How to Add Contacts to Alexa

Use the Alexa app to add contacts from your phone

By
Karen Marcus
Karen Marcus
Karen Marcus
Writer
  • University of Colorado at Denver
  • Colorado State University
Karen Marcus is a former Lifewire writer who has also written for companies like HP, Intel, IBM, Samsung, and others.
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Updated on December 30, 2020
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
Ryan Perian headshot
Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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AI & Science

What To Know

  • In the app: Tap Communicate > person-shaped icon > upper-right Menu > Import Contacts > Toggle Import Contacts.
  • To edit contacts: Select Communicate > Contacts > Edit. Make your changes, and press Save.
  • To add a single contact: Go to Communicate > Contacts > three-dot Menu > Add Contact. Enter your contact info, and Save.

This article explains how to import your contacts into Alexa to use with your Amazon Echo Show or other Echo products, either using the Alexa app or by adding them manually.

How to Add Contacts to Alexa Using the Alexa App

  1. Get the Alexa app if you haven't already and open it.

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  2. Tap the Communicate icon at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Tap the person-shaped icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.

    If this is your first time using the app, it may ask for permission to access your contacts.

    The Communicate, Contacts, and Allow buttons

  4. From your contacts list, tap the three-button menu that appears in the upper-right corner.

  5. Tap the Import Contacts option.

  6. If it's not enabled, tap the blue toggle button to turn on Import Contacts.

    The Import Contacts heading and switch

  7. Now you can tell Alexa to call or message any of these contacts, or “drop in” on those who also have Alexa accounts.

    You can block contacts from contacting you through your Echo device(s) and the Alexa app. To do so, select Conversations > Contacts > [three-dot icon] > Block Contacts. Select Unblock next to the person you want to block.

  8. To edit contacts, make the changes in your contacts app, then open the Alexa app. Contacts from your address book will automatically appear in the Alexa app.

If you or other members of your household use an Alexa-enabled device, and you each have an Alexa account, you can access contacts from each account through the device. However, you can only access your contacts through the app.

Updating Your Alexa Contacts

When you enable Import Contacts, Alexa automatically updates whenever a new name or number is added to your smart device. This happens almost instantly. There's no need to update your contact list within Alexa manually. This also makes it easy to add all your contacts at once after you purchase a new Alexa device.

The Import Contacts feature has led to some confusion among customers. It's primarily there for convenience. While it's possible to manually create a contact listing within the Alexa app, enabling the import feature makes that unnecessary. When the app automatically updates to include changes made to your device's contact list, there's no need to create a new entry for Alexa.

How to Edit Your Alexa Contact List

Alexa imports information from your smart device's contact list. The imported contacts can then be edited directly within Alexa using the app.

  1. Open the Alexa app and tap Communicate.

  2. Tap the Contacts icon in the upper-right corner.

  3. Tap the contact you wish to edit, then select Edit.

    Editing a contact in Alexa

  4. In the next screen, you can change a contact's first and last name, give them a nickname, and more. The only way to change contact information like a phone number or email address is to go into your device's contact list and make the change there. When you finish editing the contact, tap Save to save the changes.

How to Add an Individual Contact to Alexa

Maybe you don't need to import an entire list of contacts to Alexa. Or, perhaps you want to add a new person to your list. Either way, you can create individual entries easily within the Alexa app. Here's how:

  1. Open the Alexa app and tap Communicate.

  2. Tap the Contacts icon in the upper-right corner.

  3. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the upper-right corner.

  4. Tap Add Contact, then enter the pertinent information.

    How to add a contact in Alexa

  5. Tap Save when you're finished.

How to Interact With Contacts Using Alexa

Once you add a contact, you can tap it to see how you can interact with it. Contacts who don't have an Alexa account only display the information you stored for them in your contacts app. Contacts who do have an Alexa account display messaging, calling, and drop-in icons. Select the toggle under Allow Drop In to enable these contacts to contact you directly using an Echo device.

Now you can tell Alexa to call or message any of these contacts or drop in on those who also have Alexa accounts.

You can block contacts from contacting you through your Echo device and the Alexa app. To do so, select Conversations > Contacts > three-dot icon > Block Contacts. Select Unblock next to the person you want to block.

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