How to connect Alexa to phone/house smart devices

[mwest99]

I have been trying to get some help with Fitbit support and they are absolutely NO HELP at all!  I don't understand that you ask a question and they go round and round over the stuff that doesn't make any sense.

I am trying to get help with the Versa 2 Alexa and figure out how it connects with the Alexa on my cell phone/house smart devices, etc.  The support people, both a first level person and a supervisor just keeps telling me to ask Alexa to set timer, to check weather, etc.  All those things work fine, I am trying to get it to actually connect with the REAL Alexa.

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[JohnnyRow]

The real Alexa is any program that connects to the Amazon intelligence in the cloud.  It could be the Alexa app on your phone, an Amazon Echo device, a new Amazon smart microwave, ...

In this case, the Fitbit is connecting to the Alexa app on your phone.

What exactly do you mean by the REAL Alexa?  Do you mean to the Amazon Echo device?  And what do you want it do with the connection?

[Odyssey13]

article about Versa 2 and Alexa 

[mwest99]

We have amazon Alexa connected to much of our home, lights, fans, thermostat, etc. I am not able to get versa 2 alexa to turn on lights, etc. When I try to add to shopping list, it only shows on versa not our cell phone alexa app. 

[mwest99]

Accide8hit best answer, don't know how to remove. 

[mwest99]

We have amazon Alexa connected to much of our home, lights, fans, thermostat, etc. I am not able to get versa 2 alexa to turn on lights, etc. When I try to add to shopping list, it only shows on versa not our cell phone alexa app. 

[Odyssey13]

Hi @mwest99   I've asked a moderator to stop by to give you further assistance. 

[Susan3603]

Hi there!

In addition to setting up the Alexa on your Versa 2 with the FitBit Alexa app, I had to also go into my  "Amazon Alexa" app (just the regular app that you would have downloaded from the PlayStore when you set up your actual Alexa device(s).  

When you go into the Amazon Alexa app on your phone, select "Skills & Games", then under "Health & Fitness" you can "Enable" the Fitbit skill.  Then it will prompt you to login to your Fitbit account and grant Alexa access to your profile & data.  

I believe this can also be done by logging into your Alexa (via alexa.amazon.com).  

Hopefully this works for you!

[mwest99]

I have done this and they still don't talk to each other.  Both Fitbit and Alexa say they are connected but they really aren't, at least from what I can see.  I can talk to Alex on my phone or in my house and it responds but if I talk to Alexa on the Versa 2 the only thing responds is on the Versa 2.  I can't see that the home Alexa even can tell the Fitbit Versa exists.

[Susan3603]

I'm sorry it didn't work for you. 

The only Alexa device that I have at home is an echo.   I am able to add notes from my versa 2 and play them back from my Echo at home.   I've also tried turning on my home echo while not home  from my versa 2 to play music in the house and that has worked as well.

 So frustrating when technology doesn't work the way that it supposed to!   Hopefully you get it all straightened out.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi everyone. It's great to see you here in this thread.

@JohnnyRow, @Odyssey13 and @Susan3603, I appreciate you for stopping by and helping our friend. You guys are great!

@mwest99, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts about your Versa 2 and our Support team. I know how you're feeling and I'm sorry that you've had this experience. You did a good job in following the steps to connect Alexa, however since the connection isn't working correctly with the rest of your smart devices I'd recommend to give a try to the following:

1. Go to the Fitbit app, tap on your profile's icon > Versa 2 image.
2. Tap Amazon Alexa > Log out.
3. Force stop the Fitbit app on your phone.
   For iOS, see this article.
   For Android, see this article.
4. Reboot your phone and restart your watch.
5. Open the Fitbit app and sync your watch.
6. Once it's synced, log back in to Amazon Alexa and try using your Versa 2 one more time.

If the issue persists, please provide me with your phone's model and OS version. This will help me to further investigate this matter.

I'll be around, keep me posted.

[mwest99]

I tried everything you said and it still doesn't work.  

Phone Model --  SM-A505U  (Samsung Galaxy)

OS -  Android version 9

Kernel version 4.14.62

[JohnnyRow]

I have an Alexa outlet plug with a light plugged into it.  I have named the plug "light".

On my Versa 2, I press the left button a second or 2 until Alexa comes on and prompts "Ask away..."  I say "Turn on light".  The light comes on and the watch displays "ok"

That's just what I would want it to do.  I don't know why your case is different but it does work for me.

On your phone Alexa app, if you tap "Devices", does it list the connected various devices in your home?

I assume you have your cell phone nearby to your Versa. 

Are you able to control your home devices through your phone Alexa app?

[mwest99]

I can see and control all devices on my phone., but nothing from my versa 2.

[JohnnyRow]

Do you know if your Versa is connecting at all to your phone, say ask Alexa a question from the Versa not about devices, say who was first U.S. president.  That would narrow down if the problem is the Versa connecting with phone's Alexa app.

[Susan3603]

If you aren't seeing your Fitbit in the Amazon Alexa app,  can you try adding your fit bit from that app?   (Though I'm sure you've tried that also).

I'm at all loss....

[mwest99]

I can ask versa 2 alexa anything and it answers just like the phone alexa, but the two don't work together.  If I tell versa alexa to add milk to shopping list, it adds on the versa but not on my phone. 

[Susan3603]

Mine had that issue at first, but once I added the versa 2 as a device in the Amazon Alexa app,  it worked perfectly.  

Have you tried removing it from your Alexa app and reading it (making sure to grant full access/ permissions)?

[N8teGee · Accepted solution]

Are you certain both are logged into the same Amazon account? If you ask Alexa on the Versa 2 "who am I?" does she respond with the correct name/information? 

[Mimi10]

Works fine for me. Just wake Alexa and tell her what to do. Don't call he name on the Versa 2, just give a command. I just turned on, and then turned off a lighting fixture with no problem.