Use this article to manually discover devices, disable the Blink SmartHome Alexa skill, and troubleshoot common Alexa issues.
Before you begin
Before you begin troubleshooting Blink and Alexa, make sure you can answer "yes" to the following questions:
- Have you installed the latest version of the Blink and Alexa apps? Is your Alexa-enabled device up-to-date?
- If no, update your Blink or Alexa app and your Alexa-enabled device.
- Have you enabled the Blink SmartHome Alexa skill.
- If no, enable the Blink SmartHome Alexa skill.
- Do you have an Alexa account in one of our supported markets (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, or Germany)?
- If no, create an Alexa account.
- Do you have Amazon Kids mode "on" for your Alexa-enabled devices?
- If so, turn off Amazon Kids mode to see if this resolves your issue.
If none of these suggestions solve your issue, please see the following troubleshooting tips.
1. Alexa does not Discover your devices
If Alexa does not automatically discover your devices when you add the Blink SmartHome Skill, you can manually discover your Blink devices. Watch the video below to learn how or use the following steps to manually discover your Blink devices in the Alexa app.
How to manually discover your Blink devices in the Alexa app
- In the Alexa app, tap Devices
in the bottom right-hand corner.
- Tap
in the upper right-hand corner.
- Tap Add Device.
- From the list of devices, tap Cameras
. Then, tap Blink.
- Tap Discover Devices.
If Alexa still doesn't discover your devices, try resetting the Blink SmartHome skill by following the steps in the next section.
2. Disable the Blink SmartHome Alexa Skill
If Alexa fails to manually discover your Blink devices, you'll need to reset the Blink SmartHome skill.
- In the Alexa app, tap More in the bottom right-hand corner.
- Tap Skills & Games
.
- Tap Your Skills.
- Locate and tap Blink SmartHome.
- Tap SETTINGS > DISABLE SKILL.
- Once the Blink SmartHome skill is disabled, tap Devices
in the bottom right corner.
- Tap Cameras
.
- Select each of the Blink cameras listed. Tap
in the top right corner.
- Tap
to remove the Blink device from Alexa.
After the Blink SmartHome skill is disabled and all Blink devices are removed, you can re-enable the Blink SmartHome Alexa skill by following the steps highlighted in our Alexa Setup Guide.
3. Why is Alexa Announcing My Old Device's Name?
Occasionally, if you change or update your device name from the Blink or Alexa app, Alexa will continue to announce using the previous name. To resolve this issue, you'll need to disable and re-enable motion announcements and doorbell press notifications.
If re-enabling motion announcements and doorbell press notifications does not resolve this issue, try removing and re-discovering your Blink devices from the Alexa app by resetting the Blink SmartHome Skill. For how to do this, follow the instructions described above.
4. Common Alexa Error Messages
Occasionally, Alexa may prompt you with an error message. Here are some common error messages Alexa might provide you with, and how to troubleshoot.
"Sorry cameras don't work on this device."
Some Alexa voice commands only work on Alexa-enabled devices that have a screen, such as Echo Shows, Echo Spots, Fire Tablets, and Fire TV devices. If you try to use a command, such as “Alexa, show me [camera name]” on an Alexa-enabled device that does not have a screen, Alexa will respond, "Sorry cameras don't work on this device." Additionally, camera live views are not available via voice commands from the Alexa mobile app.
Delete"Couldn't find a device named [name you requested]."
This occurs when Alexa has not discovered the device you are trying to control.
- Open the Alexa app and tap Devices
in the bottom right corner.
- Tap Cameras
.
- Check to ensure all of your Blink devices are listed.
If all Blink devices are not discovered, try manually discovering your Blink devices. If you continue to experience issues, try resetting the Blink SmartHome Alexa skill.
"Please specify a system."
This happens if you have multiple Blink systems set up on your Blink account, and you say "Alexa, arm" without saying which system you want to control. Be sure to include the exact system name you want to control. For example, if you have a system named home, say: “Alexa, arm home.”
Delete"Live view not supported on this device."
If you receive the error message "Live view not supported on this device,” this indicates that you are unable to view a live view within the Alexa mobile app. You can still enjoy live views from your other Alexa-enabled devices, including Echo Shows, Fire TVs, and Fire Tablets.
DeleteView all frequently asked questions.
What Can Alexa Do?
You can ask Alexa to announce doorbell presses, show you a live view, arm or disarm your system, and much more.
Explore Blink SmartHome Alexa skill features.