Connect Spotify to Alexa in three steps
To play Spotify through Alexa, you link your Spotify account to the Alexa app on your phone, then set Spotify as your default music service. Alexa will then play Spotify when you ask it to play a song, artist, or playlist — no extra steps needed each time. The whole process takes about five minutes and works on Echo devices, Fire tablets, and phones with Alexa installed.
You need a Spotify account (free or paid) and the Alexa app already set up on your phone or tablet. If you do not have the Alexa app yet, read it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store first, then sign in with your Amazon account.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Alexa app, go to More, then Music, and select Spotify to link your Spotify account.
- You must sign into Spotify during the linking process — Alexa cannot connect without your Spotify login.
- After linking, set Spotify as your default music service so Alexa plays Spotify when you ask for music by name.
- Once linked, you can ask Alexa to play songs, artists, playlists, or podcasts directly from Spotify on any of your Echo devices.
Open the Alexa app and find the Music settings
On your phone or tablet, open the Alexa app and tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu) in the bottom right corner. This opens a list of options. Scroll down and tap Music.
You will see a list of music services that Alexa can work with. Look for Spotify in that list and tap it. If you do not see Spotify, scroll down — it may be below the fold.
Sign in to your Spotify account
When you tap Spotify, the app will ask you to sign in. Enter the email address or username you use for Spotify, then enter your password. If you do not remember your Spotify password, tap "Forgot your password?" and Spotify will send you a reset link by email.
After you sign in, Spotify will ask for permission to let Alexa control your account. Tap the button that says Agree or Allow (the exact wording depends on your phone's operating system). This permission is required — Alexa cannot play Spotify without it.
Set Spotify as your default music service
After you sign in, go back to the Alexa app's Music settings. At the top of the Music page, you will see a section labeled Default Music Services or Your Music Library. Tap on it and select Spotify from the dropdown menu.
This step tells Alexa to use Spotify whenever you ask it to play music without naming a specific service. For example, if you say "Alexa, play jazz," it will play jazz from Spotify instead of from Amazon Music or another service.
Test your connection by asking Alexa to play music
Go to any Echo device in your home or use the Alexa app on your phone. Say "Alexa, play [song name]" or "Alexa, play [artist name]." Alexa should start playing from Spotify within a few seconds. If nothing happens, wait 30 seconds and try again — sometimes the connection takes a moment to set up.
You can also ask Alexa to play a specific playlist: "Alexa, play my Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify" or "Alexa, play the Chill Hits playlist." If you have a Spotify Premium account, you can skip songs and rewind. Free Spotify accounts can play songs but cannot skip or rewind on Alexa.
Troubleshoot if Spotify will not connect
If you see an error message when you try to sign in, check that you are using the correct Spotify email or username. Spotify accounts created through Facebook or Apple Sign-In sometimes use a different login than you expect — if you cannot remember, use Spotify's password reset tool on their website.
If Spotify linked but Alexa will not play music, make sure Spotify is set as your default music service (see the section above). Also check that your Spotify account is active — if your subscription lapsed, Spotify may have paused your account. You can reactivate it on Spotify's website.
If you linked Spotify but it disappeared from your Music settings, the connection may have expired. This sometimes happens if you change your Spotify password or have not used the connection in several months. straightforward go back to Music settings and link Spotify again — you will not lose any playlists or settings.
What you can do once Spotify is connected
Once Spotify is linked, you can control playback on any Echo device using voice commands. Say "Alexa, pause," "Alexa, next song," or "Alexa, volume up" to adjust playback without touching your phone. You can also ask Alexa to play music from your Spotify library, your playlists, or Spotify's public playlists.
If you have multiple Echo devices, Spotify will play on whichever device you are closest to or whichever one you specify. For example, "Alexa, play jazz in the kitchen" will play Spotify on your kitchen Echo device. You can also use the Alexa app to control which device is playing and switch between them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Spotify Premium to use Spotify with Alexa?
No. Free Spotify accounts work with Alexa, though you cannot skip songs or rewind on Echo devices — you can only pause and play. Premium accounts have full control. Both free and Premium accounts can ask Alexa to play specific songs, artists, or playlists.
Can I use Spotify on multiple Echo devices at the same time?
You can play Spotify on one Echo device at a time with a single Spotify account. If you try to play on a second device, it will stop playing on the first. If you want to play Spotify on multiple devices simultaneously, you need multiple Spotify accounts or a Spotify Family plan.
What if I change my Spotify password?
Alexa will disconnect from Spotify when you change your password. Go back to the Music settings in the Alexa app and link Spotify again using your new password. Your playlists and settings will remain the same.
Can I ask Alexa to play Spotify podcasts?
Yes. If a podcast is available on Spotify, you can ask Alexa to play it by name: "Alexa, play the Joe Rogan Experience on Spotify." Alexa will start the most recent episode. You can pause, skip forward, and skip backward on podcasts just like songs.
Why does Alexa sometimes play Amazon Music instead of Spotify?
This usually means Spotify is not set as your default music service, or the connection has expired. Open the Alexa app, go to Music settings, and check that Spotify is selected as your default. If it is not there, link Spotify again.