For Apple Music subscribers eager to enjoy their favorite tunes on Amazon Echo devices, the good news is that integration is seamless. Playing your preferred Apple Music playlists, artists, songs, and radio stations through Alexa is straightforward, enhancing your smart home audio experience. This guide will walk you through the steps to effortlessly connect Alexa to Apple Music, ensuring you can start enjoying your music hands-free.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Before diving into the setup process, ensure you have the following prerequisites in place. These are essential for a smooth and successful connection between Alexa and Apple Music:
- An Active Apple Music Subscription: This is the most crucial requirement. You need a valid Apple Music subscription to access its library through Alexa. If you’re not yet subscribed, you can easily sign up on your iPhone or iPad or your Android device.
- An Alexa-Enabled Device: This could be any Amazon Echo device, an Amazon Fire TV, or an Alexa-integrated Sonos speaker. Ensure your device is already set up and connected to your Amazon account via the Amazon Alexa app.
- A Smartphone or Tablet with the Alexa App: You’ll need either an iOS or Android device with the Amazon Alexa app installed. Keep both your device’s operating system and the Alexa app updated to the latest versions for optimal compatibility and performance. For iOS, update to the latest iOS version. Android users should check the Google Play Store for updates to both the Apple Music and Amazon Alexa apps.
Once you’ve confirmed these prerequisites, you’re ready to link your accounts and bring your Apple Music library to your Alexa devices.
Step-by-Step Guide: Linking Apple Music to Alexa
Connecting Apple Music to Alexa is a simple process that takes just a few minutes. Follow these steps to link your accounts and unlock a world of music on your Alexa devices:
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Open the Amazon Alexa App: Launch the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet. This is your control center for managing Alexa skills and settings.
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Navigate to “Music & Podcasts”: In the Alexa app, locate and tap the “More” tab, usually found at the bottom right corner of the screen. From the “More” menu, select “Music & Podcasts”.
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Link a New Service: Under the “Music & Podcasts” settings, you’ll see a section labeled “Link New Services.” Tap on “Apple Music” from the list of available services.
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Enable Apple Music Skill: On the Apple Music page, tap the “Enable To Use” button. This initiates the linking process between Alexa and Apple Music.
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Go to Settings: After tapping “Enable To Use,” you might be redirected or need to tap “Settings” to proceed with account linking.
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Link Your Account: Tap “Link Account.” You will be redirected to an Apple sign-in page.
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Sign in with Your Apple ID: Enter your Apple ID and password to sign in to your Apple Account. If you use two-factor authentication, you may need to get help signing in by entering a verification code sent to your trusted device or phone number.
Once you’ve successfully signed in, your Apple Music account is now linked to Alexa. You can start requesting music from Apple Music on your Alexa-enabled devices.
Setting Apple Music as Your Default Music Service
To make your music experience even more seamless, you can set Apple Music as your default music service on Alexa. This way, you won’t need to specify “on Apple Music” every time you make a music request. Here’s how to set it up:
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Open the Alexa App and Go to “Music & Podcasts”: Repeat steps 1 and 2 from the previous section to access the “Music & Podcasts” settings in the Alexa app.
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Tap “Default Services”: Within the “Music & Podcasts” menu, find and tap on “Default Services.”
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Choose Apple Music as Default: Under the “Music” section, tap on the currently selected default music service (if any). Then, choose “Apple Music” from the list of options.
Now, Apple Music is set as your default music service. When you ask Alexa to play music, it will automatically source it from your Apple Music library unless you specify otherwise.
How to Play Music Using Alexa Voice Commands
With Apple Music linked and potentially set as your default, you can now use voice commands to control your music playback on Alexa. Here are some examples of what you can ask Alexa to play:
- Specific Songs or Artists: “Alexa, play [Song Title] by [Artist Name].” For example, “Alexa, play ‘Blinding Lights’ by The Weeknd.”
- Genres or Moods: “Alexa, play [Genre] music on Apple Music.” For example, “Alexa, play Chill music on Apple Music,” or if Apple Music is default, simply “Alexa, play Chill music.”
- Apple Music Radio Stations: “Alexa, play [Radio Station Name] radio on Apple Music.” For example, “Alexa, play Hits radio on Apple Music.”
- Playlists from Apple Music or Your Library: “Alexa, play my [Playlist Name] playlist on Apple Music.” Or, “Alexa, play [Apple Music Playlist Name] playlist on Apple Music.”
For an enhanced listening experience, especially if you have multiple Echo devices, consider creating a Multi-Room Music group in the Alexa app. This feature allows you to play Apple Music in stereo or across multiple rooms simultaneously.
Unlinking Apple Music from Alexa
If you decide to unlink your Apple Music account from Alexa, perhaps for privacy reasons or to switch default services, you can easily do so:
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Go to “Music & Podcasts” in the Alexa App: Navigate to the “Music & Podcasts” settings as described in the previous steps.
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Select Apple Music: Under the “Services” section, tap on “Apple Music.”
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Disable Skill: Tap the “Disable Skill” button. This will unlink your Apple Music account from Alexa.
After disabling the skill, Alexa will no longer be able to access your Apple Music library until you relink the service.
Need Help?
If you encounter any issues during the setup or while using Apple Music with Alexa, Amazon and Apple provide support resources:
- Amazon Support: For help with Alexa, your Echo device, or Fire TV, visit Amazon’s Help Center.
- Sonos Support: If you are using a Sonos speaker, get assistance from Sonos Support.
- Apple Support: For issues related to your Apple Music subscription or Apple ID, visit Apple Support.
Enjoy the convenience of controlling your Apple Music with Alexa, bringing your favorite music to every corner of your home with just your voice!
Apple Music for Alexa is available in various countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many more. Check the availability in your region in the original article.
Disclaimer: Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement.
