Spotify Problems On Amazon Echo? 8 Known Issues

Spotify is known as one of the best music streaming services. Listening to your music on your Spotify account using your Amazon Echo speaker should be incredibly straightforward.

However, some users experience problems when they use their Echo device to play their Spotify music.

If this is happening to you, then take a look at the known issues below and follow our troubleshooting tips to ensure you’ll be listening away happily in no time at all.

1. You are Using a Spotify Free Account in a Non-Compatible Country

Before 2019, the ability to listen to Spotify on Amazon Echo was a privilege only available to Spotify Premium members.

Since 2019, Spotify made developments so that both Free and Premium users throughout the USA and Australia could enjoy Spotify using their Amazon Echo.

Unfortunately, some users still experience issues when listening to their Spotify Free account via their Amazon Echo.

This will be because their country hasn’t yet been added to the list of countries where Spotify Free and Echo are compatible. To listen in these countries they will need to upgrade to a Spotify Premium account.

As of 2023, the countries that allow for listening on both Free and Premium accounts include:

• Canada
• USA
• Australia
• Austria
• Japan
• France
• Germany
• India
• Brazil
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Spain
• United Kingdom

However, there is some good news –  new countries are continually being added to the list above, so if your location isn’t there yet, it shouldn’t be too long a wait until you can listen to your Spotify Free subscription on Echo.

2. Spotify is Not Set as your Amazon Echo’s Default Music Choice

Linking your Spotify account to your Amazon Echo properly through the Alexa app is very important when ensuring trouble-free listening.

If Spotify is your number one streaming service, then the best thing to do is to set Spotify as your Echo’s default music player. This way, when you go to listen to your music, it happens quickly and automatically.

Some users have found that if you have another service set as your Echo’s default then it may cause unnecessary complications. When Spotify is set as the default music provider, it ensures that your Echo will have no problems working out that you want music to be played via Spotify.

Luckily, setting Spotify as your default is very simple, just take a look at the steps below.

How to Set Spotify as your Default Service:

1. Launch the Alexa App.
2. Tap the 3 bars in the top left and open Settings.
3. Select ‘Music’
4. Tap on ‘Default Services’ located under your Account settings.
5. Scroll through the list and simply select ‘Spotify’

Now when you say ‘Alexa, Play (XYZ)’ your Echo will automatically play music from your Spotify account.

3. Your Echo has Not Linked Successfully to Spotify through your Alexa App

Ensuring you link your Spotify account to your Echo the right way is crucial in order to prevent any functionality problems. If you are having issues with Spotify not playing on your Echo speaker, it may be because they were not linked successfully the first time.

First and foremost, you should unlink your Spotify account by following the advice on Amazon.com’s help and customer services page:

“You can unlink Alexa from a music service at any time by selecting ‘Unlink account from Alexa’ in the service’s skill settings in the Alexa app.”

Once you have completed this, you will need to link them back together again.

To link your Echo to your Spotify account using the Alexa app, follow these steps:

1. Open up the Alexa app and log in using the correct credentials.
2. Tap on the 3 lines in the top left.
3. Select ‘Settings’
4. Scroll down and tap on ‘Music’ underneath ‘Alexa Preferences’
5. Next, select ‘Link New Service’
6. From here, you can select Spotify.

If you cannot see the option to link Spotify, it may unfortunately mean that it is not possible in the country you are currently located in.

4. Incorrect Voice Commands are Causing Playback Issues with Spotify

When listening to your Spotify music on your Echo speaker, it’s imperative that you use the correct voice commands so that Alexa can understand and comply properly with your instructions.

It goes without saying that some users have found no response from their Echo when they have forgotten how to address Alexa properly.

Here are some examples of how to use the correct voice commands:

• “Alexa, play my Discover Weekly on Spotify”
• “Alexa, play Folk Acoustic on Spotify”
• “Alexa, play Adele on Spotify”

If you use this standard format, you should have no issues with Spotify voice commands and your Echo device.

5. Problems are occurring because Spotify Needs to Forget your Echo

Some users have found that when they are experiencing issues with Spotify connecting or playing on their Amazon Echo, forgetting their Echo through the Spotify app resolves all of the problems.

Forgetting your Echo device through the Spotify app is an incredibly easy process. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Open Spotify on your device.
2. Tap the gear icon to open ‘Settings’
3. Scroll down and open ‘Devices’ then ‘Connect to a Device’
4. Here you will see your Amazon Echo device.
   • Simply tap the 3 dots and choose the option to ‘Forget Device’

6. You are Experiencing Issues with Spotify & your Echo Device due to Outdated Apps

Users have found that problems regarding connectivity and playback on their Amazon Echo can be caused when their apps are no longer up-to-date.

These issues can be easily resolved by ensuring that both the Spotify and Alexa apps are updated to their latest versions.

To update an app on your iPhone or other iOS device, follow these steps:

1. Open up the App Store on your iOS device.
2. Navigate to your profile in the top right of your screen.
3. Scroll through the list of available updates and see if Spotify or Alexa requires updating.

To update an app on your Android device, follow these steps instead:

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
2. Type ‘Spotify’ or ‘Alexa’ into the search bar.
3. If an update is available, you will see an ‘Update’ option next to the app’s icon.
4. Tap this option to proceed.

7. Spotify is Not Playing because your Echo’s Speaker Volume is Too Low

Your Echos device’s volume is another basic feature that users occasionally overlook. If you go to listen to your Spotify music but there is no sound, you should check your volume levels.

To turn up the volume, simply use the volume buttons located on your Echo speaker. It’s also worth checking the sound levels on your connected device to make sure they are loud enough.

8. Problems with Spotify & Amazon Echo are Occurring because your Devices Need a Restart

It’s always best to know the most straightforward troubleshooting tips that are too often neglected.

If you are experiencing issues with playing your Spotify music through your Amazon Echo then all devices involved need to be rebooted to isolate the problem.

If you are using a smartphone, tablet, or computer to connect to your Amazon Echo, then switch them off and wait before turning them back on again.

With your Echo, simply turn it off and leave it unplugged for a few minutes. Once this time has passed you’re safe to turn it back on again.

A simple reboot can resolve any minor glitches preventing playback or connectivity on your Echo.

General Pros & Cons of Spotify on Amazon Echo

Pros:

Using Spotify with Amazon Echo allows users to enjoy all of Spotify’s great features, such as listening to Spotify’s diverse library of artists, all without having to lift a finger.

The-Ambient.com underscores why the two technologies work so well together, explaining that Amazon Echo speakers use Alexa to offer:

“(…) full control of playback and your music library, an Alexa EQ feature to fine-tune audio, and (…) tons of commands available to seamlessly control your music.”

Cons:

• Spotify Free subscribers need to be in a country that supports playback for Amazon Echo.
• Spotify may need to be set as the default player on Amazon Echo to avoid issues.
• Linking Spotify to Amazon Echo is not always successful and the process may need to be repeated.
• Correct voice commands are necessary for Spotify to work with Amazon Echo.
• Glitches can require users to ‘Forget’ Amazon Echo for the functionality between Spotify and the device to be restored.
• The latest version of Spotify must be installed to prevent playback issues on Amazon Echo.
• Occasionally, the connected device and Amazon Echo must be restarted to resolve connectivity issues.
• Users need to check their Amazon Echo volume levels to ensure they can hear their Spotify music playing.

Sources

Top 13 Ways to Fix Amazon Echo Not Playing Music From Spotify

About Music Streaming Services and Alexa

Alexa and Spotify: How to connect Spotify to your Echo speakers