What is an Alexa Skill and how does it work?
Alexa is Amazon's cloud-based voice service. Alexa Skills are voice-driven Alexa Cloud Service capabilities which enable you to control select products through the Amazon® Alexa™ app that runs on Amazon Echo™ and Amazon Echo Dot™ devices. With this feature you can use your voice to turn your TV on or off, change channels, control volume, and more.
There are two types of Skills in Alexa. The Skill you can select is based on the app installed on your TV:
- For TVs with the TV Control with Smart Speakers app: Select the Sony's TV skill, and enable it.
- For TVs with the TV Control Setup with Amazon Alexa app: Select the Sony's TV - Basic skill, and enable it.
Alternatively, you can also enable it by specifying the Skill name using your voice.
Note: Alexa will not work if you try to use a Skill that is not compatible with your TV.
Supported TV models
You cannot manually install these apps, they will automatically install on supported TVs. If your TV is supported, one of the following apps will be on the Home screen or in the Apps list:
- TV Control Setup with Amazon Alexa
- TV Control with Smart Speakers
The Skills differ by app version. For details, refer to the What is an Alexa Skill and how does it work? section.
Note: If you don't see one of these apps, your TV may not be supported yet. Make sure your TV is set to automatically receive updates.
What is required to use the Alexa App?
- TV models that support the Alexa skill (See Supported TV models)
Note: The Alexa app will automatically install and appear in the Apps section on supported TVs. If you don't see the app in the Apps section, your TV doesn't support this feature.
- An Amazon Alexa device such as the Amazon Echo or Amazon Dot
Note: Google Home™ isn't supported.
- A Mobile device (phone or tablet) running on Amazon® Fire™ OS 3.0 and higher, Android™ 5.0 and higher, or iOS™ 9.0 and higher
- An Amazon account
- A Google™ Account (when using the TV Control Setup with Amazon Alexa app)
Note: Use the same Google Account on your TV and your mobile device.
- A Home network with Wi-Fi® capabilities (Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz) networks. The app doesn't support connecting to ad-hoc or peer-to-peer Wi-Fi networks.
Setup instructions
How to use
Can I change channels with Alexa on my cable or satellite box?
What are Scenes?
Scenes can change multiple settings (TV power ON, change the input to TV, set the volume to 15) with one voice command. You can edit the Scene operations in the settings of the TV Control with Smart Speakers app.
Note: This function can be used only on the TV Control with Smart Speakers app.
Can I control multiple TVs with the same Alexa account?
Yes, if both TVs have been set up from the TV Control with Smart Speakers or TV Control Setup with Amazon Alexa apps. If the apps on the TVs are different, some commands may not be available.
Why do I need to link my TV to the Sony Video skill?
Linking your TV to an echo device in the same room will allow you to directly control your TV without saying the name of the TV.
For example, you can say Alexa change the channel to 7 instead of Alexa change the channel to 7 on the living room TV.
Your TV must be linked with your Alexa device via the TV & Video settings section of the Alexa app on your mobile device.
Note: Only one TV and video smart skill can be linked to each Alexa device.
Can I link 2 video skills to 1 echo device?
No, video skills use the same commands. Your satellite or cable box may also have a video skill that would conflict with Sony’s TV skill.
Note: Only one video skill can be linked to each Alexa device.
Why do I have to pair my remote control to change channels on my cable or satellite box with Alexa?
Can I use an Alexa Show device to control my TV?
No, we recommend an Alexa device without a display so you can play content on the TV. The Alexa Show or any Alexa device with a screen will show content on its screen and not play on the TV.
What can I do with Amazon Alexa on the TV?
Here are some of the TV functions you can perform with Alexa.
Power ON/OFF
- Alexa, power off TV.
- Alexa, turn on Living Room TV.
Note: Set the Remote start to On in your TV settings to turn on the TV from standby mode.
Change Channel by Number or Name
- Alexa, change channel to CBS on Family Room TV.
- Alexa, tune to channel 5 on Den TV.
- Alexa, change to channel # on Bedroom TV.
- Alexa, next channel on Kid's TV.
- Alexa, previous channel on Main TV.
Control Volume
-
Alexa, set volume to 15 on Family Room TV.
Note: This command cannot be used to control an external audio system.
- Alexa, volume down on Den TV.
- Alexa, volume up on Main TV.
- Alexa, mute Dining Room TV.
- Alexa, unmute Office TV.
Change Input
- Alexa, switch to Blu-ray on Workroom TV.
- Alexa, switch to DVD on Living Room TV.
- Alexa, switch to HDMI 1 on Kitchen TV.
- Alexa, switch to HDMI 2 on Den TV.
- Alexa, switch to HDMI 3 on Kid's TV.
- Alexa, switch to HDMI 4 on Bedroom TV.
Control Playback for DVR or Streaming Content
- Alexa, play on Media Room TV.
- Alexa, pause on TV 1.
- Alexa, fast-forward on Office TV.
- Alexa, rewind on Kid's TV.
- Alexa, stop on Family Room TV.
Launch applications and TV menus
- Alexa, launch Prime Video on TV
- Alexa, go home on TV
Note: Some apps and menus may not support this command.
Navigate menus
- Alexa, go right on TV.
- Alexa, move down on TV.
- Alexa, select this on TV
Search and Play
Change settings
Scene feature
- Alexa, turn on Good night
Note: Supported on select models.
Troubleshooting
The TV's Voice Control with Amazon Alexa-Enabled Devices suddenly stops working.
The TV can suddenly no longer be controlled with Amazon Alexa-enabled devices through voice operations.
The TV cannot be turned on using Amazon Alexa-enabled devices.
- If the TV cannot be turned on using an Amazon Alexa-enabled device, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings screen
- If the remote control has a Quick Settings (
or 
) button, press the Quick Settings button and select 
Settings.
- If the remote control does not have a Quick Settings ( or ) button, press the HOME button and select Settings.
- Select Network or Network & Internet.
- Select Remote start, then select ON or On (Powered on by apps).
- Make sure you are using the same account on the Amazon Alexa-enabled device and the TV.
Note: Use a Sony account or Google account depending on the model.
- If the issue is still unresolved, try the following:
- Use a remote control to turn on the TV.
- Restart the TV.
- If a device other than the TV and Amazon Alexa compatible speaker is connected to the same router, disconnect that device to reduce the number of connected devices.
- An Alexa device will sometimes fail to turn on with remote start if the TV has been off for an extended period of time.
- If you are using the router’s firewall, check that ports 5228, 5229, and 5230 are open.
- Depending on the router specifications (including the limit for the number of connected devices) or settings, turning on the TV using an Amazon Alexa-enabled device may not be supported. For details, please refer to the manual or support site of the router.
My TV doesn't respond to Amazon Alexa commands.
- Your TV may not respond to the Amazon Alexa commands if you have network issues in your home. To resolve this issue:
- Use a different wireless router.
- Reduce the number of devices connected to the same router.
Device discovery fails on the TV Control with the Smart Speakers or TV Control Setup with the Amazon Alexa app.
- Check the following:
- Connect the TV to the Amazon Alexa app.
Note: The Amazon Alexa app is a mobile application provided by Amazon.
- Check if you can operate the TV with the Amazon Alexa-enabled device. For example, face the Amazon Alexa-enabled device and say Alexa, turn off (the name of the TV you set up).
- Please note below if the Amazon Alexa-enabled device fails to discover the TV.
- Check that Sony's TV Skill or Sony's TV - Basic Skill is enabled in the Amazon Alexa app.
Notes:
- If you are using TV Control with Smart Speakers app on the TV: Sony's TV Skill
- If you are using TV Control Setup with Amazon Alexa app on the TV: Sony's TV - Basic Skill
- Check that the same account is used to log in to the TV Control with Smart Speakers app or the TV Control Setup with Amazon Alexa app and Amazon Alexa app after enabling Sony's TV Skill or Sony's TV - Basic Skill.
Note: For more information, open the Amazon Alexa app*1 on your mobile device and check the description of the Skill that is listed (either Sony’s TV or Sony’s TV - Basic skill).
