You command your Amazon Alexa to play music from Spotify, Amazon Music, radio stations, Apple Music, or Sonos One. But instead of playing one, it stays quiet and quiet. Does this ever happen to you? If yes, don’t worry; you are just one of the people Alexa ignored. Many Amazon Alexa users reported that Alexa was not playing music when they asked to and even not responding.
To Fix Alexa not playing music: Check your internet connection, reboot your Echo device, ensure your music services are properly linked in the Alexa app, update to the latest software version, change Echo’s location to match yours, disable explicit filters if needed, and contact Amazon support if issues persist. Proper setup and connectivity fix most playback problems.
You are lucky if the above methods work for you, but if it doesn’t, then don’t stress out. You can follow other options to fix Alexa’s won’t play specific music or songs issue.
Why is Alexa Not Playing Music?
Alexa is a great personal voice assistant when performing regular tasks like getting information about certain things, setting alarms, or playing music and podcasts. But when it stops listening or responding to our command, the trouble begins.
Similarly, when it comes to not playing songs, many factors are behind it. It differs from device to device and location. So, here are the following things you should always remember or check when your Alexa is not playing Amazon, Spotify, Pandora, or TuneIn music.
Method 1: Check Internet Connection
There are various reasons why Alexa is not playing Amazon or Spotify music; one is a poor internet connection. When your home Wi-Fi is unstable or lacks signal strength, then Alexa will stop playing music after two or three songs.
That’s why ensure your Amazon Echo or Alexa gets enough Wi-Fi signals to play a song for you. Moreover, also disconnects other devices from the internet which are not currently used to reduce Wi-Fi congestion.
Method 2: Change Router
Sometimes, the internet may not be the issue, but the problem is from the source, which means your router. A router is responsible for your poor and excellent internet signal. If you have an old router at your home, it provides a low signal, which is not enough for Amazon Alexa or Echo to run.
In this case, either change your router or increase your internet speed. You can also unplug the router for like 15 seconds and re-plug it to improve the signal strength. You may need to repeat this process once a month if the issue is your router.
Method 3: Restart Amazon Echo
If Alexa stops playing music, then you can restart Amazon Echo. Cut off the power cable from Echo and leave it for 20 seconds. After that, re-plug in and try to play music from Spotify, Amazon Music, or other sources. This will restart the power cycle of Amazon Echo and can help to start playing songs.
Method 4: Check Subscription
If you are playing Amazon music in Echo, remember you must have an active subscription. An inactive or disabled subscription doesn’t help Alexa to play Amazon Music on Echo.
Now, to check your Amazon subscription, follow the following steps.
- Go to the official site of Amazon.
- Log in to your Amazon account if needed.
- Next, click on your display name from the upper right header.
- From the drop-down menu, select Memberships & Subscription. If you can’t find that option, look for Your Prime Membership.
- Now, check for a Subscription; if it’s inactive, renew your subscription.
Method 5: Put the Alexa Device in a Higher Place
Do you know that putting a router in one room and your Alexa device in another causes pressure on your Amazon Alexa? That’s because it’s hard for Echo and Alexa to catch up with a signal. So, please put the Alexa device in a higher place somewhere on the high table to get full signal strength.
Also, remember, don’t place Amazon Alexa and Echo on the ground. Keep your device away from metal objects, baby monitors, and thick walls.
Method 6: Check the Network Firewall
Network firewall controls incoming and outgoing traffic. Since Alexa uses the internet to respond to certain things when you command to play music on Amazon Echo, ensure the network firewall does not block it. That’s because the songs played by Alexa come from different sources.
To verify your network firewall, you can
- Search for your IP address.
- Open your browser and type your internet IP address in the search bar.
- Provide login credentials.
- Go to the Settings page.
- Next, search for the Port forwarding section.
- Check for the following open ports. (123, 443, 4070, 5353, 33434, 40317, 49317).
Method 7: Search Available Songs
When you are playing music on Alexa and Echo, make sure your songs are available. Suppose you command Amazon Alexa to run music not even in Amazon Music, Spotify, or Apple Music. In that case, Alexa can’t find the result and will stop playing music.
Moreover, Amazon Prime has fewer songs than Music Unlimited and Spotify. That’s why to command Alexa to play other songs; it plays, so your chosen music is unavailable.
Method 8: Play Music on Different Devices
If Amazon Echo stops playing music, you can play it on a different device. Use a device that Alexa supports to ensure the problem is not in Amazon Echo.
In the case of the podcast, make sure that it supports Alexa. Some of the podcast services cannot run on Amazon Alexa.
Method 9: Move Amazon Location to Your Country
Sometimes, your Amazon location can be misplaced with your Alexa device. You should always make the same location for both of these services. This is because if your Amazon location is in one country and your Alexa on your current place, then it will not play Amazon music as well as others.
That’s why update your Amazon account location and set it as the same as the Alexa location.
This is how you can change Amazon’s location.
- Go to the Manage Your Content and Devices section.
- Next, sign in with your Amazon login credentials.
- Click on the Preferences tab.
- After that, select the Country/Region settings option.
- Now click on the Change button to change your current location.
- Fill up a form and set the location as your Alexa device’s.
- Finally, click on the Update button once you fill up a form.
Method 10: Change Echo Location to Your Country
If you changed your Amazon location but need clarification on your Amazon Echo location too, then you must update it in order for Alexa to play a song for you. , you can also check whether your Alexa time zone or language is correct.
To change Amazon echo settings and location, simply
- Download the Alexa App.
- Once the download is completed, open the app.
- Now, tap on the Devices option from the bottom right corner.
- Tap on the Echo & Alexa option.
- Next, choose your device.
- After that, check your Alexa device’s time zone, location, and language.
If your Alexa settings are all fine and you can’t play music from Amazon or Spotify, move to the next method.
Method 11: Disable Explicit Filter
There is a restriction over explicit music on Amazon Music and Spotify. So, if you are playing explicit music (sexual, offensive, or violent), then Alexa will stop or block such types of songs from playing if you have enabled explicit filter mode.
So, turn off your explicit filter and listen to your favorite songs without issues.
Note: You can still listen to all FM/AM radio stations.
- Open your Alexa app on your device.
- Tap on three horizontal lines from the upper right corner.
- Next, select Settings from the sidebar.
- Under Alexa Permission, tap on music.
- Now, tap on the Explicit filter option under Account settings.
- Finally, turn off the explicit filter if it’s on.
Method 12: Re-register Echo Device
You can also deregister the Echo device and, after that, re-register once again. This will restart the Alexa Amazon Echo device and can solve the minor error.
To re-register your Amazon Echo device,
- Open your Alexa app on your device.
- Tap on devices from the bottom right corner.
- Next, tap on the Echo & Alexa option.
- Select your Alexa bedroom.
- Scroll down and tap on deregister.
- Finally, re-register your device.
Method 13: Check App Permissions
Go to your phone’s settings to find the Alexa app’s permissions and ensure it has proper access to storage and music services. This allows full functionality. Checking app permissions ensures Alexa has access to features like music playback. Granting proper permissions fixes issues caused by restricted app access.
Method 14: Link Music Services
Open the Alexa app, go to Music & Podcast settings, unlink, and re-link services like Spotify to re-authorize access. This can fix connection issues. Re-linking music services renews authorization that may have become outdated. The refresh allows Alexa to regain full access, which can resolve problems like being unable to play songs.
Method 15: Factory Reset Echo
In the Alexa app, select your Echo device and choose Factory Reset to clear bugs and software issues. This erases settings but can fix problems. Factory resetting the Echo clears any corrupted data or software problems that may interfere with proper functionality. It wipes the device back to factory settings to eliminate bugs.
Method 16: Check for Updates
Update the Alexa app and Echo device software via the app or Echo settings. Updates contain fixes for bugs in older versions. Updating to the newest software version patches bugs and issues that may be present in your outdated version. Installing the latest update brings fixes and improvements that can resolve problems.
Method 17: Disable Wi-Fi Optimization
Disable Wi-Fi optimization for Alexa in Battery settings on Android to ensure full Wi-Fi access. This prevents restriction issues. Disabling Wi-Fi optimization prevents your phone from restricting Alexa’s background data. Full Wi-Fi access stops problems caused by the app being put to “sleep.” Keeping the Wi-Fi active fixes connectivity issues.
Method 18: Switch Wi-Fi Network
Connect your Echo to a different Wi-Fi network to test if your router is the issue. Trying a new network determines if it is a Wi-Fi problem. Connecting your Echo to an alternate Wi-Fi network helps determine if your regular network is the root of connectivity issues. Switching the Wi-Fi eliminates your router as the problem if Alexa works on the new network.
Method 19: Contact Amazon
Contact Amazon support to troubleshoot and investigate your case if nothing works. They can pinpoint issues on Amazon’s end. If no fixes resolve your issues, Amazon support can provide specialized troubleshooting for your situation. They have additional tools to diagnose problems and can check server issues on Amazon’s end. Contacting support should happen after trying other fixes first.
Also Read: Why Spotify Not Loading Lyrics?
Why Won’t Alexa Play Pandora?
A few common reasons Alexa may not play Pandora even when linked. This could be due to a poor internet connection, an outdated version of the Alexa or Echo software containing bugs, corrupted data on your Echo device, or an authorization issue between Alexa and Pandora.
Check your internet connectivity and update Alexa to the latest version to fix it. To reauthorize access, you can also unlink and relink your Pandora account in the Alexa app. If that doesn’t work, try factory resetting your Echo to clear any corrupted data. As a last step, contact Amazon support for help troubleshooting if Pandora still fails to play.
Also Read: How To Solve Spotify Family Invite Not Working?
How To Connect Spotify With Alexa?
Connecting your Spotify account to Alexa allows you to stream music using your voice. It’s a super convenient way to enjoy hands-free listening.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to connect Spotify to Alexa:
Step 1: Open the Alexa App
Launch the Alexa app on your phone.
Step 2: Go to Music Settings
Tap on the Menu icon in the top left corner and select Music & Podcasts.
Step 3: Link New Service
Under “Link New Service,” choose Spotify.
Step 4: Sign in to Spotify
Enter your Spotify username and password when prompted to sign in.
Step 5: Authorize Access
Allow Alexa permission to link your Spotify account.
Step 6: Try Voice Commands
You can now say, “Alexa, play my Spotify,” or name any artist, album, or playlist to stream music!
Step 7: Re-link if Issues
If Alexa can’t find music, unlink Spotify in the settings and re-link to refresh authorization.
Following those simple steps lets you start streaming Spotify tunes hands-free using Alexa!
Also Read: How Much Does SoundCloud Pay For 1 Million Streams?
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexa Says She is Playing Music But doesn’t. Why?
If Alexa says she is playing music, but you can’t listen to any of them, then maybe Alexa can’t find the music that you want to play. Other than this, your device is connected to a slow internet connection.
Alexa Not Playing Radio Stations. Why?
If Alexa is not playing the radio station, you can contact the Radio.com support team to fix the issue. They will help you to play your favorite radio station.
Alexa is Not Listening. Why?
When Alexa is not listening, check your device to see whether it’s muted. The red light indicates that you have muted the Alexa device. In addition, keep your device away from thick walls, metal objects, and other loudspeakers.
Alexa Stops Playing Music Due to Inactivity; Why?
If Alexa stops playing music due to inactivity, reboot your Alexa and modem.
Conclusion
This comprehensive article explored why Alexa may not play music when commanded and provided 19 different troubleshooting methods to fix the issue.
By reviewing connectivity, device settings, music service accounts, software versions, app permissions, and more, you can isolate what is causing Alexa’s music playback failure.
With so many potential solutions covered, you now have the knowledge to diagnose and address Alexa playback problems efficiently. While no direct answer was given, you can understand how to get Alexa to play your favorite music again reliably by reading through the fixes.
