Six amazing Alexa Echo tips and tricks

Worldwide sales of Amazon Echo passed 500 million this year and once again there are likely to be thousands of the devices sitting under Christmas trees in Britain.

They can do everything from controlling the lights to putting on music, but users are often unaware of some of their coolest functions. Below are some of the lesser-known abilities of Alexa, helping you to get the most out of your new (or old) device.

Stop having to say ‘Alexa’

You can change Alexa’s ‘wake word’, so you no longer have to say Alexa - which is particularly handy if you have someone in your family who is called Alexa.

To change it, go into the Alexa mobile app, go to More > Settings > Device Settings, and you can change the wake word for any individual device.

You can opt for Amazon, Computer, Echo or Ziggy.

Track your Amazon packages

Amazon would have been missing a trick if it didn’t tie up its delivery business with its smart speakers - and you can track Amazon packages via your Alexa (providing both are signed in to the same account.

Just say, ‘Alexa, where’s my stuff,’ or ‘Alexa, track my order.’

Listen through another speaker

No one would claim that Amazon’s puck-sized Echo is the perfect sound system for enjoying music - but you can play through another device.

To pair another Bluetooth speaker (so you no longer hear audio through your Echo), go to the Alexa app, then go to Devices, select your speaker, Bluetooth Connections.

Put your separate speaker into pairing mode, then select Connect a Device.

Stop Alexa telling you what it’s going to do

Alexa has a habit of telling you what it’s about to do, before doing it (it’s a security feature so that you know Alexa has heard the right thing).

But if you find it annoying, just switch it off.

To do this, go into the Alexa app, go to More > Settings > Alexa Preferences > Voice Responses.

Switch the switch to ‘brief mode.’

Store your shopping list

You can use your voice to create a shopping list with Alexa, and it’s stored in the Alexa app on your phone.

You can simply add items by saying, ‘Alexa add X to my shopping list.’

You can also create named shopping lists, such as a ‘Christmas shopping list’.

Make Alexa whisper

You can still use Alexa, even if you’re trying to be quiet (for instance, if someone is getting children to bed).

Go to the Alexa app on your phone, go to More > Settings > Alexa Preferences > Voice responses, then select, ‘Whisper.’