Alexa Commands: 80+ Best Commands to Try on Your Echo Alexa

Alexa has become more than just a voice assistant. With the right Alexa commands, you can play music, check the weather, set reminders, control smart-home devices, create shopping lists, and even have some fun.

Whether you have an Echo, Echo Dot, or another Alexa-enabled device, knowing the right commands for Alexa can help you get much more from it. From simple everyday requests to useful custom Alexa commands, there are plenty of features worth exploring.

Key Takeaways

• Alexa commands make everyday tasks like setting alarms, timers, reminders, and checking the weather easier.
• You can use Echo Alexa for music, podcasts, audiobooks, news, and other entertainment.
• Alexa can control compatible smart-home devices, including lights, TVs, plugs, and thermostats.
• There are plenty of fun things to ask Alexa, including jokes, riddles, games, trivia, and Easter eggs.
• Custom Alexa commands and routines let you combine multiple actions into a single voice command.

What Are Alexa Commands and How Do They Work?

Alexa commands are voice instructions that you give to Amazon Alexa to perform a particular task. You usually start by saying the wake word, “Alexa”, followed by your request.

For example, you can say, “Alexa, what is the weather today?” or “Alexa, set a timer for 10 minutes.” Alexa then processes the request and responds or performs the requested action.

If you use an Echo Alexa device, these commands can make everyday activities more convenient. You do not need to open an app or type a request every time you want information or want to control a compatible device.

Some basic commands include:

• Alexa, what time is it?
• Alexa, set an alarm for 7 AM.
• Alexa, set a timer for 15 minutes.
• Alexa, what’s the weather today?
• Alexa, play some music.
• Alexa, add milk to my shopping list.
• Alexa, tell me a joke.

The available features can vary depending on your Alexa device, location, account settings, and connected services.

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Best Alexa Commands for Everyday Tasks

Some of the best Alexa commands are simple requests that can save time throughout the day. You can use Alexa as a personal assistant for alarms, weather updates, calculations, information, and more.

Refer to the table below to learn some basic Alexa commands about Time and alarms, weather, and information & GK. 

Time and Alarm Commands	Weather Commands	Information and General Knowledge
Alexa, what time is it? Alexa, set an alarm for 6:30 AM. Alexa, wake me up at 7 AM tomorrow. Alexa, set a timer for 20 minutes. Alexa, how much time is left on my timer? Alexa, cancel my alarm. Alexa, cancel my timer.	Alexa, what’s the weather today? Alexa, will it rain today? Alexa, what’s the temperature outside? Alexa, what’s the weather this weekend? Alexa, do I need an umbrella today?	Alexa, who is the Prime Minister of India? Alexa, what is the capital of France? Alexa, how many centimeters are in a meter? Alexa, calculate 250 divided by 5. Alexa, translate ‘hello’ into Spanish. Alexa, what happened in the news today?

Commands for Alexa for Music and Entertainment

One of the most common reasons people use an Echo Alexa device is entertainment. You can use your voice to play songs, artists, playlists, podcasts, audiobooks, and more.

Refer to the table below to learn some basic Alexa commands about music, podcasts, and audiobooks. 

Music Commands	Podcast and Audiobook Commands
Alexa, play music. Alexa, play relaxing music. Alexa, play songs by Taylor Swift. Alexa, play my playlist. Alexa, play (song name). Alexa, play the latest songs. Alexa, pause the music. Alexa, resume the music. Alexa, skip this song. Alexa, turn up the volume. Alexa, turn down the volume. Alexa, what’s this song?	Alexa, play my podcast. Alexa, play the latest episode of (podcast name). Alexa, pause my audiobook. Alexa, resume my audiobook. Alexa, skip ahead 10 minutes. Alexa, go back 30 seconds.

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List of Alexa Commands for Smart Home Devices

Alexa becomes even more useful when connected to compatible smart-home products. You can use voice commands to control lights, plugs, thermostats, TVs, and other supported devices.

For example, instead of reaching for your phone to switch off a light, you can simply say:

“Alexa, turn off the bedroom lights.”

Here’s a list of commands of Alexa for smart homes:

Common Smart Home Commands

• Alexa, turn on the living room lights.
• Alexa, turn off the bedroom lights.
• Alexa, dim the lights.
• Alexa, make the lights brighter.
• Alexa, set the lights to 50%.
• Alexa, turn on the fan.
• Alexa, turn off the TV.
• Alexa, turn on the coffee maker.
• Alexa, lock the front door.
• Alexa, set the thermostat to 24 degrees.

Alexa Commands for Shopping, Lists, and Reminders

Alexa can also help you stay organized. You can create shopping lists, manage reminders, and keep track of things you need to do without picking up your phone.

Here’s how Alexa commands help:

Shopping List Commands	Reminder Commands
Alexa, add milk to my shopping list. Alexa, add eggs to my shopping list. Alexa, what’s on my shopping list? Alexa, remove bread from my shopping list. Alexa, clear my shopping list.	Alexa, remind me to call Mom at 6 PM. Alexa, remind me about my meeting tomorrow. Alexa, remind me to take my keys. Alexa, what are my reminders? Alexa, cancel my reminder.

Fun and Cool Things to Ask Amazon Alexa

Not every Alexa command needs to be practical. Alexa can also provide jokes, games, trivia, facts, and entertaining responses.

If you’re searching for things to ask Alexa when you’re bored, try some of these:

Games and Random Fun	Funny Questions
Alexa, flip a coin. Alexa, roll a die. Alexa, pick a number between 1 and 10. Alexa, let’s play a game. Alexa, tell me a riddle. Alexa, give me a quiz. Alexa, tell me a fun fact.	Alexa, tell me a joke. Alexa, can you sing? Alexa, do you have a favorite color? Alexa, are you human? Alexa, do you like Siri? Alexa, tell me something interesting. Alexa, surprise me.

Custom Alexa Commands and Useful Alexa Routines

If you want to get more from Alexa, you can go beyond standard requests and create custom Alexa commands using Alexa Routines.

A routine allows you to trigger multiple actions with one phrase or event. For example, you could create a morning routine that gives you the weather, plays the news, and starts your music.

You can create routines around phrases such as:

Morning Routines	Night Routines	Routine Phrases
Command Alexa, start my morning. This could trigger: A weather update Your morning news Your preferred music Smart lights turning on	Depending on your setup, this routine could: Turn off compatible lights Lock connected doors Turn off smart plugs Set an alarm	You could also create routines for phrases such as: Alexa, I’m home. Alexa, I’m leaving. Alexa, movie time. Alexa, bedtime. Alexa, start my day.

Conclusion

From setting alarms to controlling smart devices, Alexa commands can make everyday tasks faster and easier. The Amazon Alexa ecosystem also offers plenty of entertainment options, while routines and custom Alexa commands allow you to personalize how your device responds.

Whether you are a new Alexa user or have been using an Echo for years, experimenting with different commands for Alexa is one of the easiest ways to discover useful features.

Frequently Asked Questions