15 best Alexa widgets to use on your Amazon Echo Show

Amazon's Echo Shows have proven to be among the top smart displays we have tested, thanks largely to their Alexa widgets, or mini apps, feature. Alexa widgets sit on your Amazon smart display's touchscreen where they can perform actions such as turning on a smart light or completing a task on your checklist. These widgets make optimal use of your home screen. You can still view regular news updates or family photos uploaded to Amazon Photos, with these mini apps overlaying this content for quick access. This negates the need to ask Alexa to launch your calendar or navigate through several pages of smart devices to control a specific one. Read on to understand how widgets can make your Echo Show an even better control centre.

Alexa Widgets are compatible with the Amazon Echo Show 8, 10, and 15. They can be added through the Widget Gallery, identifiable by an icon that closely resembles two boxes with a plus sign. It can be opened by swiping down from the top of your screen or tapping on the icon located at the top right of the home screen. From here, you can browse options by category and add them to your home screen with a simple tap. You can also ask Alexa to list which widgets can be added. There are over 80 Alexa widgets that allow you to control top smart home devices, maintain a live grocery list, append sticky notes, view news and weather updates, and even take part in games.

On smaller Echo Show 8 and 10, you can place up to six widgets as shortcut buttons on the top right of your screen. To use them, tap them open, and to remove them, hold down on their icon and select "remove widget". The larger Echo Show 15 supports up to ten full apps in a dedicated widget panel on the right half of the home screen. You will not merely be looking at small icons but real time updates such as map updates for deliveries or statuses of your smart home devices. You can customize this panel by moving around your apps to suit your household needs.

We scrutinized nearly 100 options and shortlisted the 15 best widgets that will help you make the most of your Echo Show's screen space. Check out our guide on how to use Alexa for more tips and tricks. A selection of the recommended widgets includes a smart home dashboard panel, sticky notes for family messages, an interactive map to track devices and deliveries, an event manager app that can integrate with Apple, Google and Microsoft calendars, a local weather forecast bas linked to Dark Sky, and many more to aid you in maximizing the utility of your Echo Show.