Ask Dave Taylor
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Videos
  • Most Popular
  • Top Categories
  • Books
  • About Dave
  • Ask Me
  • > Donate <
  • Home
  • Amazon Echo & Kindle Help
  • How do I Enable Alexa Guard Home Security Feature?

How do I Enable Alexa Guard Home Security Feature?

August 28, 2019 / Dave Taylor / Amazon Echo & Kindle Help / No Comments

I understand that my Amazon Echo devices can actually serve as a home security system, listening for broken glass, smoke alarms, and more. So cool! How do I enable this feature?

Your Amazon Echo can indeed serve as a somewhat rudimentary home security system! Well, it’s not entirely rudimentary if you set it up to control lights randomly and some of its other fancier features, but at its core, Alexa turns into a listening device that can detect some common bad sounds.

The question is whether you really want to have your Alexa listening and analyzing every sound in your apartment, house or office. Yes, it already does that listening for the “alexa” trigger word, but home security ups the analysis further and if you’re also worried about privacy, it might be incompatible to have both Alexa Guard – as it’s called – and a desire for privacy.

That’s up to you, however, so I’ll show you how to enable it through the Alexa app on your smartphone and you can then decide whether it meets your own desire for security and privacy. Deal? Great!

To start, fire up the Alexa app and tap on the “hamburger menu” icon on the top left (the three horizontal lines). It brings up a long menu, and you’ll want to swipe down to find “Guard“:

alexa - find 'guard' menu item

You do now about Hunches and Lists already, right? If not, you can sidetrack for a minute or two poking about 🙂

Once you tap on Alexa Guard, you’ll end up here:

enable alexa guard home security

Worth highlighting is that if you have a “Ring” or “ADT” home security system, they’re both Alexa-enabled, so can work with Guard. Pretty cool, actually, and no additional sensors required.

To proceed, tap on “Set Up Guard“. Easy enough. There are four main features for the system you’ll be able to enable, as desired:

set up alexa guard home security - page 2

Listen for smoke detectors? Why wouldn’t you do that? Yes a Nest Protect or similar would be better, but that’s a big investment and this is a free additional capability of your Amazon Echo device. I know which I prefer 🙂

Tap “Later” if you’d rather not have it monitor or “Add” if that sounds good.

Now, what about if someone breaks a window?

set up alexa guard home security - glass breakage alert

Again, there’s no reason not to enable the glass breakage sensor if you’re going to use Alexa Guard, so tap “Add”.

Next up is having your lights go on and off even if you’re away from home:

set up alexa guard home security - away lighting

If you have smart lights and want them in the loop, tap “Add”.

That’s it. If you’re ready, tap to confirm your setup and configuration:

set up alexa guard home security - confirm setup

Notice the small print: “Alexa Guard is not a replacement for an alarm system or a life safety device.” You probably already figured that out, but it’s worth highlighting that this is some pretty cool tech, but it’s not the same as door and window sensors and an alarm.

And…. you’re ready to go!

alexa guard - setup complete

Important to realize is that this doesn’t mean that Alexa Guard is now working. This just means that the setup is complete, as it indicates. Go to the next screen and you’ll see some tips on how to actually use Guard with your Echo device:

how to use alexa guard

Again, as highlighted, simply say “Alexa, I’m leaving” as you depart your home to enable Alexa Guard, then “Alexa, I’m home” to disable it once you return to your home, apartment, condo or office. Easy enough! Now, give it a try and see how it works for you.

Pro Tip: I’ve been writing about the Amazon Echo and Alexa since the tech was introduced, and have tons of helpful Alexa tutorials to check out here on the site. It’s worth your time!

Let’s Stay In Touch!

Never miss a single article, review or tutorial here on AskDaveTaylor, sign up for my fun weekly newsletter!
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please enter all required fields
Correct invalid entries
No spam, ever. Promise. Powered by FeedBlitz
Please choose a color:
Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!
alexa guard, alexa home security, alexa security, alexa security monitor, alexa security system, amazon echo guard, echo home security, home security

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Recent Posts

  • Can I Have Microsoft Edge Suggest Strong Passwords?
  • How Can I Password Protect Tax Forms Sent Via Email?
  • Easy Way to Add Emoji to Tweets from a Web Browser?
  • How Do You Post Multiple Photos in Instagram?
  • How Can I Change the Default Search Engine in Google Chrome to Microsoft Bing?

On Our YouTube Channel

DIGDIY BUDGET ANC TWS Earbuds [D10WH] -- REVIEW

Rush Charge Hinged Smartphone Battery Stand -- UNBOXING & REVIEW

Categories

  • AdSense, AdWords and PPC Help (106)
  • Amazon Echo & Kindle Help (79)
  • Amazon, eBay and Online Shopping Help (157)
  • Android Help (158)
  • Apple Watch Help (49)
  • Articles, Tutorials and Reviews (326)
  • Business Advice (191)
  • Computer and Internet Basics (714)
  • d) None of the Above (160)
  • Facebook Help (364)
  • Google & Gmail Help (154)
  • HTML and Web Design (243)
  • Instagram Help (43)
  • iPad Help (136)
  • iPhone Help (570)
  • LinkedIn Help (79)
  • Linux Help (147)
  • Linux Shell Script Programming (86)
  • Mac & MacOS Help (830)
  • Most Popular (10)
  • MP3 Player Help (181)
  • Outlook & Office 365 Help (9)
  • PayPal Help (68)
  • Pinterest Help (53)
  • Reddit Help (11)
  • SEO & Marketing (80)
  • Spam, Scams & Security (82)
  • Trade Show Updates (23)
  • Twitter Help (212)
  • Video Game Tips (66)
  • Web Site Traffic Tips (62)
  • Windows 10 Help (825)
  • Wordpress Help (201)
  • Writing and Publishing (72)
  • YouTube Help (43)
  • YouTube Video Reviews (159)
  • Zoom, Skype & Video Chat Help (40)

Archives

Social Connections:

Ask Dave Taylor


Follow Me on Pinterest
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on LinkedIn
Follow me on Instagram


AskDaveTaylor on Facebook



microsoft insider mvp


This web site is for the purpose of disseminating information for educational purposes, free of charge, for the benefit of all visitors. We take great care to provide quality information. However, we do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this site or on any linked site. Further, please note that by submitting a question or comment you're agreeing to our terms of service, which are: you relinquish any subsequent rights of ownership to your material by submitting it on this site. Our lawyer says "Thanks for your cooperation."
© 2020 by Dave Taylor. "Ask Dave Taylor®" is a registered trademark of Intuitive Systems, LLC.
Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions - Accessibility Policy