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Introductory video

I. Blink SmartHome Skill
II. Alexa Enabled Devices

1. Supported Non-Screen Devices
2. Supported Screen Devices

III. How to Set up
IV. Frequently Asked Questions
V. Common Errors
VI. Alexa Voice Commands

1. Non-Screen Device Supported Commands
2. Screen Device Supported Commands

I. Blink SmartHome Skill

Blink SmartHome is an Alexa skill that allows you to conveniently access blink cameras with just your voice! Enable the skill in your Alexa app then connect it to an Alexa enabled device for a range of access and notification options.

The features of this skill are available on Echo Dot, Spot, Show, Tap, Fire TV, Stick, Cube and Fire Tablets as shown in the following table. Click here for a table of voice commands.

Please note that the Blink SmartHome Alexa Skill is currently only available in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

Alexa Routines and Motion Announcements (click to learn more) are supported only in the US and Canada at this time. Please learn about new feature releases in our updates section.

Following, is the list of Alexa devices that are currently compatible with the Blink SmartHome skill. Some features may only be available on certain devices.

II. Alexa Enabled Devices

1. Supported Non-Screen Devices

Echo: 1st and 2nd Gen
Echo Dot: 2nd and 3rd Gen
Echo Plus: 2nd Gen
Echo Tap (does not support Motion Announcements)

2. Supported Screen Devices

Echo Show: 1st and 2nd Gen
Echo Show 5 (2 way audio is not supported)
Echo Show 8
Echo Show 10
Echo Spot
Fire Tablets: Fire HD 8, Fire HD 10, Fire 7", Fire 8", Fire 10"
Fire TV Edition: Fire TV 1st and 2nd Gen, Element 4k, Toshiba 4k, Insignia 4k, Toshiba HD, Insignia HD
Fire TV Stick: Fire TV Stick 4k, Fire TV with Alexa Voice Command
Fire TV Cube

III. How to Set up 

Enabling Blink Smarthome Skill:

1. Open the Alexa app, tap the curtain menu in the upper left-hand corner, and select "Skills & Games."
   
   
   
2. Search for "Blink SmartHome", then select the Skill. Tap "Enable to use" and you are sent to the Link Account Sign In page.
   
   
   
3.  Enter the email address and password of your Blink account. You are also asked to  create a 4-digit pin code for Alexa to provide functions requiring enhanced security.
   
   
   
4. The Alexa app communicates with Blink account servers, detects devices, and then displays a message saying, "Blink SmartHome has been successfully linked."
   
   
   
5. Close this screen by tapping Done, and you are shown the Discover Devices screen. Note that your devices may have already been discovered, but it is safer to attempt discovery again. Tap Discover Devices.
   
   
   
6. After about 45 seconds, the Setup screen appears informing you that devices have been found and connected with the Blink SmartHome Skill. Occasionally, the message will tell you that no new devices were discovered, so tap the Devices icon on lower right of the screen for a list of what was discovered.
   
   
   
7. The Devices icon presents a list of available equipment.
    

IV. Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the pin?

When you first enable the Blink SmartHome skill, you are asked to sign in with Blink account credentials and to create a personal identification number (PIN) code. When you ask Alexa to disarm your system, you are asked to provide the 4-number PIN code. The PIN is not the same as your Blink account password, and it is not related to  PIN codes that are sent to you by the Blink app to authorize account activity.
If you ever forget your Blink SmartHome skill PIN, just disable and re-enable the Blink skill in the Alexa app to create a new one.

Please note, if the pin is older than 60 days, you will be alerted to update the pin for security purposes. Disable and re-enable the Blink SmartHome skill to create an updated pin.

The Blink SmartHome skill is automatically disabled after three incorrect attempts to enter the pin. Disable and re-enable the skill to create a new pin.

Do Alexa Routines work with Blink SmartHome?

Alexa Routines are enabled for the Blink SmartHome skill.

Learn more about Alexa Routines here.

How do you enable motion detection notifications for Alexa?

Notifications of motion detection are currently supported for Alexa devices.

Learn more about Motion Announcements here.

Why are Live Views saving as clips when that setting is disabled in the Blink app?

When using Live View by saying "Alexa, show me "camera name", the Live View will show for five minutes and always save the clip, regardless of your Blink app setting. Please stay tuned for new feature releases in our updates section!

V. Common Errors  

"Sorry, cameras don't work on this device."

If you come across this error message, this may mean that the voice command you are issuing is not supported by the type of Alexa device you have integrated with the Blink SmartHome skill.

To resolve this, verify what type of Alexa enabled device you are using to check its compatibility with the command(s) you were trying to issue.

Viewing motion clips or Live View commands are supported only on the following devices: Echo Show, Spot, Fire Tablets (sold in the US), Fire TV, Stick, and Cube

"Couldn't find a device name Blink."

This error message occurs when your devices are not all found on the Alexa app. Without all Blink devices discovered, Alexa will not know which device a command needs to be issued to.

1. Open the Alexa app > Tap “Devices” > Tap “Cameras” > Check to ensure all of Blink devices are listed there.
2. If all Blink devices are not discovered, go to “Devices” > Tap “plus sign” located on upper right-hand corner > “Add Devices” > “Cameras” > “Discover Devices”

If you continue to experience issues with the command, please follow the below troubleshooting steps to delete and relink the "Blink SmartHome" skill:

1. Tap the “Curtain Menu” located on top left corner of the Alexa App.
2. Tap “Skill & Games” > “Your Skills” > locate “Blink SmartHome” and disable the skill.
3. Once the Blink SmartHome skill is disabled, tap “Devices”, located on bottom right corner.
4. Tap “Cameras” and select each one of Blink cameras listed, then delete each by tapping on the “Trash” icon.
5. After the Blink SmartHome skill is disabled all Blink devices are removed, follow the Enabling Blink SmartHome skill steps to relink the skill.

"Please specify a system"

If you have multiple Blink systems set up on your account and you don’t specify the system name that you’re issuing the command to, (i.e. “Alexa, ask Blink to arm”) you will receive this message. In this case, make sure to include the exact system name for Alexa to distinguish between your multiple systems. For example, if you have a System named "Home", say: “Alexa, ask Blink to arm Home”. 

Disarming the system instead of disabling the skill

Because it is a major event, there is a specific voice command to disarm your Blink system.  Saying the wrong phrase could result in disabling the entire Blink skill.

“Alexa, ask Blink to disarm, my pin is:" and speak the PIN number that you set up in Alexa for this Blink skill.

If have more than one system associated with the account, include the system name in your request like so:

“Alexa, ask Blink to disarm [system name], my pin is:” and speak the PIN number that you set up in Alexa for this Blink skill.

If your system is named House and your PIN is 1234, the request would be:
"Alexa, ask Blink to disarm House, my pin is 1234." 
 

Caution: If you ask Alexa to “disarm Blink”, Alexa disables the skill entirely, which means you must re-enable the skill through the Alexa app to regain function. 

VI. Alexa Voice Commands

1. Non-Screen Device Supported Commands

2. Screen Device Supported Commands

If “ask Blink” is not included when issuing a voice command, Alexa may report back saying, “You have Blink SmartHome skill enabled, would you like me to open it”, to indicate an incomplete command.

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