The basic connection process
To play Spotify through Alexa, you need to link your Spotify account to your Alexa app or device, then set Spotify as your default music service. The whole process takes about five minutes and only requires that you have both a Spotify account and an Alexa device already set up.
Start by opening the Alexa app on your phone or tablet. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner, then select Settings. From there, go to Music & Podcasts, then tap Spotify. You will see a button that says Link Your Account or Connect. Tap it.
A Spotify login screen will appear. Enter your Spotify username and password, then tap Agree when Spotify asks permission to connect to Alexa. Once you see a confirmation message, the connection is complete. You can now ask Alexa to play songs, artists, or playlists from Spotify by saying "Alexa, play [song name] on Spotify" or straightforward "Alexa, play [song name]" if you set Spotify as your default.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Alexa app, go to Settings, then Music & Podcasts, find Spotify, and tap Link Your Account to start the connection.
- You will log into Spotify during the process and grant permission for Alexa to use your account.
- After linking, you can set Spotify as your default music service so you do not have to say "on Spotify" every time you ask for a song.
- The connection works on Echo devices, Fire tablets, and phones or tablets running the Alexa app.
- If the link fails, check that both apps are fully updated and that you are using the correct Spotify password.
Setting Spotify as your default music service
Once Spotify is linked, you can make it the service Alexa uses whenever you ask for music without naming a specific service. This saves you from saying "on Spotify" every single time.
In the Alexa app, go back to Settings, then Music & Podcasts. Look for Default Music Service or Default Music Library. Tap it and select Spotify from the list. Now when you say "Alexa, play jazz" or "Alexa, play my workout playlist," Alexa will pull from Spotify automatically.
Controlling playback with voice commands
Once Spotify is connected, you can control what plays using straightforward voice commands. The most common ones are "Alexa, play [song or artist name]," "Alexa, pause," "Alexa, resume," and "Alexa, next song."
You can also ask for specific playlists: "Alexa, play my Discover Weekly" or "Alexa, play the Today's Top Hits playlist." If you have a Spotify Premium account, you can skip songs freely. With a free Spotify account, you have limited skips, and Alexa will respect those limits — if you run out of skips, Alexa will tell you.
Volume control works the same way as with any other service: "Alexa, set volume to 5" or "Alexa, turn up the volume." You can also control playback from the Alexa app itself by tapping the music player at the bottom of the screen.
What to do if the connection fails
If you tap Link Your Account and nothing happens, or if you get an error message, start by checking that both the Alexa app and the Spotify app are updated to their latest versions. Open your phone's app store, search for each app, and tap Update if an update is available.
Next, sign out of the Alexa app completely, then sign back in. Go to Settings in the Alexa app, scroll to the bottom, and tap Sign Out. Close the app entirely, wait a few seconds, then reopen it and log back in with your Amazon account. After that, try linking Spotify again.
If you still see an error, try unlinking Spotify and relinking it. In the Alexa app, go to Settings > Music & Podcasts > Spotify, and look for an Unlink or Disconnect button. Tap it, wait 30 seconds, then tap Link Your Account again and log in fresh.
Using Spotify on different Alexa devices
Once you link Spotify to your Amazon account through the Alexa app, the connection carries over to all your Alexa devices — Echo speakers, Echo Dots, Fire tablets, and any other device running Alexa. You do not have to link Spotify separately on each device.
However, if you have multiple people in your household using different Amazon accounts, each person will need to link their own Spotify account to their own Amazon account. You can do this by having each person open the Alexa app on their phone, go to Settings > Music & Podcasts > Spotify, and link their Spotify account.
Switching between Spotify and other music services
If you have other music services linked to Alexa — such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, or YouTube Music — you can switch between them at any time. You do not have to unlink Spotify to use another service.
To play from a different service, straightforward say the service name in your command: "Alexa, play that song on Apple Music" or "Alexa, play jazz on Amazon Music." If you want to change your default service, go to Settings > Music & Podcasts > Default Music Service and pick a different one. Your Spotify account will stay linked and ready to use whenever you need it.
Troubleshooting playback problems
If Spotify is linked but Alexa will not play music, first check that your Spotify account is active and that you are not in offline mode. Open the Spotify app on your phone and try playing a song there. If Spotify works on your phone but not through Alexa, the problem is usually with the connection between the two apps.
Try saying the song name more clearly, or use the full artist name: instead of "Alexa, play Blinding Lights," try "Alexa, play Blinding Lights by The Weeknd." If Alexa still does not find the song, it may not be available on Spotify in your region, or the song title may be slightly different than you think.
If your Alexa device is not responding at all, check that it is connected to your Wi-Fi network. Look at the light ring on the device — if it is red or orange, the device is not connected. Restart the device by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Once the light turns blue or green, try playing music again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Spotify Premium to use Spotify with Alexa?
No. You can use Spotify Free with Alexa, though you will hear ads between songs and have limited skips. Spotify Premium removes ads and gives you unlimited skips, which makes the experience smoother on Alexa.
Can multiple people use their own Spotify accounts on the same Alexa device?
Yes, if they each have their own Amazon account. Each person links their Spotify account to their own Amazon account, then uses their own voice profile on the Alexa device. Alexa can recognize different voices and play music from the correct Spotify account.
What happens if I change my Spotify password?
You may need to relink Spotify to Alexa after changing your password. If Alexa stops playing music from Spotify, go to Settings > Music & Podcasts > Spotify and tap Unlink, then link your account again with your new password.
Can I use Spotify offline on Alexa?
No. Alexa devices require an internet connection to stream music from Spotify. If your Wi-Fi goes down, you cannot play Spotify through Alexa, even if you have downloaded songs in the Spotify app on your phone.
Why does Alexa play a different song than the one I asked for?
Alexa sometimes misunderstands song names or artist names, especially if they are uncommon or have unusual spelling. Try saying the full artist name along with the song title, or use the Alexa app to search for the song and tap it directly instead of using voice commands.