FAQ - Control your TV with Amazon Alexa devices

The answer is yes if you set up your TV remote to control your cable or satellite box. For detai ls, refer to the How to set up the set-top box control or IR Blaster to control both the TV and the set-top box article.

Scenes allow you to change multiple settings (TV power ON, change the input to TV, set the volume to 15) with one voice command. You can edit the Scene operations in the settings of the TV Control with Smart Speakers app.

Note: This function is only available on the TV Control with Smart Speakers app.

Yes, if both TVs have been set up from the TV Control with Smart Speakers or TV Control Setup with Amazon Alexa apps. If the apps on the TVs are different, some commands may not be available.

Linking your TV to an Echo device in the same room will allow you to directly control your TV without saying the name of the TV.
For example, you can say Alexa change the channel to 7 instead of Alexa change the channel to 7 on the living room TV.
Your TV must be linked with your Alexa device via the TV & Video settings section of the Alexa app on your mobile device.

No, video skills use the same commands. Your satellite or cable box may also have a video skill that would conflict with Sony’s TV skill.

Pairing the remote control will allow the TV to control the cable or satellite box and download TV guide data for your service. If the remote control is not paired with the box, you can set up the remote control. For details on how to set up the remote control, refer to the How to set up the set-top box control or IR Blaster to control both the TV and the set-top box article.

No, we recommend an Alexa device without a display so you can play content on the TV. The Echo Show or any Alexa device with a screen will show content on its screen and not play on the TV.

Refer to the article The TV's Voice Control with Amazon Alexa-Enabled Devices suddenly stops working.

Refer to the article The TV can suddenly no longer be controlled with Amazon Alexa-enabled devices through voice operations.

• If the TV cannot be turned on using an Amazon Alexa-enabled device, follow these steps:
  1. Open the Settings screen
     • If the remote control has a Quick Settings ( or ) button, press the Quick Settings button and select Settings.
     • If the remote control does not have a Quick Settings ( or ) button, press the HOME button and select Settings.
  2. Select Network or Network & Internet.
  3. Select Remote start, then select ON or On (Powered on by apps).
  4. Make sure you are using the same account on the Amazon Alexa-enabled device and the TV.
     
     Note: Use a Sony account or Google account depending on the model.
  5. If the issue is still unresolved, try the following:
     • Use a remote control to turn on the TV.
     • Restart the TV.
     • If a device other than the TV and Amazon Alexa compatible speaker is connected to the same router, disconnect that device to reduce the number of connected devices.
     • An Alexa device will sometimes fail to turn on with remote start if the TV has been off for an extended period of time.
     • If you are using the router’s firewall, check that ports 5228, 5229, and 5230 are open.
• Depending on the router specifications (including the limit for the number of connected devices) or settings, turning on the TV using an Amazon Alexa-enabled device may not be supported. For details, please refer to the manual or support site of the router.

• Your TV may not respond to the Amazon Alexa commands if you have network issues in your home. To resolve this issue:
  • Use a different wireless router.
  • Reduce the number of devices connected to the same router.

• Check the following:
  1. Connect the TV to the Amazon Alexa app.
     
     Note: The Amazon Alexa app is a mobile application provided by Amazon.
  2. Check if you can operate the TV with the Amazon Alexa-enabled device. For example, face the Amazon Alexa-enabled device and say Alexa, turn off (the name of the TV you set up).
• Please note below if the Amazon Alexa-enabled device fails to discover the TV.
  1. Check that Sony's TV Skill or Sony's TV - Basic Skill is enabled in the Amazon Alexa app.
     
     Notes:

     • If you are using the TV Control with Smart Speakers app on the TV: Sony's TV Skill
     • If you are using the TV Control Setup with Amazon Alexa app on the TV: Sony's TV - Basic Skill
  2. After enabling Sony's TV Skill or Sony's TV - Basic Skill,, check that the same account is used to log in to the TV Control with Smart Speakers app or the TV Control Setup with Amazon Alexa app and the Amazon Alexa app after enabling Sony's TV Skill or Sony's TV - Basic Skill.

After completing the setup in TV Control with Smart Speakers for the Alexa Echo device, you may be unable to proceed after using the "Alexa, discover my devices" command.

• Follow these steps to set up Alexa to control Sony's Android TV.
  For details, refer to the Connect your TV to the Amazon Alexa app article.
• Please note below if your Alexa fails to discover your Sony TV.
  1. Ensure Sony's TV skill is enabled on the Amazon Alexa app*.
  2. Check that the same Sony account is used in both the TV Control with Smart Speakers app and the Amazon Alexa app after enabling Sony's Android TV skill.

  Note: For more information, open the Amazon Alexa app*1 on your mobile device and check the description of the Skill that is listed (either Sony’s TV or Sony’s TV - Basic skill).