17 Best Ways to Fix Alexa Won’t Play Music from Amazon Music

Amazon Echo devices feature virtual assistant Alexa to perform tasks on your voice command. Other than the things Alexa does, it can also play music from different music streaming services like Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, and more. But the problem begins when you ask Alexa to play a song and it stays quiet. This guide will help you troubleshoot Alexa won’t play music from Amazon Music.

Top Fixes for Alexa Not Playing Music from Amazon Music (Prime and Unlimited)

1. Restart Your Echo Device and Smartphone/Tablet
2. Check Your Wi-Fi Network and Router
3. Confirm Your Subscription
4. Check that You’re Using the Right Account
5. Check the Number of Devices Currently Streaming
6. Set Amazon Music as the Default Music Provider on Alexa App
7. Is the Song Available
8. Check If the Issue is Related to a Specific Music Service
9. Turn off Explicit Language Filter
10. Update Your Country Settings on Amazon
11. Move Amazon Music to Your New Country/Location
12. Check Your Echo Settings
13. Deregister Echo and Register Again
14. Play on Any Other Alexa Device
15. Put Your Echo Device at a Higher Place
16. Check Network Firewall
17. Reset Your Echo

Fix 1: Restart Your Echo Device and Smartphone/Tablet

Before trying anything, restart your Echo and the smartphone or tablet if it’s connected to it.

1. To reset the power cycle of the Echo device, unplug the power cable, wait for one minute, and then plug it back in.
2. Restart battery-powered devices by removing and reinserting the battery if it’s removable.
3. For iPhone, iPad, and any Android device, turn it off, wait for a minute, and turn it on again.

Fix 2: Check Your Wi-Fi Network and Router

Too Many Devices

If many devices are connected to your network, it can cause network congestion and Alexa might not be able to respond to your voice commands. In this case, disable or disconnect the devices that are not in use.

Weak Wi-Fi Signals or Slow Speed

Alexa-powered Echo devices work with a stable internet connection. If the signals are weak or the speed is not optimum, it might go unresponsive and won’t play music when asked.

Check the Wi-Fi signals by taking your phone, tablet, or PC close to your Echo and then checking the bars on the Wi-Fi you’re connected to. If the bars are full, the signals are strong. Check the internet by downloading something and monitoring the download speed. If the speed is slow, disconnect some devices from the Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi User Limit

Many routers place a limit on the devices they allow connection to, ranging from 5 to 10. A possible reason for your Echo device not playing a music playlist is that it isn’t connected to the Wi-Fi because the Wi-Fi connections limit is reached. Routers don’t notify you when it happens, so check it yourself and disconnect devices that are not in use.

Reboot Your Router

For improving internet speed and solving various Wi-Fi problems, turn off your router, wait for a minute, and then turn it on.

Fix 3: Confirm Your Subscription

You need to have an active subscription to Amazon Prime or Amazon Music Unlimited to be able to stream music on Alexa devices. Amazon Prime subscribers get free of charge access to Amazon Music Prime. Follow these steps to see if your subscription hasn’t expired.

1. Go to the Amazon website and log in to your account.

2. If on desktop, hover the cursor over your name at the top next to your country flag to get a menu. Tap on your name if using a mobile device.

3. Click ‘Memberships & Subscriptions’ for desktop. Tap ‘Your Memberships & Subscriptions’ on mobile.

4. Check your subscriptions.

Fix 4: Check that You’re Using the Right Account

This is for people who have multiple accounts set on the Alexa app. For Alexa to play a song you ask her to, you need to be logged in with your profile that has Amazon Prime or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.

Check your account that is currently using the Echo device and make sure it is the account that has Amazon Prime or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription. If you want to switch users, ask ‘Alexa switch user’ and change it to the correct profile.

Fix 5: Check the Number of Devices Currently Streaming

Amazon Echo devices have a certain limitation when it comes to streaming music on devices at the same time. Check the number of Alexa devices streaming music right now. 

1. Amazon Family Plan members can stream music on 6 devices at a time.
2. Amazon Individual Plan members can stream music on any device they want, but it should be one device at a time.
3. Amazon Single Device Plan members can stream music only on the device they used for subscription.

Fix 6: Set Amazon Music as the Default Music Provider on Alexa App

If Alexa won’t play music from Amazon Music, it could be because Amazon Music is not its default music app. If you have multiple music services and you want to use a service for music that is not your default, you need to mention the service name when you ask Alexa to play music. If you routinely use Amazon Music, just make it your default.

1. Open the Alexa app and tap ‘More’ that has three stacked lines above it.

2. Tap ‘Settings’.

3. Scroll down and select ‘Music & Podcasts’.

4. Now tap ‘Default Services’.

5. Tap ‘Change’ Next to the existing default music service and select Amazon Music.

This works if you have Amazon Prime or Amazon Music Unlimited Subscription.

Fix 7: Is the Song Available?

If Alexa is not playing a song that you’re telling her to, there may be a song availability issue. This is more likely if you are using your Amazon Prime account. The number of songs available for Amazon Prime Music is very limited when compared to Amazon Music Unlimited.

For music lovers who want to have access to all the songs of their favorite artists, Amazon Music Unlimited is recommended. Request Alexa to play any music and if it starts playing, then song availability was the reason why Alexa wasn’t playing music.

Fix 8: Check If the Issue is Related to a Specific Music Service

Your music service may be down or buggy. In case of a server issue from the music service’s side, we can’t do much, but if the bug is related to your app, then disable and reconnect Alexa Skill for that music service.

1. Tap ‘More’ that has three horizontal lines and then tap ‘Skills & Games’.

2. Select ‘Your Skills’ and then tap the music service that is having the issue.

3. Tap ‘Disable Skill’ and confirm.

Now we will add that music service again.

4. Go to ‘Skills & Games’.

5. Tap the search icon at the top right and write the name of the music service and select it.

6. Tap ‘Enable to Use’.

Fix 9: Turn off Explicit Language Filter

Amazon Alexa app lets you choose to allow or block songs with explicit language. So, the cause of Alexa not playing music could be that the song might have explicit lyrics and the explicit filter is on. So, turn off the explicit language filter and try again.

1. Tap the ‘More’ button at the bottom of the Alexa app’s main window.
2. Tap ‘Settings’.
3. Scroll down and tap ‘Music & Podcasts’.

4. Select ‘Explicit Language Filter’.

5. Toggle off ‘Explicit Filter’ and ‘Voice Deactivation’.

Fix 10: Update Your Country Settings on Amazon

Alexa services are location conscious. If you’re using Alexa services in a different country from the country set in your account, it might cause problems. So, if you frequently travel, update your country settings on Amazon.

1. Open your web browser. Go to the Amazon website and Sign in.
2. Click the three horizontal lines at the top left corner.

3. Now scroll down the list and click the country flag you see.
4. Click the country name and a drop-down menu will show countries. Select the country you’re currently in.

Fix 11: Move Amazon Music to Your New Country/Location

This option is again for people who frequently travel. If you believe your country set in Amazon Music is different from where you currently are, change it to the current country.

1. Go to the Amazon Music website and sign in.
2. Click the settings icon and then select ‘Your Amazon Music Settings’.

3. Scroll down to find ‘Amazon Music Account Country/Region’ and click ‘Move your Music account’.

4. Select the new country from the drop-down menu and click ‘Select’.
5. It will ask you to sign in again to your account.
6. After signing in, update your address and click ‘Add Address’.

Fix 12: Check Your Echo Settings

The issue of no music from Alexa could be due to outdated Echo settings. Your Echo device location, time zone, and country should align with your current location for Alexa to work correctly.

1. Open the Alexa app and tap ‘Devices’ at the bottom.
2. Tap ‘Echo & Alexa’.

3. Now select the Echo device that is not responding to music commands.
4. Check the ‘Device Location’, ‘Time Zone’, and ‘Language’. Update them if you are in a different location or time zone.

Fix 13: Deregister Echo and Register Again

Another possible reason for Echo not playing music is that the Echo device might be unresponsive or might have a pairing problem. You can deregister your Echo from the Amazon Alexa app and then register it again to see if it solves the issue.

1. Open Amazon Alexa and tap ‘Devices’.
2. Now select ‘Echo & Alexa’.
3. Tap the Echo device you are troubleshooting for.
4. Tap ‘Deregister’.

Now set up Echo again from the Amazon Alexa app and try playing music.

Fix 14: Play on Any Other Alexa Device

To ensure that your Echo device is not malfunctioning, try to play music on any other Alexa-supported device. This will help you pinpoint your attention to the Echo device if the music starts playing on the other device.

Fix 15: Put Your Echo Device at a Higher Place

Your Alexa device (such as Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show) works with an active internet connection. If the router and the Alexa device are in different rooms, it may result in weak signals and cause Alexa to not respond. Below are some best practices for placing Amazon devices:

1. Always put Amazon Echo at a higher place so it can receive strong Wi-Fi signals.
2. Don’t keep it close to metal objects and thick walls.
3. Never place it on the ground because then its signal reception may get affected.

Fix 16: Check Network Firewall

It’s not likely but still a possibility that your router’s built-in firewall is blocking the address from which Alexa is trying to play the song. 

1. Find the IP Address for accessing your router’s console. For example, 192.168.1.1 is the address for some routers.
2. Provide login credentials.
3. Go to the settings or configurations option.
4. Find a section that says ‘Port Forwarding’.
5. Now check if these open ports are present: 123, 33434, 4070, 443, 40317, 49317, 5353.

Fix 17: Reset Your Echo

If none of the above solutions are not helping, you can start with a clean slate by factory resetting your echo device. It will remove all of your personal settings on that device.

Reset First Generation Echo Devices: 

A reset button is located at the bottom side of the device. Use a paperclip to press it for a few seconds and when the light turns off and on again, it’s been reset.

Reset Second Generation Echo Devices: 

Press and hold the ‘microphone off ‘and ‘volume down’ buttons for a few seconds until you see the light ring of your device turn orange.

Reset Third and Fourth Generation (and onward) Echo Devices:

Placed at the top of the device, press and hold the ‘Action’ button for 25-30 seconds. The ring light will be orange now which means that you can set up this device as new.

Reset Echo Show:

Press and hold the ‘mute’ and ‘volume down’ buttons for 15-20 seconds and release it when you see the Amazon logo on the screen