Connecting your Spotify account to Alexa opens up a world of hands-free music listening. This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough on how to link Spotify to Alexa and control your music using voice commands. Learn how to play your favorite songs, albums, playlists, and podcasts effortlessly using your Amazon Echo or other Alexa-enabled devices.
Linking Spotify to Your Alexa Device
Before you begin, ensure you have active Spotify (Free or Premium) and Amazon accounts, along with an Alexa-enabled device like an Amazon Echo or Sonos speaker. While both Free and Premium Spotify users can connect to Alexa, Premium subscribers enjoy ad-free listening and on-demand playback. Free users are limited to shuffling playlists or artist/album/track-based mixes.
Here’s how to link Spotify with Alexa:
- Open the Alexa App: Launch the Alexa app on your Android, iPhone, or iPad.
- Navigate to Settings: Tap the “More” button in the bottom toolbar, then select “Settings.”
- Access Music & Podcasts: Scroll down and tap on “Music & Podcasts.”
- Choose Personal or Family Defaults (if applicable): If available, select between personal (your name) and Family defaults. Personal defaults apply when Alexa recognizes your voice, while Family defaults are used for anyone without a linked profile.
- Link Spotify: Tap “Link New Service” and choose Spotify from the list.
- Follow the Prompts: Sign in to your Spotify account and authorize the connection with Alexa.
The Alexa app settings menu open on a phone
Setting Spotify as Your Default Music Service
To avoid saying “on Spotify” every time you request music, set Spotify as your default music service:
- Open Default Services: In the “Music & Podcasts” settings, tap on “Default Services.”
- Choose Spotify: Select Spotify for on-demand music, artist/genre stations, and podcasts, or customize your preferences for each category. For example, you can set Spotify as your default for music but use a different service for podcasts.
Playing Music with Alexa and Spotify
Once connected, you can control Spotify playback with simple voice commands:
- Play Specific Content: “Alexa, play [song name] by [artist name].” “Alexa, play the album [album name].” “Alexa, play .” “Alexa, play the latest episode of [podcast name].”
- Shuffle Music: “Alexa, shuffle music by [artist name].”
- Control Playback: “Alexa, pause.” “Alexa, resume.” “Alexa, next.” “Alexa, previous.” “Alexa, volume up/down.”
Pro Tip: For non-English song or artist names, try enunciating clearly or using the Spotify app to start playback and then switch to your Alexa device using Spotify Connect.
Multi-Room and Multi-User Playback
- Play Music in Specific Rooms: “Alexa, play [artist name] in the [room name].”
- Play Music Everywhere: “Alexa, play everywhere.”
Note: Only one Spotify stream is allowed per account. For simultaneous playback in different locations or with different accounts, consider creating an Amazon Household and linking each profile to a separate Spotify account. Users will need to switch Alexa profiles to access their individual libraries. You can also use the Spotify Connect feature in the Spotify app to select which device your music plays on.
Conclusion
Integrating Spotify with Alexa transforms your listening experience. By following these steps, you can seamlessly control your Spotify music using voice commands, enjoying a hands-free and personalized audio environment. Whether you’re a free or premium Spotify user, Alexa integration provides a convenient way to enjoy your favorite music throughout your home.
