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SmartThings works with Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Amazon Tap. When Amazon Alexa is connected to SmartThings devices, you may use voice commands on your Echo Dot and Fire Stick to instruct Alexa to control light bulbs, on/off switches, dimmer switches, thermostats, locks, and to perform various Routines that are configured within SmartThings app. Alexa can also check the status of motion and contact sensors.
For the purposes of this article I am assuming that you are SmartThings user and that you have already installed the SmartThings mobile app for your Android or iOS device. If this is not the case you need to download the SmartThings mobile app for your Android or iOS device and create an account -- here is a link below on how to perform SmartThings Hub & Sensor Set-ups
This article also assumes that you own one or more Amazon Alexa devices. An Echo, Echo Dot or Amazon Echo Plus. If you do not own these devices you may be persuaded to purchase them after watching this video. I’ll leave some Amazon Alexa device links in the description for your consideration. After you set up your Amazon Alexa device(s), you will need to download the Amazon Alexa mobile app form the Apple App Store or the Android Play Store and install it on your iPhone or Android device.
Steps to Connect Amazon Alexa Devices with Samsung SmartThings Devices
There are 12 steps to Connect Amazon Alexa with SmartThings. For your convenience I will leave these 12 steps as instructions below:
Open your Amazon App.
Tap the Smart Home menu. The home icon in the bottom right.
Scroll to Your "Smart Home Skills" at the bottom.
Tap "Enable Smart Home Skills".
Enter “SmartThings” in the search field.
Tap "Enable" for SmartThings.
Log in using your Samsung or SmartThings account.
Tap "Log in".
Choose your SmartThings Location in the From: menu.
Tap "Authorize". (NOTE: You can limit the devices Alexa accesses later in the SmartThings app).
Once authorized, the following message appears: “Alexa has been successfully linked with SmartThings.”
Tap “done” to begin device discovery.
In the previous 12 steps, you gave Amazon Alexa permission to access your SmartThings devices, Scenes, and Routines. Now your Amazon Alexa device needs to “discover” or locate the devices, Scenes and Routines.
How Amazon Discovers Your SmartThings Devices
After closing the success message in the previous steps, the Alexa app will automatically direct you to discover devices.
Tap "Discover Devices". You will see a message “Alexa is discovering devices”
A progress bar appears in the Amazon Alexa app while Alexa looks for SmartThings devices and Routines you have authorized access to. This takes about 20 seconds.
Wait for device discovery to complete.
Click on [X], "Close”
When discovery completes, discovered devices will list under "Devices" and Scenes and Routines under Scenes in the Smart Home section of the Amazon Alexa app. You will also see an “Add Group” message advising you that you can Tap the “+” sign to add a group to control multiple devices as once.
Now you’re done with setup and ready to use Alexa’s hands-free voice control for your SmartThings devices. You can do things like:
“Alexa, turn on/off the Basement Desk Lamp.”
“Alexa, set the Front Porch Lights to 90.” (Brightness can be modified on a scale of 0 - 100.)
“Alexa, what is the temperature in my home?”
“Alexa, what is the temperature in my Garage”; “Garage Back Door”
“Alexa, what is the temperature in my Living Room?”
“Alexa, is the Living Room Door open?”
Other things you can do depending on your device list are
"Check if the back door locked" ;
"Set kitchen thermostat to 70 degrees”
Routines
You can also turn on various Routines. Routines are changes to a group of devices that occur whenever you tell Alexa to run routine’s name. For instance, you may set a number of smart devices to open your blinds, turn on several lights, start the coffee pot and give you the morning news briefing when ever you say “Alexa, Run Good Morning”
Your Amazon Alexa devices can elevate your SmartThings devices to a whole new level of automation. These devices are relatively inexpensive and quite practical. If you are interested in sourcing price and product information please check out the links in this article or follow the links provide in the description information under my YouTube video.
Amazon Device Links
* * Fire TV Stick
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