It’s chunky and robust and while the design isn’t as attractive as some here, you’ll perhaps tuck it away out of sight. TVs and gaming systems are hard to fully shut off because their power sources are difficult to reach. This will only work for appliances that have a physical power switch that can be left in an "On" position. If you have more than one plug, you can set them to different schedules, increasing the believability of your ruse. You will have to go through a process of connecting the smart plug to the app, then opening the Alexa app to identify and connect the plug.

Ask Alexa to turn it off from another room or open the app and turn it off while you’re on the road. After you set up your smart plug in the app, you still have to set it up with Alexa if you want to control it with voice commands or create a routine with the Alexa app. Used for a range of applications including lighting and heating devices, WiFi plugs are also great for providing peace of mind that products such as hair straighteners or curlers are switched off. TP-Link’s Tapo app is a simple way to set up this smart plug and it has plenty of features, such as an away mode which can turn devices off and on so that it seems somebody is at home or to create a countdown until gadgets turn themselves off.

Plug it into a smart plug with a scheduling feature, set the cooker’s temperature controls, and set the plug’s start time or activate it remotely. It turns the plug on and off at random to make it look like your home is occupied while you’re gone. Meross warns that it only works with devices running iOS 13 or later, and emphasises that it’s more seamless with iOS 14. If you own other Philips Hue devices, you’ll likely have the Hue Bridge – that is, the hub that’s needed to control the bulbs in most circumstances. However, there are still some smart plugs that block or limit what can be plugged into the adjoining outlet.

After successfully pairing your smart plug with Alexa, you can turn any appliance on or off through your Alexa devices. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. And if you love the ease of voice control that comes with Alexa, you’re in luck because there are some excellent compatible plugs available. However, if you want the ultimate in hands-free control of your Christmas lights, there are smart plugs made for use outdoors.

Some even include a way to calculate a cost analysis to get an idea of how your power usage affects your electricity bill. A. Smart plugs can work for almost any electrical device as long as they have the right power capacity.

The size of the smart plug depends on whether you want a full-size plug, which may cover the whole outlet, or a compact model that leaves the adjoining electrical outlet open for another device or second smart plug. She said: "We were doing some physical challenges, like laying down and rolling over holding a shoe on your foot, from a [physical education] teacher on YouTube earlier. The smart plug should now be set up on your Alexa account, which means that it's paired with your Alexa devices. Sensors in the casing detect temperature and humidity and allow you to set a schedule based on those readings.

Suppose the socket you’d like to make smarter needs to be outside, for garden lights, a sprinkler or seasonal decorations, for instance?