There’s nothing better than moving anywhere around the house…
While still enjoying your favorite songs through the speakers.
However, now that your Alexa’s Multi-room Music stopped working…
You can no longer do so.
Miss the jamming party your entire house used to hop on?
Keep reading to discover:
- 7 simple fixes to try if the Alexa Multi-room Music isn’t working.
- The most common reasons why the Alexa Multi-room Music won’t work.
- Why Echo devices connected to external wireless speakers can’t use this feature.
- And this is just the beginning…
Alexa multi-room music not working – why?
Alexa Multi-room music isn’t working because you may be using vague voice commands. This problem also occurs if your Echo devices aren’t using the same WiFi. Moreover, this feature won’t work if Bluetooth speakers are connected to your Echo.
Alexa multi-room music not working – 7 fixes
#1: Use the right voice command
Out of all the voice assistants I’ve tried…
Alexa ranks first when it comes to communication.
However, despite this AI’s high intelligence…
You still need to be very specific when giving her voice commands.
For example, you can’t simply say requests like:
“Alexa, fill my entire house with music.”
And expect her to understand what you want her to do.
Because like most AIs…
Alexa won’t understand voice commands that are too vague.
So, if you want your AI to play music through your Multi-room group…
Follow this voice command template:
“Alexa, play (playlist/song name) on the (Multi-room group name).”
And speaking of the Multi-room group…
You should also double-check that you’re using the right name.
See, last year…
I kept asking Alexa to play rock songs on my “Downstairs” speaker group.
But she wouldn’t follow the command.
I initially thought my smart speaker was broken.
However, I realized that I was simply using the wrong group name.
Because when I moved from a 2-story house to a flat…
I changed the Multi-room speaker group name from Downstairs to Everywhere.
And as expected…
Alexa’s Multi-room music started working again when I referred to the speaker group correctly.
Read next: 47 Cool Things To Do With Alexa (#5 Is My Favorite)
#2: Opt for simple group names
Alexa has no problems understanding official words from the dictionary.
But when it comes to names…
Let’s just say your voice assistant still has a little more work.
See, I once named my Multi-room music group “Zosia.”
The reason is a whole entire story on its own.
But the point is…
“Zosia” is actually pronounced like “Zah-shah.”
And, of course, whenever I asked Alexa to play using that Multi-room group…
I said the name like it’s meant to be pronounced.
However, Alexa couldn’t understand me when I mentioned the group name.
Because for her…
“Zosia” should sound like “Zo-shia.” Exactly like how it’s spelled.
So, to make Alexa understand my voice command…
I had no choice but to change the Multi-room group name to a simpler word.
And now, you should do the same.
For best results…
Choose 1 of the preset Multi-room group names on your Alexa app.
Alternatively, you may use any 2-4 syllable words from the dictionary.
Not sure how to change your speaker group’s name?
I got you.
Just follow these steps to…
Rename your Alexa Multi-room group:
- Open your Amazon Alexa application (iOS/Android).
- Tap the Devices icon at the bottom of your screen.
- Under the Groups heading, select your Multi-room group name.
- Click Edit.
- Change the group’s name.
You might also want to know: Can Alexa Light Up to Music? 3 Methods & 32 Simple Steps
#3: Ensure your devices are using the same WiFi
Echo devices inside a group must be using the same network.
Otherwise, they won’t be able to play music simultaneously.
So, for this fix…
Connect your Echo devices to the same WiFi:
Step 1: Check your network’s name
First, decide which network you want to connect your Echo devices to.
Now, before you say…
“Of course, I’ll connect them to my own WiFi.”
Know that some routers can provide you with 2 or more network bands.
And since Echo devices won’t work if they’re using separate ones…
You should double-check how many WiFi versions you have.
It’s pretty easy to do so. Just follow these steps:
- Open your mobile device.
- Head to its WiFi settings.
- Make your phone/tablet forget your network.
- Turn your mobile device’s WiFi OFF and ON.
- Observe how many versions of your network there are.
Do you only see 1?
Then, simply reconnect your phone to that network. And remember the WiFi name.
However, if you see 2 versions of the network…
Decide on which 1 you’ll connect all your Echo devices to.
“I see a 5 GHz and a 2.4 GHz band. Which one should I choose?”
I highly recommend connecting your Echo devices to the 2.4 GHz WiFi.
Because in comparison to the 5GHz that only provides signals within 50 ft (15m)…
The 2.4 GHz band can provide WiFi signals up to 150 ft (45m).
So your Echo devices will receive a stable Internet connection. Even if they’re very far from your router.
And now that you know which WiFi you’ll connect your smart speakers to…
Step 2: Go to your Amazon Alexa app’s Menu sidebar
Launch the Alexa application.
Then, tap the 3 horizontal lines icon at the top-left corner.
Step 3: Head to Settings
You’ll find this near the bottom of your screen.
Step 4: Click Device Settings
This is located near the top of your device.
Step 5: Check the network settings of each Echo model
Tap your Echo devices’ names one after another.
Then, ensure each is connected to the network you chose in step #1.
And before you test whether Alexa’s Multi-room Music works already…
#4: Restart your router
Alexa doesn’t actually need a very fast Internet connection to work.
In fact, even with just a 0.51 Mbps WiFi…
You can enjoy most, if not all, of your voice assistant’s features.
However, based on experience…
Alexa definitely works better when you have faster Internet.
Sometimes, other features won’t even work properly when the WiFi is slow.
So, let’s boost your network speed in under 3 minutes.
And that’s by…
Restarting your router:
- Unplug your router from the outlet.
- Wait for 1 minute.
- Reconnect your device to its power source.
- Wait for another minute so your router can fully boot up.
After this process…
Try using your Alexa Multi-room music again.
And if your smart speakers still won’t play music simultaneously…
#5: Disconnect Bluetooth speakers
Do you have an Echo connected to external Bluetooth speakers?
Then, you must disconnect them for this fix.
After all, Multi-room music doesn’t support Bluetooth connections.
Why?
Because wireless speakers have different latency or audio delay.
So, even if you ask them to play simultaneously…
Unlike Echo devices, Bluetooth speakers will play out of sync.
That said, follow these steps to…
Disconnect your Echo from its external speakers:
- Launch the Amazon Alexa app.
- Tap the Devices icon at the bottom.
- Select the Echo & Alexa tile.
- Choose the Echo that has external Bluetooth speakers.
- Click Bluetooth Devices.
- Tap the external wireless speaker’s name.
- Select Forget Device.
Note: Repeat these steps for each Echo device connected to Bluetooth speakers.
Related reading: 9 Best Alexa Speakers For Music (Updated Guide)
#6: Power cycle your Echo gadgets
Like all gadgets, your Echo devices are prone to glitches and bugs.
Which are usually the primary culprits for software problems.
The good news is…
It’s pretty easy to fix glitchy smart speakers.
Because power cycling got your back.
It’s a process you do by…
Unplugging a device from power temporarily and then plugging it in again.
Much like how you restarted your router earlier.
Why is it an effective solution?
Simple.
By draining every remaining power from your Echo…
You completely stop your device’s system from working.
So, when you turn ON your smart speaker again…
The bugs and glitches that used to stay in its system would be gone.
That said, for each of your Echo…
Follow these steps to power cycle your device:
- Locate your speakers’ power cable.
- Unplug it from the outlet.
- Wait for 30 seconds.
- Reconnect your device to power.
After following these steps…
Test Alexa’s Multi-room Music again.
#7: Create new Multi-room music groups
Like physical gadgets…
App features may also malfunction or glitch.
And this may be what’s happening to your Alexa Multi-room Music group now.
So let’s replace it with a new 1 by following these steps to…
Create a new Multi-room Music group from scratch:
Step 1: Go to your Alexa app’s Devices tab
You’ll find this at the bottom of the Amazon Alexa application.
Step 2: Click the + button
This is located at the top-right corner of your screen.
Step 3: Tap Set up Multi-room Music
It’s the 3rd option from the top of the small window that appears.
Step 4: Choose the Echo devices you want to add
There are no limits to how many Echo devices you can select for this step.
Note: A smart speaker can exist in more than 1 group.
Step 5: Give your group a name
You can select the preset ones on your screen.
But if you want a customized one…
Keep the tips I mentioned in the 2nd fix for creating an Alexa group name.
After naming your Multi-room Music group….
Tap the Save button at the top of your screen.
Then, ask Alexa to play a song using your newly made speaker group.
Need a visual guide for this process?
Watch this video:
Bonus: Try a different streaming platform
Perhaps, Alexa isn’t causing this problem.
Rather, it’s the platform you’re trying to play your songs from.
So, as your last resort to fix this Multi-room issue…
Stream songs from a different music app.
Here are my highly recommended audio providers for this feature:
- Spotify.
- Audible.
- Pandora.
- SiriusXM.
- iHeartRadio.
- Apple Music.
- Amazon Music.
Once you decide on which new music platform you’ll try…
Connect it to your Alexa.
Then, follow this voice command template:
“Alexa, play a (song/playlist name) on (speaker group name) using (audio provider).”