Amazon Echo has loads of cool perks, like letting you stream your favorite tunes. You can jam out with custom playlists, have songs rolling into the next, and use your go-to music apps. But, there might be times when Alexa suddenly stops the music, which can be a bit of a letdown.
A few quick fixes can help fix this annoying problem. In this article, we've compiled all possible issues behind Alexa not playing music and their relevant solutions.
1. Restart Echo and Phone
We know this is the classic solution from most help center operatives, but restarting your Echo device and phone can easily get rid of your streaming problems.
Start by removing your Echo's power cable, and wait for at least 20 to 30 seconds before plugging it back in. Then restart your phone and try streaming music again.
2. Wi-Fi Problems
Alexa requires an uninterrupted Wi-Fi connection to stream music without issues, and that's why any connection failures can result in interruptions mid-stream.
Scroll through the different Wi-Fi issues highlighted below and try each of them to ensure it's not your internet causing the snag.
Recent changes in properties of Wi-Fi router
If you've recently changed the password or name of your Wi-Fi network, it can stop your Echo from connecting to the internet. To fix the issue, you'll have to update the Wi-Fi settings on your device.
- Start by opening the Alexa app, and select ‘devices.'
- Next, choose the ‘Echo & Alexa' option and select your device of choice.
- Press the ‘Change' heading opposite the Wi-Fi network and follow the instruction prompts.
Folks who don't see their Wi-Fi network may have to run a network scan and go from there.
Shift to a faster connection
Sometimes your internet speed isn't what it needs to be to support a streaming device. This can happen due to weather changes, too many devices saturating a connection, or even a slow DNS server.
Try connecting your Echo to your 5G internet connection by following the exact instructions in the heading above. That might help resolve your music streaming issues.
Congested Wi-Fi connection
If you have one too many devices connected to your Wi-Fi at a time, it can cause problems with your Echo's streaming capacity because of over-saturation. Remove the devices you don't need at the time from your network to free up the internet speed and try streaming music again.
Wi-Fi out of range
Quite a few things can interrupt your Echo's internet connection. For example, if you have appliances like baby monitors, microwaves, cordless phones, or any Bluetooth device near your Echo, they can interfere with its connection. Try shifting the Echo device to a less crowded location.
Another common culprit is inadequate range. Place your Echo device in a higher spot in the home to get avoid interruptions playing havoc with your device's streaming ability. Generally, shifting to an elevated surface, like the top of a shelf, will resolve connectivity concerns.
3. Check subscriptions
Problems with subscriptions can also result in your Echo device being unable to play music. You'll require an active subscription to either Amazon Music Unlimited or Amazon Prime to stream music on Alexa.
Go through the following steps to check the status of your subscription
- Open the Amazon website via an internet browser.
- Sign in to your account and select the ‘Account & Lists' heading on the page.
- Click on the ‘Memberships & Subscriptions' heading (aka Prime Membership in a few countries) and see if your subscription to Amazon Music or Prime shows up.
- If you don't see either of the subscriptions on the page, the problem is inactivity or expiration.
4. Check Network Firewall
Wi-Fi firewalls blocking your Alexa device or phone can also cause problems in music streaming. To fix this concern, you'll have to check if all the relevant firewall ports are open.
- Discover your IP address.
- Open the internet browser of choice, type in the IP address in the location bar, and press ‘Enter.'
- Type in your router's password and username.
- Once you're on the settings page, locate the ‘Port forwarding' section.
- Check to see if the following ports are open:
– 123
– 443
– 4070
– 5353
– 33434
– 40317
– 49317 - If any of the ports mentioned above are closed, open them, and try playing music on your Echo device again.
5. Check Streaming Limit
Suppose you're using the Amazon app or several Echo devices to play music. In that case, you might not be able to use any other gadget to stream music through the same Amazon account because Prime Music's policy only allows users to stream on one device at a time.
Check to see if that's the case, and stop streaming music on multiple devices.
6. Forget Echo
Get your Wi-Fi router to' forget' the Echo connection to ensure there's no firmware-related concern causing your Echo device to act up. Try to connect to the internet after a few minutes, and the problem may resolve itself.
7. Reset Alexa
Another weapon against problems with your Echo Dot device is a simple reset. This will help clear away any previous information and allow you to start anew.
Echo Dot has a total of four buttons. Two for volume control (+ and -), one action button, and a mute button.
- To reset your Echo Dot, press and hold on to the action button for 30 to 40 seconds.
- Once you see the LED indicator turn yellow, followed by a light sequence – you'll know the device has been reset.
- Wait for the Echo Dot to start up again and for the indicator light to turn blue. Then proceed with setting up your device as you usually would.
Knowing how to reset your device can also come in handy when moving homes or when you're giving away your device to someone else. It's a sure-shot way of wiping any previously stored info and is also useful when troubleshooting for streaming concerns.
8. Contact Amazon Customer Service
If you're still having trouble getting your Alexa device to play music after trying out all the possible solutions listed in this guide – it's time to turn to the professionals.
Get in touch with Amazon Customer Service asap and explain your concern. They'll likely be able to suggest a suitable resolution.
The Verdict
We're hoping our research into all possible errors for the Alexa device not playing music has paid off, and you're back to listening to your favorite streams.
If the fixes described here don't do the trick – Amazon's Customer Service will likely have the answer to your troubles.