A new feature for the Amazon Echo, called Amazon Alexa Guard, adds security system features to the Alexa voice assistant. Alexa Guard can convert your Echo devices from everyday smart household products into a home security system.
How Amazon Alexa Guard works in an Emergency
Once Alexa Guard is enabled by the user who says “Alexa, I’m leaving”, Alexa devices will respond with “OK, I’ll be on guard” and will switch to Away mode. This will turn on the microphones of the devices to constantly hear the signals of an emergency, such as broken glass, alarms and smoke detectors, shocks or falls in your home. If something happens, you will receive an alert on your smartphone.
Important: Alexa Guard can not call emergency services, such as 911, on their own.
If you subscribe to a professional security service, such as ADT or Ring, Alexa Guard can also send alerts to those services so they can increase the surveillance of your home. In the case of an emergency, you should still contact the help on your own, either by calling 911 or requesting in-person assistance from your security service through your applications.
How Alexa Guard works in a Non-Emergency Situation
If there is no danger or intrusion, Alexa Guard can still work to prevent a problem by pretending someone is at home. If you have smart lights connected in your home, you can connect them to the Amazon Alexa application and Alexa Guard will turn the lights on and off randomly. Users can also manage lights remotely from the Alexa application, available for Android and iOS devices.
How to Disable the Alexa Guard
You can disable the Alexa Guard by saying “Alexa, I’m home” when you have returned home. If you have home security hardware that works with Alexa, such as Amazon Ring Alarm, you must enter a PIN code to confirm your identity before Alexa Guard deactivates.
Devices compatible with Alexa Guard
Alexa Guard is only compatible with the latest models from Amazon Echo, including the intelligent speakers Amazon Echo and Echo Dot of the current generation, and the smart home center Echo Plus. The Echo Show smart screen, the Echo Spot mini smart screen and the Echo entry are also compatible with Alexa Guard, and allow users to add Alexa functions to other electronic devices.
The first generation of Amazon Echo and Echo Plus, as well as the first and second generation of Echo Dot are not compatible with Alexa Guard.