Amazon Echo Show 5 Night Mode - How, Why & Alarm Functions

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Gained early experience with automation technology in the private and industrial sector, can turn his living room into a movie theater with one voice command and is the owner of this website. He is happy to share his accumulated experience with every new article.

Simple Setup

Unlike the Echo Dot*, you don’t have to take out your smartphone to set up Echo Show 5 for the first time. The setup is done directly on the screen. You connect the Echo Show 5 to a power source with the included power adapter.

The device will start automatically and activate the installation process. Then select the language for your device and connect it to your Wi-Fi network. Then sign in with your Amazon account to connect your Echo Show 5 with it. Next, you choose the room where the device is located, after which the Echo Show will perform a short software update. Once you see the start screen, the setup is complete.

Then the device should be visible in your Alexa application in the “Devices” section. Once the setup is complete, you can configure the device and access many Alexa features.

Switching On The Night Mode

The Echo Show 5* has a night mode that can be switched on and off manually. This ensures that the unit’s display is not too bright at night.

Wipe down from the top of the screen and click the gear icon. In the settings, select “Home and Clock” and then “Night Mode”. Click on the slider to activate the mode.

We recommend that you activate the “Automatic” option, as the display then dims automatically as soon as the lighting conditions in the room change.

Like other Echo models with a display, the Echo Show 5 has a camera that you can use for video calls. Not everyone wants the camera to be on all the time, especially at night.

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The Echo Show 5 offers a useful solution for this: In the upper right part of the unit there is a slide switch that turns the camera on and off. In the upper left part of the unit, there is an alternative “mute” button that can be used to mute the sound of the camera and microphone.

For the above-mentioned night mode, in which the display is automatically dimmed, you can set the interval in the settings, for example, from 22:00 to 7:00 (10 pm to 7 am).

Independent of this, the night mode can be controlled depending on the brightness of the environment. If the room is very dark, the display automatically switches to night mode. In this way, your nap is not interrupted during the day.

And all of this makes the Echo Show 5 actually a little more than an alarm clock. You have to decide for yourself what and how you want to use the Echo Show 5. With the Echo Show 5, you always feel that you can do much more than just use it as an alarm clock on your bedside table.

Using the Echo Show Night Mode

To prevent the Echo Show from displaying all information at full brightness at night, you can activate the night mode. Then you don’t have to reduce the brightness manually.

To do this, select the Home & Clock settings and activate the “night mode” by pressing the setting. Here you can also set the time at which the dial should be darkened and when the night mode switches off.

By default, the display shows the current time, outdoor temperature and background. You can customize the view to suit your needs, including your own photos in the background.

The settings can be changed either via the Alexa app or by swiping your finger across the top of the screen. For example, if you want to use the Show 5 in the bedroom, you can switch the screen to night mode at a certain time so that it doesn’t glow so much. You can also use the light sensor for dynamic adjustment.

With the command “Alexa, screen off” you can temporarily turn off the screen. This has a minimal effect on energy consumption. In standby mode with dynamic adjustment at normal brightness, a consumption of 3.5 W is displayed without display. When playing a video, the range is between 4 and 5 watts.

Individual Morning and Night Hours

Upon request, users can wake up with Alexa: The Echo Show screen lights up slowly and shows an animation of the sun before the alarm sounds. This feature gradually increases the light intensity 15 minutes before the alarm is activated – the effect looks like the dawn.

This is practical for the morning routine: ten minutes after the alarm is triggered, a weather forecast or the latest news is displayed. Of course, there are many ways to start the first minutes of the day individually.

Everyone has their own preferences in the morning. In addition, so-called skills can trigger many smart processes.

Of course, you can also create your own nightly programs with Echo Show 5 and the integrated voice wizard. This includes, for example, switching off lights and appliances. At the same time, the smart speaker plays soothing sounds or tones to help you fall asleep. After the specified time, the device automatically stops the music spray and you fall asleep effortlessly.

Customizing the Home Screen

In general, the home screen can be customized to suit your needs. For the initial screen, there are different clock options available (more than 20 different designs).

Furthermore, the background can be designed according to personal taste. You can also save your own photos and start them as part of a slide show. The user decides which photo album the selected motifs should come from. For example, you can wake up with current impressions from your last holiday.

Music as an Alarm Clock

Of course, music or sounds can also be played through another device that helps the user fall asleep or wake up.

Ideally, you should access relevant music via one of the popular music streaming services such as Apple Music, Amazon Music or Spotify. No matter what your musical taste, you can always wake up with your favorite music and get enough sleep.

The Adaptive Brightness Offers the Right Night Setting

You can adjust the brightness of the display to your individual lighting conditions at any time. The new ambient light mode automatically adjusts the screen brightness to the brightness of the room, so the picture is never too bright or too dark.

Here the Echo Show uses a brightness sensor in this case. If the brightness in the room is high, e.g. in bright sunlight, the brightness of the display increases. In the dark, the brightness decreases accordingly. This function allows you to read the screen better depending on the prevailing lighting. Of course, you can also set the desired brightness in the settings of the echo device.

Amazon customers can also find other personalized Alexa access options by wiping their fingers to the left to display shortcuts for different Alexa features and discover different Alexa functions – from smart home controls to recipes to skill memories.

The Night Mode Offers a Seamless Display

Of course, a smart device for the sleeping area requires a display that is minimized at night. This is the only way you can sleep without any problems.

In night mode, the brightness of the display can be significantly reduced or adjusted. You activate this function at night. In this case, the clock display is dimmed at night. With the schedule function, you can set the time when the time window of the Echo Show device adjusts the display.

The night mode should not be confused with “Do not disturb”. This function should be set separately. The night mode is only responsible for the display. If you want a good night’s sleep, you don’t want calls from Echo-Show to disturb you.

This setting should also be activated for a restful night. Not to be confused with the night display mode. This important mode can be set manually via the settings. In addition, this mode can also be executed with a voice command.

Protect your Privacy

Since the new Echo Show is normally used in the bedroom, you need to protect your privacy. All Echo devices offer different levels of protection. Like all Echo Show models, the Echo Show 5 has a microphone/camera mute button that disables the electrical connection for both components. There is also a clear visual indicator to show that audio or video is being transferred to the cloud.

The unit also includes a built-in camera cover that can be carried on the lens if required. This manual protection can only be revoked by the user. This completely prevents the use of the camera. However, you can still chat with Alexa. So the device offers 100% protection for your privacy. Unauthorized access to data in your own bedroom is therefore completely impossible.

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For Snoozing there is the One-Touch Repeat Mode

Who does not know this situation: Suddenly the alarm clock ends a peaceful sleep with a sudden ringing. Angrily you have to turn off the alarm to activate the snooze mode. A few more minutes!

Like a classic alarm clock, Amazon’s Echo Show 5 offers a similar snooze function that is activated by a light touch. With a special sensor at the top of the device, a light touch is all it takes, and Alexa traditionally spends another 9 minutes in snooze mode. A simple touch is enough for this.

If you are particularly tired, you can repeat this procedure several times. If you want to end the nap mode prematurely, this should be done with a voice command.

Conclusion: More than just a Smart Alarm Clock

With the new Echo Show 5*, the ideal smart device is now available which is more than just a smart alarm clock.

Thanks to the integrated Alexa connection, many functions can be combined in the device. There are also various possibilities to considerably optimize sleep and the important phases of falling asleep and waking up.

After waking up, you can get the necessary information for your morning routine (individual music playlist, current weather, latest news, etc.).

Attention: When installing electronic equipment, please be sure to observe the manufacturer’s safety instructions. You have to take care of your own safety. The information on this site only helps you to learn.
Disclosure: This website is the property of Martin Lütkemeyer and is operated by Martin Lütkemeyer. Martin Lütkemeyer is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to enable Web sites to earn advertising revenue through advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Links marked with * are affiliate links.