80+ Best Alexa Voice Commands for Smarter and Easier Life

Making the most of Alexa commands can make your daily life easier and more enjoyable.

In this guide, we’ll explore the most useful Alexa voice commands for real-world situations, from weather and news updates to shopping lists, health skills, ambient sounds, and even some lesser-known Alexa secret commands.

Best Alexa Voice Commands for Everyday Basics

These basic Alexa voice commands can make your daily life more convenient.

• “Alexa, what time is it?” — Instantly check the current time.
• “Alexa, wake me up at 7 AM.” — Set a daily alarm to start your morning.
• “Alexa, set a 10-minute timer.” — Perfect for cooking, workouts, or reminders.
• “Alexa, volume down.” — Adjust your Echo device volume hands-free.
• “Alexa, stop.” — Quickly end any ongoing task or sound.
• “Alexa, help.” — Get guidance on what Alexa can do.
• “Alexa, repeat that.” — Have Alexa repeat something you might have missed.
• “Alexa, how do you spell [word]?” — Quick help for spelling or simple questions.

Top Alexa Commands to Control Music and Media

These Alexa music and media commands make it easy to control your Echo device, play your favorite music, or stream media without ever touching your phone.

• “Alexa, play [song/artist/playlist].” — Perfect when you want to hear your favorite music without opening an app.
• “Alexa, play some relaxing music.” — Great for winding down after work or before bedtime.
• “Alexa, play the latest episode of [podcast name].” — Stay updated with your favorite podcasts while cooking or driving.
• “Alexa, play [radio station name].” — Tune in to local or online radio for news or sports.
• “Alexa, pause.” — Quickly stop playback when you get a phone call or someone’s at the door.
• “Alexa, resume.” — Continue listening right where you left off.
• “Alexa, next song.” — Skip tracks when you’re not in the mood for the current one.
• “Alexa, play music for a party.” — Instantly get a lively playlist to entertain friends.
• “Alexa, volume 5.” — Adjust the volume to the exact amount.
• “Alexa, what’s playing?” — Find out the name of the song or artist you’re listening to.

Useful Alexa Commands for Alarms, Timers and Reminders

Beyond the basics, Alexa can be a powerful personal assistant to help you stay organized and on schedule. Here are some useful Alexa commands for alarms, timers, and reminders:

• “Alexa, wake me up at 6:30 AM with jazz music.” — Start your morning with your favorite playlist instead of a standard alarm tone.
• “Alexa, set a sleep timer for 30 minutes.” — Perfect for winding down at night while listening to music or an audiobook.
• “Alexa, remind me to take my medicine at 9 AM every day.” — Stay consistent with your health routine.
• “Alexa, remind Emily to do her homework at 5 PM.” — Help kids stay on track with school tasks.
• “Alexa, set a 20-minute study timer.” — Great for focusing during Pomodoro-style study sessions.
• “Alexa, remind me to stretch after one hour.” — Keep active if you work long hours at a desk.
• “Alexa, remind me to call Dad every Sunday at 7 PM.” — Make sure you never forget important family moments.
• “Alexa, set a 45-minute cooking timer called pasta.” — Use multiple named timers in the kitchen without confusion.
• “Alexa, remind me to go to bed at 11 PM.” — Establish a healthier nighttime routine.

Alexa Voice Commands to Manage Calendar and Events

By connecting your Google, Microsoft, or Apple calendar, you can manage your daily schedule, family activities, and even travel plans with simple voice commands. Here are some of the most useful Alexa calendar commands:

• “Alexa, add a meeting to my calendar tomorrow at 10 AM.” – Schedule a work meeting with a command, without even opening your laptop.
• “Alexa, what’s my weekend schedule?” – Perfect for checking upcoming family gatherings or sports games.
• “Alexa, move my 2 PM meeting to 3 PM.” – Adjust your appointments when you have a conflicting task.
• “Alexa, delete my call with John on Monday.” – Easily delete an event without logging into the Calendar app.

Best Alexa Commands for Calls and Messages

With Alexa’s call and text commands, you can make hands-free calls, send quick messages, and even use your Echo device as an intercom around your home. Here are some practical examples:

• “Alexa, call Mom.” – Instantly make a voice call without picking up your phone. Just say the name saved in your address book.
• “Alexa, call John on his Echo Show.” – Start a video call with someone who has an Echo device with a screen.
• “Alexa, send a message to Sarah.” – Use the Alexa app to connect with family members.
• “Alexa, drop in on the kitchen Echo.” – Use your Echo device like an intercom.
• “Alexa, answer the call.” – Answer an incoming call hands-free, which is great if you’re busy cooking.
• “Alexa, announce ‘Dinner is ready!’” – Broadcast a message to all Echo devices in your home.
• “Alexa, redial.” – Quickly call back the last person you called.

Smart Home Alexa Commands to Control Lights & Devices

One of the biggest advantages of Alexa is smart home control. With simple voice commands, you can manage lights, thermostats, TVs, security systems, and even appliances.

• “Alexa, turn on the living room lights.” – Control smart bulbs like Philips Hue or LIFX.
• “Alexa, dim the bedroom lights to 30%.” – Precisely control the brightness of your lights with spoken commands.
• “Alexa, set the thermostat to 72 degrees.” – Adjust the temperature on a Nest or Ecobee thermostat to create a more comfortable environment.
• “Alexa, show the front door camera.” – View the feed from a Ring or Blink camera on your Echo Show.
• “Alexa, lock the front door.” – Secure your home with a smart lock like August or Schlage.
• “Alexa, turn on the coffee maker.” – Start your morning coffee with a smart plug.
• “Alexa, open Netflix and play ‘Stranger Things’ on Fire TV.” – Launch a streaming app on your Fire TV.
• “Alexa, pause Fire TV.” — Control playback without searching for the remote.

Alexa Commands for Weather and News Updates

With Alexa, you can get real-time weather forecasts and news briefings without checking your phone. Try these useful commands:

• “Alexa, what’s the weather today?” — Get an instant forecast before heading out.
• “Alexa, will it rain this weekend?” — know the upcoming weather to plan your family outing or BBQ.
• “Alexa, what’s the traffic and weather like on my way to work?” — Combine commute details with local weather updates.
• “Alexa, alert me if there’s a severe weather warning.” — Stay safe with automatic emergency alerts.
• “Alexa, what’s the air quality today?” — Especially helpful if you’re jogging outdoors or managing allergies.
• “Alexa, play the news briefing.” — Get personalized news updates from sources like NPR or CNN.
• “Alexa, show me today’s headlines on Fire TV.” — You will catch up with the latest news while sipping coffee.

Alexa Shopping Commands for Lists and Orders

Alexa integrates with Echo devices and the Amazon app, even working in-store with Whole Foods stores. Here are some helpful shopping commands:

• “Alexa, add milk to my shopping list.” – Create your shopping list with a single command.
• “Alexa, order paper towels.” – Quickly buy essentials with Amazon Prime.
• “Alexa, track my Amazon order.” – Check delivery status without opening the shopping app.
• “Alexa, remind me to buy coffee at Whole Foods.” – Start a shopping reminder when you arrive at a location.
• “Alexa, show me grocery deals on Echo Show.” – Get instant discounts with a single command.

Alexa as Your Assistant: Translation & Quick Answers

Alexa can help you navigate language and information challenges like a personal assistant. With Alexa translation commands and Quick Answers, you can quickly get the information you need:

• “Alexa, translate ‘good morning’ into Spanish.” – Perfect for travel or work.
• “Alexa, what is 15% of 85?” – Use commands to quickly answer math problems while cooking or shopping.
• “Alexa, how many euros are in 1 USD?” – Instantly convert currency without searching.
• “Alexa, what is the 2025 World Series schedule?” – Get instant sports updates.
• “Alexa, show me a map of San Francisco” – Get a visual map and directions on your Echo Show or Fire TV.

Fun Alexa Commands for Games and Entertainment

Alexa not only handles tasks but also provides entertainment and interactive games, making downtime fun for the whole family:

• “Alexa, play 20 Questions.” – Challenge Alexa with a fun guessing game.
• “Alexa, tell me a joke.” – Let Alexa entertain you when you’re bored.
• “Alexa, sing a song.” – Enjoy music with your Echo Dot or Echo Show.
• “Alexa, play Jeopardy on Fire TV.” – Combine interactive games with Fire TV’s visuals.
• “Alexa, tell me a fun fact.” – Learn something new in seconds.

Best Alexa Commands for Health and Wellness Skills

Alexa can not only remind you to take medicine or set alarms, but also help you manage your health with tasks like exercise, meditation, and fitness tracking:

• “Alexa, start a 7-minute workout.” — Displays a video guide on your Echo Show, perfect for a quick morning workout or a workout during your office break.
• “Alexa, track my water intake.” — Track your water intake and maintain healthy habits.
• “Alexa, start a meditation session.” — Play a guided meditation on your Echo Dot or Echo Show to relieve stress.
• “Alexa, play rain sounds.” — Play rain sounds on your device to help you relax or fall asleep.
• “Alexa, set a 30-minute ambient timer for focus session.” — Use white noise or nature sounds to help you focus.

Alexa Secret Commands You Should Try

In addition to everyday commands, Alexa has many secret commands built in. They can bring you surprises and fun.

• “Alexa, what’s the meaning of life?” → Alexa will give a humorous or philosophical answer.
• “Alexa, do you know Siri/Cortana/Google?” → Trigger some witty banter.
• “Alexa, do you love me?” → You’ll get all sorts of flirty responses.
• “Alexa, I am your father.” → A classic Star Wars response.
• “Alexa, open the pod bay doors.” → A HAL 9000 Easter Egg.
• “Alexa, up up down down left right left right B A start.” → A must-try for gamers!
• “Alexa, beatbox.” → Shows off its “rhythm skill.”
• “Alexa, self-destruct.” → Starts the “self-destruct countdown” with a hilarious ending.
• “Alexa, roll a dice / flip a coin.” → Helps you decide random things. Ask “Alexa, where’s Santa?” on Christmas Day to trigger a Christmas Easter egg.
• Say “Alexa, trick or treat.” on Halloween to receive a special surprise.

How to Set Up and Enable Alexa Commands?

Most Alexa voice commands require no additional setup. Once you have an Echo, Echo Show, Echo Dot, or Fire TV device and complete basic device setup, you can use regular commands directly.

However, some advanced features or commands require additional setup or skill activation:

Step 1: Basic Device Setup

• Plug in your Echo, Echo Show, Echo Dot, or Fire TV and power it on.
• Download and log in to the Alexa app (iOS or Android).
• Follow the app’s instructions to connect to Wi-Fi and register your device.

Step 2: Link Accounts and Services

• Amazon Account: Used for shopping, playing music, or accessing Audible/Kindle.
• Calendar Account: Links your Google/Microsoft/Apple calendars.
• Smart Home Devices: Add smart lights, cameras, thermostats, and more to the Alexa app.

Step 3: Enable Alexa Skills

• Open the Alexa app → More → Skills & Games
• Search for the skill you want to use (e.g., “7-minute workout,” “Meditation”)
• Tap Enable to Use and follow the prompts to complete account linking.

Step 4: Enable Personalization and Permissions

• Go to the Alexa app → Settings → Alexa Preferences
• Enable Voice Purchasing, Location Services, Personalized Results, and other features.

Follow these steps to enable Alexa to perform more precise commands based on your account, location, and preferences.

Read more: How to Connect Alexa to Wi-Fi? Step-by-Step Guide

Final Thought

Alexa is a smart assistant like Siri that helps you be productive, entertained, and healthy.

Use these Alexa voice commands to unlock the full potential of your smart home and adapt it to your needs.