Got an Echo Show, Spot or a Fire TV? Time to step up your surveillance
You can watch a live feed from your smart security camera or smart video doorbell on your Amazon Alexa speaker just by asking, meaning you can essentially use devices like the Echo Show as a security monitor.
If you have an Amazon Echo Show (of any size) or an Amazon Fire TV device, you can check in on cameras and doorbells such as the Google Nest Cam, Ring Video Doorbell 4 or the Arlo Ultra 2.
It’s a simple thing to set up and it means, and gives you an eyes-on look at your camera’s feed without ever having to fire up your smartphone or tablet. All you need is one of the two Amazon device types (or an Echo Spot) we’ve just noted and a compatible smart security camera.
Obviously, with Google owning Nest, you can also use Chromecast to stream Nest security camera footage, too.
Security camera feeds you can view with Alexa
The Alexa-compatible security cameras that will display their feeds on an Echo Show or Fire TV include products from the following brands:
- Nest
- Netgear
- Arlo
- Abode
- Ring
- Logitech
- Blink
- Ecobee
- TP-Link
- Aqara
- Honeywell
- Kami
- Eufy
- Wyze
- Vivint
- Reolink
- Zmodo
- Canary
- Ezviz
- Amcrest
- SwitchBot
Beware of skills for other security camera brands that you might see listed in the Alexa app. Sometimes, the voice controls may be limited to turning them on and off, checking the status and so on.
It’s also worth noting that many smart security cameras will display their footage on non-Alexa smart speakers with displays, as well.
Video doorbell feeds you can view with Alexa
If you’re looking for a video doorbell that will announce visitors on your Alexa smart speakers or show footage on an Alexa smart display then these are the brands to look out for:
- Ring
- Arlo
- Nest
- Eufy
- Blink
- Ezviz
- Link2Home
- Netatmo
Be sure to check out what the Alexa skill does for your chosen smart video doorbell. Some support smart responses, some allow live streaming within the Alexa app and some can also be used as motion sensors for creating Alexa Routines.
Connect your security camera in the Alexa app
- Go to the menu and tap ‘Skills’.
- Find the relevant skill (some cameras have specific apps for the cameras, outside of their main smart home apps).
- Enable the skill and link the account with Alexa.
- Add the camera as a device, using the ‘Add Device’ button in the smart home section or by asking, “Alexa, discover my devices.”
Controlling your security camera with Alexa
- The command to see the stream is, “Alexa, show [camera name]”. The camera name is the one you have listed in the Alexa app. By default, it will use the name from the camera’s parent app, but you can change it. To view the name of your camera in the Alexa app, go to the menu and select Smart Home > Devices.
- If you’ve linked an Echo speaker to a Fire TV device, you can say the command to that in order to see the feed on your TV (or speak through the remote control).
- To stop watching, simply say: “Alexa, hide [camera name],”“Alexa, stop,” “Alexa, go home,” “Alexa, show the home screen,” or “Alexa, show the clock,” (on a Show or Spot). You can also press the back button on a Fire TV remote or the Echo screen to exit.
- The feed stays on for a time determined by the camera maker – it’s 30 minutes on Nest, for example. You have to ask Alexa to show it again once the time is up.
