I’ve probably run out of adjectives to describe how awesome Alexa is.
I mean, she now has over 100,000 skills!
But my favorite will always be her music-playing ability.
And if you’re wondering if she can do it from your phone…
Wonder no more.
Because I’ve got the answer.
Continue reading to discover:
- 3 easy steps to play music from your phone on Alexa.
- A simple workaround to play music from apps that you can’t link to Alexa.
- How to play music from your phone to the Alexa device even without WiFi.
- And a lot more…
Can Alexa play music from my phone?
Alexa can play music from your phone. Just pair your Alexa device with your smartphone via Bluetooth. Then link a streaming service to the Alexa app. You should then be able to ask Alexa to play music from there. Also, you may use your Alexa device to play locally-stored music from your phone.
How to play music from your phone on Alexa
Just a quick note before we begin.
The steps below assume that you’ve already set up your Alexa Echo device.
But if you haven’t, and this is the first time you’re using it…
Jump to the Bonus section for an easy-to-follow guide on how to set it up.
Now, let’s dive into the steps on how to play music on Alexa from your smartphone.
#1: Pair your smartphone with your Alexa device
To do that, just turn on your phone’s Bluetooth connection.
On both Android and iOS, you just need to swipe down from the top of the screen. And tap the Bluetooth icon.
Once it’s on, just say, “Alexa, pair.”
Your phone should then automatically pair with your Alexa device.
#2: Link your phone’s streaming service to Alexa
Whether you’re using Spotify, Apple Music, or something similar…
Alexa won’t be able to play any music unless you link the streaming service to the Alexa app.
So follow these steps to allow Alexa to access your streaming service app:
Step #1: Launch the Alexa app from your smartphone.
Step #2: From the home screen, tap the More icon. You can find it on the bottom right part.
Step #3: Select Settings. Then, look for Alexa Preferences. And tap Music & Podcasts.
Step #4: Under the Services tab, select Link New Service.
Step #5: Select the streaming service that you want Alexa to play music from.
Note: You won’t find Google Play Music or YouTube Music there. That’s because Amazon and Google are direct competitors. But there’s a workaround. And you may find it in the “Can I Bluetooth music from my phone to Alexa?” section.
Step #6: Click the Enable to Use button.
Step #7: Log in to your account on the streaming service.
Step #8: On this next page, you’ll see a message asking if you agree that Alexa will be able to:
- View your activity.
- View your account data.
- Take action on your behalf.
If you’re fine with those, tap the Agree button. This will grant Alexa permission to play music from your streaming service.
Step #9: Another window will open. This time, it’ll ask you if you want to set a default Music Service. Tap the Visit Music Settings button to do so.
Step #10: From the Music Settings, look for the Default Services tab. Under Music, select the streaming service that you just linked to Alexa.
That way, every time you ask Alexa to play music…
She’ll stream content from that particular service.
You might also want to know: 5 Sneaky Ways To Play Music On Alexa For Free
#3: Start playing music
At this point, you can now ask Alexa to play music from your phone. Just tell her the title or playlist that you want to listen to. And she’ll start playing it.
For example, if your default streaming service is Spotify…
You can say something like, “Alexa, play Spotify.”
Or, “Alexa, play any Taylor Swift song on Spotify.”
Alexa has many amazing music commands. So make sure to try them out and have fun.
Bonus: How to set up your Alexa Echo device
Now, before you can even ask Alexa to play music from your phone…
You have to set up your Alexa Echo device first. But the process is really easy. So this should only take you a few minutes.
Step #1: Download and install the Alexa app on your phone. It’s available on Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
Step #2: Plug your Alexa Echo device into an outlet. Then pay attention to the Alexa light. Wait for about a minute until you see it blinking orange.
You should then hear Alexa saying that your device is ready for setup.
Step #3: Open the Alexa app on your phone. Then tap Devices. Followed by the Plus icon.
Step #4: Select Add Device. Then select Amazon Echo.
Step #5: Select Echo Smart Speakers. It’ll then ask if your Alexa Echo’s plugged in. Click Yes.
Step #6: Wait for the app to find your Alexa device. It should appear under Available Devices once the app locates it. Then tap it.
Step #7: Select your WiFi Network. Afterward, you’ll see a message saying that your Echo is now connected. Tap Continue.
Step #8: Select the room location of your Alexa Echo device. Then click Continue.
Step #9: At this point, you’ll now have to enter your local address. This is so you can ask Alexa for reports such as weather or traffic in your area.
That’s it. Your Alexa’s now ready.
You may go back to the previous section. And follow the steps to get Alexa to play music from your phone.
Do you prefer a visual guide on setting up your Alexa device?
If so, watch this short video below:
People also ask:
Can Alexa play music from my phone without WiFi?
Alexa can’t play music from your phone without WiFi. That’s because the Alexa voice assistant can only work with an internet connection. Without WiFi, your Alexa device becomes a regular Bluetooth speaker. So you can play locally-stored music. But you won’t be able to ask Alexa to do it for you.
What makes the Alexa Echo device smart is a WiFi connection. And it’s through the internet that you can ask Alexa to play music from your preferred streaming service.
But even without WiFi, the Alexa device is still useful as a Bluetooth speaker.
And as long as you’ve saved offline music to your smartphone…
You’d be able to play it through the Alexa device.
How to play music from your phone to your Alexa device without WiFi
Step #1: Plug the Alexa device into an outlet.
Step #2: Turn on your phone’s Bluetooth connection.
Step #3: Pair the Alexa device with your smartphone.
On iOS, you can do it by going to Settings and then Bluetooth. When you see the Alexa speaker under My Devices, tap it.
On Android, just swipe from the top of the screen. Then press and hold the Bluetooth icon. From there, tap Pair new device. And select your Alexa speaker.
Step #4: Your phone’s now connected to your Alexa device. You may start playing any music from your files. And it should play through Alexa.
You might also want to know: 5 Things Alexa Can Do Without Internet
Can I Bluetooth music from my phone to Alexa?
You can Bluetooth music from your phone to Alexa. The Alexa device is also a Bluetooth speaker, after all. So just pair your phone with it. And then begin playing music. It could be locally-stored audio. Or music from a streaming service. It should then start playing through Alexa.
Now, I did mention that you won’t be able to link certain music services to Alexa. Including Google Music Play and Youtube Music.
And if you can’t link them…
You won’t be able to say something like, “Alexa, play a song from Google Music Play.”
But here’s the workaround:
Just treat Alexa as though it’s a regular Bluetooth speaker.
What I mean is, just pair your phone with the Alexa device.
Then, open your phone’s Google Music Play or Youtube Music app. And manually start playing music from there. It’ll then play through your Alexa speaker.
So, yes, it’ll be a bit more inconvenient. With no voice command.
But you’d still be able to enjoy music from your preferred streaming service. Even if the Alexa app won’t link to it.
Now, if you somehow couldn’t play music through Alexa via Bluetooth…
There are several easy fixes you can do.
Restart your phone and your Alexa device
When in doubt, restart.
It may very well be some minor glitch that’s keeping your phone from connecting to Alexa.
And there’s no easier fix than to restart.
With Alexa, all you have to do is unplug it from the outlet. And then plug it back after 1 to 2 minutes.
As for your phone, just press and hold its power button to switch it off. And again, wait a couple of minutes before turning it back on.
Update your Alexa device’s software
One of the most common causes of Alexa’s Bluetooth issues is outdated software.
Amazon periodically releases software updates for Alexa. Mainly to install new features. And to patch any software bug.
That’s why you should update it regularly. It’s really easy to do.
Just say, “Alexa, check for software updates.”
She’ll then start searching if there are any available. And if she finds one, she’ll start downloading and installing it.
Update your phone’s OS
It’s also possible that it’s your phone that has software issues. And not Alexa.
So you should also look for available updates. And install them.
How to update iOS
- From the home screen, tap the Settings icon.
- Tap General.
- Tap Software Update.
- If there are available updates, click Download and Install.
How to update Android
- Tap the Settings icon.
- Scroll down and select System.
- Select System Update.
- Download and install available updates.
Unpair and re-pair your phone with your Alexa device
If updating your phone and Alexa’s software didn’t do the trick…
Then you should unpair. And then re-pair them. This is essentially a way to reset their connection.
How to unpair a phone from Alexa
- Launch the Alexa app from your phone.
- Tap the Devices option.
- Select Echo & Alexa.
- Look for your Alexa device and select it.
- Click Bluetooth Devices.
- Find your phone and click Forget Device.
After this, close the app first. And wait for about a minute before relaunching it.
How to re-pair your phone with your Alexa device
- Turn on your phone’s Bluetooth connection.
- Move your phone close to within 30 feet of the Alexa device.
- Say, “Alexa, pair.”