Alexa Guard and Guard Plus are no longer available. If an older guide tells you to open the Guard menu or say Alexa, I’m leaving, that flow is out of date.
These notes apply to Echo devices set up in the Alexa app. Alexa Guard and Guard Plus were discontinued in 2023.
Does this affect you?
Use this if you wanted Echo devices to listen for smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, or breaking glass while you are away, or if you want the old away lighting feature.
Set up Alexa Emergency Assist, the paid replacement
Amazon moved Guard’s sound detection into Alexa Emergency Assist as a subscription service.
- Open the Alexa app.
- Tap More > Emergency Assist, or search Emergency Assist in the app.
- Review the current subscription price and sign up if you want the service.
- Enable Smart Alerts for smoke alarms, CO alarms, and breaking glass.
- Add an emergency contact.
- Set up the 24/7 Urgent Response option if you want voice access to a trained agent.
- Arm and disarm Emergency Assist from the app as instructed.
Emergency Assist is not the same free feature as the old Guard. Confirm current pricing and availability in your region before relying on it.
Recreate away mode lighting for free with a routine
You can still make a home look occupied without a subscription.
- Open Alexa app > More > Routines.
- Tap the plus icon.
- Choose a trigger such as a schedule from sunset to 11 PM or a voice phrase.
- Add smart light actions that turn lights on and off.
- Optionally add sounds or announcements.
- Save the routine.
This mimics away lighting, but it does not add Echo sound detection. Smoke, CO, and glass-break listening now require Emergency Assist or separate sensors.
Free alternatives and real security limits
An Echo can react only to sounds its microphone hears. It is not a door sensor, motion detector, contact sensor, or camera.
For fuller coverage, systems such as Ring Alarm add real sensors and optional monitoring, while still integrating with Alexa routines.
Without a subscription, you can still build routines around compatible smoke detectors, door sensors, motion sensors, or Matter and Zigbee devices. In that setup, the sensor detects the event and Alexa sends alerts or runs actions.
Sources
- Amazon Support – Alexa Emergency Assist (2025)
- Amazon Support – Guard and Guard Plus are no longer available (2025)
- Amazon Support – Create an Alexa routine (2025)