’ll first need to enable the Ring Alarm mode and set up a passcode, which is required to verbally disarm the system. You can find thestep-by-step instructions to set this feature up from Ring.
With Alexa Emergency Assist: “Alexa, I’m leaving”
Alexa Emergency Assist is a service that detects things like smoke or CO alarms and also allows your Alexa device to call for help. If you purchase this service, you can tell Alexa when you are leaving the house and any notifications for a smoke alarm or CO2 alarm will go to your smartphone instead of your Echo device.
