Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Ask Alexa to arm your Blink Mini 2, or get the feed on your Echo Show
The Blink Mini 2 is one of our favourite smart home security cameras. It’s small, dainty and packed to the brim with features, many of which you don’t to pay extra for. The Blink Plus Plan does offer some advantages of course, like person detection and the ability to record and save video, but many day-to-day features are available without you having to pay the additional monthly cost.
This includes Alexa, alongside activity zones and privacy zones. As you probably won’t be surprised to realise, the Blink Mini 2 is compatible with Alexa, which means you can ask Alexa to show you the live feed from your Mini 2 on your Echo Show or Echo Hub. If you’re wondering how to set up your Blink Mini 2 to work with Alexa, we have you covered.
What you’ll need
- Your smartphone or tablet
- The Blink app
- The Alexa app
- Your Blink account credentials
The short version
- Open up the Blink app.
- Tap on the Settings tab in the bottom right.
- Tap on Account and Privacy.
- Tap on Alexa.
- Tap on Open Alexa App.
- Hit Enable to Use.
- Enter your Blink account details.
- Enter the verification code.
- Tap on Close.
It’s easy enough to set up Alexa on Blink Mini 2, as it should be given Blink is an Amazon-owned company. They should work hand-in-hand, and once set up, they do. When your Alexa and Blink accounts are linked, there are a number of features you can do.
You can say “Alexa, show me Blink Mini 2 (or whatever you have called it)” and the live feed will appear on Alexa-enabled devices such as Echo, Fire TV and Fire Tablet devices. You can also arm or disarm your Blink Mini 2 with Alexa, as well as turn on Alexa Motion Announcements so you know when motion has been detected in front on your Mini 2. Linking Mini 2 up with Alexa also allows you to create Alexa Routines so you can get your Mini 2 to arm when you say “Alexa, I’m leaving”, for example.
If the short version above was a bit too snappy for you, we’ve got a more detailed run down of the steps below.
Time needed: 5 minutes
- Open the Blink app and head to settings
First things first, you’ll want to get that Blink app open. There’s a settings tab in the bottom right corner. Tap on that to bring up a separate screen with a list of options from scheduling to your account details. The top option on the screen is Account & Privacy. Tap on that to get started.
- Pull up the Alexa app
Within the Account & Privacy menu, you will find Alexa as an option. Tapping on Alexa will then pull up another screen, which will prompt you to open the Alexa app. You have to do this to continue the set up process, though it does take you exactly where you need to be in the Alexa app so it’s not too much extra work from here.
- Enable the Blink skill
The last step in the process is to enable the Blink smart home skill through the Alexa app. When you open the Alexa app through the Blink app, you will be immediately transferred to the Blink smart home skill.
You will then just need to tap on “Enable to use”. After this, you will need to enter your Blink account details so make sure you have them to hand. You will be asked for a verification code that will be send to the mobile phone number associated with your Blink account. Once you’ve tapped that in and entered the correct details, your Blink account will be linked with Alexa.
That’s it! You can start adding your Blink Mini 2 to Alexa Routines, as well as use Alexa to view the feed or turn on motion announcements.
FAQs
Most of Blink’s cameras and devices are compatible with Alexa. The only one that isn’t is the Blink Indoor (1st Gen) camera.
