How to activate and use the Alexa Drop In feature

Have you ever needed to chat with someone in another room? You could yell across the house, or you could use your Amazon Echo® Show for a quick, hands-free chat. The Alexa™ Drop In feature turns your Alexa-enabled devices into an intercom system with just a few simple commands, making communication at home effortless and instant.

At Asurion, our experts have the know-how to help with all of the tech under your roof—including your Amazon™ smart devices. We’ll go over what the Drop In feature is, how to set it up, and how to use it.

What is Alexa Drop In?

Alexa Drop In is a handy—or hands-free—feature that allows you to instantly connect with other Alexa-enabled devices within your home or with friends and family who have permitted you. Think of it as an instant two-way conversation, ideal for both quick check-ins and ongoing conversations when you’re in different parts of your home.

How to use the Alexa Drop In

Whether you’re telling your kids it’s time for dinner or monitoring your home, the Drop In feature offers a seamless way to enhance your home communication system.

With Alexa devices

1. Make sure the Drop In feature is turned on in your Amazon Alexa app. To do so, open the Amazon Alexa app and tap Devices > Echo & Alexa > Communications > Drop In. Then, choose which permissions you’d like to turn on or off.
2. To Drop In, say, "Alexa, drop in on [device name]" to start an intercom call with another room that has an Alexa-enabled device.

If your device is incompatible, Drop In won’t be listed in your device settings.

With the Alexa app

1. With Drop In turned on, open the Amazon Alexa app.
2. Tap Communicate > Drop In. Then, choose the device you want to connect with from the list available in your network.

Ending a Drop In

To end a Drop In session, say, “Alexa, hang up,” or “Alexa, end call.” This command will immediately disconnect the Drop In.

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Adding contacts to Alexa Drop In

Want to make your Drop In circle bigger? You can even drop in on your parents for a quick “hello”. To add Alexa users who aren’t a part of your household, you’ll have to give them permission to Drop In on your devices first.

1. In the Amazon Alexa app, tap Communicate > Contacts (the icon resembling two people at the top right).
2. To enable Drop In for someone already in your contacts, tap their name. To add a new contact, tap Add New > Add Contact, or tap the three dots in the upper-right corner and choose Add Contact.
3. Select the new contact or an existing one from your Contacts List, and scroll down in the individual’s contact page. You can turn Drop In on or off under the permissions section.

Drop In not working?

If you’re having trouble with Drop In connections, or experiencing disconnections and poor quality we have a a few simple steps to try:

• Check your internet connection. Make sure the device has a strong Wi-Fi signal, as a stable connection is crucial for Drop In.
• Verify your device or the contact name. Double-check that you're using the correct device or contact name when giving voice commands.
• Sign in and out. If you're using the Alexa app to initiate Drop In, try signing out and then signing back in to refresh the app’s settings.
• Review the permissions. Make sure you have the necessary permissions enabled with your contacts for Drop In functionality.
• Enable Drop In. Confirm that Drop In is activated on all involved devices.

Some privacy considerations

While Drop In is a convenient way to communicate, it's important to manage who has access to Drop In on your devices, especially if you value your privacy:

• Manage permissions. You can adjust who can drop in on you through the Alexa app by going to your device settings and customizing the Drop In permissions.
• Mute your devices. If you are concerned about privacy, you can always mute the mic on your Alexa device, preventing any Drop In until you decide to unmute it.

Worried that your Alexa devices might be listening in all the time? We’ve got that tech issue covered too.