How to Keep Nosy Kids From Ordering Things With Amazon Echo
If you think that being able to buy things with just your voice is great , kids with no idea about money will think it’s pure magic. Here are some ways to prevent curious kids from treating your Amazon Echo like a real Santa Claus.
Install a purchase confirmation code
Last month, a Dallas, Texas-based couple were surprised to find a giant dollhouse and four pounds of cookies they didn’t order on their doorstep , in addition to the $ 170 charged from their credit card. It turns out their six-year-old daughter made a wish for Alexa, and this digital fairy delivered her.
It’s easy enough to return things to Amazon, but if you’d rather avoid this mess, the best thing you can do is set up a purchase confirmation code for your Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, or other Alexa-enabled device. Here’s how:
- Open the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone, or go to echo.amazon.com by logging into your Amazon account.
- Select Settings on the left, then Voice Purchases.
- Find the Require Verification Code field and enter a four-digit code of your choice.
- Select “Save Changes.”
Now, whenever you want to make a purchase using Alexa, you will have to say this four-digit code out loud before anything is charged from your account. Sly kids can listen to you order and remember the code, but you can easily change it if you suspect.
Change the “Wake Up Word” of your echo regularly
Most people choose “Alexa” by default to wake up their Echo, but you actually have a few other options. If you periodically switch the wake-up word, your kids may get confused and give up their search for what they just saw in the ad 30 seconds ago. Here’s how to change it:
- Open the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone, or go to echo.amazon.com by logging into your Amazon account.
- Select Preferences on the left, then Wake Word.
- Select the drop-down menu and choose a new wake word.
- Select “Save Changes.”
However, your options are limited. For now, you can only choose between Alexa, Echo, Amazon and Computer .
Disable voice purchases completely
If you’d rather avoid any possibility of accidental shopping, you can turn off voice purchases with just a few taps or clicks. Here’s how;
- Open the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone, or go to echo.amazon.com by logging into your Amazon account.
- Select Settings on the left, then Voice Purchases.
- Locate the “Buy by voice” switch and set it to the “Off” position.
If you do that, you won’t be able to buy voicemails anymore, but neither will these damn kids.