It’s the age of the smart assistant, and yet sometimes we can't help feel like we're the robots. Not in some existential, chin-scratchy kind of way; we just mean that barking the same commands time and time again, and hearing the same responses in turn, can get very monotonous. Thankfully, Amazon offers a few ways to add some variation.
Google’s started opening up more customizations with Home by letting us change Assistant’s voice, and it looks like customizable wake words are also on the way. Alexa is a little behind, but there are ways to change its voice, wake word and even accent.
Team Google: How to change the Google Assistant voice
And the best news is that it’s all really easy to do. Here’s how.
How to change Alexa’s name
Sick of saying Alexa’s name? Done with anthropomorphizing the black cylinder in your kitchen? Scared you might fall in love? Customization options are very limited, but you can change the wake word from “Alexa” to “Echo”, “Amazon”, or “Computer” (for doing your best Jean-Luc Picard impression).
1) In the app menu, select Alexa Devices
2) Choose the device for which you want to change the wake word
3) Tap on Wake Word
4) Choose the one you want, then hit OK
Once you’ve done that, Alexa’s colored light will turn orange for a brief moment to signal its transition to the new wake word. Once that's done, it should start responding to its new name.
How to change Alexa’s voice or accent
It’s still baffling that Alexa can’t even have a male voice, but there are other ways to switch it up if you’re sick of the same tones and intonations. If you’ve ever fancied giving your Echo a more sophisticated British accent (I may be biased on this point) or an Aussie twang, you can do so. You can also have Alexa speak English in an Indian accent.
Listen here: What all of Alexa's accents sound like
But be warned - Alexa's brain is also localized to where you set it, meaning a change in accent may pull up different answers, so it may "break" the experience a little.
1) In the app menu, select Alexa Devices
2) Choose the device you're going to change
3) Scroll down and tap on Languages
4) Hit the drop-down box and choose the language you want
5) Hit Save changes
More Amazon Alexa how-tos
- How to control Sonos with Alexa
- How to play podcasts with Alexa on your Amazon Echo
- How to control Amazon Fire TV using your Echo speaker
- How to use Alexa to control your lights and devices
- How to use your Amazon Echo with Alexa as the perfect alarm clock
- How to set up and use Alexa Routines for a smarter home
- How to view security camera footage on your Amazon Echo devices
- How to set up and use Alexa Drop In and Calling on your Amazon Echo
- Alexa and Spotify guide: How to connect and use with your Amazon Echo
- Alexa Brief Mode explained: How to turn it on and how it works
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