2026-03-05
No skills
Very difficult or impossible to add skills to Alexa devices!
Updating
Amazon Alexa
Released: 2014-12-10
© 2014-present Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+2
#11 in Top Free Apps > Lifestyle
±0
#10 in Top Free iPad Apps > Lifestyle
iPhone Screenshots
iPad Screenshots
Description
Use the Amazon Alexa app to manage Alexa-enabled devices, control music playback, view shopping lists on the go, keep track of upcoming reminders, check on active timers and much more. When you enable hands-free with Alexa, you can talk to Alexa by simply saying “Alexa” when the app is on your screen. The more you use Alexa, the more she adapts to your voice, vocabulary and personal preferences.
DISCOVER MORE
• Get more out of your Echo device through personalized feature recommendations from Alexa
• Discover and enable recommended Alexa skills
• Pick up where you left off directly from the home feed with lists, shopping, or recently played Music and Books
MANAGE YOUR DEVICES
• Set up your Alexa-enabled devices, control or check status of your compatible smart lights, locks and thermostats at home or on the go
• Create routines to automate your smart home devices
MUSIC & BOOKS
• Connect to music services like Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio. Choose a song or playlist and listen on your Alexa-enabled devices
• Create speaker groups to play music across your compatible Echo devices for multi-room music
ORGANIZE YOUR DAY
• View and edit shopping and to-do lists on the go, get weather and news updates, manage timers and alarms, and more
STAY CONNECTED
• Use Drop In from your app to connect instantly with your compatible Echo devices, like a two-way intercom
• Call or message supported Alexa-enabled devices, at no additional cost.
By using this app, you agree to Amazon’s Conditions of Use (www.amazon.com/conditionsofuse), Privacy Notice (www.amazon.com/privacy), and all of the terms found here (www.amazon.com/alexaterms).
What's New in Version 2.2.706594.0
Various bug fixes and performance improvements.
Seller
Name
AMZN Mobile LLC
Information
Developer
Categories
Version
2.2.706594.0
Size
440 MB
Game Center
No
VPP Device Licensing
Yes
Rating
Rated 12+ for the following:
Infrequent/Mild Profanity or Crude Humor
Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes
Compatibility
iOS 16.0 or later
Devices
iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, iPad (5th Generation) Wi-Fi, iPad (5th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (6th generation) Wi-Fi, iPad (6th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro, iPad Pro (Cellular), iPad Pro (9.7-inch), iPad Pro (9.7-inch) (Cellular), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (10.5-inch), iPad Pro (10.5-inch) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11-inch), iPad Pro (11-inch) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air, iPad Air (Cellular), iPad Air 2, iPad Air 2 (Cellular), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Air (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini Retina, iPad mini Retina (Cellular), iPad mini 3, iPad mini 3 (Cellular), iPad mini 4, iPad mini 4 (Cellular), iPad mini (5th Generation), iPad mini (5th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (7th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (4th Generation) (Wi-Fi), iPad Air (4th Generation) (Wi-Fi + Cellular), iPad (8th generation) Wi-Fi, iPad (8th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th Generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (9th Generation), iPad (9th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (6th Generation), iPad mini (6th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (5th generation), iPad Air (5th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (10th generation), iPad (10th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 11-inch (M2) Wi-Fi, iPad Air 13-inch (M2) Wi-Fi, iPad Air 13-inch (M2) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) Wi-Fi, iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) Wi-Fi, iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (A17 Pro) Wi-Fi, iPad mini (A17 Pro) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (A16) Wi-Fi, iPad (A16) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 11-inch (M3) Wi-Fi, iPad Air 11-inch (M3) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 13-inch (M3) Wi-Fi, iPad Air 13-inch (M3) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) Wi-Fi, iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) Wi-Fi, iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPod touch (6th Generation), iPod touch (7th generation)
Languages
English, Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish
App Store: Customer Ratings
Ratings & Reviews
4.6 of 5 (5,665,832 Ratings)
App Store: Customer Reviews
2026-03-05
alexa+ is terrible
see title. she cannot be disabled apparently.
2026-03-04
so glitchy
can’t do anything. anytime i click anything i get an error that says to try again later. so useless
2026-03-04
Gross
The user interface is so gross now. Most things I used it for no longer work.
2026-03-04
Unusable After Redesign
Unusable after redesign. Since introducing Alexa+ it consistently drops music connection. The app redesign constantly has features offline. It isn’t showing my devices unless I try to set up multi room media. I’d give it 0 stars if I could.
2026-03-04
bug fix 2026-03-04...
when creating a routine and setting smart light color the save and cancel buttons are located where the time and battery level are. Of course we can't save because they're not tappable.
2026-03-04
Echo
Don’t buy echo! The Echo is a big waste of money! It’s basically a fancy radio. It glitches all the time. The games don’t half work and it just doesn’t really offer much. Might as spring for a laptop or tablet/ipad.
2026-03-04
Alexa
Muy buena
2026-03-04
LeBron the goat
LeBron goat
2026-03-04
Piece of junk
Read title
2026-03-04
It’s getting worse
Alexis’s hearing is terrible. She speaks too loudly and can’t hear you when you speak. You really need to separate her hearing sensitivity and her output volume. Asking her to speak softly means she can’t hear you. She also eavesdrops. Long after you’ve given a command and she’s responded, she’s still listening to your conversation. Is that an unethical way of collecting data needed to improve AI without our express permission to do so? Her pronunciation of words randomly changes and the information she provides is unreliable. A complete rework is needed.
2026-03-04
Terrible new system
Ever since they “upgraded”
To their AI Alexa my phone app and devices are less functional. Almost to the point I’m going to get rid of them. Awful.
2026-03-04
Why is this so hard
It is truly amazing how NOT user friendly it is yo change settings on the echo show. I’ll never get this time back.
2026-03-04
Alexa plus
Horrible compared to old Alexa
2026-03-04
Amazon Branded Light Bulb Constantly Having Pairing Issues.
Routines are terrible to setup, not at all intuitive to setting up a lighting schedule. Dimmer switch constantly resets to where it was when light turned on.
2026-03-04
Horrible response
Since I got the echo in place of the dot, the response is absolutely horrible. Most the time it doesn’t respond or it takes a really long time to respond.
2026-03-04
Worthless
Won’t play music won’t connect why pay for worthless service?
2026-03-04
Complicated
To complicated to setup. Not up to Amazon/Alexa standards.
2026-03-04
Blank
Most pages are blank
2026-03-04
App does not work
I have been trying to login g to the app for the las week, every time that i out my logging information it just refresh the page and take me to the beginning I’m not able to login anymore, like bruh!!
2026-03-04
Used to be good now trash
I have loved my echo/alexa products for years. I have dots in rooms and the show in my kitchen. The devices work so well. Unfortunately, Amazon recently updated the AI and app and now it’s complete trash. It’s not just “oh you’re not used to the new interface”. No the AI is trash, garbage. I am so angry that they ruined a good thing. I’m phasing out Alexa and replacing with Google home. After at least a decade of purchasing and upgrading dots and shows I’m saying goodbye to Amazon.
2026-03-04
Newest update crashes
Newest update crashes
2026-03-04
Owner
Great service never had any letdowns. I appreciate everything from Alexa. I’m proud of my new AI Alexa. Don’t know what I would’ve done if I’ve never gotten a new one it’s amazing what this machine does.
2026-03-04
Amazon Alexa
Great app, it does everything I want and more. Controls my lighting, cameras and thermostat.
2026-03-04
MIS SKILLS DESAPARECIERON
Quitaron las skills propias
2026-03-04
I love Alexa
I love all the capabilities of Alexa. I love the diverse music and atmospheres that it brings to my surroundings. Whatever my mood Alexa is the perfect compliment. I have a 2nd generation echo and I’m so glad it still works. I’ve thought of getting a newer version but the reviews are terrible. I am forever pro Alexa.
2026-03-04
Assistance needed
Contact needed
2026-03-04
Not working properly
I ask a question of the Echo show that I'm closest to and another one in a different room answers. I cannot find out why this is happening
2026-03-04
A joke
100% completely dissatisfied
2026-03-04
Too much snooping
Incessant requests to be hooked up to AI Alexa plus. Already asks and answers questions intruding on conversations not addressed to it.
2026-03-04
Always on Technology
We have 6 Tapo cameras and 3 ring cameras that announce movement of cars, people and wildlife. It’s nice that it just works and there is not a subscription fee, other than Prime. So of course we have Alexa’s in 4 of our outbuildings. Get some!
2026-03-04
#1 like Opera GX’s Amazon
Spooky Zach
2026-03-04
Lists problem
Alexa can’t seem to get lists right. When we add a grocery item, sometimes she puts it on the shopping list, sometimes the grocery lists. I’ve tried to ask to just have one list, and she even say, “ok, I’ll only add things to the shopping list and not use grocery”, and then proceeds to put things on both. Sometimes the list in the app is out of sync and doesn’t show the full list.
2026-03-04
Sirius xm skill
Sirius xm skill not available anymore… it was ok yesterday
2026-03-04
Alarm
Alexa keeps canceling my weekly alarms set. They disappeared after being set for the week.
2026-03-04
Unreliable.
Half the time I can’t even get the app to open. After troubleshooting, no luck. Annoying.
2026-03-04
FIX THE APP
The app has literally glitched for me since day 1. Every time I open the app to turn an item on/off, the app glitches uncontrollably and doesn’t let me physically hit the on/off button. It’s the strangest thing I’ve ever seen and it’s beyond infuriating. I woulda never bought a stupid Amazon smart plug if I knew Amazon was too incompetent to create a functioning app. It’s unbelievable.
2026-03-03
Alexa Plus is BAD
I exclusively used the chat interface to play an Alexa Skill game. With Alexa Plus they have completely broken the chat interface when interacting with skills and I can no longer play.
2026-03-03
Sometimes I work Sometimes I don’t
It has become actually quite horrible, as it forces now content on you, that you don’t have as a routine. Further more it selects now rather to respond or if it does you hear I’m sorry I can’t help you with that. Or it repeats itself without being prompted.
Fix it…no one wants to pay for a service that is not working as intended!
2026-03-03
Bloated
This is a very slow app for controlling home automation and lights. Everything takes a long time to load.
2026-03-03
Why can’t you hear me?
Well, Alexa, I can’t get it to turn up get louder. And when I call X Alexa or Ziggy, it’s like they don’t hear me and then I have to repeat it and I’ve had to repeat it several times. But I do love the way Ziggy my echo communicates it’s kind of fun.
2026-03-03
Could be better
Love the Alexa just need to offer different voices not just personalities. Need to have different voices and personalities
2026-03-03
Couldn’t sync the music playing on my devices
I couldn’t sync the music playing on my two devices today. This is strange because I’ve normally been able to do that in the past no problem. She says she’s unable to “play music everywhere but she’ll play music where she can”
2026-03-03
Completely Designed by Nerds
This app is so un-user friendly and I’ve worked in tech for 30+ years
2026-03-03
Annoying updates
The updates are making the system annoying to use and suspiciously invasive. Why the changes? Is AI really necessary in this?
2026-03-03
Echo show 11 constantly freezing up
I have my echo show 11 set to automatically display the new ring 4k camera feed anytime it detects motion or the doorbell is pressed and every damn time, the feed freezes up or doesn’t open at all.
2026-03-03
BUG: Color change, under routines.
The option to change light colors for established routines is broken. Unable to save new color because save and back buttons are out of frame. This has been broken for a month now. Please fix. Alexa for iOS.
2026-03-03
Alexa app is too convoluted now
This new design of the app with Alexa plus is so frustrating. It takes so much longer to get to where I want to go now. I don’t want to ask an ai chat what’s on my shopping list I just want to quickly open it. I want to easily be able to make announcements without having to set it to “favorites” and good grief where the heck did the skills menu go?! I don’t want to interact with another ai chat tool to get stuff done. Sure I can use Alexa in the app, whatever, but it’s frustrating if I have to be force to chat with it in order to find something that used to be easily accessible
2026-03-03
Things disappear
Where are alarms? Where are routines? I can’t find anything anymore!
2026-03-03
Alexa app is terrible
Nothing ever works. And the setup of the Alexa app is horrible. I used to be able to watch Hulu on the Echo show. Now it’s telling me I have to enable it in the Alexa App. I tried and it’s impossible to navigate this stupid app
2026-02-14
Not Pleased With the New Update
The most recent update has made the app even more difficult to navigate. I use this device for my father who is in hospice care at his memory care facility. I use Alexa to play his music, control his lights, make announcements/reminders and use the announce feature when I need to message him with reminders. With this recent update, I can no longer type in the text box what I would like to announce to him so I can’t use that feature at all anymore. I would mostly use this feature for safety issues. For example, when he would leave his room without his walker (we also have a camera installed at his facility so we can watch his movements). One of the more annoying issues I am dealing with is when I play his music. His music is set to play on a timer. However, if I am using my phone during the time his music is playing, and I am using my phone for myself to listen to a podcast or listen to music on a different platform, I constantly get kicked off and his music starts playing on my device. In other words, I can no longer use my phone for my own purposes while my Dad’s music is playing through his Alexa. Also, the interface is no longer user friendly. I honestly didn’t think it was before either, but now it’s worse with the landing page when I open up the app. I have to tap and navigate through more minutia just to find what I am looking for. I am hoping the app improves soon. It’s not user friendly and needs to be streamlined.
2025-12-29
Glitches. Not Useful.
I’ve tried using the Alexa app with my Echo Dot off & on for years without a ton of success. Aside from being difficult to set up, unintuitive, and not especially useful, the Alexa app interferes with playing ANY music or podcast on my car stereo through my iPhone. On ANY app. The funny thing is I’ve never even USED Alexa in my car for anything. I thought my car stereo was glitching out; constant static, songs & podcasts cutting out or sounding crackly, then freezing both music/podcast play AND my phone! I couldn’t even turn off my phone to reset. It even caused my car stereo itself to freeze then TURN ITSELF OFF several times. (Thus my assumption the stereo was the problem.) It took a while searching the web to pinpoint the exact problem— I finally found other users with the same problem—and the solution—on an iPhone forum: the Alexa app is *constantly* trying to connect to other Bluetooth devices EVERYWHERE. On the freeway, in a parking lot, and especially when driving around my neighborhood. It does not matter if you have Bluetooth permissions turned off in the app. It’s still going to try connecting via Bluetooth everywhere regardless. So I deleted the app and my problem was solved instantly. Haven’t had any issues since. As far as “smart speakers” go, I just went back to using my older Google Home speakers. The Echo Dot is back in the drawer.
2025-12-29
Possibly the worst designed app for a great product ever
First off, it does a decent to above average job when connecting devices, that is great. However, if god forbid you move outside of your starting location you might as well delete your account; Why? Because the notification settings button doesn’t do anything, the “Alexa” chat does basically nothing, and oh boy don’t try to explain the failings of the Alexa chat to itself because it completely closes out… Talk about insecure for a model that lives off of feedback. Anyway, all I wanted to do was change my location for severe weather warnings, because I have been getting alerts for a location hundreds of miles away, and can’t remove those weather notifications, or even add new ones for my current location, and that’s all to give the benefit of the doubt that you’d assume a company this large would have technology to realize the IP address it connects to in order to have any purpose other than being a paper weight, is not remotely close to the place it is giving severe weather notifications for. But thank god I can set an alarm from my phone, or tell alexa to start a timer from 2 feet away, but if my entire street is about to get blown away by hurricane force winds, at least I know my previous home hundreds of miles away is okay!
2025-10-02
Reminders and Tasks in the upgrade are messed up
A few years ago I set up recurring reminders that kept our household up to date on everything. Reminders included birthdays, drug prescription refills, when to leave for appointments, when to change the air filters in the HVAC, everything. Now after the upgrade, someone thought it would be helpful to add checkboxes in the phone and iPad app and count as overdue any reminder that wasn’t checked off. So now the Alexa app believes that EVERYTHING, like when to start the weekly laundry from three years ago, is now overdue. Every reminder to wish someone a happy birthday in the last three years is OVERDUE. It also does not announce current reminders. If you go to an upcoming reminder that is supposed to announce everywhere, it doesn’t announce at all. When you go to the reminder, it suddenly says it doesn’t know where to announce even though it’s been announcing the same thing for years. Alexa’s reminder skill is supposed to be passive reminders only, not stupid checkboxes and telling me that something is overdue. I have other calendar apps that handle deadlines. You totally screwed this up.
2025-03-09
Poor UX - too many steps to do the easiest things
This app was so much better in the beginning. It was simpler and more intuitive. Now I hate it. I can't find things, routines aren't in a place that makes sense. It wants to make my plugs into lights automatically if a light is in a plug...but you can't have two that way so it was a bad change. I had one lose its connection and when I reset it, Alexa said 15 times it was changing it to a light because my cue was "turn on desk lamp". But I also have a light in the same room so it totally dropped one and would only do one. This is stupid. Took me 2 hours to figure out how to override it and still continue to have it be a plug. Why would you think I want this changed?! I want them to be plugs! Plus based on my experience, it would always mess up two lights in the same room.
And...I have a routine for the light to go on at 4:30 in the winter when it's dark, but as the seasons changes, I change the time, so just went to change it to 6p and something that should be on the home page, or a dashboard (consider making that!), I couldn't find! I was reminded that 4 months ago I went through the same exact thing. I want my routine on the home page or a dashboard so I can have 1 click, change the time and save. Instead, this convoluted app has me searching and searching in places that don't make sense and has it buried deeply.
I don't care if it's a routine, command or whatever. The best UX would be to have the things I've programmed...in my case about 4 items, on a dashboard when I launch the app. Then I know exactly what I've set up at first glance and can easily and quickly change it...without having to find it every time in some non-intuitive place.
2025-02-22
How is it this bad?
I use this app a lot, so I feel bad for complaining about it but, how is it this bad?
My biggest issue with this app is the thermostat. Why is the thermostat so hard to use? Why isn’t it its own app? When you open it, there are different “modes” but that shouldn’t be confused with the manual settings if you choose to use them. If you want to adjust the temperature of the scheduled settings, you have to go into the sensor settings instead which is massively confusing. I bought this thermostat in the hopes that I could have it toggle the forced air if the upstairs Alexa sensors were above a certain temperature of the downstairs thermostat, and it just doesn’t that. I have to keep the downstairs freezing to keep the upstairs from being over 78 degrees. Unless I constantly circulate the air, it has no way of balancing the temperature. I don’t understand why this feature isn’t included? It would be easy.
The routines often don’t work right, which is annoying. Between the insistent ads for other products and “suggested favorites” and other features, the app is like a labyrinth. Honestly, do better. This barely functions.
2024-12-08
Frustrating
I have an Alexa for my salon for background music. Problem 1 it randomly shuts off and tells me “ there hasn’t been any activity “ and the timing of this is not even consistent! Problem 2 it now changes volume when I run my brow dryer and vacuum or if any of my guests get excited it try’s to be the loudest thing in the room. That’s not great for a salon. Problem number 3 I have put on the explicit filter SALON: kids families let’s be appropriate right?! Well no that’s not the case it will not block the bad words and some of these songs popping up are an “are you kidding me” type song! The last one that has just made me not want to use this device was about inserting certain chemicals into peoples arms while doing very indecent acts in the front seat of a car! Yes my mom’s probably really loved their kids hearing that. Yet no one can figure out how to make this explicit filter actually work or to quit shutting off in who knows 5 minutes 10 minutes or 2 hrs it hasn’t settled on a time it wants to shut off yet. Usually people want their music on until they decide to turn it off.
2024-05-18
Alarm Setting!!!
I love setting my Alarm when needed. I tell Alexa to play Fan Noise or Sound. I Sleep Great soothing. I tell it to pause, and later on state resume. It goes right back to where I left off fan. I purchase a couple Alexa gifts for my family. Christmas time now every day my granddaughters. They tell it to play Disney music. They love frozen. I am about to give my nephew Alexa gift for his birthday today. The more I learn about Alexa it’s lovely. One thing I noticed it does not go by just your voice. My grand children can tell it what to do, or anyone else for that matter. When I go over to their place, I might play around and tell it to play something. It works, I thought that it would only go by the person who owns voice recognition. I will be purchasing more for myself. I don’t know how to turn off music. When my Am Alarm sounds, soon as I turn it off. The weather is given then music immediately comes on. I like the Weather, but need help to disable the Station. I wouldn’t mine the music playing, only if it’s a Choice of Station. I cannot even find the station that pops on. 🎼🤗🎶
2024-03-28
Glitchy and hard to use
The user interface is a complete mess - it must have been designed by an incompetent committee. - And it gets worse with each new iteration. Once obvious functions are now completely buried many screens in - such as the Equalizer function for Echo. I have 8 version 4 and 5 Echos which regularly drop off of the network and the entire program that I am listening to needs to be restarted, and even that does not always work. The user interface often does not reflect the true states of the Echo units - for weeks at a time. re-initiating the app does not help. The Alexa app does not allow me to edit what Recently Played music sources are displayed on the screen. Radio stations that I will NEVER listen to take up much of the screen, while stations that I like get pushed of the screen if I do not listen to them frequently. There is still NO WAY to turn off Echo units using the app after YEARS of existence! I should be able to do EVERY function by voice OR graphic interface!!!!! I’ve complained about this mismatch for YEARS!! I STOPPED USING Echo Buds completely simply because the app worked so poorly with them! Repeated complaints were always ignored.
2024-03-06
A Step Backwards
This latest major version is a step backwards from a customer experience standpoint. There are added clicks necessary to reach basic fundamental features which are inexplicably now buried deep within the UI. As one example, previous versions had a simple “Play” button in the bottom margin that would immediately jump you to your media and playback options. Now, it is no less than four clicks and screens to go through to get to that same place. And of course Amazon’s decision to abandon their relationship with IFTTT without integrating any equivalent functionality into the Alexa app is also hugely frustrating and disappointing. For a company whose e-commerce web page is the gold standard for CX, this mobile app seems to place very little focus on ease and simplicity of use.
Also, the integration of the Audible player in this app is poor at best. It is mind boggling that the developers removed the functionality to determine what chapter of the book you are actively listening to. In previous versions of the Alexa app, the active chapter was highlighted by blue text in chapter drop down listing. That simple, effective and highly useful feature has been inexplicably removed from recent versions. The Audible app visually displays this information right below the title of the book you are listening to, so why not do something that simple here too?
For two apps, Audible and Alexa, developed by the same development house to be so poorly integrated seems inexcusable.
2024-02-23
Frustrating to use
I like that I can make routines, groups etc. with the app but when it comes to troubleshooting the app is useless. Also the app is not intuitive. It seems setup for the business not the user. It’s cluttered with too many ads and buttons everywhere. As someone who worked in user experience, it’s not a good user experience. Idk who their team is on this but they really be making the design more streamlined and based on what a user requires day-to-day. The home screen is better suited for the immediate grabs like adjusting timers, checking the status of the devices etc. also, the homepage lists the devices and then there’s a tab for devices. It’s redundant. The second tab should really be for management of the devices, including routines, lists, reminders, shopping carts etc. this could also instead be a home page.
My recommendation: the “more” page should be the home page. Devices should stay in second tab. Third tab should be troubleshooting or add-ons or learn more - the nice-to-haves.
All that being said, I’m pretty dependent on my Alexa’s and I have two. I don’t want to get rid of the app but I do hope to see it improved. Thanks for noting my feedback and good luck!
2024-02-15
Annoying
We can’t get her to work as effectively as she did in the past 2 years we’ve purchased several products over the years and have incorporated Alexa around the home and in varies aspects of our lives. Especially once I was diagnosed with cancer back in 2018. She was a big help. Our family depends on her for many things including my medical treatment plans, helping with the kids stay on task, & the day to day functions.
These past few months she doesn’t understand task, she doesn’t announce every requested announcement. She sounds muffled on various devices around the home on drop ins. When one person is using her in a room near by, she’s in listing mode to where it’s interfering with the other room’s listening experience. There are too many things to list on this review and I’m trying to stay the course but I don’t know why the quality has declined, but I’m always singing her praise.
As we invest more and more into Alexa, it’s like we are punished for incorporating her around the house because the only way to stream music on separate devices at a time is to pay almost $20 for a service plan. That is insane! For example, if any of my 3 kids are in their individual rooms listening, only one can play music. Right now my 6 year old is listening to night time lullabies in his room, nobody else can play music.
2024-02-06
Time based routines not working…
I have routines set to run at certain times. Whenever I choose a device for it to “respond from” it doesn’t seem to work. There should be absolutely no response required from anything, the routine should just “play” whenever the time set occurs. Why it requires a response is such a massive oversight…JUST IMPLEMENT THE ROUTINE…this process could not be more straightforward and simple, yet it’s completely ineffective because of the whole needing to let you know audibly that it can tell time, like any computer/app should be able to do.
I have it set to “respond from” my “mobile device” so that it doesn’t respond from my Echo and wake us all up. I think my phone being in Do Not Disturb (which I use because I don’t want devices, including Echo, going off throughout the night) prevents it from alerting me, which prevents the routine from running. Again, JUST IMPLEMENT THE ROUTINE WITH NO NEED FOR A RESPONSE FROM ANY DEVICE. PLEASE ALLOW YOUR APP TO DO SUCH A SIMPLE REQUEST AND QUIT CONVOLUTING STUFF WITH RESPONSES. I’M ABSOLUTELY SICK OF BEING AUDIBLY ASSAULTED BY AN ALEXA DEVICE…THERE NEEDS TO BE A “NEVER RESPOND” OPTION…NO ONE WANTS TO BE RAILROADED BY A DEVICE/APP TRYING TO ADVERTISE ITSELF WHEN IT CAN’T DO IT’S BASIC FUNCTIONING TO BEGIN WITH.
2024-02-03
Too much LAG TIME w/video cam
Can be complicated at times. Too hard to find specific things. It’s stating that my RING VIDEO DOOR BELL PRO is UNSUPPORTED!!!👿👿 no point in having a camera if it’s not going to be supported on all devices! You have to make sure that yr routines don’t overlap. So unless you set a timer you’ll wonder why things aren’t working. You cannot always have a custom setting!🤷🏽♀️💆🏽♀️ instead you have to setup timers! My cam video wouldn’t pop up bc of overlapping routines! Clear instructions on the “use” of Alexa would be very helpful. I had learn more about Alexa’s idiosyncrasies by trial & error. virtually useless at times (won’t take me to where I want but gives me info fm the web…not what I wanted! A “LOT” of LAG TIME when bringing up video cam or detecting ppl. The scene has been missed and ppl are already gone or at my door! Video cam shld override all else! One command or click and I shld be able to view my camera immed. Shld have an option to add my device even if it’s not listed..but, if it can’t find it…u can’t add it…maybe in time we’ll both get better…sheesh NOT ABLE TO DELETE profiles unless you go onto Amazon…why!🤷🏽♀️💆🏽♀️Need more control over motion sensitivity. Can be a wonderful tool if the lag time were much faster! When and if it works correctly or you figure out yr issues; it’s awesome that’s if you can figure it out.
2023-12-24
A review of ‘Alexa’ in our home
I enjoy being able to speak with Alexa and trying to converse and use her functions everyday so that she blends in with our lives in our home on a daily basis and embellishes our daily lives. We are learning more everyday on how to tailor her abilities to our daily lives.
I am at a loss on how to handle her choice of music. We are not a Hip Hop type family along with some of her other choices of music to play. I request a type of music and Alexa will want to play something we don’t want at that time.
At the moment are enjoying listening to Rock and Roll from the 60’s -the 70’s -80’s and consecutive years. That is presently what we enjoy and are trying to achieve. After we have successfully completed this stage we will be persusing more varieties of music and Radio entertainment. Any recommendations and suggestions for a smoother practice would be appreciated. I would enjoy listening to Taylor Swift and other similar artists at my request. I have never listened to any of her albums and I am curious about her music. There are many more songs that we would love to hear but are not sure what we can obtain from Alexa without all the difficulties we are continuing to experience every time we request music. It is frustrating and doesn’t help our experiences. I hope this will help make our experiences with Alexa better. I can see how better dealings with Alexa will increase our daily interactions and a more cohesive relationship with Alexa which is what we both want . You want more functional communication and we want the same. Thanks.
2023-10-16
Kindle Assistive Reader
I use the app primarily for the Kindle Assistive Reader function which I absolutely love. It allows me to continue enjoying my stories when I am doing things that I can’t do while physically reading. I can clean, drive, walk, and work out while listening to Alexa narrate my current kindle read. However it has major bug issues. Sometimes it will skip back in the book and reread a part of the book that was just read. It happens quite often. And it’s a pain trying to fast forward back to the spot that you were originally at, just for it to do it again some time later. And using the rewind/forward button is troubling because it doesn’t work well. It will freeze, lag or just not respond altogether. The app also doesn’t respond well to you pausing and then trying to play the audio again. Most times it will close the app while on pause, making you go back and opening the app to get back to where you were reading and 9/10 It does not continue at the spot you left it off at. I hope something can be done about this because this feature has made reading much more efficient for me ! It would me amazing if it was easier to use
2023-10-12
Device issues
I’m having to reset and readd my smart light bulbs again and again and the routines I’ve set in the past I can’t get to turn off even when I’ve deleted the routine and reset the light bulb it still comes on at the same time I had my old routine set on. I’ve put smart bulbs thought out the house and on the porch and Alexa’s in multiple rooms but when I command or question is asked in one room it answers from another Alexa device in other rooms. I have my own Alexa and account and my parents have there own so it’s connected to each of our rooms and our own devices but it’s just messed everything up when it comes to getting devices to work using Alexa commands. It’s a major hassle to set up everything they have available on the app for each person in the house hold and get the Alexa’s to respond accurately with simple commands such as “Alexa turn in the porch lights” to the point my parents stopped using their devices for anything but the weather now. I use mine a bit more but recently have had issues with Alexa no longer accepting my routine commands of lights on and lights off that I’ve been using for 2 years and now when I ask it says Alexa is not enabled, go to the app to enable yet when I got to the app everything is still connected the way it’s always been and will only let me use my phone to turn them on and off
2023-09-21
I love Alexa
My son actually gifted me several Alexis units a few years ago for Christmas. As an elderly person it is often difficult to remember everything they were supposed to remember so Alexa is my secretary. She helps me remember things she reminds me of things that need to be done. She creates my grocery list for me so that I don’t have to constantly be walking to the refrigerator and writing something down, she helps protect my home and my life. A lot of people that I worked with before I retired told me that I should not use Alexa because that meant I was being spied on that everybody or somebody whoever that would be was listening to my every word and recording my every move and I thought well OK. What could they possibly find wrong with me creating a riot to take something out of the oven to turn my oven on to remember to get my package off the porch, etc. etc. etc. So I have had Alexa for quite some time. I don’t think I could live without her. I think this is a huge benefit for a a lot of people, but it’s a tremendous benefit for the elderly. Thank you for asking.
2023-08-31
Needs Lots of Work
I’ve invested heavily in this home automation brand. I’ve also set up several Alexa systems for other people. IT IS NOT “set it and forget it”. I am constantly having to work on my routines that go off the reservation. I recognize that the equipment has to interface with outside components but this technology has been around for a long time and I expected less fuss. The number of problems I face would be daunting for anyone who is new to this kind of thing. I often wonder if technology, which is supposed to make our lives easier, isn’t in fact just adding different tasks to have to perform for use of the same amount of time.
I am also not a fan of sending support lines overseas. While well-meaning, the mangled English I encounter is too hard to understand particularly with a hearing loss. I don’t know who certifies the ability to communicate in English but that should get a second and third look.
Would I recommend? Yes! Just be aware that the fancier you get with routines the more maintenance work you will have to do. Sadly, I don’t know of any better option.
2023-04-26
Alexa might be better used as a bowling ball
Why, for the love of all that’s holy, do tech gadgets that are advertised as being designed to make things simpler have to be so complicated that the end user has to have an advanced degree just to use the bloody things? I am not, by any stretch, a stupid person. I’m a college professor. I teach accounting and corporate finance. I did not get a technology degree because I have literally no desire to do so.
Unfortunately, I actually fell for the ruse that this “personal assistant” would save me time and free up some of my mental RAM for the important things; believing that IT folks, or at least the ones who design these things, actually did so because they enjoyed it and possessed an ideology for benefitting the common good. But no. The sadists who created these monstrosities had absolutely no desire to actually help people save time or effort. On the contrary, I am convinced that they get a sick gratification by profiting from the high levels of frustration these products have on an already over-worked and highly-stressed customer base. Any human hired as a personal assistant who taunted me when I asked her to perform a simple task would have been fired long ago. Yet, in our current world, the need for something to help us manage our hectic lives is a necessary evil.
The only hope that I cling to is that the sadistic programmers who have literally created so much stress and anxiety for the general public are some day in need of other specialists who also get pleasure from torturing their clients.
2023-04-10
Great in concept, but limited and rarely works correctly
The main reasons to utilize Alexa in your life are to make life easier and the “cool factor”. Unfortunately, it makes life easier about 25% of the time and the other 75% of the time, it doesn’t work correctly and I spend this time trying to troubleshoot all of its flaws. In other words, it actually takes much more time and effort fixing all the problems than the efficiency it provides during the times it sometimes works as advertised. Side note, to provide a reference of validity: I’m an intermediate expert at smart home systems with about 60 different smart devices tested in my home and currently running and tested about 45 different routines. I have the best WiFi plan offered in my area plus a $500 WiFi booster - so the WiFi connections are solid. I point this out because I understand WiFi connectivity issues are probably the biggest problem with most people’s smart home systems. But for me, the issues and my rating/review are due to the products and the technical faults and limitations of Alexa software. Still, I’m hopeful they will get resolved eventually.
2023-02-16
Alexa app is complete garbage
I’ve been using the Alexa system for years, and love it, but have always hated, really hated, having to use the Alexa app. It’s completely unintuitive, hard to navigate, hardly ever works right and fills me with dread when I finally break down and realize I have to use it to change something. Which is what prompted me to write this review. I had to delete my NanoLeaf lights from Alexa control because Alexa would randomly turn on some horrific light pattern whenever I asked it to turn the lights on. I’d gotten in the habit of not using groups too much because if the NanoLeaf lights were in the group I referenced, bad things would happen. So I would say ‘Alexa, turn on X and turn on Y and turn on Z’ instead of ‘Alexa, turn on house’, because the NanoLeaf lights were in the ‘house’ group. Finally, I’d had enough and fired up the @#&%! Alexa app to try and remove the NanoLeaf lights from Alexa’s control and just push the light’s on/off switch myself. It took forever to figure out how to do something so simple (and I’m a software engineer). But I finally have deleted the lights from Alexa’s grasp, and had to vent my frustration by writing this review. Ahhh…I feel much better now. Thanks for reading…
2023-02-01
Internet
Would be nice if you could tell your alexa or echo or whatever device you are using to stop or to do something when you don't have internet. It would also be convenient if your alarm going off wasn't entirely dependent on the Internet connection being good. Another problem is that the alarm will go off but my internet connection isn't the greatest and so i cant actually turn off my alarm. Im really sick and tired of this because when i wake up and tell my echo to shut up I expect it to be quiet especially since at that point I've just woken up. Its gotten to the point I've almost just wanted to get rid of the stupid thing entirely. Make the stupid app able to change things on your echo or alexa when the alexa isn't on too. If you have linked the device and say it isn't connected to internet, if you try to change a setting it denies access when it should let you change it and update settings later but like i also said it shouldn't be so reliant on internet which is why I left a one star because your app and your product is terrible and nothing has any good quality of life value because nothing to do with any of it is straightforward or simple so fix your stuff and stop being lazy.
2023-01-12
Affordable Smart house for everyone
My job takes me to a lot of let’s say 1%ers homes. They are all automated. All hard wired with mega expensive systems that need a 6 month course to operate. My first experience with dot’s was with the second generation 5 years ago. It was cool and did some meet stuff, but I had to remember every lights name to control it, and for it to sound good I had to hook it up to a stereo. I purchased an Echo 4th gen smart speaker when they were on sale this summer. They have made the speakers so much better and the software works so much better. The Alexa app is easy for setting up routines new devices are found with no issues using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. I can walk into a room and say “Alexa turn on the lights” and they only turn on in the room I’m in. I don’t need to know every lights name. You still do to control the individual light. TV, smart plugs, lights, shades, motion detectors, security systems, doorbells and your heat/ac. I don’t have a smart fridge but if I did Alexa would fill it when it was empty. 4 echos, 4dots(4th), 1dot(5th), 2dots(2nd), and 3 show 5’s all cost me under $450. Music all over the house. Intercom system. Over the years they have improved the hardware and the software. I’m assuming it will just get better. Controlling the house with automations and your voice is just really cool.
2022-11-18
Review on the app in general
I been using my Alexa and this Alexa app for years now and I feel the need to leave a couple suggestions and some of my opinions regarding the app. The app can sometimes be very laggy and it makes it very difficult to use and control my Alexa with. Another thing is that I linked my Apple Music to the app so I can play music on that platform since I do not pay for Alexa unlimited but it is absolutely difficult to control and choose my music. I have a playlist of about 200 songs that plays and it didn’t give me the option to choose the songs I want to play immediately. I would have to keep saying skip and wait for my song to come and sometimes it doesn’t even allow me to repeat the song which really makes me mad. Those are honestly the 2 main issues I deal with while using the app. Without those two issues I think this app would be amazing. That’s all I have to say and I will be waiting for the major update if it ever happens to this app. (Also please excuse me if I have some grammar errors)
2022-10-28
Stressful to Use
There is an endless amount of potential within the Alexa ecosystem, however, the Alexa app is extremely stressful to use. The layout is so convoluted, I forget where I am within the app because every screen looks so similar. Things are more difficult to do and find than they should be. If you can find them, many of the skills do not do what they advertise, including account linking which is really necessary to make Alexa valuable.
I had not been in the app in a while and I tried to do several tasks including add photos to a screensaver, link a utility bill to Alexa’s Bill Planner, pair my remote with my echo dot, update my news sources on my Flash Briefing and simply find the skills list. In the end, I stumbled upon the skills list but couldn’t find it again when I needed it, could NOT link my utility bill, could not pair my remote and the only task I was able to accomplish was updating my flash briefing. I really didn’t belief all the 1 and 2 star skill reviews but I really should have. This is just a really difficult app to use for some reason.
I just found myself getting really excited about what Alexa should be able to do but disappointed time and again when I couldn’t accomplish anything. This is a really stressful app that apparently I need to revisit years from now because it’s not close to delivering on its promise.
2022-10-25
Not User Friendly
I would expect this app to have more options and to be much more user friendly. Reading a Kindle e-book for example, this should be much more developed than it is. If you are going to offer reading an e-book, why not make it like other audio reading apps? It’s so primitive and difficult to use. Just finding a kindle book is ridiculous, you can’t even use a search feature to find a book, you have to scroll and scroll until you find it in the library and if the library is huge that can take some time. Also the playing app has almost no features at all. If you are listening to an e-book and are distracted for some reason trying to go back and find where you left off is impossible. The 30 second skip ahead or go back buttons don’t even work properly. I could hit the 30 second skip ahead and end up going backwards 30 seconds instead and there isn’t a scrubbing bar that allows you to scrub ahead or go back quickly. Why is there not a bookmark where you can mark where you left off or an important passage to find at a later time? These are very standard options on other reading and audio platforms. I appreciate having the option for Alexa to read a book but it would be really great if it could be up to the standard of other audio apps.
2022-09-09
This app is 1 star Alex is 5 stars
We are in the year 2022 when you compare this app and its features to many other apps out there this application is very behind. Alexa is great when you ask her questions when you tell her to do things but she’s limited when it links to other applications such as Apple Music for instants. It is so difficult to request music albums stations shows from the Apple Music app when you’re using it through this app here. He cannot find the music or album sometimes station or radio and it just won’t play or gives you a response that it can’t be found. The creators of this app really need to improve the users ability And make it user-friendly to people to use when talking to Alexa. I find myself having to use my Bluetooth connection in order to play Apple Music the way I really use Apple for with all their features it’s just not working with this app. this app also is not very user-friendly when you’re trying to control your home you have connected devices for certain things and you tell it to turn it off or to turn it on it turns off the wrong stuff or turns everything off when that’s not what you’re telling it to do please give this app an entire upgrade make it just as equal as the things Alexa can do because this app is just not there you’re years behind!
2022-08-01
Glitchy across multiple devices since update on July 22
I use Wyze, geeni and tp link (Kasa) devices (plugs, smart bulbs, and cams)
It seems that if I don’t create a routine immediately after the devices discoverable they tend to fall off… And in the process of the most recent iOS update in combination with the most recent Alexa update all my routines lost their association with their respective devices. and in most cases the devices did notPopulate on the “devices” screen/section of the Alexa app.I think it’s worth mentioning that the individual manufacturer provided apps did not lose their minds or forget their devices.
In the future, I will be expecting compensation from the thing that steals my entire weekend away forcing me to have to review every one of my routines and in almost all cases device name, group, location, and what way I planned on using it. due diligence people! I know we live in a time of unfinished video games, but I will find something else to be in charge of remembering my devices and routines if Ms Alexa and her Amazonian App continues to be such a colossal nuisance.
Dear developer please do not respond to me, I made mention of the fact that it happened to all my devices, where is complete disregard to their use or manufacture. Please just fix it
2021-10-23
Alexa ain’t what she used to be
I have had anEcho and Echo Dot since Dec 2016. It worked great to turn lights on/off. Way too many updates in last 2 years. the fact that you have to unplug the devices after an update—don’t remember any instructions to that effect—maybe Alexa could send a notification. I have a smart plug connected and it worked seamlessly for about a year. Then the Kasa app started sending updates and Alexa needed updates too. It’s now an unreliable mess. Got used to playing The Daily podcast or music for 30 Min at night. It sometimes works. It repeats the specific command and then goes dead. Sometimes several minutes later podcast or music will start which wakes me up. She says “sorry, I’m having trouble finding music etc.”
I almost bought 5 more plugs for up lights on plants. Glad I didn’t. It would be a nightmare to keep them all working, plugging/ unplugging. It would be nice to know what’s in the updates, but they don’t want us to know because I just want Alexa 1.0. I’m seriously considering dumping the smart plug and just buying a new light timer. Alexa was wonderful but when she’s not working she’s not worth the trouble.
2021-07-17
Room for improvement
The Alexa app, for me, is only used in connection with my Kindle so that I can utilize the voice feature of Alexa to read my kindle book. The front face of the app doesn’t allow for ease of navigating between starting/stopping the playback of the book or rewinding to catch a missed sentence. Regardless of Alexa’s lack of inflection and intonation (after all, it’s not the audiobook recording of the story and truly is just the monotone of Alexa’s voice), the app glitches enough that she repeats multiple sentences within the same chapter causing me, the “reader” to be throughly confused. Fortunately, but rather time consuming and a bit frustrating, the kindle app holds the “print” version of the book for my own ease in referencing. I’ve had to go back to do that. While I’m not complaining that I actually need to read the book for comprehension purposes thanks to her “glory”, having Alexa read to you that “lives” (as in “he lives for sugar”) not be read as “lives” (as in “he took fifteen lives in the war”) is chuckle-inducing but again, frustrating. She is, of course, a computer. But, as a computer, I figured she should be smarter than that mispronunciation debacle.
TL;DR: the app isn’t super user friendly for book readers; the voice/intelligence of the personification of Alexa could use some work
2021-06-10
A duplicate device every time! Frustrating for those with a lot of Smart Devices
The app would be great if there were more control over the items you have connected. Every time I open the app it’s discovered the same devices again. I have duplicates and triples of just about every device. I’m aware of why it’s happening, but there’s no way to stop it from happening. There’s no way to hide devices and getting rid of items is painfully slow and tedious. In the end it’s not even worth it because the next time you run the app it will just re-discover all of the devices that you just spent hours deleting. Also, there’s no easy way to distinguish which of the multiples are the devices you’ve actually set up for routines or rooms. Essentially you have to turn things on and off to see which ones respond before you can determine the ones that need to be removed. Not like it matters though because of the aforementioned comment about them just coming back. I love Alexa, but there needs to be a better way to manage devices and for Christ’s sake please give us a way to do away with all of these duplicates!!!! I’m tired of having to spend hours re-doing my entire smart home. Maybe stop pushing out all of these new devices and work on your app infrastructure. As of right now your devices are smart but your app is clearly the kid in class who just doesn’t get it.
2021-05-06
Oops
I met to put two stars but give Siri -2 stars. Some kind of offline directories to store functions, previous commands, questions with results in mostly a text format a img file and/or but not limited to PDFs or a simpler way or combo all to zipped but there is a way better way. An A.I assistant should be able to help when you need it. I can google stuff also so when I am in a area or structure that kills signal the A.I becomes to me an alarm clock that is triggered but a word not an automaton that can actually assist me when and where ever. Even a start is an offline “q&a” storage to help user stop relooking up already acquire knowledge and simply say you already know that is there another way you would like to learn it... I barely understand why Siri is even on my phone or devices. Alexa should have a complete offline version that communicates to cloud base Alexa as it would to us. Alexa does a great job getting to know people but that shouldn’t be a big deal I walk in to an office I don’t ask the secretary if you want to be my friend no it’s our job but Alexa could be more of a friend that way later
2021-04-25
Units not in sync, cannot redesign lists order
Our sons and our bedroom are close together. He has an echo kids. When we say good morning Routine it plays on our echo in our bedroom instead of his bedroom. We constantly miss listening to our morning news and weather. Other than changing Alexa’s name we wish you could make Alexa ignore a 2,3,and 4 year old. It was cute at first but now it totally annoying to the point where we just want to get rid of Alexa and the 4 units we bought. I like being able not to have to talk to Alexa and being able to type commands or to switch buttons. I don’t like the volume control as it blasted as it jumps several volume levels at a time and help destroy my new very expensive speaker system on my stereo which also is hooked to sound our TV. This is bad having Alexa listen to your 3 year old crank up the volume. A lot would have to change for me to ever give it 5 stars. There are some nice features but are outweighed by the bad. Alexa needs more and better Setting Controls and a way to ignore small children who like to change music every 5 seconds. I want to turn on my garage lights first and after I scrolled through every other light in the house I finally arrive to where I can turn the switch on; you should be able to arrange the switches the way you want. Still haven’t figured Kids Free time out. Hard to have other main adult family members use the app too; only one master.
2021-04-11
App download issue fixed...
Still a long way to go, but THANK YOU for restoring selective dark mode. I was really annoyed at being forced to used system settings. I use the app several times each day, and I need it in dark mode all the time since I suffer from migraines. I do not need my phone in dark mode at all times however. Also, I would still really like better control of volume between timers, alarms, reminders, and playing music or audiobooks. I mean I would like to have separate control over each, both in the app and by voice, both in home and away from home, AND per device. Mic sensitivity should be a separate control by device as well. My obnoxious Ecobee Thermostat right by the master bedroom has a much more sensitive microphone than my Echo fifteen feet away, and consequently picks up my request to the Echo when I am across the room from the Ecobee and right next to the Echo. It then takes a reminder, timer or alarm away from the Echo and then sets those off right next to the bedroom. The only time it does not do this is when I set the Ecobee to volume 1, but then the reminders and timers I DO want on the Ecobee go unheard. It is a Chinese fire drill dealing with the volume control on the two devices, and setting the volume on the Ecobee controls the mic sensitivity too, so it is making me schizophrenic trying to keep up with them. Open floor plan here, so finite control of mic and volumes is a must in the app please. iOS 14.4.2 on an iPhone 12 Pro Max just for FYI purposes.
2021-03-13
Still difficult to use
Very difficult to make routines or control things around the house. It should be much easier to see any decide or gadgets around the house, light bulbs or speakers, outlets. Still a lot to work on Alex’s capabilities to make her more efficient. I’ll be happy when in 1,2,3 minutes and she would be able to see and discover every new devise found in the house or any Bluetooth gadgets she did not know. Phone calls shouldn’t be a problem if Alexa is connected to my network regardless if she's connected to my phone call should be allowed and what's going in with WhatsApp? It's worldwide as possible why not to give her access to use it to call other countries? That's really a plus ++++. . Once Akexa has access to the network it should be easy to discover anything hooked up to the same network via Bluetooth or wifi it's all password protected and in the same house why d8es she need constant permission? She should be able to discover my car Ior husband car or the house or office callif she has been there once and access was granted why can't she always has clearance? Constantly having to connect her tiny cell if leave the house then she gets totally disconnected. Akexa should be able to call my cell in her own to ask if she should turn on the lights for my dogs. That's how efficient she should be and she's capable, just have to work the perks..?
2021-02-10
Two locations
I have 4 Echo devices in 2 locations, running on two disparate WiFi networks. Each site has 1 main Echo device that serves a studio apartment and one Echo dot in the bathrooms at each site. The new round devices are in the second site. It appears that there are problems with Alexa discriminating between devices in the two networks and I regularly have to go to the app to play my regularly requested from Tune In, particularly from the new large round Echo device. Also, this device often cannot discern my whispering voice or answers without whispering, even when I reactivate whisper mode over and over.
I do, generally, like having Alexa at my beck and call. Since music is not my major usage, I cannot testify how the new round device operates. I definitely like the look: I have the dusty blue. But I think there is tweaking required to the new devices too get their voice responses operating at the same level I have with my second generation column Echo device.
I still have much to learn and more skills to activate at my second site, which I will continue to do.
2021-01-07
Amazing but she needs an update
I’ve had an Alexa since late August 2020 not too long. She’s been working perfectly sometimes messed up but not everything’s perfect. Ever since December when you say “Alexa i’m leaving” she’ll say “ Okay i’ll start guarding now.” now she works normal but when you come after 30 minutes and say “Alexa turn off guard” she continues to say “ okay turning on tv okay powering off tv.” constantly until you unplug her. Now it never did this before and to be honest if they have a feature working why can’t it stay working. I’m not sure if Google has that same ability but i’m thinking about switching to Google very soon if this continues. Yes I know technology is frustrating but it’s becoming every time I tell her to stop guarding. Me having to unplug and reset an Alexa every time when it should work normally shouldn’t be the case. Also when you whisper play rain sounds or something a lot of the time she’ll say on the loudest voice okay playing raining sounds. I don’t live alone and people are trying to sleep she should whisper when I whisper and that’s rarely. Again it’s a new issue and I use her for those 2 things other than a few minor questions here and there. But at this point she’s as good as nothing.
2020-10-13
a little help for the blind people
Now I can tell this is a very capable app. I was able to set up my account and subsequently my echo dot in a short time. It's also decently organized. The app has 3 main problems for blind and low vision users. The app does not have well labeled elements for voice over to read. This is consistant throught the app. The app is unresponsive. Of course, using voice over takes up some technological resources on my iPhone, however there is no excuse for the latest iPhone and the newest version of iOS that I should have to wait 3 seconds for the next screen to load. Along with that, trying to link services is incredibly difficult and there are a fair amount of buttons, text fields, elements, functions, and even just on/off buttons that just don't work when pressed. Lastly, when putting different gesture inputs into voice over and doing things in the app, everything starts to slow down after a short amount of time. This can effectively hault or freeze the app and then crashes. The only comparison is that the google home app is completely accessable and easy to use. If you want accessability feedback, please reach out to me.
2020-07-13
Amazing device but is annoying
I got my Alexa not so long ago. Sense then I have only had 2 problems with it. But the problems are very frustrating and annoying. It is the same problem too. Red light and keeps saying the Alexa isn’t registered. But then I will go on the app and it will say it is registered. The first time I had this issue it lasted 2 days. Then I finally fixed it. I now have the same issue and it has been going on for a month now. The same red light whenever I say hey Alexa. I have looked up videos which have led to zero help. I honestly don’t know what to do. It is always so annoying. Last time this happened I fixed it but I forgot how I fixed it. I think I unplugged it but I did that 5 times already and nothing has changed.. if you ever want to get a Alexa always know how to deal with the problems and issues. But in all Alexa is such a good device. It plays music and will tell you lots of information. Plus it is funny. Definitely recommend. But would love some help with the red light:/
2020-04-26
Slow & Can’t Utilize Many Features
This app takes forever to load, but I’m willing to accept this could partially be due to my older phone. However, I can’t fully utilize so many of the “features” in the app. For iHeartRadio, there’s no option to log in using Facebook through the Alexa app, so I’d have to create a brand new account to listen to podcasts and music stations through my Echo Dot.
I couldn’t properly finish creating my Food Network Kitchen profile in the Alexa app, nor would it finish letting me log in successfully.
I couldn’t even save my home address, work address, or the address for basically anything else through the app.
I gave up trying to see what else I could do in the app for now because I got so frustrated with all these features I apparently have but cannot use. Please have your developers go thoroughly through the app to fix these bugs and others I’m sure they are to find.
Other than that, I’ve discovered much I can use my Dot for using this app, and there are features that do properly work (for now), which is why I felt to rate 3 stars instead of 1 or 2.
2020-04-07
Granny Cam
When my daughter purchased Echo Shows for me and my husband, and one for my mother, I wasn’t sure we’d have much use for them. How wrong I was! My mother lives in an assisted living facility & I began to use the drop-in feature to check on her or walk her through fixing whatever was wrong with her TV (usually she pressed the wrong button & got components out of synch.) Lately, with the pandemic, her ALF is in lockdown and the Echo Show has become a lifeline in every sense of the word. I’m able to check on her several times a day, making sure she remembers to go down to the dining hall for meals, take her medicine, and remind her to press her call button if she needs other help. My sister-in-law’s husband just died and we bought her one, too. People with memory disorders, like my mother, or tech aversions like my sister-in-law, have trouble using Facetime or Skype. I can drop in without them having to do anything & chatting face to face is much better than a phone call. It’s also helpful to set reminders, play music & books, and use as a search engine. We love it!
2020-02-23
Alexa friendly; app not so much
I don’t regret having my Echo, Show and Dot; however, I don’t find the programming and navigating the app to be nearly as user-friendly as I would expect, given Amazon’s resources. Maybe it is because I live in the Apple ecosphere where most things just work. Perhaps it is growing pains with AI, since Siri is Apple’s weakest link. People shouldn’t need an app to learn how to use an app. I also find that I discard most of the skills as fairly useless. I love things like Find My Phone, but a lot of the sleep sounds, etc. are low quality compared to other apps I use. I had to get a new cheap coffee pot for her to control with the plug since she can only work with a toggle, no buttons. I understand why, but wish she could control my Cuisinart. The Show will put up a video I want to watch, but move on before I can ask for it. Asking for it after it isn’t on the screen doesn’t work. My echo used to be very sensitive, but now I have to yell at her several times to turn off an alarm. What’s with that? I like Reminders, timers, alarms, weather and my morning flash briefing, which I need to edit, since some is either an ad or just annoying. Please work on making the interface more intuitive.
2020-02-15
Suggestions to improve:
I would LOVE to make a few suggestions....
~For the Echo Show- When the screen is showing news update/interesting topics, make it easier to use your voice ask her to read or play the video for you and possibly ask her to go back to the previous page in the slideshow without having to touch the screen to scroll back. Every time I see something I want to hear, she tells me something totally different than the news article she was just displaying.
~With the abundance of skills that are out there, I enable so many that sound cool, but by the time I close the app, I totally forgot what the names are and what I have to say to open them. Why don't you make an option allow people to print out the skills they enabled to use as a cheat sheet? I think it would be cool to make a little book/folder type of thing to keep near the echo that kids or guests can browse through the skills you have and be able to know what phrases they have to say to play the game or whatever....
~It would be great if there was a way to have your phone connected to Alexa, WHILE using multi-room music and using Alexa normally, but have her pause the music when you're phone is ringing so you don't miss calls if you're blasting music through the whole house. As far as I know, if you want be able to hear anything from your phone, then any music or anything has to be done on your phone as well. I want to listen and control everything from Alexa, but just be alerted if my phone rings.
2020-02-09
Alexa
I LOVE my Alexa! It wakes me up to my favorite music every morning, and keeps track of my grocery lists (putting copies on my phone so I always have a current list.....which is totally awesome! It reminds me of events, or when to leave home to pick up kids from school!
If I am reading a book, and don’t recognize a word, it gives me a definition. It gives me French lessons, although they are fairly easy so far. I ask Alexa to set timers a lot! If I can’t remember how to make a recipe, Alexa helps. If I have my hands busy and need a quick math calculation, I just ask Alexa! If I am reading a historical book, and want to check something that doesn’t seem right, I ask Alexa and she corroborates.....or not.
Alexa also reads my kindle books to me, and turns on my prime TV, and searches for my TV shows for me! Alexa can set timers for your lights, to go on and off when I am not home, so it looks like someone is home....but you need compatible light bulbs!
I really love Alexa!!!!!!! On a scale of 1 to 10, I give Alexa a “100”......honest!
2020-02-08
Why you need an Alexa Show
Any person in their sixties needs to have this machine. This machine is invaluable to people who want to or need to live independently. It reminds you to take your medicine....read the reminder or Alexa will tell you the reminder. It’s a great way to stay in touch with an elderly person. Is Grandma still in her pajamas at 2:00 in the afternoon, not getting out even though she assures you that she’s up and dressed and has walked the dog? This machine allows you to “drop in” and see grandpa taking all of his meds. You can actually “drop in” on a lonely person and eat “together” even while you are in Delaware and your loved one is in Florida if you both have the Alexa Show. To know that an elderly person is exercising, being social, eating regularly, and taking meds......what a relief! Buy an Alexa Show right now so you can get “you and your loved-one” acclimated to the machine before you actually need it... that’s why I picked 60”s as a great age to buy it. It becomes part of your life and believe me, it is a life-saving tool. One more thing....it is easy to install and to use. I am not kidding! You will be so grateful that someone invented this machine! It’s so helpful.
2019-08-06
"Back" button blues
I've been using the Alexa app since it's inception. I've had very few problems with the function of the app. It runs the original echo, four echo dots, the first echo show and now the new echo show 5 and an echo input. Once I got my home wifi tweeked to give full reliable coverage for the entire house, Alexa works without issues.
The app does so many things and it does them well. My wife and I now rely on the echo units for all kinds of automation to run lights, appliances, central air and heat, locks, remote control for TV, cameras and of course music. If things aren't working properly I can always trace issues to wifi.
My only suggestion has to do with using the app for looking up skills. I have issue with the "back" button. After scrolling through volumes off catagories and skills I wish to return to the place I was so I could continue exploring skills but the "back" button returns to the very start of the skills list. Please consider redesigning so the back button will take me to the precious step.
Good app that does a tremendous amount of things well.
2018-08-09
List Feature
This app no longer works properly. For the past several weeks, I’ve gone to several different stores to shop. Before I leave home, I make a shopping list, but when I get to the store the app won’t open. I get the comment “No Network Available” “Please connect and try again”. I checked my settings and cellular data and cellular roaming is turned on, but I’m unable to open or sign in to Alexa. The next day it might or might not work. I have LTE cellular service and a fully charged iPhone 7 running IOS 11.4.1. I’m now leaving the second store today without completing my shopping because I depend on this list function. I guess I have to revert back to the olden ways of paper & pencil. I’m very dissatisfied, but hey it’s free you say. Well it’s turned into a huge time waster for me because now I’ll have to go home and scour through the sales ads and either recreate my lists or make a paper list. When I get home the app may actually open, but when I get to the store....nothing. Maybe you ought to fix the issues that exist now before you keep proudly adding and advertising more and more new functions and capabilities to the app, which evidently seem to be causing problems with its former user-friendly and basic functioning.
2018-06-30
Annoying Audible Interface
Audible is what my Echo Dot is primarily used for. My kids listen to books to help them fall asleep.
The menu to select an audiobook from Audible is very annoying. There’s no search or reorder options. For someone like me with nearly 200 titles in my collection, it’s a pain to scroll to find a book in a chaotically ordered list. Both the Audible and Kindle apps have ways of making this much easier. Why wouldn’t Alexa?
And now, with the latest update, EVERY SINGLE TIME an audiobook is played, it’s followed up with an ad to start an Audible subscription and a sample of another book. We have a shared family plan so the main account logged into Alexa doesn’t have Audible but the connect account does-hence why I’m able to play the books I own. So logically if I’m already playing books, why would I need to hear about getting a subscription??? And at the very least why can’t I turn that feature off??? The last thing I want after my kids have been lulled to sleep by a relaxing audiobook is Alexa talking. Make it stop!
2018-05-01
Calendar screw up
As of April 16, 2018, my “Show” device will not display past calendar events. It used to do this- I could scroll back & look at yesterday’s calendar, for example. Today’s events display, but when I scroll back to any prior day after April 15, 2018, my calendar displays “No events”, despite the fact that my linked calendar does, in fact, have events for those days. My Dot also says there are it “can’t answer questions for events in the past” if I ask it about my calendar for a date prior to today. I used the Alexa app to report the problem and was instructed to unplug my Show & reset to factory defaults & reset everything over again- didn’t work; as a matter of fact, my Show then got ‘stuck’ displaying the calendar event for April 26 for several days. I replied to the original email chain (does anyone else notice that a different support person replies even tho it’s still the same problem?) & they said to delete the link to the calendars & set that up again. Doing that fixed the stuck-on-April-26 problem but not the visibility of prior date events problem. The Alexa folks are suggesting a phone call or chat to debug. I’m not inclined to do that because the last time I went thru that with Alexa support I spent over an hour in a chat and at the end they couldn’t fix the issue and said they would label my issue as “feedback”. It’s nice when you can just ignore bugs in your software, provide crappy support & then “close” the issue & get it off your books by saying you got some “feedback”. Not impressed.