Linking Spotify to Alexa takes about five minutes and happens in the Alexa app
To connect Spotify to Alexa, open the Amazon Alexa app on your phone, go to More (the three horizontal lines at the bottom right), then Settings, then Music and Podcasts. Tap Spotify, then Link Account. You'll be taken to Spotify's login page — sign in with your Spotify username and password. Once you confirm, Spotify becomes your default music service in Alexa, and you can ask Alexa to play songs, artists, playlists, or podcasts from Spotify by voice.
The connection works on any Alexa device you own — Echo speakers, Echo Dots, Echo Shows, or even the Alexa app itself on your phone. Once linked, you don't have to repeat the setup on each device; they all use the same Spotify account automatically.
Key Takeaways
- You need a Spotify account (free or paid) and the Alexa app installed on your phone to start the connection.
- The linking happens inside the Alexa app under Settings > Music and Podcasts > Spotify, not inside Spotify itself.
- After linking, you can play any Spotify content by voice — just say "Alexa, play [song name]" or "Alexa, play my [playlist name]".
- If you have multiple Alexa devices, they all connect to the same Spotify account once you link it once.
- You can change which music service Alexa uses by default, or ask Alexa to play from a specific service each time.
What you need before you start
You need two things: a Spotify account and an Alexa device that's already set up and connected to your home Wi-Fi. The Spotify account can be the free tier or a paid subscription — both work the same way with Alexa. If you don't have Spotify yet, you can create a free account at spotify.com before you begin the linking process.
You also need the Amazon Alexa app on your phone (iOS or Android). If you set up your Alexa device using the app, you already have it. If you set up your device another way, download the Alexa app from the App Store or Google Play Store and sign in with the same Amazon account you used for your Alexa device.
Step-by-step linking in the Alexa app
Open the Alexa app and tap the More button at the bottom right (it looks like three horizontal lines). From the menu that appears, tap Settings. Scroll down and tap Music and Podcasts.
On the Music and Podcasts screen, you'll see a list of music services. Tap Spotify. The next screen will show a Link Account button — tap it. You'll be taken to Spotify's website or app, where you'll see a login screen asking for your Spotify username (or email) and password. Enter your credentials and tap Log In.
After you log in, Spotify will ask you to confirm that you want to allow Alexa to access your account. Tap Agree or Confirm (the exact wording varies). You'll be sent back to the Alexa app, and Spotify will now appear as your default music service. The linking is complete.
Using voice commands after linking
Once Spotify is linked, you can control it entirely by voice. Say "Alexa, play [song name]" to play a specific track — for example, "Alexa, play Blinding Lights" will play The Weeknd's song. You can also ask for artists ("Alexa, play music by Taylor Swift"), playlists ("Alexa, play my Discover Weekly"), albums ("Alexa, play the album Midnights"), or podcasts ("Alexa, play the podcast Serial").
You can pause, resume, skip, or repeat by saying "Alexa, pause," "Alexa, resume," "Alexa, next," or "Alexa, repeat." If you want to play from a different music service even though Spotify is your default, you can say "Alexa, play [song] on Apple Music" or "Alexa, play [song] on Amazon Music," and Alexa will use that service instead.
Changing your default music service or unlinking Spotify
If you want to set a different music service as your default instead of Spotify, go back to Settings > Music and Podcasts in the Alexa app. Tap the service you want to use by default, and it will replace Spotify as your primary choice. Spotify will still be linked to your account — you just won't use it when you don't specify a service by name.
To unlink Spotify completely, go to Settings > Music and Podcasts > Spotify and tap Unlink Account. This removes Spotify from your Alexa account and stops Alexa from accessing your Spotify library. You can link it again anytime by following the same steps.
Troubleshooting common linking problems
If the Link Account button doesn't appear or is grayed out, make sure you're signed into the Alexa app with the correct Amazon account and that your Alexa device is online and connected to Wi-Fi. If the button still doesn't show, try closing the Alexa app completely and opening it again.
If you see an error message when you try to log into Spotify, double-check that your Spotify username and password are correct. If you've forgotten your Spotify password, go to spotify.com, click Log In, then Can't log in? to reset it. After you reset your password, try linking again in the Alexa app.
If Alexa plays music from a different service even though Spotify is linked, check your default music service setting. Go to Settings > Music and Podcasts and make sure Spotify is set as the default. If it is, try unlinking and relinking Spotify to refresh the connection.
What happens to your Spotify data when you link
When you link Spotify to Alexa, Amazon can see your Spotify username, which playlists and songs you listen to, and your listening history. This data is used to make Alexa's voice commands work — so Alexa knows which playlist to play when you ask for it by name. Amazon stores this data according to its privacy policy, which you can read at amazon.com/privacy.
Your Spotify password is never shared with Amazon. Spotify only gives Alexa permission to play music on your behalf; it doesn't give Amazon access to change your password, delete your account, or access any other Spotify services. If you're uncomfortable with Amazon seeing your listening history, you can unlink Spotify anytime, and the connection will be severed immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Spotify with multiple Alexa devices at the same time?
Yes. Once you link Spotify to your Amazon account, all your Alexa devices can play from it. You can play music on one device while another device plays something else, or you can use multi-room audio to play the same song across multiple devices at once. Multi-room audio is set up in the Alexa app under Devices.
Do I need a paid Spotify subscription to use it with Alexa?
No. Spotify Free works with Alexa, though you may hear ads between songs. Spotify Premium removes ads and lets you skip songs without limits. Both versions link and work the same way with Alexa.
What if I change my Spotify password after linking?
Your Alexa connection will keep working. You don't need to relink Spotify just because you changed your password. However, if Alexa stops playing Spotify music for any reason, unlinking and relinking may fix it.
Can I ask Alexa to play a specific song if I don't remember the exact name?
Alexa will do its best to find what you're asking for. If you say "Alexa, play that song with the lyrics about rain," Alexa may not find it. But if you say "Alexa, play songs like The Weeknd," Alexa will create a station based on that artist. For best results, use artist names, song titles, or playlist names you know are correct.
Will linking Spotify drain my phone battery or use a lot of data?
No. Once Spotify is linked, your Alexa device streams music directly from Spotify's servers over your Wi-Fi — your phone isn't involved. The linking itself uses almost no data, and playing music through Alexa uses no more data than playing it through the Spotify app on your phone.