How to Connect Spotify to Alexa and Play Music by Voice

Connect Spotify to Alexa through the Alexa app

To connect Spotify to Alexa, open the Alexa app on your phone or tablet, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right, and select Settings. Scroll down and tap Music & Podcasts, then tap Spotify. Tap Link Account and sign in with your Spotify username and password. Once you see a confirmation screen, the connection is complete.

After linking, Spotify becomes available as a music source in Alexa. You can now ask Alexa to play songs, artists, playlists, or podcasts from Spotify by voice. If you have multiple Alexa devices in your home, you only need to link Spotify once — it works across all of them.

The connection requires an active Spotify account. A free Spotify account works, though you may hear ads between songs. A Spotify Premium subscription removes ads and lets you skip songs freely.

Key Takeaways

Open the Alexa app, go to Settings > Music & Podcasts > Spotify, and tap Link Account to connect your Spotify account.
Once linked, you can ask Alexa to play any song, artist, playlist, or podcast available on Spotify by voice command.
Both free and Premium Spotify accounts work with Alexa, though Premium removes ads and allows skipping.
If Spotify stops playing or won't respond to voice commands, unlinking and relinking the account usually fixes the problem.

Set Spotify as your default music service

By default, Alexa may use Amazon Music when you ask it to play a song. To make Spotify the default instead, open the Alexa app and go to Settings > Music & Podcasts. Under Default Music Library, select Spotify. Now when you say "Alexa, play jazz," it will search Spotify first rather than Amazon Music.

You can still override this by saying "Alexa, play jazz on Amazon Music" or naming any other music service you have linked. Setting a default just changes what happens when you don't specify which service to use.

Voice commands that work with Spotify on Alexa

Once Spotify is linked, you can use these voice commands with any Alexa device:

"Alexa, play [song name]"
"Alexa, play [artist name]"
"Alexa, play [playlist name]"
"Alexa, play [podcast name]"
"Alexa, play music from the 80s"
"Alexa, pause" or "Alexa, resume"
"Alexa, next song" or "Alexa, skip"
"Alexa, previous song"
"Alexa, turn up the volume" or "Alexa, set volume to 5"
"Alexa, add this song to my liked songs"

Alexa understands natural speech, so you don't need to say commands exactly as written. "Play some Taylor Swift" works just as well as "Alexa, play Taylor Swift." If Alexa doesn't find what you're asking for, it will tell you and suggest alternatives.

Troubleshoot when Spotify won't play on Alexa

If Spotify is linked but won't play when you give a voice command, first check that Spotify is set as your default music service (see the section above). If it is and songs still won't play, try unlinking and relinking your account. Open the Alexa app, go to Settings > Music & Podcasts > Spotify, and tap Unlink Account. Wait a few seconds, then tap Link Account again and sign in.

If relinking doesn't work, restart your Alexa device by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in. Then try playing a song again. If the problem continues, check that your Spotify account is active and that you have not hit any playback limits on a free account (Spotify free sometimes pauses playback after a certain number of skips per hour).

Make sure your Alexa device and phone are on the same Wi-Fi network. If they are on different networks, Alexa may not be able to reach Spotify. You can check your device's network in the Alexa app under Devices > [Your Device] > Device Settings > Wi-Fi Network.

Use Spotify on multiple Alexa devices at once

Once you link Spotify to your Amazon account, it works on every Alexa device registered to that account. You can play different songs on different devices in different rooms at the same time. Each device plays independently — playing music on your kitchen Echo does not stop music playing on your bedroom Echo.

If you share an Alexa device with other people in your home, they can also play Spotify on that device using their own voice. Alexa recognizes different voices and can pull up each person's Spotify account, liked songs, and playlists when they ask. To set this up, each person needs their own Amazon account linked to the shared Alexa device.

Understand what Spotify information Alexa can access

When you link Spotify to Alexa, you give Alexa permission to read your Spotify account. This means Alexa can see your playlists, liked songs, and listening history. Alexa uses this information to understand voice commands better — for example, if you have a playlist called "Running Mix," Alexa will recognize that name when you ask to play it.

Alexa cannot change your Spotify password, delete your account, or make purchases on your behalf. You can unlink Spotify from Alexa at any time by going to Settings > Music & Podcasts > Spotify > Unlink Account. Unlinking removes Alexa's access to your Spotify account but does not delete your Spotify account or any of your playlists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Spotify on Alexa if I have a free account?

Yes. Free Spotify accounts work with Alexa, though you will hear ads between songs and cannot skip as freely as Premium members. If ads interrupt your listening, upgrading to Spotify Premium removes them and gives you unlimited skips.

Why does Alexa play Amazon Music instead of Spotify?

Alexa defaults to Amazon Music when you don't specify which service to use. To change this, open the Alexa app, go to Settings > Music & Podcasts, and set Spotify as your Default Music Library. After that, voice commands will use Spotify first.

Can I control Spotify on Alexa from my phone?

You can control playback through the Alexa app on your phone — pause, skip, adjust volume, and change songs. However, you cannot control Spotify on Alexa through the Spotify app itself. The Spotify app only controls Spotify on devices where Spotify is installed, not on Alexa devices.

What happens if I unlink Spotify from Alexa?

Unlinking removes Alexa's access to your Spotify account. You will no longer be able to play Spotify through Alexa voice commands. Your Spotify account, playlists, and listening history remain unchanged. You can link it again at any time by following the steps in the first section.

Can multiple people use their own Spotify accounts on one Alexa device?

Yes. Alexa recognizes different voices and can switch between Spotify accounts when different people give commands. Each person needs their own Amazon account linked to the shared Alexa device. When you speak, Alexa pulls up your Spotify account and playlists.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.