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Want to fully control your smart home from the Alexa app? This section shows you how to manage devices, create rooms and groups, set up routines and automations, and create scenes that make your life easier. This is the smart home control masterclass – detailed, step by step.
What Is the Purpose of the Devices Section?
The „Devices” menu in the Alexa app is your smart home control center. It’s not just a list – it’s the interface where you control, group, and automate all your smart home devices.
Why Is the Devices Section Important?
Without the Devices Section:
- ❌ You can’t turn lights on/off from the app
- ❌ Can’t adjust thermostat
- ❌ Can’t create routines
- ❌ Smart home only works with voice commands (at Echo)
With the Devices Section:
- ✅ Works as a remote control
- ✅ Create custom templates (rooms, groups)
- ✅ Set automations (e.g., at 10 PM turn off all lights)
- ✅ Create routines (e.g., „Good morning” = lights flash, coffee maker turns on)
Understanding the Devices Section Structure – What Does What?
When you click on the „Devices” tab, you see this:
textDEVICES [+]
ROOMS:
┌────────┬────────┬──────────┐
│Living │Bedroom │Kitchen │
│5 dev. │2 dev. │3 dev. │
└────────┴────────┴──────────┘
GROUPS:
┌────────┬────────┐
│All │Night │
│Lights │Mode │
└────────┴────────┘
ALL DEVICES:
💡 Living room light [ON/OFF] [>]
💡 Bedroom lamp [ON/OFF] [>]
🌡️ Thermostat [22°C] [>]
🔐 Front door lock [Locked] [>]
📷 Living room camera [Online] [>]
Elements of the Devices Section:
1. Rooms
Rooms are the most important organizational tool. Every smart home device can be assigned to a room.
What’s the point?
- When you tap the living room, only living room devices appear
- Easier control: don’t scroll through 20 devices
- Voice commands are easier: „Alexa, turn on the bedroom light”
Default Rooms:
- Living room
- Bedroom
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Entry
- Garage
- Master bedroom
- Kids room
- Custom rooms
2. Groups
Groups combine multiple devices together, regardless of rooms.
Examples:
- „Living room lighting” group = All living room lights + living room ceiling light
- „Night mode” group = All lights OFF + thermostat 18°C + doors locked
- „Work” group = Living room and office lights ON
3. All Devices
A list of all devices, where every connected smart home device appears.
Managing Rooms – Step by Step
Add a New Room
Don’t have all the rooms you need? Add your own!
1. Step: Open the Devices section
- Tap the „Devices” button in the bottom navigation
- Scroll to the „ROOMS” section
2. Step: Add new room
- Tap the „+ Add Room” button
- Or: Menu (≡) → „Add Room”
3. Step: Enter room name
textROOM NAME:
[_________________________]
SELECT TYPE:
[ ] Living room
[ ] Bedroom
[ ] Kitchen
[ ] Bathroom
[ ] Other
[Next]
- Enter a name: e.g., „Office” or „Pool area”
- Choose a type (or leave „Other”)
4. Step: Assign devices to the room
textWHICH DEVICES ARE IN THIS ROOM?
☐ Light - "Office desk"
☐ Light - "Office shelf"
☐ Thermostat - "Office"
☐ Outlet - "Tech equipment"
[Add]
- Check the devices that are in this room
- Click „Add”
5. Step: Successfully added!
The new room now appears in your rooms list:
textROOMS:
├─ Living room (5 dev.)
├─ Bedroom (2 dev.)
├─ Kitchen (3 dev.)
└─ Office (3 dev.) ← New room!
Edit or Delete a Room
Long press on the room:
text┌─────────────────────┐
│ Office room │
├─────────────────────┤
│ ✏️ Edit │
│ 🗑️ Delete │
│ ➕ Add device │
└─────────────────────┘
- Edit: Change room name, add/remove devices
- Delete: Remove the room (devices are not deleted, just the room assignment)
- Add device: Assign a new device to this room
Managing Smart Home Devices – Practical Guide
Turn Device On/Off
In the Devices list, you see all devices. Basic control is easy:
Turn Light On/Off
text💡 Living room light [ON/OFF]
↓
Tap it!
- Tap once: ON → OFF or vice versa
- The ON/OFF button responds immediately – the device reacts within 1-2 seconds
Adjust Thermostat
text🌡️ Thermostat [22°C]
↓
Tap the temperature!
After tapping:
textADJUST TEMPERATURE:
Current: 22°C
[◄─ 21°C ─►]
[Set]
- Move the slider or type in the text field to change temperature
- Tap „Set”
Manage Smart Lock
text🔐 Front door lock [Locked] [>]
↓
Tap it!
After tapping:
textFRONT DOOR LOCK
Current Status: LOCKED
[Unlock] [Lock]
- Tap „Unlock” or „Lock”
Device Settings – The (>) Arrow
Every device has a (>) arrow next to it. This is the device settings menu:
Tap the (>) arrow:
text┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ Living room light - Settings │
├─────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ 💡 Brightness: [████░░░░] 60% │
│ │
│ 🎨 Color: [White] ✏️ │
│ │
│ ⚙️ Device Info │
│ ├─ Room: Living room │
│ ├─ Type: Smart bulb │
│ ├─ IP: 192.168.1.50 │
│ ├─ Signal: -45 dBm │
│ └─ Last sync: 2 sec ago │
│ │
│ ✏️ Rename │
│ 🗑️ Remove │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────┘
What can you do here?
- Brightness: Adjust 0-100% with slider
- Color: (if RGB bulb) Choose color
- Device Info: Network information, signal strength
- Rename: Change device name (e.g., „Living room light” → „Living room LED”)
- Remove: Remove device from Alexa
Creating Groups – Control Multiple Devices at Once
Groups combine multiple devices that you want to control together.
Steps to Create a Group
1. Step: Open Groups menu
- Devices section → Scroll to „GROUPS” section
- Tap „+ Add Group” button
2. Step: Group name
textGROUP NAME:
[_________________________]
TYPE:
[ ] Lighting
[ ] Devices
[ ] Other
[Next]
- Enter a name: e.g., „Night mode” or „Work hours”
- Choose a type
3. Step: Select devices
textWHICH DEVICES DO YOU WANT IN THIS GROUP?
☐ Living room light
☐ Bedroom lamp
☐ Kitchen lamp
☐ Bathroom lamp
☑ Thermostat
[Add]
- Check devices you want to control together
- Tap „Add”
4. Step: Done!
The group now appears in your „GROUPS” section:
textGROUPS:
├─ All lights (4 devices)
├─ Night mode (5 devices)
└─ Work hours (2 devices)
Control a Group
Group ON/OFF:
text💡 Night mode [ON/OFF]
Tap the ON/OFF button → all devices in the group turn on/off at once
Edit Group:
Long press on the group → Edit / Delete / Add device
Creating Routines – Automating Your Smart Home
Routines are the heart of smart home. A routine is a set of commands that activates with a voice command or event.
Routine vs. Automation – What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Routine | Automation |
|---|---|---|
| Activation | Voice command or button | Event or time |
| Modifiability | Full control | Limited settings |
| Complexity | 50+ commands sequentially | 2-3 devices simultaneously |
| Speed | Slower (1-2 sec per command) | Faster (all at once) |
In Practice:
- Routine: „Alexa, good morning!” → lights ON, coffee ON, news plays
- Automation: When 6:30 AM, lights automatically ON
Steps to Create a Routine
1. Step: Open Routines menu
- Menu (≡) → Scroll → „Routines” or
- Devices section → „+ Add Routine”
2. Step: Routine name and activation
textROUTINE NAME:
[_________________________]
e.g. "Good morning"
ACTIVATION METHOD:
[ ] Voice command (which word?)
["Good morning", "Morning", "Wake up"]
[ ] Time (what time?)
[6:30] [Daily / Weekdays]
[ ] Device control
(Another routine trigger)
[Next]
- Choose from activation methods
- Define the voice command or time
3. Step: Add commands
textWHAT COMMANDS SHOULD RUN?
[+ Add Alexa voice command]
[+ Add smart home device control]
[+ Add Bluetooth speaker]
[+ Add entertainment content]
[+ Add news/weather]
Tap „[+ Add Alexa voice command]”
textALEXA COMMAND:
[_________________________]
e.g. "Read morning news"
- Enter what you want Alexa to do
4. Step: Add smart home control
Tap „[+ Add smart home device control]”
textWHICH DEVICES DO YOU WANT TO CONTROL?
ROOMS:
┌─ Living room
│ ☑ Living room light → ON
│ ☐ Living room thermostat
│
└─ Bedroom
☐ Bedroom lamp
☑ Bedroom thermostat → 22°C
[Set]
- Check devices and their desired state
- Tap „Set”
5. Step: Order and timing
textCOMMAND ORDER:
1️⃣ Read morning news
2️⃣ Turn on living room light
3️⃣ Set thermostat to 22°C
[Up/Down arrows to reorder]
DELAY BETWEEN COMMANDS: [2 seconds] ▼
- 1st command runs immediately
- 2nd command runs 2 seconds later
- 3rd command runs another 2 seconds later
6. Step: Save routine
text✅ "GOOD MORNING" ROUTINE SUCCESSFULLY CREATED!
ACTIVATION:
"Alexa, good morning!"
or
Daily at 6:30 AM
[Finish]
Common Routine Templates
Alexa also suggests pre-defined routines:
Morning Routine
text"GOOD MORNING" OR 6:30 AM
1. Hear daily news
2. Hear weather
3. Turn on living room/bedroom lights
4. Set thermostat to 22°C
5. Read your grades (if available)
After Work Routine
text"COMING HOME" OR 6:00 PM
1. Play relaxing music
2. Turn on all lights
3. Unlock door (optional)
4. Set thermostat to 21°C
5. Read SMS and call alerts
Night Routine
text"GOOD NIGHT" OR 10:30 PM
1. Turn off all lights
2. Set thermostat to 18°C
3. Lock front door
4. Activate Guard Mode
5. Play sleep meditation
Work Routine
text"START WORK" OR 8:30 AM
1. Play focus music
2. Mute incoming calls
3. Turn on office light
4. Disable fifth channel
Setting Up Automations – Events and Consequences
Automations are simpler than routines – they’re event-based.
Types of Automations
1. Time-Based Automation
„Turn off all lights every day at 10 PM”
Steps:
- Menu → „Automation” → „+ Add Automation”
- Choose: „At a time”
- Time: 10:00 PM
- Days: Every day (or weekdays only)
- Command: All lights OFF
2. Sensor-Based Automation
„If motion detected in entry, turn on light”
Requires: Motion sensor
Steps:
- Menu → „Automation” → „+ Add Automation”
- Choose: „Based on device event”
- Device: „Entry motion sensor”
- Event: „Motion detected”
- Command: „Entry light ON”
3. Location-Based Automation (Geofencing)
„If I’m 2 km from home, turn on thermostat”
Requires: Location permission enabled in app
Steps:
- Menu → „Automation” → „+ Add Automation”
- Choose: „Location-based”
- Proximity: „Home 2 km away” (customizable)
- Command: „Thermostat 22°C”
Creating Scenes – Smart Home „Moods”
Scenes apply a specific „mood” or „situation” to your entire smart home at once.
Typical Scenes
Movie Scene
textLIVING ROOM
├─ Lights: OFF (or 10% dimmed)
├─ TV: ON
├─ Thermostat: 21°C
└─ Sound: Muted
Dinner Scene
textLIVING ROOM + KITCHEN
├─ Living room lights: 70% warm white
├─ Kitchen lights: 100%
├─ Music: "Dinner Playlist" ON
└─ Thermostat: 22°C
Work Scene
textOFFICE ROOM
├─ Lights: 100% cool white
├─ Fan/AC: ON
├─ Music: "Focus Music" ON
└─ Phone calls: Muted
Steps to Create a Scene
1. Step: Scenes menu
Menu → „Scenes” → „+ Add Scene”
2. Step: Scene name
textSCENE NAME:
[_________________________]
e.g. "Movie time"
3. Step: Select and configure devices
textWHICH ROOM IS THIS IN?
[Living room] ▼
LIGHT:
☑ Living room light → [OFF] or [10%]
MUSIC:
☑ Spotify → ["Ambient Playlist"]
THERMOSTAT:
☑ Thermostat → [21°C]
[Set]
- Check devices and set desired state
- Tap „Set”
