How to Easily Access and Enable Your Favorite Alexa Skills

Exmouth & District Talking Newspaper
Apr 1
3 min read

Alexa skills add a new level of convenience and fun to your Alexa-enabled devices. Whether you want to play games, get news updates, control smart home devices, or learn new recipes, Alexa skills make it possible. But if you are new to Alexa or just haven’t explored skills yet, you might wonder how to find, enable, and use them. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to access and enable Alexa skills so you can get the most out of your device.

What Are Alexa Skills?

Alexa skills are like apps for your Alexa device. They expand Alexa’s abilities beyond basic commands. For example, you can enable skills to:

Check the weather forecast
Play trivia games
Control smart lights and thermostats
Order food or groceries
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Amazon offers thousands of skills created by both Amazon and third-party developers. Each skill has a specific function or set of functions that you can activate with voice commands.

How to Find Alexa Skills

Finding the right skill for your needs is the first step. You can browse and search for skills in several ways:

Using the Alexa App

Open the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet.
Tap the More menu at the bottom right.
Select Skills & Games.
Use the search bar to type keywords or browse categories like Games, Smart Home, or Lifestyle.
Read skill descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find one that fits your needs.

Using the Amazon Website

You can also visit the Amazon Alexa Skills Store on your computer or mobile browser. The website offers the same browsing and search features as the app.

Voice Search

If you know the name of a skill, you can ask Alexa directly, for example:

“Alexa, enable [skill name].”

Alexa will try to find and enable the skill for you.

How to Enable Alexa Skills

Once you find a skill you want, enabling it is simple. Here are the main methods:

Enable Skills Through the Alexa App

After selecting a skill in the app, tap the Enable to Use button.
Some skills require account linking. Follow the prompts to sign in or connect accounts.
Once enabled, the skill is ready to use on your Alexa devices.

Enable Skills on the Amazon Website

Click on the skill you want.
Select Enable Skill.
Complete any account linking if needed.

Enable Skills Using Voice Commands

Say, “Alexa, enable [skill name].”
Alexa will confirm the skill is enabled and ready.

How to Use Enabled Alexa Skills

After enabling a skill, you can start using it by saying its invocation phrase. For example:

“Alexa, open [skill name].”
“Alexa, ask [skill name] to [perform action].”

Each skill has its own set of commands. Check the skill’s description in the app or website for specific instructions.

Managing Your Alexa Skills

You can view and manage all your enabled skills in the Alexa app:

Open the app and go to More > Skills & Games > Your Skills.
Here you can disable skills you no longer want or update settings.
Managing skills helps keep your Alexa experience organized and tailored to your preferences.

Tips for Getting the Most from Alexa Skills

Explore new skills regularly. Amazon adds new skills often, so check the store for fresh options.
Read reviews and ratings. This helps find reliable and well-designed skills.
Link accounts when needed. Some skills work better with account linking, like fitness trackers or shopping.
Try popular skills. Skills like “Jeopardy!”, “Sleep Sounds,” or “Fitbit” are widely used and highly rated.
Use routines. Combine skills with Alexa routines to automate tasks like turning on lights and playing music.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If a skill isn’t working as expected:

Make sure it is enabled in your Alexa app.
Check if the skill requires account linking and complete it.
Restart your Alexa device.
Update the Alexa app to the latest version.
Disable and re-enable the skill if problems persist.

If issues continue, visit Amazon’s help pages or contact support.