How to Play Apple Music on Alexa

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If you're an avid Apple Music user but just got an Amazon Echo, it's fairly easy to stream music from Apple's streaming service in minutes. You can either pair the speaker via Bluetooth or use the Apple Music skill (if you're an Apple Music paid subscriber).

How to play Apple Music on an Echo speaker using Bluetooth

The first way to play Apple Music on your Alexa-powered devices using Bluetooth. This method works great if you're playing music locally stored on your Apple device and aren't currently subscribed to the paid version of Apple Music. Most, if not all, of Amazon's Echo speakers and displays like the Echo Pop or Echo Show 8 have Bluetooth built-in. To pair your Apple device with your Echo speaker, make sure Bluetooth is on, bring your Apple product close to your Echo device and say, “Alexa, connect to my iPhone,” or “Alexa, connect to my iPad.” If that doesn't work, you can say the specific name of your Apple device.

You should then hear a chime from your Echo speaker and something to the effect of “iPhone connected to Echo.” If that doesn't work, you can say, "Alexa, turn on Bluetooth," and the Bluetooth pairing mode on your Echo speaker should turn on. Then go to your Apple device's Settings, then to Bluetooth and under available devices, you should see your Echo device appear; just tap on the Echo device name and your Apple device should pair.

Once you've paired your device, go to the Apple Music app and start playing your music; your songs should now play off your Echo speaker. When you're done with your music session, say, “Alexa, disconnect from iPhone,” (or whichever Apple device you're using) and you'll be disconnected.

How to play Apple Music on an Echo speaker with a skill

Another way to play from Apple Music on your Echo devices is by using the Apple Music skill. For this skill to work, you'll need to be an active Apple Music paid subscriber. To enable the Apple Music skill, open the Alexa app, go to the More tab at the bottom right and choose Skills & Games. Then you can search for Apple Music.

On the page for the Apple Music skill, you'll need to link the Apple account you use for Apple Music. You'll then be asked to sign into your Apple account and then you should be good to go. The other way to get to the Apple Music skill is to go to the More tab in the Alexa app, and choose Music & More. Then press the gear icon in the top right; you should see Your Default Services and other audio streaming services you've linked to your Amazon account. If you haven't linked any, tap where it says Link New Service and then select Apple Music from the list. You'll then be taken to the Apple Music skill, where you can link your Apple account to your Amazon account.

Once the skill is enabled, you can ask Alexa to play music from your Apple Music library, including specific artists and albums. You can also say commands like “Alexa, play Today’s Hits on Apple Music."