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(Pocket-lint) - If you've just bought an Echo Show and want to know how to get the most out of it, look no further - here are our top tips.

There are a number of different options, from the Echo Show 15, the largest, to the Echo Show 5, the smallest.

Set up your Echo Show

It may seem obvious, but we have to start somewhere: to start with Echo Show, put it in a central location, whether it's your kitchen counter, your living room , your bedside table, or anywhere, then plug the included power adapter into and then into a power outlet, and follow the on-screen prompts that appear to select a language, connect to your Wi-Fi, and log into your Amazon account.

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You need the free Alexa app to manage your Echo Show and feature options. To download the Alexa app, go to the App Store on your mobile device and search for "Alexa app" (or you can use the links below). If you don't have a mobile device, you can access this Amazon Alexa site from Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Internet Explorer browsers to manage your Echo Show.

Navigate your Echo Show

You can navigate Echo Show using both your voice and the touch screen. Here's how:

Lightbar definitions

The edge of your Echo Show's screen will light up in different colors as a visual indicator. Here is the meaning of these colors:

Change Echo Show wake word

When you want to communicate with your Echo Show, just say "Alexa", followed by a command. But you can replace that "watchword" with Echo, Amazon, or Computer, if you prefer. Just say "Alexa, go to settings" or swipe down from the top of the Echo Show screen and select Settings. Next, tap Device Options > Wake word > and select the wake word you want to use instead. Or you can do it in the Alexa app.

Get Alexa Skills

Skills are voice features that enhance the functionality of your Alexa device. These may be integrated or offered by third-party developers. Enabling Alexa Skills on Alexa devices used to be complicated, but Amazon recently streamlined this process. All you have to do is say, “Alexa, enable skill [skill name].” Go to the Alexa Skills store on the Amazon website to browse available skills.

To view and manage your skills, you will need to use the Alexa app. Go to the menu and select Skills & Games, then select Your Skills (at the top).

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Decide which cards rotate on the screen

The feed on the Echo Show home screen contains several home cards that rotate automatically. But you can update which cards appear or don't appear. Just say "Alexa, go to settings" or swipe down from the top of the Echo Show screen and select Settings. From there, select Home & Clock, then select Home Contents and toggle the switch next to the map name. simple.

Turn off the Echo Show screen

Yes, you can turn off the screen of your Echo Show. This is useful if someone suddenly enters the room and you don't want them to see what you were watching or doing. Just say, "Alexa, turn off the screen." To turn the screen back on, tap it or use your device's wake word (which by default is "Alexa"). You can also completely mute your Echo Show by pressing the mute button for a few seconds.

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Dim the Echo Show screen

The Echo Show's screen automatically dims and returns to clock display only when you haven't touched it in a while (unless you're watching something, like a tape -announcement on YouTube or a movie from Prime Video). But you can also force the screen to dim at any time. There is a manual dimmer on the main Show menu; just swipe down from the top of the screen and tap on Brightness to access it. Or you can leave it on auto brightness.

Create a sticky note

You can ask your Echo Show to create a sticky note to remind you of things. Just say "Alexa, new Sticky" and you can dictate a new note. You'll need to save it, but those notes are synced across your Echo Show devices, so you might see the notes in other places. Smaller Echo Show devices won't show them all the time, but the Echo Show 15 will allow a sticky note as a widget so it's always visible on the screen.

Help Alexa identify who you are

Alexa can identify people by voice profiles, so different users can get information relevant to them within a household. You can learn all about setting up Alexa voice profiles here. On the Echo Show 15, you can also use Visual ID, so the Show 15 can recognize you and show you information about you. You will be guided through its configuration when you configure your Echo Show 15.

Start a video call

With Alexa messaging and calling, you can make a video call to any Echo Show owner (and receive one, too); all you have to do is say, “Alexa, call [contact name].” However, the contact will need to be listed under the Contact screen in the Alexa app. Click here to learn more about configuring this feature. To toggle the video aspect, say "Video [off / on]" or press the power button on your screen.

By disabling the video, you are essentially making a voice call with the other Echo user. Now when you receive a video/voice call, your Echo Show will sound an alarm and turn green. You can answer or ignore any call by saying "Answer" or "Ignore" or by pressing the Ignore button in the Alexa app. To end your call, simply say "Hang up". You can also press the end button on the Alexa app.

Or use Skype

You can also use Skype on Echo Show. In the Alexa app, go to Settings > Communication > Skype to link your accounts. Then sign in using the same Microsoft account you use on Skype.

Use your Echo Show for mobile calls

You can use your Echo (or other Echo devices) to make mobile network calls with compatible networks. As above, go to Communication and you will see the connection options. This will allow you to make calls using partner services, such as AT&T, Verizon, EE, or Vodafone.

Using Drop In

Drop In allows you to instantly connect with other Echo Show users. You can enable Drop In through the Alexa app and grant permission to people in your address book. (Go to Amazon's help page for more information on granting permission.) For Drop In, say "Drop In on [contact name]", or, from the Conversation screen in the Alexa app, select the Drop In bar then choose the contact you want to drop in to.

When someone surprises you, the light bar on your Echo Show will flash green. The person will be able to connect automatically and will be able to hear anything within range of your device. During this time, you will see a frosted glass video which changes to a clear video shortly after connection. The goal is to give you time to prepare for the call so that you are not caught off guard.

Enable Do Not Disturb

Use Echo Show's Do Not Disturb feature to prevent Alexa from alerting you to incoming calls and messages. To turn on Do Not Disturb mode, say, "Alexa, don't disturb me." To turn off the feature, say "Turn off Do Not Disturb" or you can tap the Do Not Disturb button on your Echo Show's screen. You can also schedule Do Not Disturb for a specific time through the Alexa app (under Settings).

Discover Alexa

You can instantly get help with your Echo Show by swiping to the right side, where you can access a range of maps.

Access your smart home dashboard

The Echo Show is ideal for managing your smart home. If you don't want to use voice, swipe down and tap Smart Home. This will open your smart home dashboard, showing recent devices, groups, and rooms. Here you can tap to turn on or off, or tap to make other changes.

Access your Alexa Routines

If you have a smart home, Routines can be very useful for connecting and managing a range of devices. Swipe down from top and tap Routines. You can then see a list of routines and you can disable them if you don't want them active. To set up Routines, you'll need to use the Alexa app.

Watch a movie or TV show

You can watch movies or TV shows on Echo Show - and not just from Amazon Prime Video (included with your paid Prime subscription), as well as the programming of your active subscriptions to Amazon channels (such as Showtime, HBO and Starz), but also Netflix .

Just ask Alexa to show you movies or TV shows by title, genre, etc. Once your video has started playing, you can use your voice to control video playback.

Watch a trailer

Want to instantly watch a new movie trailer? Just say, "Alexa, show me the trailer for the movie [movie title]," and if the trailer is available, it will start playing immediately.

Pair your mobile device

Your Echo Show is Bluetooth enabled, so you can stream popular services, whether it's iTunes or Google Play Music, from any device mobile. Just say, "Alexa, pair my phone." Next, open the Bluetooth settings menu on your mobile device and select your Echo Show. Alexa will tell you if the connection is successful. If so, you will be free to stream audio from your mobile device to Echo Show.

Enable multi-room music

You can use this feature to play music on multiple Alexa-enabled devices in your home (including Echo Show) at the same time. You can go here to learn how to set up multi-room music. But, in a nutshell, just follow these steps:

1. Select Devices in the Alexa app.
2. Tap the + icon in the top right.
3. Select Combine Speakers.
4. Tap Multi-room music.
5. Select the Echo devices you want in the group.
6. Tap Next. The Alexa app will confirm that it has created your group.
7. Once activated, say: "Play [song or artist] [Echo device group name]".

Adjusting the bass

You can modify the sound output of your Echo Show, including increasing the bass, midrange or treble. Just say "Alexa turn up the bass".

Make Echo Show read aloud what you touch

The Echo Show has a VoiceView screen reader that reads aloud what you touch. 'screen. According to Amazon, when enabled, you can use gestures to navigate and interact with your Echo Show, and VoiceView will describe the actions you take onscreen. This is an accessibility feature that people with disabilities might find useful. Click here for more information on how to set it up and manage it.

Maximize the screen of your Echo Show

This is another accessibility feature. When enabled, Screen Magnifier allows you to magnify items on your screen to improve readability. To turn on Screen Magnifier, say "Alexa, go to settings" or swipe down from the top of the Echo Show screen and select Settings. From there, select Accessibility and tap on Screen Magnifier. Go here for more tips on how to properly use the feature.

Closed Captions/Subtitles Used

On your Echo Show, you can enable closed captioning for supported videos and trailers. To enable closed captions, say "Alexa, go to settings" or swipe down on the screen and select Settings. From there, select Accessibility and tap Closed Captioning. Click here for more information on how to change your closed captioning preferences, such as how it looks.

Show and Tell Alexa

Show and Tell is an Alexa feature designed to help people who are blind and have low vision. It uses the Echo Show's camera to help identify common grocery items.

You can just tell your Echo Show "Alexa, what do I want?" or "Alexa, what's in my hand?" begin. The idea is that it will help identify items that are difficult to distinguish by touch, such as canned or canned foods. The feature is part of the Alexa Accessibility Hub.

Reset your Echo Show

If you're having trouble with your Echo Show, restart it to see if that fixes the issues - hey, you never know. Simply unplug the AC adapter from the back of the device or wall outlet, then plug it back in. You can also reset it to factory settings. Say "Alexa, go to settings" or swipe down from the top of the Echo Show screen and select Settings.

From there, select Device Options and tap Factory Reset. Keep in mind that this will delete all of your personal information and erase all of your settings on Echo Show. And once the device is reset, it begins the setup process, which we detailed above.

Written by Maggie Tillman. Edited by Britta O'Boyle. Originally published on .