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Linksys adds Alexa voice commands to Velop, Smart Wi-Fi routers

Available for the Velop Wi-Fi system and routers in the Max-Stream and WRT series, Linksys' Alexa skills include three handy voice commands.

Dong Ngo SF Labs Manager, Editor / Reviews
CNET editor Dong Ngo has been involved with technology since 2000, starting with testing gadgets and writing code for CNET Labs' benchmarks. He now manages CNET San Francisco Labs, reviews 3D printers, networking/storage devices, and also writes about other topics from online security to new gadgets and how technology impacts the life of people around the world.
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Dong Ngo
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Linksys on Thursday announced an Alexa-based voice commands feature for many of its home routers. That includes those in the WRT and Max-Stream series, such as the WRT1900ACs or the EA9500, and the Velop Wi-Fi system.

To use Alexa, you will first need to associate the device with a Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account, which is required for the Velop to work but available as an option for other routers. After that, you run the Alexa mobile app and add skills to that account.

For now Linksys' Alexa skills include three commands:

  • Turning on/off guest Wi-Fi: Alexa, ask Linksys to turn on/off my guest Wi-Fi
  • Reveal Guest Wi-Fi name and password: Alexa, ask Linksys what is my guest Wi-Fi password
  • Reveal the password for the main Wi-Fi network: Alexa, Ask Linksys what is my Wi-Fi password

Linksys said, for security reasons, the last command can be turned off.

Integrating voice commands has been a new trend in home routers, especially in home mesh Wi-Fi systems, with most of them supporting either Alexa or Google Assistant.