Connect Spotify to Alexa through the Alexa app
The fastest way to connect Spotify to Alexa is through the Alexa app on your phone. Open the app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right, then select Settings. Scroll down and tap Music & Podcasts, then tap Spotify. You'll see a button that says Link Account — tap it, and you'll be taken to Spotify's login page. Sign in with your Spotify username and password, then confirm that you want to allow Alexa to access your account. Once you see the confirmation screen, the connection is complete.
If you already have Spotify linked to Alexa but want to change which Spotify account is connected, go back to that same Music & Podcasts menu and tap Spotify again. You'll see an option to Unlink Account — tap it first, then follow the linking steps above with your different Spotify login.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Alexa app, go to Settings, then Music & Podcasts, select Spotify, and tap Link Account to connect your Spotify account.
- You must sign in with your actual Spotify username and password during the linking process — Alexa cannot connect without your permission.
- After linking, you can say "Alexa, play [song name] on Spotify" or "Alexa, play [playlist name]" to start music on any Alexa device in your home.
- If you want to switch to a different Spotify account, unlink the current one first, then link the new account using the same steps.
Set Spotify as your default music service
Once Spotify is linked, you can make it your default so you don't have to say "on Spotify" every time. In the Alexa app, go back to Settings > Music & Podcasts and look for Default Music Service. Tap it and select Spotify from the list. Now when you ask Alexa to play a song without naming a service, it will use Spotify automatically.
If you have multiple music services linked (like Apple Music or Amazon Music), you can switch your default at any time by going back to that same menu. Alexa will remember whichever one you choose last.
Play music by saying commands to Alexa
After linking Spotify, you can control playback with your voice. Say "Alexa, play [song name]" to start a specific song, "Alexa, play [artist name]" to play songs by that artist, or "Alexa, play [playlist name]" to start a saved playlist. You can also say "Alexa, play my Discover Weekly" or "Alexa, play my Release Radar" to access Spotify's personalized playlists.
To control what's playing, use commands like "Alexa, pause," "Alexa, resume," "Alexa, next song," or "Alexa, previous song." You can also adjust volume by saying "Alexa, set volume to 5" or "Alexa, turn it up." These commands work on any Alexa device in your home that has Spotify linked to the same account.
Troubleshoot if Spotify won't connect
If you see an error when trying to link Spotify, first check that you're using the correct Spotify login. Spotify accounts created through Facebook or Apple sign-in sometimes cause problems — if that's you, go to Spotify's website, click your profile, select Account, and set a password under Password. Then try linking Alexa again using that password instead.
If linking still fails, sign out of the Alexa app completely, close it, and sign back in. Then try the linking process again from the beginning. If you're still stuck, unlink any other music services you have connected (like Amazon Music), then try linking Spotify alone. Sometimes having multiple services causes conflicts during the initial setup.
Make sure your Alexa device itself is up to date — in the Alexa app, go to Devices, select your device, tap the gear icon, and scroll down to check the firmware version. If an update is available, the app will show it there. Restart your Alexa device by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in, and try linking again.
Use Spotify on multiple Alexa devices
Once Spotify is linked to your Amazon account, any Alexa device registered to that same account can play Spotify music. You don't need to link Spotify separately for each device — the connection happens at the account level, not the device level. If you have an Echo in your bedroom and another in your kitchen, both can play Spotify as long as they're registered to the same Amazon account.
If you want different people in your household to use their own Spotify accounts on the same Alexa device, each person needs to set up their own Amazon account and register the device to their account. Then each person can link their own Spotify account through their own Alexa app. When someone asks Alexa to play music, it will use whichever Spotify account is linked to their Amazon profile.
Control Spotify playback from your phone too
While Spotify is playing on Alexa, you can control it from the Spotify app on your phone. Open Spotify, look for the Connect to a device icon (it looks like a speaker with a dot), and select your Alexa device from the list. Now you can pause, skip, or change the volume from your phone, and the changes will happen on your Alexa device immediately.
This is useful if you're in the same room as the Alexa device but don't want to speak a command, or if you want to queue up songs on your phone while someone else is listening. The Spotify app shows you exactly what's playing and lets you see the queue of upcoming songs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a paid Spotify account to use Spotify on Alexa?
No, Spotify Free works with Alexa. However, Spotify Free has some limitations — you can't skip as many songs per hour, and you'll hear ads between tracks. Spotify Premium removes these limits and gives you better sound quality.
Can I use Spotify on Alexa if I share my account with family members?
Yes, but only one person can control playback at a time. If two people try to play different songs simultaneously on different devices, the second command will interrupt the first. Spotify Family plans let each family member have their own account, which avoids this problem.
What if I forget to unlink Spotify before giving away my Alexa device?
Unlink Spotify from the Alexa app before the device leaves your hands. If you've already given it away, sign into your Amazon account online, go to your devices, select the old Alexa device, and remove it. This will unlink Spotify and any other services from that device remotely.
Why does Alexa sometimes play a different song than the one I asked for?
Alexa's voice recognition sometimes mishears song or artist names, especially if they're uncommon or have unusual spelling. Try using the Spotify app on your phone to queue the exact song you want, then use the Connect feature to send it to Alexa instead of using voice commands.