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🏠 Alexa+
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📘 Step-by-step 📘 Amazon · Alexa+↗ Alexa+ · Official sitebeginner 🏠 Everyday life

Set Up an Alexa+ Routine to Automate Your Everyday Tasks

Learn how to create a simple Alexa+ Routine that greets you, controls lights and plays music – all with a single voice command.

6 min read·June 24, 2026

This guide was written by AI. It passed automated fact and quality checks; no human editor reviewed it.

By the end of this guide you'll have a working Alexa+ Routine that starts your morning (or any other moment) with a spoken phrase, turning on lights, playing music and delivering a custom greeting. It's perfect for anyone who wants a little extra convenience without needing any coding skills.

💡 Tip: tap a step’s number when you finish it — a green tick appears and your browser remembers how far you got.

✅ Before you start
  • An Echo speaker, Echo Show, or any Alexa-enabled smart display plugged in and connected to your home Wi-Fi.
  • The Alexa app installed on a smartphone or tablet and signed in with your Amazon account.
  • Any smart-home devices (e.g., smart bulbs or plugs) already added to the Alexa app.
  • About 5–10 minutes of quiet time.
1
Step 1 of 6

Open the Alexa app

Tap the Alexa app icon on your phone or tablet. When the app opens you'll see a home screen that shows a picture of your device at the top and a row of icons across the bottom (Home, Devices, Routines, etc.). Tap the Routines icon – it often looks like a clock or a series of stacked squares and may be labeled "Routines". The app will slide to a new page listing any existing routines.

🔄 If it looks different

If you don't see a Routines icon, look for a three-line "Menu" button in a corner and choose "Routines" from the list.

✅ You'll know it worked when

a screen appears titled "Your Routines" with either a list of routines or a note that none exist yet.

Next step ↓
Alexa+Routines
✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different
2
Step 2 of 6

Start creating a new routine

On the "Your Routines" screen, locate a plus (+) button in the top-right corner (or a button that says "Create Routine"). Tap it. You'll now see a blank page that asks you to "Add a name" and "When this happens". If the plus sign isn't visible, look for a colorful "New Routine" button near the center of the screen – the wording can vary between devices.

✅ You'll know it worked when

the top of the page shows a text field for the routine name and a section titled "When this happens".

Next step ↓
Start creating a new routine
3
Step 3 of 6

Name your routine

Tap the text field that says "Add a name". A keyboard slides up and you can type any label you'll recognize later – for example Morning Wake-Up. (If you're on a tablet, the keyboard may appear at the bottom of the screen.) After typing, look for a Next or Continue button – usually at the bottom right – and tap it.

💬 ExampleType `Morning Wake-Up` then tap **Next**.
✅ You'll know it worked when

the view switches to a new screen that says "When this happens" and shows a button labeled "Add trigger".

Next step ↓
Name your routine
4
Step 4 of 6

Choose a voice trigger

Press the Add trigger button. A menu of trigger types appears: Voice, Schedule, Smart Home and Device. Select Voice – this tells Alexa to listen for a spoken phrase. A field labeled "Enter phrase" opens; type the exact words you want to say, such as Alexa, good morning. Tap Next or Add (the button may be at the bottom of the screen).

💬 ExampleType `Alexa, good morning` then tap **Add**.
🔄 If it looks different

If you don't see a Voice option, look for any item that mentions "spoken phrase" or a microphone icon.

✅ You'll know it worked when

the top of the routine page now reads "When you say 'Alexa, good morning'".

Next step ↓
Alexa+Add trigger
✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different
5
Step 5 of 6

Add an "Alexa Says" action

Below the trigger section, tap Add action. A list of action categories appears – "Alexa Says", "Music & Podcasts", "Smart Home", etc. Choose Alexa Says; you may need to scroll a little. Now pick Customized (or "Speak text") – this opens a text box where you can type what Alexa should say. Enter a friendly greeting like Good morning! Time to start the day. Tap Next or Add to save the action. If the category is named "Speech" or "Announcement" instead of "Alexa Says", select the one that lets you type a spoken line. Time to start the day.'".

💬 ExampleType `Good morning! Time to start the day.` then tap **Add**.
✅ You'll know it worked when

the routine summary shows a line reading "Alexa will say 'Good morning!

Next step ↓
Alexa+Add action
✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different
6
Step 6 of 6

Add a music action (optional but fun)

Press Add action again, which now appears under the previous action. Choose Music & Podcasts from the list. If you have a music service linked (Spotify, Amazon Music, etc.) you'll see its logo – tap the service you prefer. A new field lets you type an artist, genre or playlist name; for a breezy start type Acoustic Sunrise (or any favorite playlist). Tap Next or Add. If no music service shows, you'll need to link one in the Alexa app's Settings first – the guide assumes a service is already connected.

💬 ExampleType `Acoustic Sunrise` then tap **Add**.
✅ You'll know it worked when

the routine page lists a second action: "Play 'Acoustic Sunrise' on Spotify".

Alexa+Add action
✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different
⚠️ Common mistakes
  • Skipping the "Add trigger" step: Without a trigger Alexa won't know when to run the routine. If you miss it, go back to the top of the routine page and tap "Add trigger" again.
  • Typing the wrong phrase: Alexa matches the spoken phrase exactly, so a typo will prevent activation. Double-check the text in the "Enter phrase" field and re-type if needed.
  • Forgetting to link a music service: The "Music & Podcasts" action will appear blank if no service is connected. Open the Alexa app's Settings → Music, add your favorite service, then return to the routine.
🚀 Try it now

Open the Alexa app, tap Routines, create a new routine called Quick Test, set the voice trigger to Alexa, test routine, and add a single "Alexa Says" action that says Hello, I'm ready!. You'll have a working routine in under two minutes.

🎯 Next guideCreate a Smart-Home Security Alert with Alexa RoutinesLearn how to set up an Amazon Alexa routine that detects when a door opens and sends you an instant voice or push alert, giving you peace of mind.

❓ Quick questions

How long does this take?

About 6 minutes — the guide has 6 steps, and you can tick each one off as you go.

Which tool do I need?

This guide uses Amazon Alexa+ — but the approach works very similarly in other AI assistants.

Do I need to prepare anything?
  • An Echo speaker, Echo Show, or any Alexa-enabled smart display plugged in and connected to your home Wi-Fi.
  • The Alexa app installed on a smartphone or tablet and signed in with your Amazon account.
  • Any smart-home devices (e.g., smart bulbs or plugs) already added to the Alexa app.
  • About 5–10 minutes of quiet time.
What mistakes should I avoid?
  • Skipping the "Add trigger" step: Without a trigger Alexa won't know when to run the routine. If you miss it, go back to the top of the routine page and tap "Add trigger" again.
  • Typing the wrong phrase: Alexa matches the spoken phrase exactly, so a typo will prevent activation. Double-check the text in the "Enter phrase" field and re-type if needed.
  • Forgetting to link a music service: The "Music & Podcasts" action will appear blank if no service is connected. Open the Alexa app's Settings → Music, add your favorite service, then return to the routine.

Keep reading

📘 Control All Your Smart Lights, Plugs, and Thermostats With One Alexa+ Command Group a lamp, a plug, and a thermostat under one routine so one voice phrase dims the lights, fires up the fan, and warms the room 📘 Create a multi‑room music playlist with Alexa+ Play the same songs throughout your home with one simple voice command using Alexa+ 📘 Create a Smart-Home Security Alert with Alexa Routines Learn how to set up an Amazon Alexa routine that detects when a door opens and sends you an instant voice or push alert, giving you peace of mind. 📘 Create a soothing bedtime story routine with Alexa Organize a calming, voice-activated storytime for children, giving you peaceful moments while Alexa takes over with a simple command. 📘 Ask Alexa+ to Read Your Calendar Aloud and Get a Heads-Up Before Meetings Set up a simple morning routine that has Alexa+ read out your schedule and warn you before each meeting starts. 📘 How to Use Amazon's Conversational Alexa+ at Home Unlock truly natural, back-and-forth conversations with your smart speaker to effortlessly manage your home and daily tasks.
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