In mid-2017, Amazon Alexa made its drop-in capability available to Alexa-enabled devices for the first time. A large number of people voiced worries regarding privacy after its distribution.
What if Alexa doesn’t realize you’re there?
Alexa’s drop-in function does not allow you to spy on others without their knowledge. Devices that are Alexa-enabled emit an unusual sound and flash green lights for as long as someone enters the device. Both can’t be turned off at the same time.
Alexa’s drop-in functionality, if you will.
Using the drop-in function, you can easily connect with any of the Alexa-enabled gadgets.
If you’re given permission, you can even use Alexa on another person’s device.
Click “Communicate” and “Drop in” in the Alexa app to begin a conversation with the virtual assistant. You’ll see some Alexa-enabled devices from which you have authorization to access.
Your end will be able to hear everything that’s going on with the device you’ve chosen to drop in on after clicking on it (using your Alexa-enabled device).
Using the voice-activated Alexa-enabled device, the other person will be able to converse back to you.
The Echo dot may be used to drop by your son’s room to urge him to calm down, for example, if you’re working upstairs and hear a lot of commotion coming from his room (which contains an Echo dot).
It might also be that you’re concerned about your mother as she gets older, and you want to keep an eye out for her. An Echo Show in her bedroom would allow you to drop in whenever you want.
Adding additional Alexa-enabled gadgets to your home makes the drop-in function even more enticing, since there are unlimited use cases.
When you drop in, what precisely happens?
Dropping into a gadget causes it to produce a noise, alerting everyone around to the fact that a drop-in has occurred.
For the most part, this sound is a 2- to 3-second-long ring. It is possible to reduce the volume of this ring, but it cannot be fully disabled.
The Alexa-enabled device will begin to blink green as a result.
If you’re using an Echo Dot, you’ll see a green ring around the device that flashes continually while you’re attempting to connect.
There will be a video component if it is the Echo Show.
To let the person being dropped in know that your “call” has finished, the device you dropped in on will sound an audible chime.
There is no way to turn off the sound drop and the green light alerts.
How to disable drop in
However, all Amazon Alexa-enabled devices have the drop-in functionality deactivated by default.
A number of actions must be taken by the user in the Alexa app to allow drop in on any of their devices.
Drop-in may be be disabled or enabled by saying “Alexa, disable/enable drop-in”. This will stop all of the Amazon-enabled devices from allowing you to drop in at the same time.
Alexa’s drop-in functionality may be confirmed in the Alexa app or stopped once it has been enabled by following these steps:
- Select “Devices” at the bottom of the Alexa app.
- Select “Echo and Alexa” from the drop-down menu that appears.
- Afterward, you’ll get a list of all Alexa-enabled devices, choose the one you want to turn off.
- Go to the “Communications” section by scrolling down.
- Afterwards, click on “Drop In”. You may switch the drop-down menu “Off” here.
The drop-in functionality should be deactivated by default on your devices. If you’d want to be sure, you may follow the procedures outlined above on each of your Alexa-enabled devices.
Turning on “do not disturb” mode is another approach to guarantee that no one comes to visit. Drop-ins will be muted as a result.
Do not disturb mode also will prevent any incoming calls or alerts from coming in.
“Alexa, do not disturb me” may be used to activate the feature. “Alexa, turn off do not disturb mode” is all you need to do to turn it off.
Different methods to drop in and call on Alexa
Aside from using Alexa’s drop-in functionality, you may also “call” into Alexa-enabled devices in various ways.
In order to make a phone call, the first step is to use the phone’s built-in call choices. This means that you may use your Alexa-enabled gadget to contact a phone number, and vice versa.
This is a terrific way to communicate without having to use your hands.
To make advantage of this feature, you must provide Alexa permission to access your contacts. To make a call, just tell Alexa, “Alexa, call Home,” or “Alexa, call [name of contact],” and the device will handle the rest.
This will only function if you have your smart phone handy.
Skype may also be used to make phone calls with Alexa.
You must first have a Skype account and have all of your Skype contacts set up before you can use this method.
It is possible to connect your Skype account to the Alexa app after you have completed the following steps:
“Alexa, Skype [name of contact]” is all you need to do to make a Skype call.
Check watch this video if you want to learn more about how either of these strategies works.
Conclusion
There’s much to be said for Alexa’s drop-in capability, which functions like an intercom system. You may “drop in” on another Alexa-enabled device using your phone or an Alexa-enabled device of your choosing.
For a few seconds, the gadget being dumped on will ring. To display a green light, it must continue to drop in for as long as possible.
A final chime will sound on the dropped device to indicate that the “call” has ended.
What if Alexa doesn’t realize you’re there?
It is unable to turn off or deactivate the noises and lights indicating that a drop-in has begun (or is still taking place).
The drop-in functionality is disabled by default and must be activated by the owner before it can be used.
In addition to the drop-in functionality, Alexa-enabled devices may make direct calls and connect to Skype.