How to Use Alexa Guard to Monitor Your Home

Alexa Guard uses your Echo speaker to listen for smoke alarms, CO detectors, breaking glass, and suspicious activity while you're away.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Set up Alexa Guard in the Alexa app
2.Activate Guard when you leave
3.Understand what Alexa Guard detects
4.Deactivate Guard when you return
5.Review Guard Plus for additional features

Set up Alexa Guard in the Alexa app

~19s

Open the Alexa app on your phone. Tap the "More" tab (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Tap "Guard." If you haven't set it up, you'll see a "Set Up Guard" button — tap it and follow the prompts. Select which Echo devices in your home you want Guard to use.

Activate Guard when you leave

~21s

When you're heading out, say "Alexa, I'm leaving." Alexa will confirm that Guard is active. Alternatively, you can open the Alexa app and tap the shield icon at the top to switch to "Away" mode.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: You can also set Guard to activate automatically at certain times or when your phone leaves the area — look for these options in the Guard settings.

Understand what Alexa Guard detects

~15s

In Away mode, Guard listens for: smoke alarm beeping, carbon monoxide detector beeping, the sound of glass breaking. If detected, Alexa sends a Smart Alert to your phone with a short audio clip so you can hear what triggered the alert.

Deactivate Guard when you return

~15s

When you get home, say "Alexa, I'm home." Guard deactivates and Alexa returns to normal listening mode. Or open the Alexa app and switch Guard back to "Home" mode manually.

Review Guard Plus for additional features

~15s

Guard Plus ($4.99/month) adds features like an emergency helpline, the ability to play sounds that make your home seem occupied while you're away, and professional monitoring partnerships. The free version is sufficient for basic sound detection and most households.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Use Alexa Guard to Monitor Your Home

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Alexa Guard is a free feature built into Amazon Echo speakers that turns your Alexa device into a simple home security monitor. When you tell Alexa you're leaving home, Guard activates and your Echo will listen for specific sounds: smoke or carbon monoxide alarms going off, the sound of glass breaking, or general activity in the house.

If something is detected, Alexa sends a Smart Alert to your phone — a notification telling you what was heard and when. This doesn't replace a professional security system, but it adds a free extra layer of awareness, especially if you live alone or leave your home unattended for extended periods.

Alexa Guard Plus is an upgraded paid version with more features, but the free version is genuinely useful and requires nothing beyond your existing Echo device and the Alexa app on your phone.

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