With the Alexa Guard feature, you can connect your Amazon Echo device to your Ring Alarm and detect the sounds of a smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm, or glass breaking. Alexa will then notify you about the event. The following instructions will detail how to use Alexa Guard and answer common questions about the system.
What is Alexa Guard? (available in the US)
With Guard, Alexa can help you keep your home safe. When you set Guard to Away mode, Alexa can send you Smart Alerts via notifications* to your phone if a compatible Echo device detects the sound of smoke alarms,* carbon monoxide alarms,* or glass breaking. To learn more about Guard, open the Alexa app, go to Settings, and tap Guard.
*Ring Alarm and all Ring Alarm accessories require a subscription for digital notifications, in-app features, digital arming/disarming, and integration with other Ring, Echo, and third party products. Subscription sold separately. View ring.com/protect-plans for pricing and details.
Note: Alexa Guard Plus2 is a subscription service that has all of the features of Alexa Guard with additional detection, deterrence, and assistance capabilities when you’re using a supported Echo device. To learn about Alexa Guard Plus,2 click here.
How Does Alexa Guard Work?
When Alexa Guard is set to “Away,” Alexa uses the built-in microphone to detect the sounds of a smoke alarm,* carbon monoxide alarm,* or glass breaking. When a select sound is detected, Alexa will send a Smart Alert notification to your mobile phone. Tapping on this notification takes you to the Alexa app where you can:
- Review the Smart Alert.
- Listen to a 10-second audio clip of the detected sound.
- Drop-In on the compatible Echo device that sent the Smart Alert.
- Forward the alert to Ring via the "Send to Ring" button in the Alexa app in order to request help if professionally monitored* or sound the siren if self-monitored.
If you choose to send the alert to the Ring app, you have access to all of the standard functions of the Ring Alarm including:
- Request help (and sound the siren) from emergency responders if you are professionally monitored.1
- Sound the siren if you are self-monitored.
When help is needed, a signal will be sent to the monitoring center, which will request emergency dispatch to your home and call your emergency contacts.
How Do I Connect My Echo to My Ring Alarm?
To connect your compatible Echo device to your Ring Alarm system, follow these steps:
- Open the Alexa app.
- Navigate to the devices channel by clicking on the lower right-hand corner icon.
- Tap the + sign on the upper right-hand corner to add a device.
- Select Security System.
- Select Ring, then follow the step-by-step instructions in the app to add your Ring security system to Alexa.
How to Set Up Mode Syncing Between Alexa Guard and Ring
Set up Alexa Guard to sync modes with your Ring devices and to use Alexa voice to change your modes. Navigate to Settings > Guard and follow the instructions in the Alexa app.
Click here to learn how to arm and disarm your Ring devices with Alexa using your voice.
Once the initial setup is completed, you have three options for using Alexa Guard for your Ring Alarm.
- Use your Ring app (must be linked with your Alexa account):
- When you set your Ring device to Away, Guard will automatically be set to Away mode also.
- Disarming your Ring device will also set Guard to Home mode.
- Use your voice with Alexa:
- Say "Alexa, I'm leaving" when you're headed out to set Guard to Away.
- Say "Alexa, I'm home" when returning to set disarm. Alexa will check if you want to switch to Disarmed mode and ask for your pin.
- Use the Alexa app:
- Go to the device channel screen or the Guard history screen.
- Press the Home button.
How many Echo devices do I need for Alexa to guard my home?
We recommend placing one Echo device in each room or space in which you want Alexa to detect selected sounds.
For more information, please visit the Alexa Guard page on Amazon.com.
1 A compatible Ring Protect subscription is required to enroll in the Ring Alarm professional monitoring service. Professional monitoring service is available only within the U.S. (all 50 states, but not U.S. territories) and in Canada (excluding Quebec). Ring does not own its own professional monitoring center. Smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring is not available for commercial properties. See Ring Alarm licenses at: https://www.ring.com/licenses.
2 Alexa Guard and Alexa Guard Plus are available only to customers located in the U.S. You must have a supported Echo device to enable Guard. To access Guard features, you must link your Ring and Amazon accounts to complete the Guard setup in the Alexa app. The Alexa Emergency Helpline, which is available for Guard Plus subscribers, is not a 911 service and may not work during outages or if you're experiencing internet connectivity issues.