How to keep your home secure without Alexa Guard

When the Amazon® Alexa™ Guard feature was introduced, it offered users an added layer of home security, detecting the sounds of alarms or glass breaking when you were away. Now that Alexa Guard is no longer supported, you might wonder how you can continue monitoring your home effectively by using your Amazon® Echo.

Tech doesn’t have to be complicated. Asurion is here to handle your family’s gadgets—keeping you connected across all devices. Here’s what you can do with your Amazon Alexa now that Alexa Guard mode has been retired.

What was Alexa Guard?

Alexa Guard was a free security feature within the Alexa app that used your Echo devices to listen for signs of danger in your home, such as the sound of glass breaking, a potential intruder, or smoke alarms, sending you smart alerts if anything unusual was detected.

Why is Alexa Guard no longer supported?

Amazon is currently focusing on developing newer, more integrated home security solutions within their smart home device ecosystem to enhance user experiences and provide better protection options.

New ways to monitor your home after Alexa Guard

Even without Alexa Guard, your Alexa device can still help keep your home safe. Here’s how to take advantage of built-in features:

Smart home integration

Integrating Alexa with other smart home devices makes controlling your security tech, like cameras and motion sensors, more convenient via voice control and automation. Here’s how to get started:

1. Make sure your smart home devices are set up and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Alexa device.
2. Open the Amazon Alexa app, and go to Devices > Add Device. Select the type of device you’re setting up, and follow the on-screen instructions to link it to Alexa.
3. Once set up, you can control these devices with voice commands, like "Alexa, show the front door camera" or "Alexa, turn on the hallway lights."

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Built-in sound detection

You can set your Alexa devices up to recognize specific sounds and perform actions based on these audio cues, enhancing your home’s efficiency and security. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Open the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Tap More > Routines.
3. Tap the + icon to add a new routine.
4. Select When this happens, and then select Sound Detection. You can choose from various sounds, like water sounds or a dog barking.
5. After selecting the trigger, tap Add an action to decide what Alexa does when detecting certain sounds. For example, Alexa can notify your phone or turn on a light if it hears a beeping noise, like a carbon monoxide alarm.

You can also use Alexa’s routine function to turn on smart lights at sunset or play the sound of a dog barking when motion is detected on a connected security camera to make it look like you’re home even when you’re away.

Worried about your Amazon Echo listening in on your conversations? Check out our guide on everything you need to know about your smart device’s listening skills.