Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
People who live outside the US are often jealous of the country getting first access to new technologies and services. Amazon Alexa is a prime example — pun intended — having initially launched as a US exclusive in 2014. The voice assistant is now available in more than 40 countries, but for some people, the jealousy remains. If you’re in that camp, can you use Alexa in non-supported countries?
Read more: How to use Amazon Alexa
QUICK ANSWER
Yes, Alexa can work in non-supported countries, but only under narrow circumstances. You’ll need an international version of the Echo Dot, second-generation Echo, or first-generation Echo Plus, and that speaker must also be compatible with local power standards. You’ll want the Alexa app for Android, iPhone, or iPad, which may mean fudging your app store location to download it. Even if you can get an Alexa speaker up and running, some functions will be out of bounds.
JUMP TO QUESTIONS
Can you use Alexa in non-supported countries?
Yes, but Amazon has erected so many barriers that it might not be worth the effort. To begin with, you’ll need an international version of the Echo Dot, second-generation Echo, or first-generation Echo Plus. It should be possible to track down one or more of these on Amazon, but the chances are you’ll be ordering from the company’s US, UK, or German storefronts and paying quite a bit in shipping.
You’ll also want to download the Alexa app for Android, iPhone, or iPad. You can complete device setup via alexa.amazon.com, but the app is required for full control over settings and routines. If the app isn’t available in your region, you’ll have to temporarily change location and/or billing settings for the Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iPhone and iPad). Be warned this might not be practical, since it can for instance, wreak havoc on any app subscriptions you have going.
See also: How to use Alexa routines
Some Alexa features are outright blocked on international Echo models. These include shopping and a lot of local information, such as news, traffic, and businesses. Some Alexa skills won’t work, among them services like Audible, iHeartRadio, and Pandora.
In many regions though, you can make use of Spotify, TuneIn Radio, and/or Amazon Music Unlimited. Smart home functions are a go, as are things like calendars, timers, alarms, weather, and task/shopping lists. You can get news briefings as long as you don’t care about them being region-specific.
Check the product pages for international Echo speakers to see what restrictions apply in your country. Also remember that international models can only speak English, German, or Spanish, so you should be reasonably fluent in one of the three.
Which countries officially support Alexa?
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
If Alexa is officially supported in your country, there’s no need to go through the hoops mentioned earlier. Here’s a list of supported regions, in the order in which they were added:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Austria
- Germany
- India
- Japan
- Canada
- Belgium
- Bolivia
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Panama
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Sweden
- Uruguay
- Ireland
- Australia
- New Zealand
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- Mexico
- Brazil
Read more: The best smart speakers you can buy
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