What you need to set up Alexa

There are a few basic things you need to hook up an Alexa device.

(Please note that there are lots of devices that "house" Alexa. Alexa is the genie in the bottle, the companion, the sidekick, the fairy, the artificial intelligence "inside" the device.)

The most inexpensive Echo device is the Dot.

The difference between the Echo Dot and the other devices that are currently available is that:

• the Dot doesn't have a powerful speaker system inside the device, although it can connect to a powerful speaker system, which we have done for some consumers. I connect to an old 1990's surround sound speaker system in my own home.
• the Dot doesn't have a screen like the Echo Show or Echo Spot. If you want to see what Alexa says in written form, you can look on your smart phone, your tablet, or a computer to read or see pictures of what Alexa shows you rather than seeing it right on the Echo Show - Black or Echo Spot - White .

To hook up ANY Alexa Device*, you need:

• A device (in this case, a Dot, a Dot houses Alexa)
• Wi-Fi 
• Your Wi-Fi network name (and your Wi-Fi password)
• Access to the Alexa App (a smart phone, tablet, OR a computer) (and your password to the Google Play Store or the Apple Store to download the app for your tablet or smart phone.)
• Power
• An Amazon account (can be a free account) (and your Amazon password)

Filling out this form and saving it (or taking a picture on your phone where you will always have it)  will help immensely when you are setting up an Alexa. I also have a printable PDF Alexa password form that you can open, fill out on your computer, and then save. You can also click the picture to download the fillable pdf.

We'll have a later post on how you can find this information if you don't know how to get it.

If you didn't get your device from us but got it as a gift, please be aware that when the person purchased it from Amazon, if they didn't say it was a gift, then the device may be tied to the original purchaser's account. If it is, then the original purchaser must go into their Amazon account and "release" that device so it can be hooked up to your Amazon account.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post in the comments.

(*Disclaimer: Shopping links are provided by Amazon, which makes it easy to see the type of product that we are talking about. Clicking any of the links will take you to Amazon. Please note that the Caregiver Program collects fees from Amazon for referring users if they purchase there. We use 100% of these fees to fund our Caregiver Program, including this website and our caregiver apps. You also can purchase any of these products at local shops as well.)