I’ve seen my Alexa device do a lot of amazing feats.
But, the one thing I’ve never seen it do?
Say no.
That’s until I asked her to use YouTube.
However, like my brother always used to say:
“Just because they said no, doesn’t mean we can’t.”
Keep reading to discover:
- Why Alexa isn’t directly compatible with YouTube.
- 5 easy ways to fix common Alexa with YouTube issues.
- The 2 best Amazon Alexa devices to play music from YouTube with.
- 3 uncomplicated steps on how to use any Alexa device to play YouTube videos.
- And so much more…
Can Alexa play music from YouTube?
Alexa can’t play music from YouTube, but Alexa devices can. To make this work, you must connect your phone to the Alexa device using Bluetooth. Your phone should now be using the Alexa device as its speaker. However, you won’t be able to use Alexa voice commands to control the YouTube app.
How to play music from YouTube on Alexa (workaround)
You can play music from YouTube on Alexa by using an Alexa device as its external speaker. This is possible through these 3 quick steps:
Step #1: Set up your Alexa device
The most crucial step in getting YouTube to work on your Alexa is setting up your device.
For this, let’s focus on these two Amazon Alexa products:
These are speakers built to run on Alexa. The only thing that separates the 2 is that Echo Show has a screen.
Got one of them? Their boxes should contain the following:
- The device.
- Power cord.
- If applicable, an adapter.
Now, here’s how you set up your Alexa device:
- Connect one end of the power cord to the Alexa device.
- Insert the other into the outlet or any power source.
- Press the Power button.
After that, wait for a couple of seconds.
Only move on to the next step once your Alexa device has an orange light.
Step #2: Register the device to the Alexa app
So, you now have a working Alexa device…
The next thing you need is something to control it with.
Fortunately, Amazon has already taken care of this by creating the Alexa app. (Available on Android and iOS).
With this app, you get access to these features:
- Learn about new Alexa skills.
- Create routines for your device.
- Make preferences for each user in your home.
Sounds great, right?
Now, to connect your Alexa device to the app, here’s what you need to do:
- Create an Amazon account here.
- Download and open the Alexa app.
- Sign in to your Amazon account through the app.
- Tap the More button on the bottom right side of your screen.
- Press the Add a Device option.
- Select Amazon Echo, and then pick either Echo Dot or Echo Show.
- Choose your Alexa device from the list of devices.
- Complete the setup by following the on-screen instructions.
Note: If you can’t find your device from the app, press the Action button on your Echo Dot or Show. Keep holding it until the light from your device flashes orange.
After that, your Alexa device is good to go.
You may also be interested in: Can Alexa Play Music From My iPhone?
Step #3: Use the Alexa device as your speaker
Now, for the part you’ve been waiting for:
Here’s how you can use an Alexa device for YouTube:
- Enable Bluetooth on your smartphone.
- Open the Alexa app.
- Under Devices, go to Echo & Alexa.
- Press Echo on the list of devices.
- Tap Bluetooth Devices.
- Choose your phone on the list of devices.
After that, your phone should now have the Echo device as its speaker.
All that’s left to do is:
And those sweet, sweet tunes should now be playing on your Echo Dot or Show.
However, this method has a catch:
You can’t use your voice to get Alexa to play a YouTube video.
As of today, Alexa voice commands don’t work well for YouTube.
Maybe someday…
But, right now, we make do with what we can.
This method might not be perfect, but, hey, it works well.
BONUS: How to fix common issues
A part of knowing how to use something is learning how to fix it.
For an Alexa that won’t play YouTube audio, you have 5 things to try before throwing the towel:
Remove Bluetooth interference
Since you’re using Bluetooth to connect your phone to the Alexa device…
You should know which everyday objects can block Bluetooth signals.
First, you have the physical blockers. Some of these are:
- Metal.
- Glass.
- Wood.
- Water.
- Marble.
- Concrete.
- Synthetic materials.
Furthermore, mirrors are also known to reflect Bluetooth signals.
Other than physical blockers, you also have wave-emitting objects. These are known to scramble your Bluetooth signals. Some examples of this are:
- Wi-Fi.
- Radio.
- Microwave.
- Baby monitors.
- Fluorescent lights.
- Other Bluetooth devices.
If there are any of these around your Alexa device, remove what you can.
Move both devices closer to each other
Here’s a fact:
Bluetooth coming from phones can’t exactly reach far areas.
In fact, standard 2.4 GHz Bluetooth can only reach up to 30 meters (or around 98 feet).
However, that doesn’t consider any physical obstructions.
So, to ensure that your Bluetooth connection is strong…
Move them as close to each other as you can.
Power cycle both devices
Another solution you can try is a power cycle. This is a type of restart that removes all residual charge on your device.
You can perform a power cycle with these directions:
- Turn your device off.
- Remove it from a power source.
- Standby for 30 seconds.
- Return it to the power source.
- Turn it on.
This is different from a normal restart, thanks to those extra 30 seconds of waiting.
Those seconds allow charges to escape from your device…
Which then triggers all stuck tasks and processes to restart.
Thus, also eliminating all glitches from your Echo.
Factory reset your Alexa devices
Lastly, you can also try a factory reset. This will get rid of all your:
- Data.
- Preferences.
- Account settings.
However, it also removes all software errors and glitches on your device.
To factory reset any Amazon Alexa device, all you have to do is:
- Press and hold the Mute and Volume Down buttons simultaneously.
- Don’t let go until the lights on your device blink.
You’ll know your reset is successful if your device returns to setup mode or it has orange lights.
If you encounter any issues during the reset process, watch this video:
Update your Alexa device
Outdated software can also cause glitches on your Alexa device.
To update your gadget, all you need to do is say:
“Alexa, check for updates.”
If there’s one available, Alexa will then ask you if you want to update now.
To which you reply, “Yes.”