How To Connect Blink Camera To Alexa - A Comprehensive & Detailed Guide

Are Blink Outdoor Security Cameras a Good Choice for Your Home?

Blink outdoor security cameras are like your home’s watchful eyes. They don’t need any wires, and they help you see what’s happening around your place. Plus, you don’t have to spend money on a fancy monitor.

Can You Control Blink Cameras with Alexa?

Yes, you can! Blink cameras are friends with Alexa. It’s easy to make them pals. With Alexa, you can talk to your camera and tell it what to do. Cool, right?

Which Blink Cameras Work with Alexa?

Guess what? Almost all Blink cameras can chat with Alexa:

Blink outdoor camera
Blink indoor camera
Blink XT2
Blink Mini camera
Blink video doorbell camera

So, if you have any of these, you’re all set to make them Alexa buddies.

What Alexa Devices Should You Use with Blink Cameras?

Well, there are lots of Alexa devices out there, but these ones might be the best for helping you and your Blink cameras work together smoothly:

Alexa Echo Show 5
Alexa Echo Show 8
Alexa Echo Show 15
Echo Dot

What Can Alexa Do With Blink Cameras? Alexa Blink Camera Commands

Once you have the Alexa app paired with your Blink cameras, there are a variety of things that you will be able to do.

Tell the camera to turn on or off. For example, if you want it to turn on before you get home or turn off when you are gone for the day, you can ask Alexa to do it for you. For example: “Alexa, turn on the camera.” or “Alexa, turn off the camera.”

You can check in on what’s happening in a specific place. You can tell your cameras to show all or a particular camera connected to your garage – “Alexa, show me the garage.”

You can also add them to Alexa skills or routines that you have set up with Alexa so that they automatically turn on or stream when you tell Alexa – “Alexa add a camera to the morning routine” or “Alexa, tell me when my package arrives.”

How Do I Connect My Blink Camera to the Alexa App?

Connecting your Blink camera to the Alexa app might sound tricky, but it’s not! Just follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Get Your Blink Camera Ready You’ve probably already set up your camera with the Blink app. If not, do that first.

Step 2: Prepare Your Alexa Device Make sure your Alexa device is all set up and connected to the Alexa app.

Step 3: Open the Alexa App Find the Alexa app on your phone and open it.

Step 4: Add Your Camera In the app, look for a little “+” sign in the top right corner. Tap on it.

Step 5: Choose “Add Device” From the menu, select “Add Device.”

Step 6: Pick “Camera” Now, choose the option that says “Camera.”

Step 7: Select “Blink” Look for “Blink” in the list and pick it.

Step 8: Follow the Instructions Just do what the app tells you to do. It’s like following a recipe!

Step 9: Continue On When it says “Continue,” tap on that button.

Step 10: Enable It Click “Enable To Use.”

Step 11: Link the Camera Now, the app will connect your camera to Alexa. Cool, right?

Step 12: Log in to Your Blink Account You might need to log in to your Blink account to make sure everything is legit.

Step 13: Check the Confirmation Screen You should see a screen that says your Blink Smartphone app is now buddies with Amazon Alexa.

Step 14: Close It Up Hit “Close.”

Step 15: Discover Devices Now, it’s time for Alexa to find your camera. Click “Discover Devices.” This takes a bit, so be patient.

Step 16: Set It Up After the scan, tap “Set up Device.”

Step 17: Decide on Grouping You can choose to group your camera with other cameras on your Alexa app or just set it up by itself. Your call!

Step 18: Ready to Go! And there you have it! Your Blink camera is now all set up and ready to roll with Alexa. Easy peasy!

Troubleshooting When Alexa Doesn’t Show Your Blink Camera

If your Blink camera isn’t listening to Alexa, don’t worry. Here’s what you can do:

Step 1: Reboot Your Apps and Cameras First, try turning off and on your apps. Then, unplug and plug your cameras back in. Sometimes this helps. You can also restart your cameras and Alexa device.

Step 2: Check Alexa Settings If the problem sticks around, go to the settings in your Alexa app for your Blink camera. Make sure everything is correct, especially the device name.

Step 3: Remove and Add Again If everything seems right, try removing your Blink camera from the Alexa app and then adding it again. It’s like giving it a fresh start.

When Alexa Can’t Show Live View from Blink Camera

Sometimes, you might not see the live camera view in the Alexa app. In that case, try checking it out in the Blink app instead. It usually works there.

When Alexa Can’t Arm or Disarm Your Blink Camera

If your Blink camera isn’t listening when you tell Alexa to arm or disarm it, here’s what you can do:

Step 1: Remove and Add Again First, try removing the camera from Alexa and then add it again. This often fixes the problem.

Step 2: Reboot Everything If it’s still not working, restart the whole system. That means restart the Blink app, the Alexa device, and try again. If that doesn’t do the trick, restart the camera itself.

Still Stuck? Contact Blink Support

If none of this helps, reach out to Blink support. They might have some smart ideas or extra tips to get things working.

In Conclusion: Enjoy the Benefits

Setting up your Blink security camera with Alexa is a neat way to control it with your voice. You can do cool stuff like checking on your home, arming and disarming your cameras, and more, just by talking to your Echo Show or Echo Dot. Give it a try, and you’ll see how handy it is to manage your outdoor security cameras with your Amazon Echo device. Cool, right?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I connect my Blink camera to Alexa?

To connect your Blink camera to Alexa, follow these steps:

Open the Alexa app on your smartphone.
Go to the settings menu and select "Add Device".
Choose "Camera" from the list of device types.
Select "Blink" and log into your Blink account.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

2. Can I view my Blink camera footage on Alexa?

Yes, you can view your Blink camera footage on Alexa-enabled devices. After connecting your Blink camera to Alexa, simply ask Alexa to show the camera feed on your Echo Show, Fire TV, or other compatible devices.

3. Will I need a Blink sync module to connect my camera to Alexa?

Yes, you will need a Blink sync module to connect your Blink camera to Alexa. The sync module serves as a bridge between your camera and Alexa, allowing them to communicate with each other. Make sure to have the sync module set up and connected to your Wi-Fi network before attempting to connect with Alexa.

4. What commands can I use to control my Blink camera with Alexa?

With Alexa, you can use various commands to control your Blink camera. Some examples include:

"Alexa, show me [camera name]." - Displays live video feed from a specific Blink camera.
"Alexa, hide [camera name]." - Stops showing live video feed from a specific Blink camera.
"Alexa, arm/disarm [camera name]." - Arms or disarms a specific Blink camera.
"Alexa, record [camera name]." - Initiates a recording on a specific Blink camera.

5. Can I use Alexa routines with my Blink camera?

Yes, you can incorporate your Blink camera into Alexa routines. These routines allow you to automate tasks and create custom commands. For example, you can create a routine that turns on your Blink camera and displays the video feed on your Echo Show when you say, "Alexa, I'm leaving."

6. How can I troubleshoot connectivity issues between Blink camera and Alexa?

If you're experiencing connectivity issues between your Blink camera and Alexa, try the following troubleshooting steps:

Ensure both devices (camera and Alexa device) are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Check that your Blink camera and sync module have the latest firmware updates installed.
Restart your Blink camera, sync module, and Alexa device.
Disable and re-enable the Blink skill in the Alexa app.
If the issue persists, consult Blink or Amazon customer support for further assistance.