Shop E Store Looking for an easier way to control devices in the Alexa app? this is all
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Amazon announced Map View for Alexa in September 2023 during its Devices and Services event.
The feature is designed to give you a layout of your home in map format to show you all the devices you have inside and where they are, rather than simply listing them by room.
Map View exists in the Alexa app within the Devices tab and the idea is to make it easier to manage the devices you have, where they are, and help you keep track of them.
However, there is a small problem and that is that you need an iPhone, and an iPhone Pro model, to perform the scan in the first place. However, if you have a compatible iPhone or a friend who has a compatible iPhone and will be happy to help you, here’s how to set up Alexa Map View.
what you will need
- A compatible iPhone
- The Alexa app
- to live in the United States
The short version
- Open the alexa app.
- Touch ‘Devices‘.
- Touch the Map view icon.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
To set up Alexa Map View, you’ll need an iPhone Pro, as Pro models have a LiDAR sensor within their rear camera setup, while standard iPhone models do not.
If you have any of the iPhone models listed below, you’ll be able to set up Alexa Map View, which will then appear in the Alexa app as well as the Echo Hub:
- iPhone 12 Pro
- Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Apple iPhone 14 Pro
- Apple 14 Pro Max
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
It’s worth noting that you can also use an iPad Pro (4th generation or newer), so if you don’t have an iPhone handy but do have an iPad, you’ll be able to complete the Map View setup. When Amazon announced the Map View feature, they posted a video on how it works so you can watch it below before moving on to the setup stages so you can see what to expect.
Time needed: 10 minutes
- Open the Alexa app and go to Devices
First things first, open the Alexa app and tap the Devices tab at the bottom. From here, you’ll want to tap the Map View icon that will appear next to the “+” in the top right corner whenever you live in the US and are in preview.
- Follow the on-screen instructions
Tap the Map View icon and then select “Start Now” and follow the on-screen instructions.
That’s all! Once you’ve set up Map View, you can find the devices in your home and control them from the map instead of having to search for them in the list.
Frequently asked questions
Once you’ve set up Map View, to edit it, open Alexa and tap Devices. Tap the Map View icon in the top right corner and select Preferences, which is the icon with the three lines. Then tap Edit Floor Plan. You can add a room, rename rooms, split a room into two separate rooms (although this is permanent, so make sure you really want to do it), and rescan to replace a room with a new scan. You can also move rooms, resize them, delete rooms, and add, remove, or modify doors.
Make sure the room looks good and if it doesn’t, try rescanning. You should also scan one room at a time before moving on to the next. If you have a large room without walls, it is recommended to scan it as one room instead of several. Make sure you’ve scanned all the walls before tapping End Room, and try to spend less than 5 minutes on each room.
Map View is currently a free preview in the Alexa app in the US. It is not yet available outside the US.
