Local Connectivity Protocol Options for Smart Home Devices

You can connect your smart home device to Alexa using supported local connectivity protocols, such as the Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) mesh wireless technology. With these protocols, you don't have to build a smart home skill or connect a separate hub. For devices that use smart home skills, you can add another connection to Alexa from your skill-connected devices with local connectivity protocols. This connection allows Alexa to control your device during internet outages.

If you want to connect to Alexa over Wi-Fi with a smart home or video skill, see Understand Smart Home Skills and Understand Video Skills.

In this section

  • Bluetooth Mesh Support – Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) mesh is a wireless many-to-many communication technology designed to enable the control and monitoring of a large number of connected devices.
  • Matter Support – Matter is an Internet Protocol (IP) wireless connectivity technology designed to enable interoperability between devices made by different manufacturers. Amazon Echo devices support Matter over Wi-Fi and Matter over Thread.
  • Thread Support – Thread is an IPv6 wireless-mesh-networking technology designed for security, reliability, and scalability. As a low-power technology, Thread can extend the lifetime of battery-powered smart home devices. Thread-enabled Amazon Echo devices act as border routers to provision and secure Thread networks.
  • Zigbee Support – Zigbee is a global wireless radio communication standard designed to enable the control and monitoring of connected devices.
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Last updated: Nov 07, 2025