5 Things Your Smart Speaker Can Do That You Probably Don't Know About

If you own an Amazon Echo or Google Nest speaker, there's a decent chance you use it for three things: checking the weather, setting timers, and playing music. Maybe the odd 'what time is it?' when your phone is across the room.

No judgement — that's exactly how most people use them. But your little countertop cylinder is hiding some genuinely brilliant features that can save you time, keep your house running smoothly, and even help with accessibility. Here are five you're probably not using yet.

This is the single most underused smart speaker feature, and it's the one that'll change your daily life the most. A routine lets you trigger multiple actions with a single voice command — or automatically at a set time.

Say 'Alexa, good morning' and your speaker can read you the weather, tell you your first calendar appointment, turn on the kitchen lights, start your coffee machine (if it's smart-enabled), and play your favourite news briefing. All from one phrase.

Google Home calls these 'routines' too, and they work the same way. You set them up in the app — pick a trigger (voice command, time of day, or even sunrise/sunset), then stack up the actions you want.

The trick is stacking small automations. Individually, turning off a light or reading the weather isn't life-changing. But chaining ten of those together into a single command? That's when it clicks.

If you have more than one smart speaker in the house, you've got a free intercom system. No more shouting up the stairs that dinner's ready.

On Alexa, say 'Alexa, announce dinner is ready' and every Echo in your house will broadcast your message. You can also use 'Drop In' to open a two-way conversation with a specific speaker — say 'Alexa, drop in on the kitchen' and it's like a walkie-talkie.

Google Nest has 'Broadcast' which does the same thing. Say 'Hey Google, broadcast I'm leaving in 5 minutes' and every speaker and smart display in your house plays the message.

This is particularly handy if you've got kids — no more yelling across the house. Just broadcast from wherever you are. It even works from your phone when you're not home, which is useful for telling the family you're on your way back.

Both Alexa and Google Home have built-in ambient sounds that play on a loop — and they're surprisingly good. No subscription needed, no app to install.

Say 'Alexa, play rain sounds' or 'Hey Google, play white noise' and you'll get hours of continuous audio. The selection is wider than you'd expect: thunderstorms, ocean waves, fireplace crackling, birdsong, babbling brook, fan noise, city sounds, and more.

The real trick: pair this with a sleep timer. Say 'Alexa, set a sleep timer for 45 minutes' after starting your ambient sounds, and the audio will fade out automatically. Perfect for falling asleep without leaving the speaker running all night.

We've all been there — phone is definitely in the house somewhere, but it's on silent and wedged between sofa cushions. Your smart speaker can help.

With Alexa, if you have the Alexa app on your phone, say 'Alexa, find my phone.' It'll ring your phone at full volume, even if it's on silent. You'll need to have the feature enabled in the app first, but it's a one-time setup.

Google Nest can do this too if your phone is linked to the same Google account. Say 'Hey Google, find my phone' and it'll ring your device. It works with Android phones out of the box, and with iPhones if you've set it up in the Google Home app.

It's one of those features you'll forget exists until the moment you desperately need it — and then you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Smart speakers were originally designed with accessibility in mind, and they've got some features that are genuinely helpful for people with visual impairments, mobility issues, or just anyone who wants a hands-free life.

Alexa can read Kindle books aloud — just say 'Alexa, read my book.' The voice isn't as polished as a professional audiobook narrator, but it's perfectly fine for casual listening, and it means any Kindle ebook becomes an audiobook for free.

Both platforms can make phone calls hands-free. 'Alexa, call Mum' or 'Hey Google, call the dentist' — no need to pick up your phone. For anyone with limited mobility, this is genuinely life-improving.

You can also set medication reminders ('Alexa, remind me to take my tablets at 8pm every day'), use voice-controlled smart home devices to avoid physical switches, and get step-by-step cooking instructions read aloud while your hands are covered in flour.

Here are a few more commands that are easy to forget but genuinely handy:

• 'Alexa, what's on my calendar?' — reads your upcoming appointments
• 'Hey Google, add milk to my shopping list' — builds a shared list you can check on your phone
• 'Alexa, set a 25-minute timer called focus time' — named timers are brilliant when you've got multiple things cooking
• 'Hey Google, tell me something interesting' — a random fact to break up the day
• 'Alexa, Simon says...' — the speaker repeats whatever you say next (great for entertaining kids, or annoying your partner)

Smart speakers get a bad rap sometimes — people buy them, use them for timers and music, and wonder what the fuss was about. But most of the good stuff isn't obvious. You have to poke around in the app, try a few commands, and set up a routine or two.

Start with one thing from this list. Set up a morning routine, or try the ambient sounds tonight. Once you see how one automation saves you a few seconds of friction, you'll start spotting opportunities everywhere.

And if you're just getting started with smart home tech, check out our Smart Home 101 series — it covers everything from picking a platform to choosing your first devices.