Control your PC with Alexa - is that possible?

Amazon's Alexa can control a variety of home devices. This practical tip will tell you whether your PC is one of them.

Control your PC with Alexa - is that possible?

Basically, it is not possible to control the home computer with the Amazon Echo and Alexa.

• This is mainly due to the fact that there is no control unit that "translates" the commands that are communicated to Alexa for the PC.
• For the Philips Hue system, this part is taken over by the Hue bridge, for the TV the Logitech Harmony Hub via infrared.
• You can access the Amazon Alexa web app from your PC and make settings changes from your computer.
• To do this, you have to go to the Amazon Alexa web app and then activate skills or change settings.

Control PC with Alexa - switch on

Alexa does not allow more complex controls of the PC, but you can switch on your PC with a few tricks.

• The tool IFTTT ("If this, then that") is helpful.
• As part of this tool, Alexa sends the corresponding voice command to IFTTT, which in turn connects to your smartphone. A "Wake-On-Lan" app on your smartphone then sends a command to your computer, which then switches on - at least when it is in sleep mode. If it is completely switched off, the control does not work.
• That sounds relatively complicated, but the set-up is not that difficult and the application is also quite comfortable.
• This process also works with older devices, which is very beneficial.
• As an example, these instructions are carried out with a Windows PC. Go to the search mask and enter "Device Manager". Then open the corresponding entry.
• In the device manager, look out for the "Network adapter" menu, in which you select your network card (usually "Realtek Controller").
• Then click on "Advanced", in the "Properties" window there must be an entry "Wake on Magic Packet". Select this entry. In the window next to it, "Value" must read "Activated".
• Then switch to "Energy Management" and make sure that all three options are selected there.
• Now switch to your smartphone and open the Play Store there to download the Wake On Lan app from it. Then open the app.
• Then tap the plus symbol at the bottom right of the screen and then swipe down once to search for new devices.
• A list of your network devices appears. If no names are displayed, the selection must be made using the IP address. You can find the IP address of your computer in the settings under "Info". Alternatively, you can open the Windows search mask again, enter "cmd" and "ipconfig" in the input screen that appears.
• Choose your computer. At this point it is also possible to assign a name to your computer so that you can find it better next time. Then click on "Add device".
• Then open this applet from IFTTT on your smartphone. If you have not yet created an account there, you must do so first, otherwise simply log in to your user account. Then tap "Turn On" on the applet side.
• Then you have to grant the applet some access rights. To do this, tap on the entry "Amazon Alexa" and log in with your Amazon account. Do the same with the point "SMS", enter your mobile number here and a code will be sent to you for verification. The number that sends you this code must be saved in your contacts, for example with the name "IFTTT".
• Now download the IFTTT app and open it.
• Select the "My Applets" menu and then tap on the applet you just installed ("Alexa to turn on PC").
• Tap the settings wheel within Apple. Here you can now assign an individual name to the applet and, above all, define a command that Alexa should listen to. This is under "What phrase?" possible.
• At the bottom of these settings you can still select the text that will be sent to you by SMS to start the PC. You confirm your entries by tapping the checkmark in the top right corner.
• Finally you need the "Tasker" app, which you can also download from the Play Store.
• Open the app and switch to the "Tasks" tab. Tap the "Plus" and enter any name for the task to be created.
• Then tap on the plus in the bottom bar of the screen within the created task. Then choose "Plugin" and "Wake On Lan".
• In the next step, tap the pen on the right side of the screen to configure the plugin.
• The PC connected at the beginning within the "Wake On Lan" app should now also appear here. Tap the entry and then go to the Tasker main menu.
• Now select the "Profile" tab and the plus symbol again. In the list that appears, tap on "Event", "Phone" and "Received Message".
• Under "Sender" enter the name under which you saved the number from which you previously received the SMS. Then tap back. A drop-down menu should appear, in which you select the previously named task. Also make sure that the corresponding profile is set to "On".
• This completes the somewhat more extensive setup and your PC should now be able to be switched on using the Alexa voice command.
• You have to say to Alexa: "Alexa, trigger [...]." Here you have to say the command that you previously defined in the applet at IFTTT.

We will show you in another practical tip whether and if so, how you can control and use Apple Music with Amazon's Alexa.