Problem
In mid-2023, Amazon Alexa and Zoom changed how Echo Show and Fire TV users join Zoom meetings. As of 10-28-2023, only the following Echo Show and Fire TV devices in the US with English US language selected are supported:
· Echo Show 8 1st and 2nd gen (not 3rd) gen
· Echo Show 10 3rd gen (not Echo Show 5 or Echo Show 15)
· Fire TV Cube 2nd gen (I tested 3rd gen- works!)
· Omni TV (Unknown if Omni QLED TV works)
The Amazon Digital & Device Forum and the Zoom Community Forum are filled with complaints about the previous “Alexa, join my meeting” command no longer working for those who have the Zoom meeting invitation in their calendar linked in Alexa. Many of these users were using Zoom with their family members and friends who could not manage their own devices to join a Zoom Meeting.
This change also negatively impacts several “Using Zoom with Amazon devices” articles that I wrote in 2021-2022
· Hands-free Zoom Meeting: Joining Without Using Your Voice
· How to Use Zoom on Echo Show
Solution
Here is a YouTube video of the solution.
I haven’t found a way to fully restore the “hands-free” and “voice-free” joining of a Zoom meeting that was available for your family member until mid-2023.
However, I have found a way that they can still join a Zoom meeting without entering a Meeting ID and Passcode. As previously described, This still relies on using a Google Calendar linked to their Alexa account. I strongly suggest using Google Calendar with only calendars that are used to join meetings. They will also need a free version of the Zoom account. The setup is a bit difficult, but it becomes very easy for your family member to join a Zoom meeting.
Previously, a family member using an Echo Show or Fire TV did NOT need a Zoom account, but it is now required.
Creating a Zoom Scheduled Meeting using Google Calendar (This remains the same, but is shown here as a guide)
When you create a Zoom meeting, be sure it’s a scheduled meeting and use the Google Calendar option.
Add their Gmail address:
· Add guests
· Tap “Save”
Be sure to send it to their Google email address:
The Zoom invitation will automatically be added to their Google calendar
If your family member is using an Echo Show, do the following:
· When the say the normal “Alexa, join the meeting”
o They will be greeted by an Alexa response of “To join a meeting, try asking me to open Zoom on a device that supports Zoom”
· If they then say “Alexa, open Zoom”
o They will get prompted to “Sign In”
Then you will need to open a web browser and sign in with their Zoom account
· NOTE: Do NOT add a PIN, or they will be forced to enter it for each meeting
· Click “Yes, It’s Me”
They will now be able to join the Zoom Meeting (if there is one in the Google Calendar)
If your family member is using Fire TV Cube or Omni Fire TV, do the following steps:
· Settings-> Applications-> Manage Installed Applications-> Zoom-> Uninstall
Then re-install the Zoom app:
· “Alexa, open Zoom”
· Use https://zoom.us/pair to pair with their Zoom account
NOTE: Do NOT add a PIN, or they will be forced to enter it for each meeting
· I selected Frank E. 1 as a room. I’m not sure what that does
· Tap “Done”
· Use the Fire TV remote
o Click “Yes, It’s Me”
You will now be able to join the Zoom Meeting (if there is one in the Google Calendar)
How a Family member now joins a Zoom Meeting
If they say “Alexa, open Zoom” within 15 minutes of the scheduled meeting time, they will see the available Zoom meeting with a “Join” icon:
They tap the “Join” icon
I have NOT found a way to have them join the meeting without doing these two steps:
· Saying-> “Alexa, open Zoom” (or a physical button with that “Custom Action”)
· Touching-> ”Join” icon on the screen
I have tried many combinations of the voice command “Alexa, Join/Select/OK”, but none work. It requires a physical on-screen touch.
If you find the following too complicated, I suggest using Alexa Calling Drop In, which automatically allows a family member to join a video call.