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How to Setup Amazon Dash Wand on iPhone and Andro >Amazon Dash Wand is a handy device that helps you update your grocery and other shopping list. This is a small barcode scanner from Amazon and you need to set up Amazon Dash Wand on iPhone and Android phone.

Amazon Dash Wand is a barcode scanner launched by Amazon for its US Prime users. The device, with a built-in virtual assistant, is enabled by Alexa. Users can easily interact with this stick to update their grocery lists, ask recipes, scan grocery barcodes, convert measurements, and place order for household commodities from Amazon by pressing a button. Once you buy this barcode scanner, you need to setup Amazon Dash Wand on iPhone and Android smartphone.

This Dash Wand is designed to be handy; you can hold it like a microphone and send commands to dim lights, help you with recipes, convert cups to ounces etc. Once your task is finished, simply stick it on your fridge as it is a magnetic wand. Since it is water-resistant, you can comfortably use it in your kitchen. If you have got an Amazon Dash Wand, you should go ahead and setup Amazon Dash Wand on iPhone and Android phone.

How to Setup Amazon Dash Wand on iPhone and Android Phone

Before you go ahead, you need to download the latest version of Amazon app on your devices; your Android phone should be running Android 4.0 or later and your iOS device should be powered by iOS 7 or later. You can download or update Amazon app by checking this link.

You can upload items to your cart by using a Wi-Fi network or other network you like to choose.

How to Register Amazon Dash Wand with iPhone

Step #1: First off, open Amazon Wand Set up page on your iPhone.

Step #2: Select your country.

Step #3: Next, click on Get Started.

Step #4: Now you need to insert two AAA batteries in Amazon Dash Wand and tap on Continue on your iPhone.

Step #5: You may be asked to turn on Bluetooth; you can do this from Settings → Bluetooth.

Step #6: Take Amazon Dash Wand in your hand and then press and hold the button for 15 to 20 seconds; when LED light turns orange, you need to tap on Connect on your iPhone.

Step #7: You may be asked to follow the on-screen instructions to switch on Bluetooth. Note that Bluetooth is required to set up Amazon Dash Wand.

Step #8: Press and hold the button on your Amazon Dash Wand until you see the LED light turn blue; next, tap on Connect on your iPhone.

Step #9: Finally, choose a Wi-Fi network with which you want to connect your Amazon Dash Wand. Type in the Wi-Fi network password (if required) and tap on Continue.

How to Register Amazon Dash Wand with Android Phone

Step #2: Select your country.

Step #3: Now click on Get Started.

Step #4: Next, you need to insert AAA batteries in your Amazon Dash Wand and tap on Continue on Android phone.

Step #5: When you are asked to turn on Bluetooth, simply tap on Allow. Bluetooth is required to setup Amazon Dash Wand on your Android phone.

Step #6: Take Amazon Dash Wand in your hand, and press and hold the button for 20 odd seconds. When an LED light turns orange, tap on Connect on your Android phone.

Step #7: Finally, choose a Wi-Fi network you want to connect your Amazon Dash Wand with. If required, enter the password for Wi-Fi network and tap on Continue.

Now you are all set to use your Amazon Dash Wand for multiple tasks.

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Amazon Dash Wand Review — What Alexa can and can’t do

When Amazon added Alexa capabilities to the Dash Wand, they instantly made a mostly forgotten device interesting again. At just $20, the Dash Wand is now the least expensive Alexa-enabled device Amazon makes, and it’s even more affordable for Prime members since they get a $20 credit when activating the device, making it essentially free. Since it wasn’t originally designed to be an Alexa device, there are limitations to its voice capabilities, compared to something like the Echo Dot. Here’s an overview of the Dash Wand, as well as a detailed look into what Alexa on it can and can’t do.

This Amazon Dash Wand with Alexa is the second generation of the Dash Wand. This device was quietly released last October without Alexa and essentially the same capabilities as the first Dash Wand. It has a magnetic back, so it can be attached to refrigerators, and a barcode scanner on the front, which is used to add items to your Amazon shopping cart by scanning their barcodes. Since the device has a microphone, speaker, and an internet connection, Amazon added Alexa capabilities this month through a software update and, in the process, greatly increased its functionality.

Not being an Alexa-enabled device from the beginning, the Dash Wand does have a few quirks and limitations. For example, if you ask it “what can you do,” which is a standard command Amazon encourages new Alexa device owners to try, Alexa will list things it can do that are not actually available through the Dash Wand. Another quirk is Alexa tells you the device does not have a battery when you ask for the battery level, even though the device is powered by a pair of AAA batteries.

The first semi-limitation of the Dash Wand, which you’ll probably expect, is that it does not have hands-free capabilities, so you’ll have to press the physical button on the device before talking to Alexa. Since it’s powered by off-the-shelf non-rechargeable batteries, which come included, Amazon probably won’t add hands-free Alexa capabilities through a software update, like they did with the Amazon Tap portable speaker. Unlike the Tap, you have to keep holding the Dash Wand’s button the entire time you’re speaking a command. You can’t just tap and release the button, like you can with the aptly named Amazon Tap.

Streaming audio of any sort is not available through the Dash Wand. That includes all music playback, regardless of which service it’s coming from, be it Amazon, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or TuneIn. In addition to music, you also can’t listen to flash briefings, podcasts, or books, both Audible audio books and Kindle books, through the Dash Wand.

Alexa on the Dash Wand seems to not be able to do anything unless you start the interaction by pressing its singular button. This means that things like Alarms, Timers, and Reminders do not work on the Dash Wand, since it would need to be proactive and wake up on its own for those. This limitation is likely also why Alexa’s new calling and messaging features do not work with the Dash Wand.

While the Dash Wand does have a Bluetooth radio, which it uses for its initial setup, you cannot stream audio to or from it over Bluetooth, like you can with other Alexa devices. You also cannot adjust the Dash Wand’s volume level, connect an Alexa Voice Remote to it, or change its language setting.

The last limitation of Alexa on the Dash Wand is a bit of an odd one. You cannot use it to ask for local movie showtimes. You might think this is due to the Dash Wand’s inability to know where it is, but that’s not the case, since you can set an address for the device in the Alexa app, like you can for other Alexa devices, and it’s more than happy to respond with local business and restaurant information when asked.

Moving on to other things Alexa on the Dash Wand can do, you can of course order items on Amazon through it, since that’s its original intended purpose. Like all other Alexa devices, you can order items directly from Alexa on the Dash Wand and ask to hear the day’s deals. If you point the device at a barcode and press the button, that item will be added to your Amazon shopping cart, if it’s available on Amazon, but will not be automatically ordered. If Amazon can’t find the exact item, you’ll be shown similar items to select one, the next time you view your Amazon cart.

There is no way to add items to your shopping list using the barcode scanner. The only way to add items to your shopping list using the Dash Wand is to ask Alexa to add something. It can also be used to add items to your to-do list and will read off items from both lists as well.

Apart from shopping, the killer use for the Dash Wand is as a handy home automation remote, since all of Alexa’s smart home capabilities work through the Dash Wand. You can use it to adjust lights, change your thermostat settings, interact with hubs like the Harmony hub, and control everything else devices like the Echo and Echo Dot can control. The Dash Wand can also trigger IFTTT recipes just fine.

Alexa Skills, for the most part, work with the Dash Wand. While you can access all of the skills you’ve enabled on your account, some of them might not work correctly. I’ve found the ones that don’t work right are the ones that use some of the newer, more advanced, features available to Alexa skill developers, like sound effects and audio clips within skills. For example, if you launch the Jeopardy! skill, it starts but is unusable because you can’t hear any of the audio prompts or questions. This might be a bug that gets corrected in the future. In general, skills where it’s just you issuing a command, and getting a basic response from Alexa, should work.

General knowledge questions work just fine through Alexa on the Dash Wand, including asking for the weather or the time. You can also ask how traffic is on your commute, ask for local business info, and access all the quirky sides of Alexa, including jokes and easter eggs. Lastly, Alexa on the Dash Wand can access your calendar, which has been gaining new support for all the popular services recently. You can hear what’s on your calendar and ask for items to be added.

As a kitchen helper to make reordering everyday items easier, now that it has Alexa capabilities, the Dash Wand performs better than ever. However, how I think it excels and will be used most is as a cheap on-demand interface for Alexa. There are places within reach of where you sit, like a desk or coffee table, where it’s just as convenient to push a button for Alexa, as it is to shout out a command to an always-listening device. Even at just $50 a piece, putting an Echo Dot in every room can get expensive. But at less than half that cost, a few Dash Wands for $20 each placed strategically around your house can inexpensively fill in the gaps where you currently don’t have access to Alexa.

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All About the Amazon Dash Wand

This Alexa-enabled device lets you scan and restock

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Amazon is continuing its expansion of devices to help you shop with ease. Amazon now has what it calls the Dash Wand. Here it is in a nutshell:

The Wand is a different product than Amazon's Dash buttons, but it also helps you restock your kitchen or pantry. It includes the Alexa voice assistant, though it can't play music. Because it's mobile, it's potentially more convenient than a Dash button. Has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Chances are you've seen or heard of Amazon's Dash buttons. These small hardware items work as shortcuts for ordering your favorite, go-to essentials from the online retailer, with the advantage of at-your-fingertips convenience. For example, if you frequently need to reorder laundry detergent through the site, having a Dash button for your preferred item can cut down on the time it takes to replenish your supplies.

Well, considering that Amazon's always forging a path forward in technology — where it's the Alexa voice-controlled Echo and Dot speakers or its selection of consumer tech devices like the Kindle — it shouldn't surprise you that the company offers another item in the Dash lineup, a tool that aims to provide a shortcut for keeping your kitchen and pantry well stocked. Keep on reading to get the lowdown on the Amazon Dash Wand.

The Dash Wand Basics

Available for around $20 on Amazon (as of publish time), the Dash Wand is essentially a tool for shopping on Amazon. com. It's equipped with Wi-Fi and a barcode-scanner. To use it, you simply point it at an item's barcode, and if the wand recognizes the item, it will make a noise, flash off the light, and add the item to your Amazon cart. It boasts integration with Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, letting you complete tasks such as reordering previous purchases by voice command in addition to pulling up recipes from Allrecipes. And if you scan a barcode and the Dash Wand doesn't recognize an item, Alexa will tell you it couldn't find that particular product.

To back up for a moment, Alexa is Amazon's answer to Apple's Siri and Microsoft's Cortana, a voice-based assistant that responds to your requests and questions on everything from the current weather to pulling up a song on Spotify. Beyond enabling plenty of practical tasks, the speech-driven service has plenty of playful applications.

Clearly, driving more business is the focal point (at least from Amazon's perspective, we can assume) with this product. However, the company does build in some additional features that are useful for you, the consumer. These include the ability to use Alexa to convert cups to ounces, for instance, and the voice assistant can also help you look up recipes.

Other things to know about this little gadget? Well, you'll need an iPhone or an Android smartphone to register it, and it's magnetic so it can stick to your fridge. The device requires two AAA batteries to operate, and it sports one large button that you'll press to accomplish pretty much any task it's capable of, whether you're initiating a task with a voice command or not. The other main feature is the barcode scanner, which you can use to scan items in your home that you wish to reorder through Amazon.

Also note that Amazon bills the Amazon Dash Wand as "essentially free," since even though it costs $20 to purchase it, you'll get a $20 credit in your shopping cart following your purchase.

The Convenience Factor Trumps Dash Buttons

One of the top selling points is a streamlined purchasing process. Not to say that having to log in to your Amazon account and reorder the products you need is a particularly unwieldy experience, but these physical devices make it possible to avoid the step of searching through past orders to track down what you previously bought and adding it to your cart again. Plus, while the Dash Wand does include Alexa voice controls, if that's the feature you're most interested in, you'd probably opt for the Echo or Dot speaker over this gadget anyway, since the scanner wand has a pared-down list of Alexa functionality (more on that below), so the purchasing angle is the one that makes this device stand out from other Alexa-equipped products.

One potential criticism of these types of devices is that they make it too easy to accidentally order something you didn't intend to — which is why you should be happy to learn that using the Alexa voice-control assistant or the scanner to add items to your cart doesn't actually cause the order to go through and have your account charged. Instead, anything you ask to be added will be in your cart, waiting for you to manually complete the purchase. So you can bypass a few steps in the process without having to worry too much that you might misspeak and accidentally order five dozen bananas through Amazon Fresh (or something significantly more expensive).

Dash Wand Tricks

If you already have one of these gadgets and want to make sure you're utilizing it to its full advantage, or if you've decided to order one and want to get a head start on familiarizing yourself with its features, here are some tips to cover your bases and get your money's worth:

Remember to check the price, and cons > Don't expect full Alexa capabilities — While the Dash Wand does offer Alexa integration, letting you use voice commands to add items to your cart and look up recipes, among other things, don't expect to be able to do all the same things you can accomplish on the Dot and Echo speakers. For instance, it can't play music (not that you'd get the best sound quality from the tiny device anyway). Unfortunately, you can't use the device to set timers or alarms, either — which is really too bad, cons > Leverage the Allrecipes integration — As a device made to live on your fridge, the Dash Wand helpfully pulls in recipes from Allrecipes, letting you access step-by-step guides and ingredient lists by using Alexa commands such as "Ask Allrecipes for a snickerdoodle recipe."

Bottom Line

The Amazon Dash Wand is yet another nifty gadget from the e-tailer that makes ordering from the online store quick and easy, and it goes beyond the relatively basic Dash buttons thanks to integrations with Alexa and other services. For those who are already fans of Alexa, the voice-control features are a nice touch as well, and the ability to look up recipes makes this a useful tool in the kitchen. Hopefully this article has helped clarify just what exactly this device does, and shown you how to get the most out of its features once it has a place in your kitchen or pantry.

Amazon Dash Wand: What you can and can't do with this Alexa device

- Use it to order groceries from AmazonFresh

- Just scan a barcode or a press a button to ask Alexa

- You can even control your smart home with it

- But it's not hands-free and Alexa is limited

Price when reviewed: TBC

You have nothing to lose if you decide to try this version of the Dash Wand. It's a great conversation starter, if nothing else. Read full verdict

A few years ago, Amazon quietly announced a new gadget, the Dash Wand, but it's taken until now to give it a wider, official launch.

It’s basically giving the Dash Wand away for free. Prime members who spend $20 on the Dash Wand get a $20 Amazon credit and 90 days of free AmazonFresh grocery delivery, which costs $15 per month. But this Dash Wand is different from the original one. It looks different, and it comes with Alexa, so you can not only use it to order goods but also query Alexa and control your home.

That said, is it really something you need? Can anyone use it? Does the fun wear off after a while? And does it really have full Alexa? We've spent the last week playing with Dash Wand, and to be honest, we're pretty impressed at what this gadget can do, considering it essentially costs nothing to get ahold of, and the ability to easily scan and add stuff to our Amazon cart is absolutely thrilling.

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Amazon Dash Wand: What's the point?

To state the obvious, Amazon wants consumers to buy everything through Amazon. com. Just think about how often you say to yourself, "Oh, I need to get paper towels" or "I gotta remember to buy a new fan for the bedroom" or whatever. Now, with the Dash Wand, you can just scan a barcode to add that item to your cart or press a button to ask Alexa to do it for you.

However, Amazon’s marketing around the Dash Wand seems to be entirely focused on groceries. In fact, the default shopping cart when you use Dash Wand is AmazonFresh, not your actual Amazon. com account. Now, keep in mind Amazon just acquired the grocery chain Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. It's clear that Amazon is poised to digitally transform how we get our groceries.

Eventually, Amazon will start delivering groceries from Whole Foods. But let's also not forget that the Dash Wand is yet another way for Amazon to get Alexa into our homes and using it as our default voice assistant. At next to nothing, you can have a portable version of Alexa that you can use in a number of ways -- not just for ordering groceries or products or whatever on Amazon.

Amazon Dash Wand: Look and feel

The Dash Wand has come a long way since the original Amazon Dash, which was a voice-enabled barcode scanner. It's a 5.6-inch, remote-like flat cylinder with a rubbery black top-half and a glossy white bottom-half. There's a hook on the top for hanging, and magnets on the back so you can stick it to your fridge. It also has a single button surrounded by an LED ring. Just press it to activate Alexa.

Unlike the original Dash Wand, this version uses Alexa for voice recognition, voice commands, and answering queries, while the original had a different system. The device itself looks great, is lightweight, and seems thoughtfully made. Every person we've shown it to, including the people who have spotted it in our home, has asked us about it and immediately expressed interest in getting one.

Lastly, the bottom of the device has the barcode scanner. There's also a built-in speaker, of course, so you can hear Alexa respond. It's not overly loud, but it's loud enough. We could hear bloops easily enough after we scanned items and it recognised them, and we could hear Alexa just fine when she told us dumb jokes and served up info. But that doesn't mean it can play music (more on that later).

Amazon Dash Wand: Getting started

It's super easy to set up and begin using, too, so even your grandparents can get started with it in no time. It runs two AAA batteries, which come in the box, and then all you have to do is open the Amazon app on your phone, hold down the button on the wand until the light turns orange, and add the wand to your Wi-Fi so it's connected to your network and registered to your Amazon account.

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Amazon Dash Wand: How does it work?

Simple: you point it at bar codes. If it recognises an item, the wand will make a noise, then the light will turn off, and the item will be in your AmazonFresh or Amazon cart. From there, all you have to do is check out. If you scan the same item several times, it’ll realise you only meant to add it once. And if the Dash Wand doesn’t recognise something, Alexa will tell you it couldn’t find it.

It may also ask you to say what you scanned, if it can't recognise the item. You can also add things to your cart by holding down the button and speaking to Alexa. Ask for "apples" or "socks" or "milk" -- whatever your heart desires. However, in our experience, it works best for groceries and makes some mistakes otherwise. Amazon also selects brands and types for you, if you don't specify.

So, if you don't say "Macintosh apples", you may see Gala apples in your cart instead. Amazon chooses a vendor for you, too. Once you’ve added everything to your cart, you still have to open the Amazon app on your phone to check out everything, including whether items are coming from Amazon or AmazonFresh. That also means you do need Amazon Prime as well as AmazonFresh.

AmazonFresh has rolled out its services gradually. It's available in US cities like Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Sacramento, Boston, Dallas, Chicago, and Denver. Elsewhere, it's available in London, Berlin, Tokyo. It costs $14.99 per month for Amazon Prime members. At launch, London AmazonFresh customers paid £6.99 per month.

Amazon Dash Wand: What you can and can't do

The Dash Wand is Alexa-enabled, which means you basically have a portable version of Alexa. It can do basic things like figure out math problems and unit conversions. It can also provide information, tell jokes, and even control your smart home devices. However, when we asked Alexa to play a song, we were told it couldn't do that. It also couldn't set timers or reminders or connect to our calendar.

It therefore doesn't have full-fledged Alexa. Nonetheless, we were impressed. It's not like you'd want to hear music playing out of the tiny speaker anyway, though setting timers and reminders seem like obvious features, considering this is a shopping tool. Why not have the Dash Wand remind us to check out our cart -- or, since its on our fridge, set timers for us while we cook the food that was delivered?

You also have to press the button to use Alexa, so it doesn't have voice activation like you'd find on the Echo or Echo Dot. However, Amazon did recently enable always-on listening for the Tap speaker, so it's not like this feature can't come to the wand down the road.

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Amazon Dash Wand: Should you get it?

If you're a Prime member, it's basically free. So, why not? It definitely makes adding things to your Amazon cart easier. And if you're lucky enough to be in an AmazonFresh region, it’ll makes life easier, too, as you'll never have to go to a grocery store again, especially once Amazon leverages its Whole Foods acquisition. And let's not forget it offers a portable, limited version of Alexa.

There is so much potential with this thing. And because it's so inexpensive, we can't help but think of the original Google Chromecast. Some critics dismissed it, but because it was cheap, many people picked it up, and it quickly became popular and critically acclaimed. Amazon could easily achieve that with the Dash Wand, and it could help Amazon push Alexa, Prime, and AmazonFresh.

Also, Amazon’s decision to allow third-party app access, providing us with smart home controls, is a much-welcomed feature. It's so cool to use a portable tool to order milk, shut off the kitchen lights, and ask Alexa for a unit conversion. The only gripes we have is that AmazonFresh isn't everywhere, the wand isn't hands-free, and it uses drugstore batteries instead of a rechargeable pack.

Maybe the third-generation Dash Wand will change all that, but until then, you have nothing to lose if you decide to try this version of the Dash Wand. It's even a great conversation starter.