How To Keep Alexa From Stopping Music Playback? 9 Steps

We all know how Alexa can make listening to music much easier, especially with its new music features.

However, it can also turn into a nightmare pretty fast when it starts malfunctioning.

Alexa may refuse to play music occasionally or stop the music playback after a while, which is irritating, but solving the issue is simple.

This checklist shows how to keep Alexa from stopping music playback in 9 easy steps:

1. Check for updates.
2. Restart Amazon Echo.
3. Check the internet connection.
4. Solve possible router or signal Issues.
5. Check your subscription.
6. Check your streaming devices.
7. Check your Echo and Amazon settings.
8. Make Prime the default music provider.
9. Disable explicit filter.

BONUS: Re-register Echo.

Continue reading to find out more details on troubleshooting Alexa and solve your music problem.

1. Check for Updates

First things first, check for any new updates for the Alexa app and install them.

Outdated software can cause music interruptions. Go to the app store you used to install your Alexa app, then search for the app. 

When it comes up, you will see an Update option if an update is available. 

2. Restart Amazon Echo

Restarting Amazon Echo may solve the issue if Alexa has stopped playing music.

Remove the power cable to cut Echo’s power and restart its cycle. Wait about 30 seconds and plug it back in.

Try playing music again and see if the issue disappears.

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3. Check the Internet Connection

The culprit for music randomly stopping could be a poor internet connection.

If your Wifi isn’t stable, Alexa will stop the music after a couple of songs, simply because it can load no more.

Disconnect other devices not currently in use and see if the problem continues. You may have to connect Alexa to a better Wifi.

4. Solve Possible Router or Signal Issues

Sometimes, the internet is working just fine, but the router and its signals have an issue. And in this case, your router is responsible.

If you have an old router, change it or increase your internet speed.

To solve the issue temporarily and improve the signal strength, try unplugging the router, waiting a minute, and then plugging it back in.

It would help a lot if you placed your Alexa device in the same room as your router, making it easier to catch up with the signals.

Connecting the device to your router’s 5GHz channel may also solve the problem.

If they’re in separate rooms, be sure not to put the device on the ground level and place it somewhere high.

Keep the Alexa device away from metal objects, baby monitors, microwaves, and anything that can interfere with its connection.

5. Check Your Subscription

You should have an active subscription to either Amazon Music Unlimited or Amazon Prime for Alexa to play music uninterruptedly.

You need to check your current subscription plans and make sure it’s not inactive or disabled:

1. Head to the official Amazon website specific to your country.
2. Log into your Amazon account.
3. At the top right corner of the screen, click on your name.
4. Select Memberships and Subscriptions so you can see your subscriptions. If you don’t see the option, look for Prime Membership.
5. If you find out that your subscription is inactive, take the necessary steps to renew it.

6. Check Your Streaming Devices

Amazon Prime Music has a streaming rule limit that doesn’t allow music streaming on more than one device at a given time.

This means if you have connected two or more devices to the same Amazon account, you can’t play any songs through the Amazon app or any other Echo device. 

You’ll need to delink the other gadgets from the Amazon account first.

Moreover, ensure your device links to an Amazon account with Prime membership.

If your Echo device connects to different Amazon accounts, you should sign it to the one with Prime membership if you want to listen to Amazon Prime Music.

Use the “Alexa switch user” or “Alexa switch profile” command to change the user account.

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7. Check Your Echo and Amazon Settings

If your Amazon location is set to one country and your Alexa to another, it may raise issues with playing music.

To set your Amazon location the same as Alexa’s:

1. Head to the Amazon website and click on Account and Lists at the top right corner.
2. Choose Content and Device, and then sign in with your login credentials.
3. Head to the Preferences tab and select Country/Region.
4. Click on the Change button and set the location the same as your Alexa device.
5. Once you’ve filled up the form, click on Update.

You need to do the same for the Amazon Echo’s location, as well:

1. Open the Alexa app and click on the Devices section from the bottom right corner.
2. Select the Echo and Alexa option.
3. Look for the device location settings and set it to your current region.

8. Make Prime As the Default Music Provider

If you’ve added different music providers in the Alexa app, you need to set Amazon Prime as the default.

1. Open up the Alexa app and select the icon with three bars at the top of the screen.
2. Select Settings and choose Music.
3. Now select Default Services and choose Amazon Music.

9. Disable Explicit Filter

Amazon Music and Spotify have a feature that can block songs with explicit lyrics.

Alexa will stop or block these types of songs unless you disable the explicit filter.

1. Open up the Alexa app and click on the menu icon from the top right corner.
2. Click on Settings and choose Music under Alexa Permission.
3. Under the Account Settings, tap on the Explicit Filter option and turn it off.

BONUS: Re-Register Echo

Remove and deregister the Echo device from your Alexa app to solve the error as a last resort.

1. Open the Alexa app and select Devices located at the bottom right corner.
2. Next, select the Echo and Alexa option and then choose the name of your device.
3. Scroll down and tap on the Deregister option.
4. Add the device to your Alexa app as you did before to re-register and solve the issue.

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Frequently Asked Question

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Why Does My Alexa Keep Cutting Out When Playing Music?

If the song cuts out for a few seconds at a time when Alexa is streaming music, then the issue is probably Wifi or signal-related. You need to make sure your internet speed is sufficient and that your router is strong enough to get the signal to your Alexa device. 

Disconnect other devices connected to the same internet. Try moving the device close to the router and putting it at a high level.

Move it away from any metal objects, microwaves, baby monitors, and thick walls.

How Do I Get Alexa To Keep Playing Music?

If you want Alexa to keep playing a song, an album, or a playlist, you first need to request it to play using the proper voice command. When it starts playing, wait for the blue light to go out. 

Then say, “Alexa, loop.” Alexa will respond with “loop mode on,” and it’ll play the song on repeat or go through the album over and over.

Final Words

As you can see, solving Alexa music streaming issues have simple solutions, and if you put a bit of time into it, you can bring everything back to normal soon enough.

From disabling explicit filters, checking your Echo settings and subscriptions to your internet and music provider, there are many steps you can take. 

Listening to your favorite music, album, playlist, and even daily music news updates with the help of Alexa’s new feature called “Today in Music” could not be easier.

Learn more: Can Alexa light up to music?