To play Spotify playlist on Alexa, you need to link your Spotify account in the Alexa app and set Spotify as your default music service. Once that's done, you can simply say, "Alexa, play [playlist name]" to start listening.
What you need to play a Spotify playlist on Alexa
Before you begin, you'll need a Spotify account and an Alexa-compatible device. Spotify Premium is recommended for full control, including requesting specific songs or playlists on demand. A Spotify Free account can be used with Alexa, but with limitations such as ads, shuffled playback, and Alexa potentially playing a related station instead of a specific song or playlist. Spotify can be used with Alexa in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, the UK, and the US for all Spotify users; a Premium account is required in other regions.
How to link your Spotify account to Alexa
Linking your accounts is a straightforward process done entirely through the Alexa app. This is the first step in setting up Alexa to work with your music.
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet.
- Tap "More" (or the three horizontal lines icon), then select "Settings".
- Under "Alexa Preferences", choose "Music & Podcasts".
- Tap "Link New Service", then select "Spotify" and follow the on-screen instructions to log in to your Spotify account and grant permissions.
How to set Spotify as your default music service
To avoid saying "on Spotify" for every command, set Spotify as your default music service in the Alexa app. This ensures that any music request automatically uses your Spotify library.
- Go to "Music & Podcasts" in the Alexa app.
- Tap "Your Default Services" (or "Family Default Services").
- Select "Spotify" for both the default music library and default station.
How to play your Spotify playlists with voice commands
With your accounts linked and Spotify set as default, you can use simple voice commands to control playback. To play a specific playlist, say, "Alexa, play [playlist name]." To skip to the next song, say, "Alexa, next." To pause or resume, use "Alexa, pause" or "Alexa, resume." To adjust the volume, say, "Alexa, set volume to [desired level]." You can also request specific songs by saying, "Alexa, play [song name] by [artist name]." If you also use Amazon's service, you can similarly play Amazon music playlist on Alexa with the same voice command structure, or play Amazon music on Alexa Echo to start streaming without a playlist.
Alternative method: using Spotify Connect
Alternatively, you can use Spotify Connect to stream music from the Spotify app on your phone to an Alexa device via Wi-Fi. This method offers limited Alexa voice control, but it can be useful if you prefer to browse and select music from your phone's Spotify interface.
