Amazon Alexa devices are incredibly versatile, acting as smart home hubs, communication tools, and, of course, fantastic music players. While Alexa can directly access a variety of music services, sometimes you want to play music directly from your phone. Whether it’s a unique playlist, a song not available on mainstream services, or simply the convenience of controlling playback from your device, playing music from your phone on Alexa is easier than you might think.
This guide will walk you through several methods to seamlessly connect your phone to your Alexa device and enjoy your personalized soundtracks. We’ll cover both direct integrations with popular music streaming services and the universal Bluetooth connection, ensuring you can play music from virtually any app on your phone through your Alexa speaker.
Playing Music Through Integrated Services on Alexa
Alexa boasts native integration with several major music streaming platforms. This allows for voice-controlled music playback and a smooth, user-friendly experience. If you subscribe to services like Apple Music, Amazon Music, or Spotify, linking them to your Alexa account unlocks a world of musical possibilities.
How to Play Apple Music From Your Phone on Alexa
Apple Music, with its vast library of over 90 million songs, is a favorite for many music lovers. Fortunately, integrating Apple Music with Alexa is straightforward, allowing you to request your favorite tracks and playlists with simple voice commands.
To get started, ensure you have the Alexa app installed on your phone and your Amazon Echo device is set up. Then, follow these steps to link your Apple Music account:
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Launch the Alexa App: Find and open the Alexa app on your smartphone. This is your central control for managing your Alexa devices and settings.
Alexa app icon on a smartphone -
Access the Main Menu: In the Alexa app, locate and tap the menu icon, typically represented by three horizontal lines, usually found in the top-left corner of the screen.
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Navigate to Music Settings: From the menu, select “Settings.” Then, scroll down and tap on “Music & Podcasts.” This section manages your music service integrations with Alexa.
Music & Podcasts option within Alexa app settings -
Choose Apple Music: You’ll see a list of available music services. Find and select “Apple Music” from the list.
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Link Your Account: Tap on “Link account to Alexa.” This initiates the process of connecting your Apple Music subscription to your Alexa profile.
Link account to Alexa button for Apple Music -
Sign In to Apple Music: You will be redirected to an Apple Music login page. Enter your Apple Music credentials (username and password) to authorize the connection.
Once linked, you can simply ask Alexa to play music from Apple Music. For example, you could say, “Alexa, play my Chill Mix playlist from Apple Music,” or “Alexa, play the latest song by Billie Eilish on Apple Music.”
How to Play Amazon Music From Your Phone to Alexa
If you are an Amazon Prime member, you already have access to Amazon Music, making it a convenient option for Alexa users. There are a couple of ways to play Amazon Music from your phone on your Alexa device.
Method 1: Voice Control (Automatic Integration)
If your Amazon Echo device and your Amazon Music account are under the same Amazon account, Amazon Music is often automatically set up as your default music service. In this case, playing music is as simple as asking Alexa.
Just say commands like:
- “Alexa, play some relaxing music.”
- “Alexa, play songs by The Beatles.”
- “Alexa, play my ‘Workout Beats’ playlist.”
Method 2: Using Alexa Cast from the Amazon Music App
For more direct control from your phone, or if you want to specifically cast music, you can use the Alexa Cast feature within the Amazon Music app. This allows you to select music on your phone and “cast” it directly to your Alexa device.
Here’s how to use Alexa Cast:
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Download and Open Amazon Music App: Ensure you have the Amazon Music app installed on your Android or iOS device. Download it from the Google Play Store for Android or the Apple App Store for iOS. Launch the app and log in to your Amazon account.
Amazon Music app icon on a smartphone -
Access Device Connection: In the Amazon Music app, tap the “Menu” icon, usually located in the top-right corner of the screen (often represented by three dots or lines). Select “Connect to a Device.”
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Choose Your Alexa Device: The app will scan for available devices. Select your Alexa-enabled device from the list. Ensure both your phone and Alexa device are on the same Wi-Fi network.
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Select and Play Music: Choose a song, album, or playlist you want to play within the Amazon Music app.
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Tap the Cast Icon: While playing music, look for the “Cast” icon, usually located in the top-right corner of the playback screen. Tap this icon.
The music will now seamlessly transition from your phone to your chosen Alexa device. You can control playback (pause, skip, volume) directly from the Amazon Music app.
How to Play Spotify on Alexa From Your Phone
Spotify, another leading music streaming service with millions of tracks and podcasts, also offers excellent integration with Alexa. Linking your Spotify account allows you to enjoy voice-controlled playback of your favorite Spotify content on your Alexa speakers.
Here’s how to connect Spotify to Alexa:
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Open the Alexa App: Launch the Alexa app on your smartphone.
Alexa app icon on a smartphone -
Go to the Main Menu: Tap the main menu icon, typically at the bottom-right corner of the screen in the Alexa app.
Main menu icon in the Alexa app -
Navigate to Music Settings: Select “Settings,” then “Music & Podcasts.”
Music & Podcasts option within Alexa app settings -
Select Spotify: From the list of music services, choose “Spotify.”
Spotify option in the music services list -
Link Your Account: Tap “Link account to Alexa.”
Link account to Alexa button for Spotify -
Log in to Spotify: You will be redirected to the Spotify login page. Enter your Spotify username and password to connect your accounts.
Spotify login screen
Once linked, you can control Spotify playback with your voice. Try commands like:
- “Alexa, play my Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify.”
- “Alexa, play the new album by Harry Styles on Spotify.”
- “Alexa, play some pop music on Spotify.”
Setting Spotify as Your Default Music Service
For even greater convenience, especially if Spotify is your primary music service, you can set it as the default for Alexa. This means you won’t need to specify “on Spotify” in your voice commands every time.
To set Spotify as default:
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Open Alexa App Settings: In the Alexa app, go to “Settings” again.
Settings option in the Alexa app menu -
Choose Default Music Services: Select “Music & Podcasts,” followed by “Choose default music services.”
Choose default music services option -
Select Spotify as Default: Choose “Spotify” from the list of services and tap “Done.”
Selecting Spotify as default music service
Important Note: Even after setting a default service, in some cases, you might still need to specify “on Spotify” for certain commands, especially if the song or artist name is ambiguous.
Playing Music via Bluetooth: A Universal Method for Alexa
For music services that don’t offer direct Alexa integration, or for playing local music files from your phone, Bluetooth provides a universal solution. By pairing your phone with your Alexa device via Bluetooth, you can use your Alexa speaker as a standard Bluetooth speaker. This method works for any audio app on your phone, including YouTube Music, SoundCloud, and even your local music library.
How to Play YouTube Music on Alexa From Your Phone via Bluetooth
While YouTube Music doesn’t have direct Alexa integration for voice control, you can easily play it through your Alexa speaker using Bluetooth. This turns your Alexa device into a wireless speaker for your YouTube Music audio.
Here’s how to connect via Bluetooth:
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Enable Bluetooth on Your Phone: Access your phone’s Bluetooth settings. This is usually found in the Settings app under “Connections” or “Bluetooth.” Initiate the device pairing process, often by selecting “Pair new device” or a similar option.
Bluetooth settings on a smartphone -
Put Alexa in Pairing Mode: Give your Alexa device the voice command, “Alexa, pair new device.” Alexa will confirm that it is in pairing mode and ready to connect.
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Select Alexa Device on Your Phone: Your phone will scan for nearby Bluetooth devices. When your Alexa device appears in the list of available devices, select it to initiate pairing.
Selecting an Alexa device from Bluetooth device list -
Confirm Pairing (If Necessary): Follow any on-screen prompts to confirm the Bluetooth pairing on both your phone and Alexa device.
Once paired, your phone is connected to your Alexa speaker via Bluetooth. Now, simply open the YouTube Music app on your phone and start playing your music. The audio will stream wirelessly to your Alexa device.
How to Play SoundCloud on Alexa From Your Phone via Bluetooth
Similar to YouTube Music, SoundCloud, a popular platform for independent artists and music discovery, also relies on Bluetooth for playback on Alexa devices.
Follow these steps to connect SoundCloud to Alexa via Bluetooth:
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Activate Bluetooth on Your Phone: Turn on Bluetooth in your phone’s settings and allow it to scan for devices.
Bluetooth settings enabled on a smartphone -
Initiate Bluetooth Pairing on Alexa: Say to your Alexa device, “Alexa, pair device.” This puts your Alexa speaker into Bluetooth pairing mode.
Selecting an Alexa device from Bluetooth device list -
Choose Alexa Device on Your Phone: When your Alexa device shows up in the list of available Bluetooth devices on your phone, select it to complete the pairing.
Alexa device listed in Bluetooth devices
After successful pairing, open the SoundCloud app on your phone (available for iOS and Android) and begin playing your chosen music. The sound will play through your connected Alexa speaker.
How to Play iTunes Music on Alexa From Your Phone (via Apple Music)
If you have a library of music purchased from iTunes, accessing it on Alexa is easily done through Apple Music. As iTunes music purchases are now integrated into the Apple Music ecosystem, you can use the Apple Music integration method described earlier to play your iTunes library on Alexa.
Simply link your Apple Music account to Alexa, ensuring you use the same Apple ID associated with your iTunes purchases. Once linked, your iTunes music library will be accessible within Apple Music and playable on your Alexa devices via voice command.
Enjoying Your Favorite Music on Alexa, Your Way
Alexa offers flexible options for playing music from your phone, catering to various music services and preferences. Direct integrations provide seamless voice control for popular platforms like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify. For services without direct integration, or for local music playback, Bluetooth offers a reliable and universal connection.
Whether you prefer the convenience of voice commands or the direct control from your phone, Alexa makes it easy to fill your home with the music you love. Experiment with these methods to find the perfect way to stream your personal soundtrack through your Alexa devices.
What’s your go-to method for playing music on Alexa from your phone? Share your preferred music service and tips in the comments below!
