Welcome to the quick guide on how to connect the Amazon Alexa smart assistant to an Xbox One console. In this guide we’ll go over setting up Xbox One, Alexa and some sample commands.
Before continuing make sure your console has the latest updates, otherwise the steps below might be different for you.
Xbox Setup
1. While your console is powered on, press the Xbox button on your controller.
2. On this popup window, navigate to last section on the right and scroll down to and open “Settings”. This will open the console’s main Settings menu.
3. From here navigate to “Devices & Connections” on the left and from this menu open “Digital assistants”.
4. From this menu make sure “Enable Digital Assistants” is checked on.
5. The remainder of the Xbox steps might not be applicable to you (they weren’t for me) but we’ll cover them just in case. Go back to the main Settings menu.
6. Select “General” on the left, then from this menu select “Sleep mode & start-up”. Note: If your console is outdated, it might be called “Power mode & start-up”.
7. From the middle top drop-down, make sure “Sleep mode” is set to “Standby”. This ensures that you can turn on the console using Alexa.
Alexa Setup
1. Download the “Alexa” app from the Apple App Store for iOS/iPad OS or Google Play Store for Android and open it.
2. The main screen might recommend connecting to your Xbox since the app uses WiFi discovery. If it’s not there, select “More” at the bottom right.
3. Now select “Skills & Games”.
4. Use the magnifying icon at the top right to search for “Xbox”.
5. Select the “Xbox” skill and tap “Enable to use”.
6. You’ll be prompted to login with your Microsoft account, make sure it’s the one used on your Xbox One. There might be some permissions requests for some minor account details, it’s safe to accept.
7. Alexa and your Microsoft account are now synced. In the app open the skill to allow Alexa to find your console and sync with it.
8. Once done you’ll be able to control the console with Alexa!
Sample Commands
Here is a quick list of sample commands you can use, or you can simply say, “Alexa, ask Xbox what I can say?”
1. Alexa, turn off Xbox One
2. Alexa, turn on Xbox One.
3. Alexa, open Netflix on Xbox One.
