Make Amazon's personal assistant even better with these applets.

If This Then That (IFTTT) is a wonderful tool that enables hundreds of services to communicate with each other for unlimited automation potential. One of its most effective uses is linking with Alexa to unlock features that would be impossible without a service like IFTTT.

We will explore ten IFTTT applets you can link with Alexa to enhance your smart home.

To get started with IFTTT, download the IFTTT app, available for iOS and Android. Note that it’s possible to complete the process on the IFTTT website, but some applets require the IFTTT app to function.

You’ll need to sign up, then navigate to the dedicated Amazon Alexa page. Once there, press Connect and follow the steps to log in to your Amazon account. When connected, the Connect button will say Create.

Now you’re ready to start setting up Applets. If you need an in-depth guide on getting started, take a look at our article on how to set up and use IFTTT with Alexa

While it can be convenient to use Alexa as your voice-activated to-do list, it is admittedly cumbersome to hear it rattle off each item every time you want to check what’s on your list.

If you’ve got an iPhone and are fond of using Apple’s built-in Reminders, then take a look at this applet. Once enabled, the next time you add an item to your Alexa to-do list, it’ll also immediately be added to your iOS Reminders.

Perhaps you prefer to keep track of everything in the cloud with Google Calendar. This applet will create a Google Calendar event every time you add something to your Alexa to-do list. If you ask Alexa to add “dinner with Jack at 7 p.m. tomorrow,” the event will also appear in your Calendar at the correct time.

If you love using Google Calendar, you might be interested in our article on the six Google Calendar mistakes you should avoid.

If you’re a fan of the task management app Todoist (available for iOS and Android), this applet is for you. What could be better than adding items to your lists without even opening the app?

With this applet, every time you ask Alexa to add an item to your to-do list, it’ll send the task to your designated Todoist list or project for further delegation. No more scrambling for your phone the next time you need to jot down a task quickly.

Alexa’s built-in shopping list is great for when you suddenly remember you need to buy something and want to make a note of it instantly. If you’re a regular user of this feature or are guilty of often leaving your paper list at home, then try out this applet.

Now, when you ask Alexa what’s on your shopping list, you’ll receive the full list via SMS—ideal for when you’re rushing out the door or need to share the list with someone else quickly.

Have you ever wished Alexa timers came with a visual cue? You might have your Echo device in another room, frequently use headphones around the house, or are hard of hearing. In any case, this applet can change that.

Once enabled, your Phillips Hue lights will blink when the timer runs out until you ask Alexa to stop.

Are you forever irritating family members, your partner, or your housemates by asking them to call your phone when you’ve lost it? With this applet, you can ask Alexa to call your phone instead, and we promise it won’t get annoyed no matter how many times you ask.

Just follow the ringtone to find your phone. If it’s on silent, unfortunately, there’s no way to enable your ringer simultaneously—you’ll just have to follow the buzzing instead.

If you’re certain your phone is nearby, like down the side of the couch or on your desk somewhere, then you might prefer a notification instead a loud ringing. This can be especially true if you’re in an environment where a ringing phone will disturb others.

After connecting this applet, you can ask Alexa to find your phone, and shortly after, you’ll receive a notification from the IFTTT app.

One of the first features that everyone grows to love with Alexa is asking it to play music with just a phrase. If you’re the only person using your Echo, then you likely know what music is being played. But if you share your Echo with other people, then saving each song that Alexa plays might come in handy.

Maybe you want a playlist full of music that everyone can agree on; maybe you want to keep track of what your kids are listening to. Whatever the reason, this applet from Spotify will save each song played by Alexa to a Spotify playlist of your choice.

Alternatively, if you’re somewhat of a data nerd or want to keep track of the music played on your Alexa without creating a playlist, then try this applet. Once enabled, the song name, artist, album, and play time will be logged automatically in a Google Sheet—perfect for those occasions you can’t remember the name of a song but know when it was played.

Roomba vacuums are the epitome of smart home automation alongside voice-activated assistants like Alexa. Now, you can combine the two without manually activating it via the remote or app.

Instead, with this IFTTT applet, you can simply start your Roomba with one phrase to Alexa. How’s that for efficient smart home automation?

If you’ve ever wished Alexa had a particular feature, take a look at IFTTT. There are hundreds of applets pre-built by its amazing community that can do almost everything your heart desires.

Simon holds a BSc in Computer Science with Business. He's been tinkering with tech since he was a kid and now loves writing about the limitless possibilities of smart home automation. Before joining MUO, Simon worked as a sales consultant for one of the UK's biggest mobile phone providers.

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