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3 Ways To Play Apple Music On An Alexa Device (2023 Guide)

Can Alexa Play Apple Music

Need help learning how to play Apple Music on an Alexa device?

Trust me, it’s easier than baking cookies from scratch.

And #1 in this guide is a prime example of how easy it is to do.

Ready to start listening to your Apple tunes on your Echo device?

Read on to find out:

  • 3 ways to play Apple Music on your Alexa device.
  • 5 fixes you can do if Alexa won’t play Apple Music.
  • Whether Apple Music for Alexa is available in your country.
  • And many more…

Can Alexa play Apple Music?

Alexa can play Apple Music in 3 ways. The first approach is through Bluetooth. You don’t need to have a paid Apple Music subscription for this to work. The second approach is by enabling an Apple Music skill for Alexa. And the final method is transferring Apple Music to your Amazon music library.

3 ways to play Apple Music on an Alexa device

#1: Play Apple Music on Alexa device using Bluetooth

Before we start, make sure your device is updated to the latest iOS update. 

That includes the Alexa app. Simply to go the App Store or Google Play Store and check if the Alexa app has a new update. 

If there is, quickly update it before proceeding with this step. 

Note: None of these steps will work if your device or Alexa app isn’t updated.

To play Apple Music on your Alexa device using Bluetooth, follow these steps:

  1. Turn on your iPhone’s Bluetooth. This also works with an iPad or Android device.
  2. Make sure your device is in close proximity to your Alexa device. 
  3. Give the command to Alexa: “Alexa, connect to my iPhone”.
  4. In your iPhone’s Bluetooth menu, check if your Alexa device is successfully connected.
  5. Normally, Alexa will play a chime. Alexa will also say “iPhone connected to Echo.”
  6. Open your iTunes library.
  7. Play any song from your library or any playlist.

Whether your Alexa device is an Echo dot 4th gen, Echo 4th gen, Echo dot 3rd gen, etc., don’t worry.

Apple Music will work with all these Echo devices. 

You might also like: 7 Steps To Connect Alexa To Bluetooth iPhone

#2: Play Apple Music on your Echo device by enabling the Apple Music skill

Play Apple Music On Echo Device By Enabling Apple Music Skill

The 2nd approach is much longer than the first. 

However, this approach allows you to set Apple Music as your default music service. 

This way, you don’t have to reconnect your Bluetooth every time you want to play music. 

Instead, you can enable the Apple Music skill in the Alexa app so that Alexa remembers your music service.

Then, whenever you want Alexa to play music, just say the proper command and that’s it. 

Here’s how to play Apple Music on your Alexa device with a skill:

  1. Open your Alexa app.
  2. Tap the “More” hamburger icon found on the bottom right of your screen.
  3. Select Settings. 
  4. Look for Alexa Preferences. 
  5. Under Alexa Preferences, tap on Music & Podcasts.
  6. Under Services, tap Link New Service.
  7. Select Apple Music. 
  8. Tap Enable to Use. 
  9. Sign in using your Apple ID and password. 
  10. If you forgot your Apple login credentials, this guide will help.
  11. After logging in, confirm the access request by tapping on “Allow.”
  12. Tap Close. 
  13. Another pop-up menu will appear. Select “Visit Music Settings.”
  14. This will direct you to your Default Services menu.
  15. Change your default music service to Apple Music. 

Now, what happens if you didn’t see Apple Music after you tapped on “Link New Service?”

That just means Apple Music was previously added to your Default Services menu. 

You can set Apple Music as your default music service from this point already. Here’s how to do it:

  1. If you go back to your Music & Podcasts menu, you’ll see “Default Services” under Settings. 
  2. Click on Default Settings.
  3. If your default music provider is set to Spotify, click “Change.”
  4. You’ll see a list of options including Apple Music. 
  5. Tap Apple Music to confirm the change.

Finally, test out your Alexa app by saying “Alexa, play Lauv on Apple Music.” You can also tell Alexa to play specific songs or genres. 

Note: If Apple Music is set as your default music service, you don’t need to include “on Apple Music” at the end. If Apple Music is not set as your default music service, always include “on Apple Music” at the end. 

#3: Transfer Apple Music files to your Amazon music library

The 3rd and final way takes waaaay longer than the 2nd method. 

So why would anyone want to take on this approach? Well…

Let’s say Apple Music for Alexa isn’t available in your country. What next? Apple Music for Alexa is only available in the following countries:

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

If Apple Music for Alexa isn’t available in your country, this 3rd method is the best way for you. 

For this method, you’ll need an iTunes or an Apple Music converter, such as Sidify or Macsome.

Both have free versions. However, the free versions might have a limit as to how many files you can convert. 

Note: For this method, it’s better to use your laptop or desktop. 

Once you have your Apple Music converter, follow these steps: 

  1. Open your Apple Music converter. 
  2. There should be an “Add” button in your converter.
  3. Click on the Add button to import your music from Apple Music or iTunes.
  4. Edit the output format and output folder. 
  5. Set your output format to MP3 as the file type you want to convert it to.
  6. Set your output folder to a location you can easily access. For example, your Downloads folder.
  7. Click the Convert button to start converting your files.
  8. After the conversion process, go to your Downloads folder.
  9. Turn on your Bluetooth on your laptop or desktop.
  10. Turn on your Alexa app and Alexa device.
  11. Connect your Alexa device to your laptop via Bluetooth.
  12. Choose a song from your converted files. 
  13. Play your songs on your Alexa device.

If you found this step-by-step process confusing, don’t worry. 

Here’s a video showing how to convert Apple Music to mp3 using the Sidify app converter:

Why won’t Alexa play Apple Music?

Alexa won’t play Apple Music due to several reasons. Some of these include the following: 

  • Your explicit language filter is turned on.
  • Your Alexa app or device isn’t updated to the latest version.
  • There’s a glitch in the link between your Alexa app and Apple Music.
  • Your Alexa device is malfunctioning and needs a reboot or factory reset. 

You might also be interested in: (1) Can Alexa Play Music From My iPhone?

How to turn off your explicit language filter

The explicit language filter of Alexa only works with:

  • TuneIn.
  • Pandora.
  • Amazon Music.

Sadly, this feature doesn’t work with Spotify and Apple Music. 

Here’s how to turn off your explicit language filter:

  1. Open your Alexa app.
  2. Click the “More” hamburger icon in the bottom right section of your screen.
  3. Tap Settings from the menu.
  4. Under Alexa Preferences, tap Music & Podcasts.
  5. Under Settings, click on Explicit Language Filter.
  6. Turn off or disable Explicit Language Filter.
  7. Try Apple Music with your Alexa app again. 

If this didn’t work, then your Alexa app might need an update.

How to Update your Alexa app and device

Updating your Alexa app takes less than a minute. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Open the App Store or Google Play Store.
  2. Search for Alexa app in the search field.
  3. If there’s an update, tap on “Update”.
  4. Wait for the update to finish downloading.
  5. Relaunch your Alexa app.

After you’ve updated your Alexa app, update your iPhone. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Go to your iPhone settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Look for Software Update. 
  4. Click on Software Update.
  5. Tap Automatic Updates. 
  6. If there’s an update, tap Download and Install.
  7. Wait for the installation to finish. 
  8. Once it’s done, open your Alexa app.
  9. Relaunch Apple Music and see if it works.

Unlink your Alexa app and Apple music then relink it again

In the event your Alexa app crashes, lags, or glitches, this method will work. 

First, you’ll disable Apple Music from the Alexa app. Then relink or enable it again. Think of it as a refresh process for your apps. 

To unlink or disable Apple Music and then enable it again, here’s how to do it: 

  1. Open your Alexa app.
  2. Tap on More (located in the lower right corner of your screen).
  3. Tap Settings. 
  4. Select Music & Podcasts.
  5. Under Services, tap Apple Music.
  6. Select “Disable Skill”.
  7. Wait for the disabling to finish. 
  8. An “Enable to Use” button will appear.
  9. Tap Enable to Use. 
  10. You might be asked to input your Apple ID and password.
  11. After successfully logging in, give Alexa access to your Apple Music by tapping “Allow”.
  12. Tap Close after you’ve given Alexa permission access.
  13. Relaunch your Alexa app and Apple Music. 

Unplug your Alexa device

If your Alexa device stops responding, the best solution is to unplug it. 

Don’t worry. This is only a soft reboot, so you don’t need to reconfigure anything again. 

  1. Unplug your Alexa device from the wall outlet.
  2. Wait 15 to 30 seconds.
  3. Plug your Alexa device back into the wall outlet.
  4. Turn on your Alexa device.
  5. Relaunch Apple Music, and see if it works. 

Now, if your Alexa device still refuses to play your songs on Apple Music…

Do a factory reset

I’ll show you how to do a factory reset for 3rd gen and 4th gen Echo models.

Here’s how to do a factory reset for a 3rd gen Echo device: 

  1. Hold the down volume and microphone button.
  2. Hold it until you see a blinking orange light on your Alexa device.
  3. This will tell you your Alexa device has successfully reset.
  4. Configure and set up your Alexa device the same way you did before.
  5. Relaunch Apple Music and your Alexa app. 

For a 4th gen Echo device, follow these steps.

  1. Hold down the action button. 
  2. Alexa will first enter setup mode. Keep holding to the action button.
  3. Wait for Alexa to say “resetting your device”.
  4. Hold for another 5 seconds. 
  5. Let go and wait for the reset to finish.

Related posts:

  1. 3 Steps To Connect Amazon Music To Echo Dot (2023 Guide)
  2. 6 Steps To Play Apple Music On An Alexa Device (2023)
  3. Echo Dot Not Playing Music: 5 Quick Fixes (2023 Guide)
  4. 5 Steps To Connect Alexa To A Bluetooth Speaker [2023]