Blink, being an Amazon subsidiary, the Blink doorbell should be compatible with Alexa, right?
Yes, they work together. But the integration isn't that straightforward or automatic.
This article will show you how to connect your Blink Doorbell to Alexa and provide insights into the compatibility, setup steps, features, and troubleshooting tips.
To connect a Blink Doorbell to Alexa, first, sync the Blink Doorbell with Alexa by enabling the Blink SmartHome skill on Alexa. Once enabled, you can access various aspects of the Doorbell through the app or through voice commands. if you have trouble connecting the Doorbell to Alexa, reset the Doorbell to clear any issues.
Does Blink Doorbell Work with Alexa?
Yes, Blink Doorbell works with Alexa. The seamless integration between the pair allows you to have complete control over the Doorbell camera using Alexa voice commands.
It is worth noting that Blink is owned by Amazon, making the compatibility between Blink and Amazon devices a smooth and optimized experience.
Although Blink is compatible with Alexa, the same cannot be said in the case of a similar Amazon subsidiary. Blink and Ring Cams do not go hand in hand, at least by any conventional methods.
How to Connect Blink Video Doorbell to Alexa
Blink cameras have quick and seamless integration with Alexa-enabled devices and Amazon products.
All you have to do is link your Blink account with your Amazon Account and enable the respective skill for the device.
Before initiating the pairing process, ensure that the Blink app, Alexa app, and Alexa-enabled devices are updated to the newest firmware and that Kids mode is disabled for your Amazon devices.
Also, Alexa integrations are not available worldwide. Supported markets include - the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany.
By enabling the Blink SmartHome Alexa skill, you can easily control your Blink system using voice commands through Alexa. For this:
1. Navigate to the Blink app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Open Settings.
3. Click on Account and Privacy.
4. Locate and select the Link to Alexa option.
5. Click on the Open Alexa App option on the new screen that appears.
6. Here, under the Blink SmartHome page click on Enable to use.
7. On the new page that appears, enter the login credentials to your Account.
8. Enter the verification code or passcode if prompted.
9. Upon successful verification, you will see a message “Your Blink SmarHome account has been successfully linked”.
10. Click on Close and you will be automatically sent to the Discover Devices page.
11. Once your devices are found, click on the respective devices to set up the devices.
12. Enter a passcode if prompted.
Now your cameras are ready to be used with Alexa.
Once the device is set up and the Blink SmartHome skill is enabled, you can easily control and monitor your Blink Doorbell using Alexa Voice commands.
Did you know that Alexa is the only AI assistant compatible with Blink inherently? You cannot use other assistants and SmartHome services like Google Home with Blink unless you know the walkaround.
Alexa Devices compatible with Blink Doorbell
Blink Doorbell is compatible with an array of Alexa devices. Refer to the table below to see the list of devices.
Alexa Device | Compatible with Blink Doorbell |
Echo Show | ✅ |
Echo Show 5 | ✅ |
Echo Show 8 | ✅ |
Echo Show 10 | ✅ |
Echo Spot | ✅ |
Echo Dot (3rd Gen up) | ✅ |
Echo Plus | ✅ |
Echo Studio | ✅ |
Fire TV Stick | ✅ |
Echo (1st and 2nd Gen) | ❌ |
Echo Dot (1st and 2nd Gen) | ❌ |
Echo Tap | ❌ |
Amazon Tap | ❌ |
Amazon Echo Link | ❌ |
What Can You Do with Blink Doorbell Connected to Alexa
With your Blink Doorbell connected to Alexa, you can access, control, and monitor your Blink Doorbell camera using various Alexa commands.
- Remote control: You can use Alexa's voice commands to arm or disarm your Blink Doorbell camera.
- Live View: Through Alexa Voice commands, you can access the live view from your Doorbell camera.
- Two-way Communication: Since the Blink Video Doorbell supports the two-way communication feature, you can use Alexa to access and use this feature to talk to someone when they show up at your door.
- Motion Clip: Using Alexa, you can get to know when the last activity was without accessing the Blink App.
- Motion Alerts: You can receive motion alerts from your Blink camera on Alexa-enabled devices.
- Alexa Doorbell Press Notifications: You can use Alexa devices as a chime when your Blink Doorbell is pressed.
- Integration with Routines: You can set up different Routines in the Alexa app for different systems to work along with your Blink Doorbell.
- Schedules: You can use Alexa’s voice commands to set different schedules for your Blink Doorbell camera to be armed/disarmed.
Refer to the table below to learn the different commands for Alexa:
Purpose | Command |
Arm/Disarm Doorbell camera | “Alexa, ask Blink to arm [camera name]”“Alexa, ask Blink to disarm [camera name]” |
Live View/Exit Live View | “Alexa, show [camera name]”“Alexa, hide [camera name]” |
Two-way Communication | “Alexa, answer [camera name]”“Alexa, talk to [camera name]” |
Status | “Alexa, ask Blink to get my current status”“Alexa, ask Blink to get my detailed status” |
Schedule | “Alexa, ask Blink to set my schedule {time}”“Alexa, ask Blink what my schedule is” |
Motion Clips | “Alexa, ask Blink when the last motion was on [camera name]” |
View the last clip on the camera | “Alexa, show me the last activity on [camera name]” |
You can also create dedicated Alexa Routines to set in motion a desired action on Blink like creating a routine to initiate live view so as to keep Blink cams from timing out on Echo Show (an Alexa device).
Cannot Connect Blink Doorbell to Alexa: How to Fix
Blink devices are some of the easiest devices to set up and use but that being said, they are not without their issues.
Encountering problems related to Blink cameras not connecting to Alexa are common.
And with the help of the troubleshooting steps we will be discussing next, you can tackle any such issue with ease.
Let's dive right into them, shall we?
Check for Network Issues
A smooth and stable network connection is required for your Blink camera and Alexa to work properly. We recommend an internet speed of at least 2 Mbps for smooth and reliable operation.
An unstable network connection will hinder Alexa servers from properly communicating with the Blink servers leading to different issues such as the connectivity problem between the two.
Network issues can also trigger numerous other issues like Blink Notification but no video and Blink doorbell blinking red.
You can check your internet signal strength within the Blink camera app itself. To check the network stability within the app, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the Blink app on your mobile device.
- In the app, navigate to Device Settings.
- Click on General settings.
- Here you will be able to see a Camera to wifi option which will show you the network speed of the connection.
The speed will be indicated by numerical values or bars. Check and see if the network speed is adequate. You can also use third-party websites such as Ookla to test your network speed.
If you find the internet speed to be less than 2 Mbps, we suggest you disconnect unwanted devices from your Wi-Fi connection to boost bandwidth.
Ensure that both the Alexa and your Blink Doorbell camera are within the range of your router. Thick walls and other obstacles might cause network hindrance and a drop in internet speed.
If this is the case, consider moving the devices closer to the router or buying signal boosters to extend the range.
Additionally, you can also try restarting your network router and updating the router firmware to improve the network speeds. If none of these work, try contacting the network service provider.
Reset Blink DoorBell
Occasionally problems may arise due to a software glitch or a bug.
And best and usually the most efficacious way to resolve such inconsistencies is to hard reset your Blink Doorbell.
Doing so may also help in resolving various other issues like Blink Authentication failed and when Blink output turns black and white.
Hard resetting your device will erase all saved data and settings. So make sure to backup data and device settings to avoid data loss.
To hard reset the Blink Doorbell:
- Remove the Blink Doorbell from the mount
- On the back side, press and hold the reset button
- Continue holding the reset button until the indicator light flashes red
- Your Blink Doorbell is now reset
Once your Blink Doorbell is reset, remove the device from your Blink Account and re-add it to your account using the Blink app.
Try connecting the camera to Alexa again.
Remove and Re-add the Alexa app
Sometimes the issues may persist due to a software bug or a glitch with the Alexa app. Removing and re-adding the Alexa app will help solve this issue.
To do so, follow these steps on your device:
1. On the Home screen of your device, navigate to the Alexa app icon.
2. Press and hold the icon until a pop-up menu appears.
3. Select Remove/uninstall and confirm the selection to remove the app.
Once the app has been removed, restart your device and reinstall the Alexa app from the respective application store.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, a complete and comprehensive guide on how to integrate a Blink Doorbell with Alexa.
You can also hop on Amazon and Blink community forums to find answers to any queries you have. Both the forums are fairly active and get updated by users from all over the world.
In case you experience issues with the integration, we suggest contacting Amazon or Blink Customer Care.
We are sure they will be able to provide more technical insight into the problem and help solve it in no time.
Happy Reading!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I view my Blink Doorbell's live feed on any Alexa device?
Yes, you can view the live feed from your Blink Doorbell on Alexa devices with screens, such as the Echo Show.
Can I use Alexa to control the motion detection settings of my Blink Doorbell?
As of now, motion detection settings are managed through the Blink app. However, you can receive motion alerts from your Blink Doorbell on Alexa devices.
What should I do if my Blink Doorbell disconnects from Alexa frequently?
First, ensure a stable network connection. If the issue persists, try removing and re-adding the Blink skill in the Alexa app. If problems continue, consider contacting customer support for both Blink and Alexa for further assistance.
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