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We love using Alexa to guard our smart home when we are away. Recently we purchased a Ring Alarm security system to add additional security to our home.
Now, a few months later, Amazon introduced Alexa Guard Plus, an extra layer of protection to guard your home. So, we did some research to see what level of protection is being added with Alexa Guard Plus, and does it work with Ring?
Does Alexa Guard Plus work with Ring? Yes, Alexa Guard Plus works with Ring. Once you link your Ring and Amazon account in the Ring app or on Ring.com account, you will have access to Guard Plus. You will need to have a Ring Protect Plus Plan to use Alexa Guard Plus.
What is Alexa Guard?
Alexa Guard is a free feature in the Alexa app, that can help add a layer of protection in your home while you’re away.
How does Alexa Guard work?
When you leave your house, you’re able to activate Alexa Guard by saying “Alexa, I’m leaving”. While you’re away, Alexa will listen for footsteps, door closing, glass breaking, and any alarm that may go off.
Alexa will also listen for carbon monoxide or fire alarms and will notify you with smart alerts if one of the alarms goes off.
If Alexa detects any activity, you will get a Smart Alert notification on your mobile device. This notification will include a 10-second auto clip on what triggers the alert.
Beyond alarms, Alexa Guard can also give your house a live-in look by having your lights turning on and off as if someone is home.
What is Alexa Guard Plus?
Alexa Guard Plus is just an additional layer of protection with new Smart Alerts features.
Alexa Guard Plus is an upgrade subscription service for Alexa Guard that includes a 24/7 emergency helpline that’s staffed by trained response agents.
How does Alexa Guard Plus work?
If an emergency occurs in your home, the helpline will support hands-free calling by just saying “Alexa, call for help” to reach an agent who can help contact police, fire department, or request an ambulance.
The new Smart Alerts features can deter unwanted visitors away by connecting your smart lights and outdoor facing cameras (Ring, Blink, Arlo, or August).
Alexa Guard Plus will turn on and off smart bulbs, plugs, and switches to look like someone is home.
When your smart camera detects motion, Alexa will play the sound of a dog barking from your Echo device to scare off potential intruders. This feature reminds me of the Alexa skill, Guard Dog.
It can also play the sound of a siren when motion is detected inside your home.
How do I enable Alexa Guard mode?
To enabled Alexa Guard, open up the Alexa app.
Go to Menu (select the three-line icon on the bottom right corner) Tap > Settings.
Scroll down and tap the Guard option.
Open up the Alexa app > Go to Menu
Tap > Settings and Scroll down and > Tap the Guard
You will be greeted by a screen that explains the different layers of protection.
- Smart Alerts with your Echo when an Alarm is trigger
- Security system integration with Ring or ADT
- Away lighting
Next, tap set up Guard. Here you will pick the Smart Alerts you want to Add.
- Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarm sounds
- Glass break sounds – when your Echo hears the sound of glass breaking it will trigger a notification to you.
- Away lighting – will automatically turn light on and off to make it look like someone is home. A zip code pop-up will appear, this will allow the lighting to be based on the sunset in your location.
Next, you will confirm Guard Setup. Now, you are ready to Guard!
In Guard, you will be able to see the status of Guard set-up. The history will show the Current Status of things that happen in your house.
When you Tap the Settings Icon on the upper right corner, you will go to Guard Settings. Here you will see Echo Devices added and Guard set-ups.
- Smart Alerts that’s enabled
- Security System that’s integrated
- Away Lighting – when you tap on Lights, you can choose lights for Away lighting.
- Zip Code – lighting based on the time of sunset in your zip code.
- Notifications – allows you to be notified when Guard switches to the home mode or away mode.
- Alexa Privacy – you can review voice history, detected sounds history, manage smart home devices history, manage skill permissions, and manage your Alexa data.
Which Amazon Echo devices support Alexa Guard or Guard Plus?
All generations of Amazon Echo devices support Alexa Guard or Guard Plus:
- Echo
- Echo Dot
- Echo Plus
- Echo Show
- Echo Spot
- Echo Input
Can Ring call 911 if Alexa Guard or Guard Plus detects Intruders?
No, you will only get a Smart Alert notification if there has been an Alarm trigger, but you will have to decide to contact emergency services using the Ring app.
The ring will not do it for you automatically. Click here to learn more about the Alexa Guard response plan.
Does Alexa Guard Plus Work Without the Internet?
At the moment, no. Currently, there is no battery back-up system but there are alternative options.
If you have the Ring Protect Plus Plan, Ring Alarm will work without Internet connection if you receive any loss of power.
Or you can purchase a battery back-up device for your Echo devices and internet connection (router and modem).
We currently use Cyberpower Battery Back-up which you can find on Amazon or BestBuy.
How much does Alexa Guard Plus cost?
Guard Plus service will cost $4.99 per month or $49 per year. Here is the comparison below provided by Amazon.
Final Note
Alexa Guard and Guard Plus is a great start to secure your home but, in my opinion, this is not meant to be a monitoring security system but rather an alert system.
The responsibility still falls on you, how to proceed if you’re notified on a Smart Alert. Do you call the police or do you call the fire department? You have to decide that.
I do see this as a good enhancement to your security system with a Ring Alarm or maybe ADT Alarm system but nothing more.
Yes, it has its limits but it can still offer some peace of mind, a smart assistant that can not only control your smart devices but add value to your home in other ways such as to help scare burglars off.
If you have further questions about how Alexa Guard Plus can help you guard your home, find it over here on Amazon.
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It's great to see that you have come across my website. I hope you explore it thoroughly. The website caters to regular consumers who have an interest in home automation. I am based in the Tri-state area and enjoy the latest smart tech along with my wonderful wife and three energetic boys.
