Connect Apple Music through the Alexa app on your phone

The fastest way to add Apple Music to Alexa is through the Alexa app. Open the app on your iPhone or Android phone, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right, and select Settings. Then tap Music and Podcasts, find Apple Music in the list, and tap it. You'll see a button that says Link Account — tap that, and you'll be taken to sign in with your Apple ID. Once you sign in, Apple Music becomes available on any Alexa device in your home.

The whole process takes about two minutes. After you link your account, you can ask Alexa to play any song, artist, or playlist from Apple Music by saying things like "Alexa, play Taylor Swift on Apple Music" or "Alexa, play my Workout playlist." If you don't specify Apple Music in your request, Alexa will use whatever music service you set as your default — you can change that default in the same Music and Podcasts settings menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Alexa app, go to Settings, then Music and Podcasts, find Apple Music, and tap Link Account to connect your Apple ID.
  • After linking, you can play any Apple Music song or playlist on any Alexa device in your home by voice command.
  • You need an active Apple Music subscription — Alexa cannot play Apple Music if your subscription has expired.
  • If you want Alexa to default to Apple Music instead of another service, change your default music service in the Music and Podcasts settings.

What you need before you start

You'll need three things: an Alexa device that's already set up and connected to your Wi-Fi, an iPhone or Android phone with the Alexa app installed, and an active Apple Music subscription. The subscription can be a personal plan, a family plan, or a student plan — any of them work. If your subscription has lapsed, you'll need to renew it through the Apple Music app or through your Apple ID settings before Alexa can play anything.

The Alexa device itself doesn't need to be an Echo — the process works the same way on Echo Dots, Echo Shows, Echo Studios, and other Alexa-enabled speakers. You also don't need to be in the same room as the device when you link your account; you just need the Alexa app open on your phone and an internet connection.

Set Apple Music as your default music service

By default, Alexa might use Amazon Music or another service when you ask it to play something without naming a specific service. To make Apple Music the default instead, open the Alexa app, go to Settings, tap Music and Podcasts, and look for Default Music Service. Tap that option and select Apple Music from the list. Now when you say "Alexa, play something relaxing," it will pull from Apple Music instead of Amazon Music.

This setting applies to all Alexa devices in your home that use the same Amazon account. If you have multiple people in your household with different Amazon accounts, each person can set their own default music service in their own Alexa app.

Play music using voice commands

Once Apple Music is linked, you can control playback entirely by voice. Say "Alexa, play [song name] on Apple Music" to play a specific track. Say "Alexa, play [artist name]" to hear their top songs. Say "Alexa, play my [playlist name]" to play a playlist you've created in Apple Music. You can also ask for music by mood or activity: "Alexa, play workout music on Apple Music" or "Alexa, play chill music on Apple Music."

You can pause, skip, and adjust volume with voice commands too: "Alexa, pause," "Alexa, next song," or "Alexa, volume up." If you've created playlists in Apple Music on your iPhone, those playlists sync to Alexa and you can request them by name. The same goes for your library — any songs you've added to your library in the Apple Music app will show up when you ask Alexa to play them.

Troubleshoot if Apple Music won't play

If you've linked Apple Music but Alexa says it can't find songs or won't play anything, the most common cause is an expired subscription. Check your Apple Music status in the Apple Music app on your phone — if it says your subscription has ended, renew it before trying again. The second most common issue is that your Alexa device lost its internet connection. Restart your device by unplugging it for 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and waiting for the light ring to turn blue.

If restarting doesn't work, try unlinking and relinking Apple Music. Go back to Settings > Music and Podcasts > Apple Music in the Alexa app and look for an option to unlink or remove the account. Then tap Link Account again and sign in with your Apple ID. Sometimes the connection gets stuck and a fresh link fixes it. If you're still having trouble after that, check that your Alexa device is running the latest software — go to Settings > Device Settings > [your device name] > About and look for a software update option.

Use Alexa with Apple Music on multiple devices

Once you've linked Apple Music to your Amazon account, it's available on every Alexa device connected to that account. You don't have to link it separately on each device. If you have an Echo in your bedroom, an Echo Dot in the kitchen, and an Echo Show in the living room, you can play Apple Music on any of them without doing anything extra.

You can play the same song on multiple devices at once, or different songs on different devices. If you want to play the same music throughout your home, use Alexa Groups — create a group in the Alexa app that includes multiple devices, then ask Alexa to play music on that group by name. For example, if you've created a group called "Whole House," you can say "Alexa, play my Workout playlist on Whole House" and it will play on every device in that group.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an Apple device to use Apple Music with Alexa?

No. You need an Apple Music subscription and an iPhone or Android phone to link the account through the Alexa app, but after that, any Alexa device can play Apple Music. You don't need an iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. The Alexa device itself can be any brand that runs Alexa software.

Can multiple people in my house use their own Apple Music accounts on the same Alexa device?

Yes, if each person has their own Amazon account set up on the Alexa app. Each person can link their own Apple Music account in their own Alexa app settings. When someone uses voice commands, Alexa will play from whichever Apple Music account is linked to their Amazon account. However, only one account can be the default at a time on the physical device.

What happens if my Apple Music subscription expires?

Alexa will stop playing Apple Music and will show an error message saying your subscription is inactive. Renew your subscription through the Apple Music app or your Apple ID settings, and Alexa will start working again within a few minutes. You don't need to relink your account.

Can I play Apple Music playlists I've shared with me by other people?

Yes, if they've shared a playlist with your Apple ID. The playlist will appear in your Apple Music library, and you can ask Alexa to play it by name. Shared playlists sync to Alexa the same way your own playlists do.

Is there a way to use Apple Music on Alexa without the Alexa app?

No. You must use the Alexa app on a phone to link your Apple Music account. You cannot link it through a web browser or through the device itself. Once it's linked, you can control playback with voice commands alone, but the initial setup requires the app.