Ever wish Alexa could do more? That’s where skills come in. Think of Alexa skills like apps for your smart speaker—they add new ways to control your TV, stream music from Spotify, get daily news briefings, and more. Here’s everything you need to know about how to add skills to your Alexa devices, plus which ones are worth trying first.
Read More: How to Create Alexa Routines
How to Add Skills to Alexa
To add skills, open the Alexa app and tap the three-line icon at the bottom of your screen. Then select “Skills & Games” and search for a skill using the search bar or browse by category. Finally, tap “Enable to Use” (or “Launch”), then select “Settings” to link your account if necessary.
- Open the Alexa app.
- Tap “More” (the three-line icon at the bottom of your screen).
- Select “Skills & Games.”
- Choose a skill. You can use the search bar at the top of your screen to find a specific skill or tap a category.
- Finally, tap “Enable to Use.”
Note: If you see a “Launch” button instead, choose the device you want to use for that skill. This will add the Alexa skill to your device immediately, and you’ll see some example voice commands you can try.
Note: If you see a notice that says “Account linking available” or “Account linking required” under the “Enable” button, tap “Settings” to finish setting up your Alexa skill.
Best Alexa Skills
Note: Some Alexa skills have “in-skill purchases,” which can come with monthly fees.
Productivity
- Hey ChatGPT: Get answers to complex questions from the latest AI assistant. You can talk back and forth with your Alexa device, but you only get three interactions without signing up for a subscription.
- SAT Word of the Day: Learn SAT-level vocabulary with daily words, definitions, spellings, and example sentences.
- Merriam-Webster Word of the Day: Similar to the SAT skill, this gives you a new word in your flash briefing.
- Find My Phone: Call your phone when it’s lost—though you only get three free calls.
Smart Home
- Ring: Control your Ring devices, like your Ring Video Doorbell and smart cameras, with just your voice.
- Google Nest: This skill lets you control Google Nest devices through Alexa, without lifting a finger.
- Roku: Control your smart TV or streaming device with voice commands. You can search for movies, play, pause, turn up the volume, and more—all hands-free.
Read More: How to Connect Alexa to a Roku TV
Music & Audio
- Spotify: Link your Spotify account to play your favorite songs and playlists using Alexa.
Note: Alexa also works with other music services, including Apple Music, iHeartRadio, Pandora, and SiriusXM.
- Apple Podcasts: Listen to your favorite podcasts from Apple Podcasts for free.
- Reuters Audio News Briefing: Stay up to date with the latest news stories every morning from one of the most trusted names in journalism (contains ads).
- Sleep Sounds: Drift off faster with free white noise and nature sounds like rain, ocean waves, and babbling brooks.
Read More: How to Cancel Alexa Skills and Subscriptions