Select “Skills” from the list.
Tap inside of the search box at the top where it says “Search All Skills” and type in the name of an Alexa Skill that you want to install. Then tap on the Search button to the right.
If you’re not looking for a particular Alexa Skill, you can also just scroll down to browse through them, or tap on “Categories” to narrow down the field a bit.
When the Skill appears, tap on it to open it up and see more information about it.
Depending on the Alexa Skill you’re installing, you may receive pop-up prompts, like allowing the Alexa Skill to use your location. Or you might be redirected to a new screen where you’ll need to sign into your account that’s associated with the Alexa Skill you installed (Like Lyft, for instance).
Once the Alexa Skill is installed and enabled, you’ll see “Disable Skill” appear, which means you’re all set!
Seven Third-Party Alexa Skills to Try
Domino’s and Pizza Hut
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You’ll need to make sure that you have accounts created at either establishment, as well as an address and payment method entered in. However, you can browse menu items and order pizza right from the Echo without lifting a finger.
The only downside? You’re eating Domino’s and Pizza Hut.
The Bartender
You likely know how to make the most basic of cocktails, but you might need a little help for the more advanced stuff. The Bartender has all sorts of drink recipes that you can peruse.
All you have to do is say “Alexa, ask The Bartender to make a Grasshopper”. Alexa will tell you the ingredients, the amount, and the instructions for making the drink. You can also search for drinks based on the ingredient you want to use, or just ask The Bartender to surprise you with a random cocktail.
Big Sky
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Alexa’s default weather reporting does a fine job if you just want the basics, but Big Sky is able to pump a big dose of steroids into Alexa’s weather forecast.
You can obviously ask Big Sky just for the basic forecast, but if you want more specifics, you can say things like “Alexa, ask Big Sky what the humidity is” or “Alexa, ask Big Sky what the temperature will be at 5pm”.
You’ll need to create a Big Sky account once you enable the Alexa Skill, as well as enter in your location and choose from a couple of settings, but you’ll be up and running in no time.
Night Light
Need to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom? Night Light is an Alexa Skill that allows you to turn on the glowing blue ring on your Echo for any amount of time.
Just say “Alexa, open Night Light” and the blue ring will light up. Granted, it does oscillate a little bit, but it should give you just enough light so that you don’t trip over anything.
When you want to turn it off, just say “Alexa, stop” or hit the wake button on the Echo. You can also turn it on for a specific amount of time by saying “Alexa, open Night Light for two minutes”.
AnyPod
If you’re a big podcast listener, AnyPod is perhaps one of the best podcast-related Alexa Skills you can use.
Once enabled, just say “Alexa, ask AnyPod to play This American Life”. You can also fast-forward and rewind podcasts by specific lengths, as well as subscribe to podcasts that you like.
You can even be broad with your podcast searches, so saying something like “Alexa, ask AnyPod to play Alec Baldwin” will tell AnyPod that you probably want to listen to “Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin”.
7-Minute Workout
All you have to say is “Alexa, start 7-Minute Workout” and you’ll be guided through all the exercises. Alexa will wait up for you and ask you if you’re ready for the next exercise, which is a nice touch.
Translated
If you want to know how to say a certain phrase in a specific language, you can quickly as Alexa using Translated. Simply say “Alexa, ask Translated to say where is the restroom in Spanish.”
You can also tell Alexa to “slow down” if you need to hear the translation more carefully, or just tell her to “repeat” it and she will repeat the translation.
Translated supports a huge list of languages, including fairly obscure languages like Catalan, Welsh, Basque, and others.