If Alexa hears suspicious activity, she’ll alert you
There are all kinds of new security gadgets popping up in the smart home space. But what’s great about Alexa’s Guard feature is that it provides an extra layer of home security at no extra charge — and without the hassle of setting up a whole new system.
Alexa Guard lets you put your Echo speakers on alert when you’re out so they can listen for breaking glass and ringing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If Alexa picks up these sounds, she’ll send your phone a push notification with a 10-second audio clip so you’ll immediately know what’s happening at home.
“Alexa, I’m leaving.”
Once you’ve enabled the Guard feature (easy step-by-step in section below), just say “Alexa, I’m leaving” to activate Away Mode. I tested Guard by playing breaking glass and smoke alarm sounds, and it worked exactly as it’s supposed to.
Investigate any trouble for yourself — before you even get home. If you get a Guard alert while you’re away, it’ll include the option of dropping in on your Echo so you can hear what’s going on at home and decide whether to call in help. (If you have an Echo Show, you’ll be able to see what’s happening, too.)
“Alexa, I’m home!”
When you get home, just say “Alexa, I’m home” to de-activate Guard.
Set up Guard in 2 mins or less
Just follow these steps:
- Open the Alexa app
- Tap “More” on the bottom navigation bar
- Tap “Settings”
- Scroll down and tap “Guard”
- Follow the set-up prompts
Pro Tips
Pro Tip #1
When you’re dropping in, you can also talk — so you could let intruders know you’re onto them.
Pro Tip #2
You can also hook your Alexa into a Ring or ADT security system so when you say “Alexa, I’m leaving,” she can automatically arm your security system, too. And if she detects a problem, she can send alerts to your security provider in addition to giving you a heads up.
Pro Tip #3
Make sure your speakers are set up near the parts of your home you most want to guard so she’ll be more likely to hear any disturbances while you’re gone.