For some time now, it has been possible to have the voice digital assistant Amazon Alexa at your fingertips from your iPhone or iPad. Here's how.

Siri is a fully functional digital voice assistant, but wouldn't you rather have Alexa on your iPhone? It's been quite possible recently. Somehow. Amazon has updated its Alexa iOS application, including the integration of a widget for the home screen. Which also works on iPad. Once set up, you can place the Alexa icon wherever you want and with one tap the assistant will be ready to listen to you.

Amazon Alexa is an extremely widespread solution today in the market for home automation products. Siri and HomeKit, for their part, are more discreet. Especially since Siri is still perfectible, compared to Alexa and Google Home. Some users have therefore chosen to abandon Siri.

Alexa, for its part, is available everywhere, or almost, very precise, responsive and therefore very appreciated. And for some time now, the assistant has even offered itself a male voice, and a new name to match (The male voice of the Alexa voice assistant is only available in the United States at the moment). If you like using Alexa to set your alarms and other reminders, turn on your lights, or answer your questions when you're home, you'll love using Alexa from your iPhone on the go.

Below is a step-by-step guide to setting up the system, but first, a little disclaimer.

Alexa can't completely replace Siri, but who cares?

There are some functions that only Siri can do: change iPhone screen brightness, switch to do not disturb mode, etc. Basically, anything involving iPhone or iPad settings is out of reach for Alexa, and any third-party assistant for that matter.

That said, Alexa can do a lot more than Siri, especially if you haven't really paid attention to the compatibility of this or that home automation equipment with HomeKit in your home. As said before, many accessories are not compatible with Apple's solution but perfectly functional with Amazon's.

In the end, this is of little importance insofar as there is no question here of replacing Siri with Alexa. If you already have the Alexa app, you won't be adding Alexa to your iPhone, as the assistant is already in the app. Adding an Alexa widget to the home screen puts Alexa just a tap away from you. And that's the whole point of it.

How to Add the Alexa Widget to Your iOS Home Screen

Widgets were introduced with iOS 14 last year but if you've never used them, beware. They have a tendency to ruin your entire home screen arrangement if you're not careful.

It is a two-step operation. First, you have to create the widget and then move it where you want on the home screen. If you're happy, leave it where it is, you don't have to go to step two.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, swipe left from the first page of your home screen then press and hold one of the widgets until a menu appears. Tap Edit Home Screen.
2. Tap the + icon in the upper left corner and scroll down until you see Amazon Alexa or type Alexa in the search field then tap Amazon Alexa.
3. Tap Add Widget at the bottom of the screen.

This is the first step. If you're happy with the placement of the Alexa widget, tap OK in the top right corner. If not, while the widgets are still shaking, tap and hold the Alexa widget until you can move it where you want it. Then tap OK.

We reiterate the warning: moving a widget will completely rearrange the icons on your home screen, you will often have to rethink everything.

And There you go ! Now you can tap on the Alexa widget, the Alexa app will open, and Amazon's digital voice assistant will be ready to respond to your voice commands.