How To Set Up Alexa Calling Without A Smartphone

Are you looking for a fashion to setup video chats with your loved one who lives independently or in a facility?

This commodity tells you how to do that, using the Echo Bear witness, without requiring your loved 1 to do any of the "setting up".

New to This Topic?

This is a Deep-swoop "How To" article. If you are not yet sure if the Echo Show is the correct product for your state of affairs, y'all probably want to kickoff with one of these related pieces of inquiry.

Amazon Echo Evidence: Older Adults Explore; or
Can Alexa Help Fight isolation and Loneliness; or
Technology for Sheltering in Place; or
Best Video Call Technology.

Setting the Stage: Common Questions

Permit'south listen on in a conversation between two seniors: Bob, whose mother just moved into a nursing home, and Frank, who just completed an Alexa Calling setup for his Mom.

Alexa Calling for Staying in Touch with Mom

Bob: I have been reading that Amazon Alexa Calling is the easiest fashion for me to have video chats with my Mom, just I have no thought how to get started for her.

Frank: Amazon Alexa Calling is a slap-up way to do video chats with your Mom. You can have a video call with her even if she is unable to say the proper Alexa command to answer the phone call or unable to tap the icon on the Amazon Echo Evidence screen. That is achieved using the "drop-in" feature. Hither are the various Echo Testify sizes (fig i).

Echo Show Variants

Figure 1: Different versions of the Amazon Echo Testify.
50-R: Echo Show 5; Echo Evidence viii; Echo Prove (Gen two).

But I Tin't Visit Mom to Set It Up

Bob: Great. I really setup an Echo Show in my own abode and accept washed video chats with other family unit members, just they each setup their ain Echo Bear witness… How tin I setup one for my Mom, especially since she doesn't live nearby?

Frank: Amazon recently offered some advice (Reference 1) on how to exercise that remotely.

I suggest you follow their advice and configure your Mom's Repeat Testify at YOUR home, using YOUR Wi-Fi, then the only thing that will have to modify at her dwelling is the Wi-Fi.

Tin't Mom Just Use My Amazon Account?

Bob: Ok, but every bit I read their setup procedure, I see she would demand her own Amazon business relationship. Can't she but use mine?

Frank: I recommend getting her a costless Amazon account. That way all her preferences such as music and contacts are separate. You volition still be able to log into her account when you are dwelling to later brand any changes necessary. In fact, if y'all keep an Repeat device, say an Repeat Dot, at your home logged into her account, y'all can remotely assistance her troubleshoot problems. And… y'all volition be able to remote "push" family unit photos to her Repeat Testify as a slide prove.

But She Doesn't Have a Jail cell Phone. It Says She Needs 1.

Bob: Hmm, they too mention using "her cell phone" to complete the setup. She does not have or desire a cell phone and I don't want to buy a "burner" just for this setup.

Frank: Not to worry. In that location is a mode to do this using her Amazon account and a costless Google Voice business relationship, which creates a complimentary mobile number that Amazon needs to complete the Alexa Calling setup. Yous can log into her Amazon business relationship with YOUR prison cell phone to complete the setup, including Contacts. I'll give y'all details after on how to perform this stride past stride.

I Don't Want All MY Contacts in HER Alexa

Bob: Ok, I go it, but I read that if I use MY cell phone, that all my contacts be in in that location!

Frank: No, you can add the contacts your Mom needs one by i.

The Retirement Home Might Non Let Me Connect to Their WiFi

Bob: Oh, I forgot to mention that she is now in a nursing abode. I know an Echo Show device needs Wi-Fi to piece of work. What if they won't allow it on their network?

Frank: Aha, there is a way around that using a paid cell service with what the carriers call a mobile hotspot.

Her TV is So Loud. She Will Not Hear the Call.

Bob: Oh, 1 more than thing. She plays her Tv very loud and I'm afraid she won't be able to hear me calling her.

Frank: I have a gear up for that! You also install a Fire Goggle box Cube for her Tv. If she is watching TV when your phone call comes in, it volition actually pause the Television set! (Reference two). She will also have other benefits using the Fire TV Cube such as vox command of her TV shows and family pictures.

Do My Siblings Also Need an Echo Show to Video Chat with Mom?

Bob: Oh, one final thing. My brothers and sisters will also want to do video chats with Mom. Will they all need an Echo Bear witness?

Frank: They can merely use an Alexa app on their cell phone. They volition be able to phone call Mom and she can even call them! If they have the Alexa app running when she calls, they volition exist asked to answer the call. If the Alexa app is not running at that fourth dimension, they will get a regular cell telephone phone call and can then call her right back in the Alexa app. One of the benefits of using an Repeat Evidence is that it volition show yous when Mom is nearby her Repeat Prove and that might be a skilful time to call her.

OK. You Convinced Me. :)

Bob: Ok, OK… I'g convinced. Delight give me all the step by stride info you mentioned.

Frank: Of course. Hither are some detailed setup instructions.

List of Equipment, Software, and Applications Required

Equipment needed:

Amazon Echo Bear witness device for your home and your Mom'south dwelling.

Be sure to order hers as a "gift" so that Amazon does not pre-configure it for your settings.
Y'all could reset information technology to "Factory Default", if you ordered it configured (meet beneath).

Wi-Fi at both locations.

Add a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, if Wi-Fi is non available if at your Mom's location.

You need a mobile phone other than your own.

If your Mom does not take i, encounter the Google Vocalism workaround below.

Software needed:

Separate Amazon accounts for you and your parent.
Alexa app on your mobile phone.
Setup a Google account and a free Google Vocalization for your Mom — if she has no mobile phone.

Setup Instructions: Step by Step

1. Set up YOUR Repeat Device

Plug it in and wait for the prompts. (If you lot have previously ordered Amazon Echo devices, information technology may already have the steps beneath performed.)
Select a language by borer the screen.
Select your Wi-Fi network name.
Enter your Wi-Fi password.
Enter your Amazon account email and password.
Sign in.
Confirm the fourth dimension zone.

2. Fix Up your MOM's Repeat Device

Plug it in and await for the prompts.
If it was delivered with your settings, you can perform a Manufacturing plant Default Reset (see below).
Select a language by tapping the screen.
Select YOUR Wi-Fi network proper noun (this volition exist changed afterward).
Enter YOUR Wi-Fi countersign and Tap CONNECT.
Enter your MOM'due south Amazon account email and password and Tap Washed.
Sign in with your MOM'south business relationship, tap CONTINUE.
Fix the correct fourth dimension zone & address, tap CONTINUE.
Choose a room location or skip.
Rename the device to your preference, e.g. Mom'southward Echo Prove.
Choose some wallpaper, east.g. Nature.
Watch the video tutorial that pops up during setup for some usage hints.
Select which "Amazon offers" you want (if whatsoever). NOTE: Your MOM does Non need a Prime number account, nor a payment method for this to work. And in general nosotros recommend keeping things simple to start.
When you bring this Repeat Show to your Mom's house, y'all will demand to alter the Wi-Fi settings.
This would exist a good time to review all the letters that will be popping upwardly on her screen… some people are annoyed by too many messages. See next department.

Review Her "Settings"

Swipe down from the height of the screen.
Tap the "Settings" gear in the upper right.
Scroll to "Home Content".
Choose which messages yous think she will discover appropriate. (Annotation: you can merely set these letters upward while at her Repeat Testify… they are not remotely changeable.).

Notes on "Settings"

Drop-in is useful, if your Mom has trouble speaking to Alexa or tapping the answer button on a call.
Weather condition is e'er useful.
Shared with You can give you a ways to ship her pictures to automatically brandish.

Suit Her Accessibility Settings

Scroll to "Accessibility".
Choose the settings you think might be helpful.

Notes on Accessibility Settings:

Closed caption may be helpful.
Alexa Captioning helps by displaying the text of Alexa'south speech on the screen.
Advice Without Speech is useful. It transcribes voice messages into text.
Tap to Alexa adds an icon on the screen that your Mom could touch to call up Alexa actions you make up one's mind. For example:
1. Music
2. News
3. Call your Alexa devices

Factory Default Reset (needed only if the Echo Prove comes with your settings and yous want to reset them)

Swipe downwardly from top of the screen.
Tap "Settings" gear.
Ringlet to "Device Options" and tap information technology.
Roll to "Reset to Factory Defaults" and tap it.

3. Configure Alexa Communications for Your MOM'southward Account

There are two dissimilar means to create and configure your female parent'south Alexa Business relationship, depending on whether or not she has a mobile telephone capable of running the Alexa App.

The basic issue hither is that the Alexa App needs some blazon of telephone number to use as a reference to your mother's Alexa.

If she has a cellphone modern enough to run the Alexa App, then Alexa can use her cellphone number to remember her. However, if she does non take such a cell telephone (or if you can't become your hands on information technology because she is locked manner), and so yous tin create a carve up Google voice number in your mother'southward name, and give that to Alexa to use every bit a reference. In that case, she does non need a cellphone at all.

If she does accept a mobile telephone capable of running the Alexa Appp, and y'all tin can access that phone, then bound to "Scenario B".
If she does NOT take a mobile phone, or if you lot cannot access it, then there is an extra pace first, as explained in Scenario A below.

Pace 3a: Create Your Mother's Alexa Account

Scenario A: She does NOT accept a mobile phone, or you cannot admission her mobile telephone.

Yous will demand to perform these actress steps using YOUR prison cell phone past calculation a Google Voice number. Google Phonation volition demand to use your cell telephone number to setup the new number.

Notation: Alexa Communications really doesn't "call" this number… it merely uses information technology every bit a reference to find your Mom'due south Alexa Echo Show.

UPDATE: Since this was first published, reader Allynn made a bang-up proposition about usingTextNow to receive the SMS text setup bulletin. I tested information technology on a few systems and information technology works groovy every bit an alternative to Google Phonation. However as of September 2022, TextNow requires you to apply a paid version in order for the number to stay allocated to yous for a menstruum longer than a few months. You need this, and so you need the paid version if you want to use this approach.

Sign up for a Gmail account in her proper name (here is the link to signup for a Gmail account).
Sign upwards for a Google Vox number in her name (here is the link to signup for Google Vocalisation).
Sign into the Alexa app on your phone, using your MOM'due south Alexa account. (You will need to delete and re-install the Alexa app to do this). [Don't worry. Your settings are stored in the cloud, so when yous have reinstalled the App and logged in over again as you, your old settings should withal be there!]
Proceed to Footstep 3b.

Notes about setting up Google Voice:

Search a new number… do Non use your phone number. Select any location & number.
Google will need to use YOUR mobile phone number to complete the setup with a text message.
Be sure to use your Mom's Gmail account.
When you see the "Enter your phone number" prompt, enter YOUR jail cell phone number. (This will exist used to receive a text code for confirmation of setup).
Enter the code you received.
Note: Your cell telephone number tin can have merely Ane Google Voice Number assigned.

Scenario B. If your Mom has a mobile phone capable of running the Alexa app:

Install the Alexa app on her telephone.
Log into the Alexa app (as your mother).
Proceed to Step 3b.

Step 3b: Enter the Phone Number Alexa will Use to Identify your Mother's Alexa

Once logged in (equally your mother) you should see a screen that looks like this:

Alexa screen 1

Figure 2: Screenshot showing "Communicate" Icon.

Tap the "Communicate" icon on the bottom left (fig 2). Then:

Scenario A:

Enter the Google Voice number, then grant permissions for calling and messaging.
Your phone's Google Voice app will receive a verification code.

Scenario B:

Enter your Mom's mobile telephone information, and then grant permissions for calling and messaging
Your Mom's mobile telephone will receive a verification lawmaking via text.

Stride 3c: Add Your Contact Info So She Can Call You.

In figure 3 beneath you see the "Person Silhouette" in the upper right.

Person button on Alexa

Figure three: Screenshot showing "Person Sillhouette"

Tap the "Person outline" in upper right (fig 3) A different screen will appear showing a "Contact List" as in figure 4 below.

Dots

Effigy 4: Screenshot showing Contact List

Tap the 3 vertical dots in the upper correct (Fig 4).
Add YOUR contact info then that Alexa Communications tin can reach you

Stride 3d: Avert "Importing your contacts"

Alexa volition suggest you "import your contacts" but we don't recommend that.

Importing contacts

Figure v: Decide whether to "Import Contacts"

Do NOT import all contacts (fig 5)

Step 3e: Ready "Drop-in Feature"

If your Mom approves, you could also enable Driblet-in for your contact. (This tin can be enabled later, by signing into her Alexa account if atmospheric condition change).
Save and close the Alexa app.

iv. Configure Alexa Communications for YOUR account

Log dorsum into your Alexa app. (If you had to utilize your telephone to complete your Mom'due south setup, you will need to delete & re-install the Alexa app).
Tap the "Communicate" icon on the bottom left (Fig two).
Tap the "Person silhouette" in upper right (Fig 3).
Tap the 3 vertical dots in the upper right (Fig 4). Then Add your Mom'due south contact info so that Alexa Communications tin attain her from YOUR Alexa App.
Don't import all contacts (Fig 5).
Salvage.

5. Test the Installation

You can exam this even before delivering to your Mom'due south business firm.

Move your Mom's Echo Show to some other room to reduce audio feedback. This also enables yous to talk to one of the Alexas without the other one responding to your voice.
On your Echo Show say "Alexa, call Mom" (or whatever name or nickname you put in your Alexa Contacts). (Note: the outset fourth dimension Alexa may enquire if you want her mobile telephone or Alexa devices… choose Alexa devices.)
Your Mom's Echo Show should offer her the selection to answer.
Afterwards hanging up, try calling your Echo Testify from her Echo bear witness.

Final steps

If everything worked, bring the Echo Show to your Mom's home and change the Wi-Fi settings when information technology boots upward.

Q&A

Delight go out any questions in the comments below, and I volition try and respond.

In addition, nosotros are collecting common questions and answers people accept sent the states on the folio: "Alexa Questions & Answers" (also here on Tech-enhanced Life).

References

(1) Amazon advice post on setting upward Alexa "for your loved one".

(two) See my DIY Solution: FireTV Cube to pause Television set when Alexa calls.

Disclaimer: This article represents the opinions of the author. This article was Not sponsored by Amazon or whatsoever other corporation.