201+ Best Amazon Alexa Voice Commands: Fun & Helpful

If you have any of the Amazon Echo devices or are considering adding one or two to your smart home, this list is for you.

Before we get into the list, let’s cover the basics. To summon Alexa, you need to use the wake word “Alexa.” Saying this in range of your Echo device grabs her attention and allows you to use your command.

The default wake word for all Echo devices is “Alexa.” You can change that wake word but you only have three other options. Learn how to change Alexa’s name here.

With thousands of Alex skills out, and more being added every day, the list of potential commands is almost endless. The great thing about Alexa is she understands conversational talk as well. These commands can be stated in slight variations and she will still understand what you are looking to do.

Enough of the intro, let’s get into the list of our 201 favorite commands. Some we use daily, some we can’t live without and some for when we need a quick laugh or smile.

Getting Started with Alexa Commands – The Beginners List

These are some of the basic commands you can test the waters with.

• “Alexa, help.”
• “Alexa, play (artist name) name.”
• “Alexa, let’s chat.”
• “Alexa, set timer for (how many) minutes.”
• “Alexa, mute” or, “Alexa, unmute.”
• “Alexa, what’s the weather today?”
• “Alexa, open (skill name).”
• “Alexa, stop.”
• “Alexa, shut up.”
• “Alexa, set an alarm for (how long).”
• “Alexa, set the volume to 5”
• “Alexa, louder.”
• “Alexa, turn up/down the volume.”
• “Alexa, play (music station).”
• “Alexa, what’s the weather like?”
• “Alexa, what’s in the news?”
• “Alexa, what’s the traffic like?”

Controlling Your Firestick or Fire TV

If you have the Firestick or a Firestick TV, you are going to want to check these out. Why wouldn’t you control your TV with your voice! If you don’t have these devices, check out our article on Firestick vs. Cable here.

• “Alexa, turn on/off Fire TV”
• “Alexa, open Netflix”
• “Alexa, (paly, pause etc) on Fire TV.”
• “Alexa, next/next Episode.”
• “Alexa, search for/find (movie/show/) on Fire TV”
• “Alexa, turn the volume down on Fire TV.”
• “Alexa, show me titles with (actor) on Fire TV.”
• “Alexa, open (app) on Fire TV”
• “Alexa, switch to HDMI 1 on Fire TV.”
• “Alexa, go to (channel or network) on Fire TV.”
• “Alexa, return home.”

The Alexa Commands All About Music

Having multiple Echo devices throughout your home can create a surround sound like experience for listening to your favorite jams. These commands are a must for the music junkies out there.

• “Alexa, play” or “Alexa, next.”
• “Alexa, play some music.”
• “Alexa, who sings this song?”
• “Alexa, play (artist) in the living room”
• “Alexa, play (genre).”
• “Alexa, play (artist) everywhere.”
• “Alexa, play music by (artist).”
• “Alexa, play work-out music”
• “Alexa, play music for studying.”
• “Alexa, pair my phone”
• “Alexa, play the song of the day.”
• “Alexa, buy this song”
• “Alexa, buy this album.”
• “Alexa, play (playlist) on Spotify.”
• “Alexa, play (artist) station on Pandora.”
• “Alexa, louder”
• “Alexa, set the volume to 6”
• “Alexa, read me my Kindle book.”
• “Alexa, stop playing in 45 minutes.”
• “Alexa, what’s playing?”
• “Alexa, stop in the kitchen” or “Alexa, next in the office.”
• “Alexa, wake me up every day at 7 am to music”

If you’re having trouble connecting Spotify with Alexa, we made a quick video guide to help you out:

Timers, Alarm and Date Commands

Set your alarm, set a timer and check your calendar. Why not use your voice for all of it?

• “Alexa, set an alarm for 9 a.m.”
• “Alexa, wake me up at 9 in the morning.”
• “Alexa, wake me up at 9 to (music or radio station).”
• “Alexa, set a repeating alarm for weekdays at 9 a.m.”
• “Alexa, timer”
• “Alexa, set a timer for 20 minutes.”
• “Alexa, set a chicken timer for 20 minutes.”
• “Alexa, set a second timer for 5 minutes.”
• “Alexa, how much time is left on the chicken timer?”
• “Alexa, remind me to check the oven in 5 minutes.”
• “Alexa, what are my timers?”
• “Alexa, stop the timer”
• “Alexa, cancel the chicken timer”
• “Alexa, cancel the 15-minute timer.”
• “Alexa, what time is it?”
• “Alexa, add an event on my calendar”
• “Alexa, what’s the date?”
• “Alexa, create a to-do.”
• “Alexa, what’s on my schedule?”
• “Alexa, snooze.”
• “Alexa, when is Thanksgiving this year?”

Calls and Messaging With Alexa Commands

Sure, making a call from your phone is easy enough, but what if you don’t have the free hands? What if you need to make a “call” to another room. Alexa has it covered. Send texts, make calls or broadcast to other Echo devices in your home.

• “Alexa, call Mom.”
• “Alexa, answer the call”
• “Alexa, hang up”
• “Alexa, Drop In on the kitchen”
• “Alexa, play messages.”
• “Alexa, send an SMS to Mom”
• “Alexa, announce it’s dinner time.”
• “Alexa, broadcast it’s time to go.”
• “Alexa, tell everyone good night.”

Buying Straight from Amazon and Other Shopping

Buying straight from Amazon with your voice can either be extremely dangerous or super helpful. That’s on you to decide which it will be!

• “Alexa, buy more dish soap”
• “Alexa, order dish soap”
• “Alexa, where’s my stuff?”
• “Alexa, track my order.”
• “Alexa, add dish soap to my shopping list”
• “Alexa, what’s on my shopping list?”
• “Alexa, ask Uber to request a ride”  
• “Alexa, ask Lyft for a ride.”
• Alexa, what are your deals?”
• “Alexa, find me a good TV on Amazon?”
• “Alexa, add eggs to my shopping list” or “Alexa, I need to buy laundry detergent.”
• “Alexa, what’s on my shopping list?”

News and Weather Commands

• “Alexa, what’s my Flash Briefing?”
• ”Alexa, when is sunset?”
• “Alexa, enable Today in Music.”
• “Alexa, what’s in the news?”
• “Alexa, what’s the forecast in Seattle”
• “Alexa, what’s the weather like?”
• “Alexa, will it rain today?”.
• “Alexa, What’s the extended forecast”
• “Alexa, what’s the weather going to be like this weekend?
• “Alexa, will it be windy tomorrow”
• “Alexa, what’s my commute look like?”
• “Alexa, what’s traffic like?”

Recipes, Food and Local Business Commands

• “Alexa, how do you make brownies?”
• “Alexa, find me a nearby Coffee Shop”
• “Alexa, find business hours for Target.”
• “Alexa, what movies are playing

Random Alexa Commands

• “Alexa, roll a die.”
• “Alexa, roll a 22-sided die.”
• “Alexa, flip a coin.”
• “Alexa, pick a number between 1 and 50.”
• “Alexa, what’s the definition of (word)?”
• “Alexa, how do you spell (word)?”
• “Alexa, what is the IMDb rating for (show/movie)?”
• “Alexa, who stars in (show/movie)?”
• “Alexa, tell me about the movie Superman.”
• “Alexa, what’s 5 plus 7?” 

Sports Commands

• “Alexa, what was the score of the Lakers game?”
• “Alexa, did the Lakers win?”
• “Alexa, when do the Lakers play next?”
• “Alexa, what are the NBA standings?”

Control Your Home With Alexa Commands

If your home is outfitted with Alexa compatible devices, you probably know a lot of these. If not, check out our recommended pages to outfit your home with devices you can control with your voice.

• “Alexa, discover my devices”
• “Alexa, turn on the lights.”
• “Alexa, turn off the living room lights.”
• “Alexa, dim the lights to 50 percent.”
• “Alexa, lights on”
• “Alexa, show me (camera name).”
• “Alexa, set the temperature to 68 degrees”
• “Alexa, lights off”
• “Alexa, set night mode on bedroom TV.”
• “Alexa, set movie mode.”
• “Alexa, make the living room lights red”
• “Alexa, make the kitchen lights a little cooler.”
• “Alexa, lower the temperature 2 degrees.”
• “Alexa, turn on the TV”
• “Alexa, is Ring armed.”
• “Alexa, turn on TV lighting.”
• “Alexa, open/ close the blinds”
•  “Alexa, lock my front door.”
• “Alexa, trigger (IFTTT recipe).”

Holiday, Fun and Easter Eggs

Now to the fun stuff. Alexa has quite a sense of humor. Here’s just a taste of the fun stuff she has in store for you.

• “Alexa, give me an Easter egg.”
• “Alexa, open my gift,”
• “Alexa, good morning.”
• “Alexa, spin the dreidel.”
• “Alexa, what’s your favorite holiday movie”
• “Alexa, who’s your favorite reindeer?”
• “Alexa, what are the top holiday movies?”
• “The Night Before Christmas”
• “Alexa, where is Santa?”
• “Alexa, tell me a holiday limerick.”
• “Alexa, tell me a joke.”
• “Alexa, beam me up.”
• “Alexa, what’s your favorite food?”
• “Alexa, sing me a song”
• “Alexa, set phasers to kill.”
• “Alexa, make animal noises.”
• “Alexa. Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.”
• “Alexa, give me a positive fact.”
• “Alexa, tell me some gossip”
• “Alexa, tell me something weird.”
• “Alexa, talk like a pirate.”
• “Alexa, my name is Inigo Montoya.”
• “Alexa, give me some words of wisdom.”
• “Alexa, I want the truth.”
• “Alexa, party on, Wayne.”
• ” Alexa, E.T. phone home.”
• “Alexa, show me the money.”
• “Alexa, what’s the first (or second) rule of Fight Club?”
• “Alexa, what Hogwarts house do you belong to?”
• “Alexa, are there UFOs?”
• “Alexa, what are you thinking about?”
• “Alexa, surely you can’t be serious.”
• “Alexa, are you a nerd?”
• ” Alexa, tongue twister.”
• “Alexa, will you be my girlfriend?”
• “Alexa, are you SkyNet?”
• “Alexa, why is six afraid of seven?”
• “Alexa, party time!”
• “Alexa, how do I get rid of a dead body?”
• “Alexa, Marco!”
• “Alexa, do you know the muffin man?”
• “Alexa, supercalifragilisticexpialodocious.”
• “Alexa, open the pod bay doors.”
• “Alexa, what happens if you cross the streams.”
• “Alexa, when am I going to die?”
• “Alexa, who loves ya baby?”
• “Alexa, who let the dogs out?”
• “Alexa, what is your quest?”
• “Alexa, play that funky music white boy.”
• “Alexa, nice to see you, to see you…”
• “Alexa, what does the fox say?”
• “Alexa, don’t mention the war.”
• “Alexa, what’s the loneliest number?”
• “Alexa, sing Baby Shark.”
• “Alexa, this is a dead parrot.”
• “Alexa, what color is the dress?”
• “Alexa, what is your cunning plan?”
• “Alexa, drop a beat.”
• “Alexa, what happens if you step on Lego?”
• “Alexa, what do you want to be when you grow up?”
• “Alexa, I like big butts.”