How to Connect Alexa to a Car

NessieDressy

Editor

posted on 5 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

55
views

Imagine you’re jamming to a song on Amazon Prime Music and don’t want the tunes to stop between the living room and car. Amazon Alexa will follow you and play your favorite tunes no matter where you go. If your car isn’t already a connected car, there are other ways to get Alexa to work for you.[1]
X
Research source

You’ll need Echo Auto (or some third-party gadgets like the Garmin Speak with Alexa), which is a car accessory that will get Alexa to work in your car. You’ll also need a smartphone with the Alexa app. This wikiHow teaches you how to connect Alexa to a car with an Echo Auto.

Steps

Setting up Your Echo Auto

Plug in the Echo Auto to your car. The power adapter is included with the Echo Auto purchase. One end of this power adapter fits into the 12V socket (also known as the cigarette lighter) and the other is a micro-USB dong that fits into the side of the Echo Auto. You can also detach the USB from the 12V socket adapter so you can connect the Echo Auto via USB. You can leave the Echo Auto plugged in when you’re not in the car, but if the car is parked for an extended period of time, you should un-plug the device.

Mount the Echo Auto to your dashboard. The Echo Auto comes with its own mount, so you won’t need to purchase any additional hardware. To mount the device, make sure your space is clean, take the plastic off the mount and place the sticky side onto your dashboard where you want your Echo Auto to mount. Make sure the LED light is facing you. The mount has a magnetic strip that keeps the Echo Auto in place as you drive. The LED light along the front of the Echo Auto will communicate its status. A blue light moving from right to left indicates the device is in the process of starting up. Blue lights moving to the center of the light strip lets you know that Alexa is processing your request. A blue light sliding left and right indicates that the device is waiting for a Bluetooth connection. And an orange light moving from left to right indicates the device is ready for setup.

Set your car’s stereo input to Aux or Bluetooth, whichever you will be using.

Connect your Echo Auto to your car via Bluetooth or with an auxiliary cable. Connecting via Bluetooth works through your phone, and the process involves turning on Bluetooth on both your car and phone and entering a number displayed on your car’s media display. Connecting with an auxiliary cable includes adding a cable from your AUX port to the Echo Auto.

Open the Alexa app on your phone. This app icon looks like a blue speech bubble in a white circle on a blue background. If you do not have the Alexa app on your phone, you can download the app for free in the Google App Store Android Google Play or the App Store iPhone App Store Icon.

Select the icon that looks like a house silhouette with plugs inside it. You’ll find this in the lower right. A page with existing Amazon devices and groups will load.

Tap the plus icon (+).

Tap Select Device. A list of Amazon speakers will load.

Tap Amazon Echo. The page will load new options.

Tap Echo Auto.

Follow the on-screen steps to connect your Echo Auto. You might need to allow the app to access information on your phone like location or microphone. A steady purple light on the LED of the Echo Auto means that setup failed. If you’re experiencing issues, go to the Amazon Echo Auto Help Page at https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_bc_nav?ie=UTF8&nodeId=GGQNAZAQA5KAMVKH.

Pairing your Echo Auto with Your Smartphone

Say “Pair”. You should be in your car with your Echo Auto powered on. Your Echo Auto will begin looking for nearby Bluetooth devices.

Navigate to your phone’s Bluetooth Settings. For Android phones, go to the Settings app Android 7 Settings App or swipe down from the top of your screen and tap the gear icon Android 7 Settings in the top left. Tap Bluetooth and make sure the switch is in the ON position Android 7 Switch On. For iPhones, go to Settings iPhone Settings App Icon and tap Bluetooth. Make sure the switch is in the ON position iPhone Switch On Icon. Your iPhone Settings menu may have the Bluetooth settings inside a General tab, depending on the iOS version you are using.

Tap Echo Auto from found Bluetooth devices. Alexa will tell you when the connection is successful.

Using Alexa in Your Car

Say, “Alexa, navigate to Starbucks.” Make sure you say “Alexa” before a command to activate Alexa first. If you just said, “Navigate to Starbucks,” Alexa wouldn’t know you spoke a command and wouldn’t respond to you. Alexa will access your default navigation app on your phone (like Google Maps) and direct you to the nearest Starbucks.

Say, “Alexa, text mom.” Alexa will launch your default texting app and ask what you’d like the text to say. Answer when prompted and Alexa will send your text. You can also tell Alexa to read your text for you when you hear the message come back from your mom.

Say, “Alexa, call mom’s mobile,” or “Alexa, call mom’s home.” Your default phone app will open and Alexa will dial the contact. If your contact has multiple numbers like mom, you have to specify which number for Alexa to call, like home, mobile, or work.

Say, “Alexa, play The Doors.” Alexa will access your default music player and play The Doors’ discography unless you specify a specific song or album. There are many more commands you can give Alexa, including shutting the garage door or turning on the porch light.