How to Check Your Alexa Routines and Test Them

To check your Alexa routines, open the Alexa app on your phone, tap More , then tap Routines . The Your Routines tab shows the routines you’ve created; tap one to see what starts it and what Alexa is set to do.

Review both the trigger and the actions, especially if you have several routines with similar names. A routine that sounds like your bedtime routine, for example, might turn off different lights or run at a different time than you expect.

Inside a routine, look for its enabled setting and confirm that its trigger still matches when you want it to run. If it uses a schedule, check the time and days; if it uses a voice phrase, make sure you’re saying the phrase shown in the routine.

Then review each action and any device it controls, since a routine can appear in your list even when a selected smart device is offline. For an energy-saving routine, confirm that the lights, plugs, or other devices listed are the ones you actually want Alexa to control.

When available, use the routine’s play or run control in the Alexa app to test its actions right away. Watch what happens and compare it with the action list, keeping in mind that a manual test may not tell you whether a scheduled or sensor-based trigger is working.

If an action fails, check the affected device in the Alexa app and confirm that it responds on its own. Our team recommends changing one setting at a time, then testing again, so you can tell which adjustment helped.

Give routines descriptive names and revisit them when your schedule, rooms, or connected devices change. Our guide to Alexa routines that save energy at home can help you think through which automations are worth checking, and our Alexa Routines That Save Energy (and Money) digital download is another option if you want an energy-saving checklist.

Start with the routines that affect devices you use every day, such as lights that should turn off when you leave or at bedtime. You’ll get a clearer picture of what Alexa is set to do before you make changes.