Connect Spotify to Alexa in three steps
To add Spotify to Alexa, you open the Alexa app on your phone, go to Settings, select Music, and link your Spotify account. Alexa will ask you to sign in with your Spotify username and password, then confirm that you want to connect the two services. Once linked, you can play any song, playlist, or artist by asking Alexa out loud — no phone needed after that.
The whole process takes about two minutes. You need a Spotify account (free or paid) and an Alexa device that is already set up and connected to your home Wi-Fi. If you do not have Spotify yet, you can create a free account at spotify.com before you start.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Alexa app, tap Settings, then Music, then select Spotify to link your account with your login details.
- After linking, Spotify becomes your default music service in Alexa, so voice commands like "Alexa, play jazz" will use Spotify automatically.
- You can change which song plays next, skip tracks, and adjust volume using voice commands or the Alexa app.
- If Spotify does not appear in the Music settings, restart the Alexa app or restart your Alexa device by unplugging it for 30 seconds.
Step-by-step: linking Spotify through the Alexa app
Step 1: Open the Alexa app on your phone (iPhone or Android). Tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner to open the menu.
Step 2: Tap Settings at the bottom of the menu. Then scroll down and tap Music.
Step 3: Look for Spotify in the list of music services. Tap it, then tap Link Account or Connect Account (the exact wording varies by phone type).
Step 4: Sign in to Spotify when the Spotify login page appears. Enter your Spotify username or email address and your password, then tap Log In.
Step 5: Confirm the connection when Spotify asks if you want to allow Alexa to access your account. Tap Agree or Allow. You will see a confirmation message that Spotify is now linked.
What to do if Spotify does not show up in Music settings
If you open Music settings and Spotify is not listed, the most common cause is that the Alexa app needs to refresh. Close the Alexa app completely (swipe it away from your recent apps list), wait 10 seconds, then open it again and go back to Settings > Music. Spotify should now appear.
If Spotify still does not show up, restart your Alexa device itself. Unplug it from the power outlet, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. The device will take about a minute to restart. Once the light ring stops spinning, open the Alexa app again and check Music settings.
If you are still not seeing Spotify after both restarts, make sure your Alexa device is connected to Wi-Fi. Open the Alexa app, tap Devices in the bottom right, select your device, and check that it shows a Wi-Fi network name. If it does not, your device has lost its connection and needs to be set up again.
How to set Spotify as your default music service
Once Spotify is linked, it automatically becomes the default service Alexa uses when you ask for music. This means if you say "Alexa, play the Beatles," Alexa will search Spotify first and play the song from there.
If you have multiple music services linked (like Amazon Music or Apple Music), you can change which one is default. Go to Settings > Music in the Alexa app, and you will see a Default Music Service option at the top. Tap it and select Spotify.
You can also tell Alexa to use a specific service in the moment by saying "Alexa, play jazz on Spotify" or "Alexa, play my workout playlist on Spotify." This overrides the default for just that one command.
Voice commands that work with Spotify on Alexa
Once Spotify is connected, you can control playback entirely by voice. Say "Alexa, play [song name]" to start a specific track. Say "Alexa, play [artist name]" to play a radio station based on that artist. Say "Alexa, play [playlist name]" to start one of your saved playlists.
To control what is playing, use these commands: "Alexa, pause," "Alexa, resume," "Alexa, next," or "Alexa, previous." You can also say "Alexa, turn up the volume" or "Alexa, set volume to 50 percent." If you want to hear what is currently playing, say "Alexa, what song is this?"
Some commands depend on your Spotify account type. If you have Spotify Premium, you can skip songs freely. If you have a free Spotify account, you may not be able to skip on demand in some regions — Alexa will tell you if a skip is not available.
Troubleshooting: Spotify stops playing or loses connection
If Spotify was working but now stops playing when you ask Alexa to play music, the connection may have dropped. The fastest fix is to unlink and relink Spotify. Go to Settings > Music in the Alexa app, tap Spotify, and look for an Unlink or Disconnect button. Tap it, then follow the three-step linking process again.
If Alexa plays music from a different service instead of Spotify, check your default music service setting. Go to Settings > Music and make sure Spotify is set as the default. If another service is listed first, tap it and change it to Spotify.
If your Alexa device is not connecting to the internet at all, Spotify will not work. Check that your Wi-Fi is working by opening a web browser on your phone and visiting a website. If Wi-Fi is down, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. Once Wi-Fi is back, Spotify should reconnect automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Spotify Premium to use Spotify on Alexa?
No. Spotify Free works with Alexa, though you may hear ads between songs and cannot skip on demand in some regions. Spotify Premium removes ads and gives you unlimited skips, but both account types work with Alexa voice commands.
Can I use Spotify on multiple Alexa devices at the same time?
You can link Spotify to your account once, and then use it on any Alexa device in your home. However, Spotify itself only plays on one device at a time — if you start playing music on one Alexa, it will pause on another. This is a Spotify limitation, not an Alexa one.
What happens if I unlink Spotify from Alexa?
If you unlink Spotify, Alexa will no longer be able to play music from Spotify. Your Spotify account itself is not affected — you can still use the Spotify app on your phone. To use Spotify on Alexa again, you just link it once more through the Alexa app settings.
Can I control Spotify on Alexa from the Alexa app instead of voice?
The Alexa app does not have a dedicated Spotify player. You control Spotify through voice commands or by using the Spotify app directly on your phone. The Alexa app shows you what is currently playing, but to pause, skip, or change songs, use voice commands or open Spotify on your phone.
Why does Alexa play from Amazon Music instead of Spotify?
Amazon Music is Alexa's built-in default music service. If you have not set Spotify as your default, Alexa will use Amazon Music when you ask for music. Go to Settings > Music in the Alexa app and change the Default Music Service to Spotify. After that, Alexa will search Spotify first.