Connect Alexa to Spotify in three steps
Open the Alexa app on your phone, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and select Settings. Go to Music and Podcasts, then tap Spotify. A screen will appear asking you to log in to your Spotify account — enter your email and password, then tap Agree when Alexa asks permission to access your library. Once you see a confirmation message, the connection is complete.
If you do not have the Alexa app, download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store first. The process takes about two minutes and works on any Alexa device — Echo speakers, Echo Show displays, Echo Dot, or any other model.
After connecting, you can ask Alexa to play songs, artists, playlists, or albums by saying things like "Alexa, play Billie Eilish on Spotify" or "Alexa, play my Discover Weekly playlist." Spotify must be set as your default music service for voice commands to work without naming it each time.
Key Takeaways
- You need both an Alexa device and an active Spotify account — either free or Premium — to connect them.
- The connection happens in the Alexa app under Settings > Music and Podcasts > Spotify, and requires your Spotify login credentials.
- Once connected, you can play any song, artist, playlist, or album by voice without opening the Spotify app.
- Setting Spotify as your default music service lets you skip saying "on Spotify" in every voice command.
What you need before you start
You must have a Spotify account — the free tier works just as well as Spotify Premium for connecting to Alexa. If you do not have one, visit Spotify.com and create an account with your email address. The free version includes ads between songs but plays the same music as Premium.
Your Alexa device must be set up and connected to your home Wi-Fi network. If you have not done this yet, follow the setup prompts in the Alexa app when you first turn on your device. Make sure your phone is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Alexa device, though this is not strictly required — it just makes the connection faster.
Set Spotify as your default music service
After connecting Spotify, you can make it your default so you do not have to say "on Spotify" every time. Open the Alexa app, go to Settings, tap Music and Podcasts, then select Default Music Service. Choose Spotify from the list.
Now when you say "Alexa, play Fleetwood Mac," it will play from Spotify without you naming the service. If you want to use a different music service for a single command, you can still say "Alexa, play that song on Apple Music" and it will override your default for that one request.
Control playback with voice commands
Once Spotify is connected, you can control what plays using simple voice commands. Say "Alexa, pause," "Alexa, next," or "Alexa, previous" to control the current song. You can also ask "Alexa, what's playing?" to hear the song name and artist.
Volume commands work too: "Alexa, turn up the volume," "Alexa, set volume to 50 percent," or "Alexa, mute." These commands work on any Alexa device in the room where you are speaking, so if you have multiple Alexa devices, the nearest one will respond.
You can also create routines that play specific playlists at certain times. In the Alexa app, go to Routines, tap the plus icon, and set a trigger (like "Alexa, good morning"). Then add an action to play a Spotify playlist. This is useful for playing workout music, dinner playlists, or sleep sounds automatically.
Troubleshoot connection problems
If Spotify does not appear in your Music and Podcasts settings, make sure you are logged into the correct Amazon account in the Alexa app. Sign out and sign back in if needed. Also check that your Alexa device is connected to Wi-Fi — look for the Wi-Fi icon in the Alexa app under Devices.
If Alexa says "I do not have permission to play Spotify" when you ask for a song, go back to Settings > Music and Podcasts > Spotify and tap Disconnect. Then reconnect by tapping Spotify again and logging in. This refreshes the permission and usually fixes the problem.
If you have a free Spotify account and Alexa says the song is not available, it may be because some artists restrict free-tier streaming on certain devices. Upgrading to Spotify Premium removes these restrictions, though many songs play fine on the free plan.
Switch between music services
You can connect multiple music services to Alexa — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and others all work. To switch between them, say "Alexa, play [song name] on [service name]." For example, "Alexa, play Levitating on Apple Music" will play from Apple Music even if Spotify is your default.
If you want to change your default music service, go back to Settings > Music and Podcasts > Default Music Service and pick a different one. You can also disconnect Spotify entirely from this menu if you no longer want to use it with Alexa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Spotify Premium to use Spotify with Alexa?
No. Spotify Free works with Alexa just as well as Premium. The only difference is that Free includes ads between songs and has some playback restrictions on certain devices, but voice control through Alexa works the same way.
Can I play Spotify on multiple Alexa devices at the same time?
Yes, if you have multiple Alexa devices in different rooms, you can play Spotify on each one separately. You can also use Spotify's multi-room audio feature to play the same song on multiple devices at once — this is available in the Spotify app under settings.
What if I forget my Spotify password?
Go to Spotify.com and click "Forgot your password?" on the login page. Spotify will send a reset link to your email. Once you reset it, you may need to reconnect Spotify in the Alexa app by going to Settings > Music and Podcasts > Spotify and logging in again with your new password.
Can I use voice commands to add songs to a Spotify playlist?
No, Alexa cannot add songs to playlists by voice. You can only play, pause, skip, and control volume. To save songs, you must use the Spotify app or website to add them to your library or a playlist.
Why does Alexa sometimes play a different song than the one I asked for?
Alexa's voice recognition sometimes mishears song or artist names, especially with uncommon or similar-sounding titles. Try being more specific — say the full artist name or a unique part of the song title. If it keeps playing the wrong song, use the Spotify app to play it manually instead.