Video doorbells are convenient devices, alerting you to events at your front door via your smartphone, wherever you are in the world. But when you're relaxing at home, it's often easier to turn to your Echo Show or Google Nest Hub to see what's going on outside, than to pull out your phone or get off the couch.
Many smart doorbell cameras can connect to Alexa or Google smart displays, including third-party options from companies like Lenovo and Facebook, as well as Fire TV and Chromecast-enabled TVs. This allows you to display a live view of your doorbell camera on a larger screen with a simple voice command. Then you can see, hear, and in some cases speak to your visitor or check on that package on your porch.
It's easy to connect your smart doorbell to your smart display – we'll walk you through the steps.
Stream your video doorbell camera to your Google Nest smart display
A Google Nest smart display, including Google Nest Hub and Google Nest Hub Max, can announce when someone rings your video doorbell and show you a live feed from the camera. You can also view certain camera feeds on your Chromecast-enabled TV. Currently, doorbell cameras from Eufy, Arlo, Wyze, and Nest are compatible with Google displays, along with others listed here. (Ring and Blink doorbells do not work with Google.)
- Add your doorbell to the Google Home app on your phone or tablet by tapping + on the main screen. Select "Configure Device". Then select "Works with Google". (For a Google Nest doorbell, choose "New device").
- Choose your camera manufacturer from the list and connect your account. (If you've already installed a different device from this manufacturer, there's no need to reconnect your account - just tap "Check for new devices".)
- Follow the steps to complete the setup process. This will include naming your doorbell (choose something you'll easily remember) and adding it to a room. (I suggest Front Door for the room and Doorbell for the name, so the phrase "Hey Google, show me the front door" or "Ok Google, show me the doorbell" will bring up the feed.)
- Once logged in, tap the doorbell icon in the Home app. This is where you can disable or enable voice notifications for connected Google Nest speakers (if your doorbell is compatible),
- You can now use voice commands to stream live video and audio from your doorbell. Use the name of the doorbell and the name of the Google Nest display or Chromecast TV (eg "Hey Google, show my doorbell on the living room TV"). If the screen is voice activated, you can simply say "Hey Google, show the doorbell".
- If you have a Google Nest doorbell, you will be able to talk to the visitor through the smart display, as well as see and hear them.
- To end live view, say "Hey Google, stop".
- If you want to see the camera without voice command, swipe down from the top of the Google Nest screen, tap Cameras and select the doorbell.
Stream your video doorbell camera to your Amazon Echo smart display
Many smart video doorbells work with Alexa, and most (but not all) can use the Echo Show Family (Echo Shows 5, 8, 10, and 15) and Fire TV-enabled TVs to view a live feed from your doorbell. Some well-known video doorbells that work with Amazon smart displays include those from Eufy, Arlo, Ring, Blink, and Wyze, among others.
- Add your doorbell to the Alexa app on your phone or tablet. Go to Devices, select + in the upper right corner, select Add device, choose Camera from the list and select your doorbell manufacturer.
- Follow the on-screen instructions, which vary by manufacturer, but should include linking an Alexa Skill and directing Alexa to Discover Devices.
- Once the device is discovered, go to your device list in the Alexa app, tap "Discovered Devices" at the top, and tap the name of your new device.
- Here you can change the name and, if necessary, activate and deactivate motion announcements and doorbell announcements. These use your Echo speakers to announce when there's movement at your door or when someone presses the button. You can also select which Echo devices make the announcements.
- You can now view a live stream on your Echo Show or Fire TV device by saying, “Alexa, show [doorbell name].”
- To stop the stream, say "Alexa, go home" or "Alexa, stop".
- Some doorbell cameras, including those from Ring, have the ability to speak to the visitor through the smart screen by pressing the on/off mic button on the screen.
- If you don't want to use your voice to view the stream, swipe down from the top of your Show device, tap Smart Home, and select your doorbell camera from the list.
- The live stream will stay on screen for a default duration (set by the camera manufacturer) – for most wired doorbell cameras this is around 30 minutes . (Tip:If you tap the live view, it will revert to picture-in-picture; from there, you can close the stream by tapping the X.)
Have your Echo Show automatically show your Ring Video Doorbell feed
All Ring Video Doorbells have the ability to automatically show a live feed on an Alexa smart display when the doorbell is pressed.
To enable, go to your doorbell settings in the Alexa app, tap "Announcement Devices" and select the desired display. The feature currently works on Echo Show devices and some newer Fire TVs. Now when a visitor rings the doorbell, a live video intercom appears on your smart display and you can see and speak to your visitor.
