“My Alexa device won’t play Spotify!”
Isn’t it annoying?
If you’re experiencing problems with Alexa not playing your Spotify lately, well, you’re not alone.
Let’s go over some easy ways to fix this.
Read on to learn:
- How to power cycle your Echo device to make it work with Spotify again.
- How to make sure Spotify is the default music service of your Alexa device.
- If linking discrepancies are causing problems between Alexa app and your speakers.
- And a lot more…
Why won’t Alexa play Spotify?
There are cases where Alexa won’t play Spotify due to the unverified login status of your Spotify account or the volume being turned down. It can also be that your Echo device needs to be power cycled, and there are cache and app data issues with both Spotify and Alexa that need to be cleared.
Alexa won’t play Spotify: 15 ways to fix it
#1: Check the name of your echo device
If you have more than one speaker, make sure the names of your speakers and groups are different from each other.
To verify the speaker group’s names:
- Open the Alexa app.
- Go to the Devices tab.
- Here you will find your speaker groups and Echo devices.
- Open your Echo device/s, and rename it.
You can set one or more speakers using the Alexa app, so specific devices play music within a Smart Home Group.
- Open the Alexa app.
- Tap Devices.
- Choose an existing Smart Home Group, such as Dining Room.
- Under Speakers, tap Change.
- Choose the speaker(s) for a Smart Home Group.
- Follow the instructions to complete the setup.
- When you say “Play music in the [Smart Home Group name],” Alexa will now play music on your speaker(s).
#2: Restart your smartphone and Alexa device
When Alexa is having problems with Spotify, it needs a very simple fix most of the time.
If you’re not having trouble connecting your Echo to Wifi, you can try to restart it. You can do this by unplugging and plugging it back again from the power outlet.
To restart the devices with removable batteries (Echo dot 4th gen), remove and return the batteries.
#3: Inspect the playlist name
With Alexa and Spotify’s integration, you can easily listen to your favorite music and podcasts.
Because Alexa is always listening, you should structure your command to be clear for Alexa.
To play an exact playlist, say: “Alexa, play [the name of the playlist].”
You don’t have to add “my,” which might confuse the app, and Alexa would reply that it couldn’t play it.
Here’s a list of basic Alexa commands for Spotify.
- “Stop” or “Pause.”
- “Play” or “Resume.”
- “Shuffle” or “Stop shuffle.”
- Alexa, play *song title* from Spotify.
- Alexa, play *playlist name* from Spotify.
For a complete list of the commands, visit the Amazon website.
Note: Some Alexa services and features can vary by country and device type.
#4: Turn off Spotify’s shuffle feature
Try turning off Spotify’s shuffle feature to help fix the problem.
Few Spotify users suggest that if you enabled the shuffle feature the last time you listened to Spotify, it would cause problems with Echo.
To disable Spotify’s shuffle:
- Open the Spotify app.
- Scroll down to the ‘Now Playing’ box. (The “Shuffle” button will be green if shuffle play is active)
- To disable shuffle play, click the ‘Shuffle’ button.
#5: Uninstall both apps
If Spotify still doesn’t play, you should uninstall Spotify and Alexa from your phone. Restart your phone after installing the apps again.
Note: Occasionally, Spotify-related issues aren’t the only ones. Echo may also have trouble playing audio files from Amazon music.
#6: Update your Alexa to its latest version
Is the Alexa app on your device up to date?
If it’s not updated, it can cause a few problems, such as not connecting to your Spotify.
You have 2 options to troubleshoot this concern.
Option 1
Go to the “Settings” menu on your Alexa app. Scroll down until you see “Software Version.” If it’s not up to date, you should have an option to update it.
Option 2
Proceed to the App Store or the Google Play Store and make sure your Alexa app is updated.
Once you have updated your app, try playing Spotify again. If that still doesn’t work, move on to the next solution.
#7: Check your login status on Echo
Sometimes, you might accidentally be logged out from your Spotify. This means that Alexa can’t access your music and podcasts.
Check your login status for Spotify on Alexa’s app. This is to prevent discrepancies between the accounts you use for the two apps.
To verify if you’re logged in on both your Alexa and Spotify apps, do the following.
- Navigate to the settings menu on your Alexa app and then select Preferences.
- Choose Spotify from the Music and Podcast option.
- Link your Spotify account through the Alexa music settings.
The next time you cannot access Spotify for some reason, be sure you are logged in if this issue occurs.
#8: Unmute and turn up the volume
You might have accidentally muted your Echo device. If that’s the case, it will not play any sound. Check whether the mute button is off. If so, try turning up the volume.
The microphone button on top of the speaker is red if your device is muted. To unmute, press and hold the microphone button for 2 seconds.
If it still doesn’t work, try power cycling your Echo device (more on that in #9).
Note: You may also use your phone to manage Spotify music on your Amazon Echo by using Spotify Connect.
Here’s how to use the Spotify Connect feature:
- Update your software for all your devices.
- Check if your Spotify app is up-to-date.
- Make sure that all of your devices are connected to the same WiFi network.
#9: Power cycle your device
If everything had been fine before, power cycling your device is the simplest solution. With this step, you’ll get a high chance of getting it fixed.
Power cycling is also known as an off-on test.
In many cases, manufacturers recommend turning off a device for 5 to 30 seconds (sometimes even longer) before turning it back on.
It’s easy to reboot your Echo device:
- Unplug it from the source of electricity.
- Wait for at least 15-30 seconds.
- Plug it back in again.
- Your device successfully starts up when it begins to spin a blue light.
Make sure everything is working again; if not, it’s time to move on to the next step.
#10: Set Spotify as your default music player
If you want to play Spotify on your Echo, make sure that it’s set as your default music service.
To do this:
- On your iPhone or Android smartphone, open the Alexa app.
- Select Settings.
- Choose Music & Podcasts.
- Choose Spotify as your default music player.
- Don’t forget to press “Done” once ready.
If everything is set up correctly, your Echo should now play Spotify when you say “Alexa, play music.”
Note: Podcasts are not supported by this method. So, you’ll need to specify them in your voice commands. Just add “on Spotify” at the end of the command.
Need a visual guide on connecting Spotify to Amazon (Echo) and setting it as your default music player?
Then, watch this short video:
If that still doesn’t work, move on to the next solution.
#11: Link the Correct Spotify Account
People sometimes have two (or even more) Spotify accounts. One is Premium while the other(s) Free.
If you have multiple Spotify accounts, make sure you’re linking the correct one to avoid compatibility issues.
Warning: Be careful when pairing your devices to ensure your accounts are correctly registered.
Depending on your location, Alexa may only work with Premium Spotify accounts.
Reminder: Your Spotify account needs to be on Premium to use voice commands in controlling your music with Amazon Alexa.
#12: Unlink and relink Alexa from Spotify
If you are logged in on both your apps, try unlinking and then relinking them.
The easiest way to do this is to change your default preference to another service (such as Pandora or Amazon Music) and then to Spotify again.
You can unlink Spotify from Alexa via the Alexa app or the Spotify website.
On the Alexa app:
- Open the Alexa mobile app.
- Tap More.
- Tap the Settings menu.
- Select Music and Podcasts.
- Choose Spotify in the list and tap it.
- Click the button that says Disable Skill.
- Confirm your choice.
On the Spotify website:
- In a web browser on your Mac or PC, log in to your account on the Spotify website.
- Click Profile in the upper-right corner and tap Account.
- Click Apps on the list.
- Look for Alexa in your App list that has access to your Spotify.
- Tap on Remove Access.
- Then, verify your choice.
Once it’s unlinked, close the app and open it back up. Then, select “Link Account” and follow the on-screen instructions.
If you are still having trouble linking your accounts, try using a different web browser or contact Spotify support.
Note: You can unlink Spotify without having access to a phone or Alexa App by going to this page.
#13: Forget or Remove Echo From Your Spotify Account
Are they still not communicating correctly after you have linked your accounts?
The next step is to “forget or remove” the Echo from your Spotify account.
To do this:
- Log in to your Spotify app.
- Go to the settings option and remove Echo.
- Then, shut the app down and restart your phone.
- Open the Spotify app and re-pair the Echo once your phone has booted.
This should have resolved the problem for quite a few of you. Keep this trick around just in case anything comes up in the future.
#14: Clear cache and app data on both apps
If you’re having trouble getting Alexa to play Spotify, try clearing the cache and app data on both apps. It’s likely that some glitch prevents them from communicating.
To do this:
- Open the “Settings” menu on your mobile phone.
- Got to the app settings
- Tap the Spotify app.
- Locate the storage option.
- Tap Delete cache.
- A pop-up will appear for you to confirm it.
Alternatively, try clearing Alexa’s cache and restart your mobile phone.
“I have an iPhone, how do I clear the cache?”
Here’s how to clear the cache of third-party apps on an iPhone:
- Tap to open Settings.
- Tap Spree.
- Click the toggle next to Clear Cache.
Here’s another method to remove the app altogether and reinstall it from the App Store.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Choose iPhone Storage.
- Click on an app you want to clear.
- Tap Delete App.
- In the slide-up prompt, tap Delete App again.
- Reinstall the app from the App Store.
#15: Reset your Alexa device
If you’ve tried all of these steps and are still having trouble, the last thing is to reset your Alexa device.
Resetting your Alexa removes all the configurations and settings you have made. We understand that this is a pain since you’ll have to reset everything.
You can reset the Echo speaker by pressing the buttons on your device or the Alexa app.
Factory resetting a device varies depending on the model and generation you have.
Here’s how to reset using the Alexa app:
- First, go to your Alexa app on your smartphone.
- Toggle the Settings.
- Navigate to Device Options.
- Tap Reset to Factory Defaults and then confirm this selection.
The actions necessary to reset an Amazon Echo device vary by model.
Here’s how to reset using the Echo speaker:
For Amazon Echo Dot 2nd generation
Hold and press the Microphone Off and Volume Down buttons for 20 seconds.
For Amazon Echo Dot 3rd and 4th generation
Hold and press the Action button for 25 seconds.
For Amazon Echo Plus 1st generation
Push the Reset button using a paper clip or another small tool.
For Amazon Echo Plus 2nd generation
Hold and press the Action button for 20 seconds.
For Amazon Echo Show
Hold and press the Mute and Volume Down buttons for about 15 seconds.
Note: Spotify is approved on the following devices that use the Alexa virtual assistant:
- Cube.
- Sonos.
- Amazon Tap.
- Amazon Echo.
- Amazon Fire TV.
- Amazon Echo Dot.
- Amazon Echo Spot.
- Amazon Echo Show.
If none of these steps is successful, you can call Amazon customer service. Tell the representative what steps you have already taken to resolve the problem.
It will help you come up with a solution more quickly.
Learn more: Alexa Device Is Unresponsive: 16 Causes & Fixes