Alexa stops playing music after a few seconds

Are you struggling to play music through your Alexa device? Perhaps your streaming cant buffer, or stops while playing? Or your device disconnects from your streaming service?

This guide can help you figure out why Alexa stops playing music. You will also find simple troubleshooting tips to help you figure out what the problem is and how to fix it.

1. Simple Restart

It's always a good idea to start with the simplest solution.

This involves restarting your devices. Switch off your Amazon devices such as Echo, and your streaming device like your smartphone. After a few minutes, restart both devices and test them to see if your music is streaming.

2. Wi-Fi connectivity

If a simple restart doesnt work, move on to the next probable cause,i.e., Wi-Fi connectivity. To stream music using your Amazon Alexa devices requires a constant Wi-Fi connection. Therefore, if you have a weak or unstable connection, you may struggle to stream your music.

Here are some of the common problems associated with Wi-Fi connectivity;

Wi-Fi Router

First, check if your router is working. You can do so by trying to connect to another device. If it doesnt, check to see if any changes are made to the Wi-Fi name, password, or other relevant details.

Alternatively, the problem may be how your Wi-Fi is set up. For example, some Wi-Fi routers may have two separate SSIDs for 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. After confirming all the details correspond to all devices, reconnect your Alexa device to the Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi Congestion

The problem might be that there are too many devices connected to your Wi-Fi. If your Wi-Fi is congested with too many devices, its strength is compromised. To fix this problem, remove a few devices, and test again. You could also get a connection with more bandwidth if this is a recurring issue.

Wi-Fi Range

Your streaming may be interrupted or not run at all if your Wi-Fi is out of range. To mitigate this problem, simply move your device close to the Wi-Fi. Make sure the device is blocked by other electronic devices such as microwaves, as this may cause an interruption to the connection. Alternatively, place the devices higher up on furniture such as a shelf or invest in a range extender.

Whenever you fix any of the problems above, you want to restart the devices and update the Wi-Fi settings on your Echo device. To do the latter, follow the simple steps below;

3. Issues with streaming services

Sometimes, the problem may not be associated with your Amazon Alexa devices at all. Instead, you may have problems with your streaming services, such as Spotify, Pandora, or Amazon Music. Log into your streaming service account to ensure there arent any problems.

Common problems associated with the streaming service include;

• Changes to the account such as password
• Account not being linked
• Assigning too many devices to a single account
• Account may require upgrading to premium after a free trial or due to the number of devices connected.
• Device compatibility issues
• Bandwidth limitations or poor speed

4. Clear Amazon Cache

If the streaming service doesnt have a problem, it may be that your Amazon Alexa keeps crashing. Therefore, you may have to clear your Amazon cache. However, android and iOS have different methods for fixing this problem.

If you have an android phone, you are more likely to experience this problem with the Amazon Music streaming service. Clearing cache In Amazon music on android is pretty simple. To do so, follow the steps below;

5. Check subscription

If you're still struggling with why Alexa stops playing music then there are still a few troubleshooting steps. If nothing has worked so far, extend the troubleshooting to your Amazon and music streaming service subscriptions. There may be two main problems that need fixing.

The first one may be that the trial period has passed and you need to start paying for your subscription. Alternatively, due to the number of devices linked to the streaming service, you may have to upgrade your subscription.

6. Check your location

Another primary reason for streaming service-related problems is your settings, particularly location. Your streaming service will not stream music if not set in the right location. For example, if you are in the UK and set the location as France, the service will fail to stream.

Most of the time, Alexa can pick up your location automatically, but if it failed to do so, that might be the issue. So, always ensure you set the account location on every account to your current location.

7. Check if you're using an ad blocker

Next, you want to check if you have an ad blocker. At times, ad blockers can prevent music streaming on your device. This is particularly common with free Pandora shipping. So, before you start streaming music, make sure you have disabled your ad blocker.

8. Hard Reset

Lastly, if all your efforts dont work out, your next best solution is to go for a hard reset. Remember, resetting Echo and Amazon Alexa will remove all your data and allow you to start fresh. To do so, follow the steps below [these steps refer to the Echo dot device];

9. Call Amazon helpline

If your troubleshooting problems dont work out at all, you will have to seek outside help. To prevent forfeiting your device warranties, it is best to call the Amazon helpline. From there you can get help from professionals who understand how the devices and system works.

The Verdict

The problem of why Alexa stops playing music has varying reasons. However, with proper troubleshooting, you can easily fix the problem. The solutions we listed above are more than likely to fix the problem. If they dont work out for you, Amazons helpline is just a phone call away.

Sources

amazon.com