Basic Fixes
- Check your internet connection: Ensure your Amazon Echo device is connected to a robust Wi-Fi connection. Also, reboot your router to fix network connectivity issues and resume playing music.
- Inspect the Alexa server status: Visit Downdetector to check an active Amazon Alexa server outage.
- Replug the Amazon Echo device: Unplug the Amazon Echo device power, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in. Wait patiently till the device gets ready to take voice commands and play music.
- Check the Amazon Echo volume: You can’t hear audio tracks if your Amazon Echo is set on mute. Press the Volume button on your Amazon Echo or adjust the sound using the Alexa app. Open the Alexa app, select your Echo device, and tap Volume to increase it.
- Verify your music subscription: Amazon Echo may not play music if your music streaming platform subscription (e.g. Spotify, Apple Music) has expired. Ensure you have an active subscription and use relevant Alexa commands to play music.
- Update or reinstall the Alexa app: Open the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, search Amazon Alexa, and tap Update (if available). Alternatively, uninstall the app from your device and install it afresh.
Fix 1: Switch the Default Music Service
Amazon Echo may not play music or respond to your music request voice commands if it doesn’t have a default music service. Head to the Alexa app settings to assign it.
Step 1: Open the Alexa app, select More from the bottom-right corner, and tap Settings > Music & Podcasts.
Step 2: Select Your Default Services, and tap Change to pick your favorite music streaming service as default.
Fix 2: Play Music via Bluetooth Connection
If you have an offline music collection on your phone, connect to your Amazon Echo device via Bluetooth and play them. Once paired, you can also play songs from services like YouTube Music to Amazon Echo.
Step 1: Open your Amazon Echo device in the Alexa app (check the above steps), select Bluetooth Devices, and tap Pair a New Device.
Step 2: Follow the on-screen instructions to pair a Bluetooth device with your Amazon Echo.
Fix 3: Relink the Music Service
An account authentication error in your streaming service can prevent Amazon Echo from playing music. Relink the streaming service via the Alexa app to resume the music playback.
Step 1: Open Alexa settings (check the above steps), select Music & Podcasts, and tap a music streaming service.
Step 2: Tap Disable skill, wait a few seconds, and select Enable skill. Sign in with your account details when prompted to link the music service.
Fix 4: Disable the Explicit Filter
An active profanity filter can block explicit songs on Alexa-enabled devices like Amazon Echo. Turn off the Profanity Filter under the Alexa app settings to play them.
Open Music & Podcasts settings in the Amazon Alexa app, select Profanity Filter, and toggle it off to disable the filter.
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Last updated on 21 August, 2024
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