Alexa Randomly Plays Music? (Possible Causes & Fixes)

Kerry Souder
by Kerry Souder

One of Amazon Alexa’s most popular skills allows users to play their choice of music on command. However, it seems some people have been experiencing issues with Alexa performing this task a bit too well.

Recently, users have reported that their music has randomly started playing at random times of the day and night through their Alexa devices.

If you’re experiencing an issue with your Alexa randomly playing music, log out of your connected music streaming services and reset your password. Should the problem persist, try deleting any routines or doing a complete factory reset. You can also turn your Alexa on “do not disturb,” so you don’t have to deal with the annoyance as you troubleshoot.

To better understand how to fix this issue with your Alexa account, you first need to know a bit more about Alexa and how the problem can occur in the first place.

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How Does Alexa Play Your Music?

Alexa does not naturally have access to music, so you will need to connect it to the source yourself. There are a couple ways you can use Alexa’s skills to listen to your music.

You can use a music service provider such as…

  • Amazon Music
  • Apple Music
  • Spotify
  • Pandora
  • iHeartRadio
  • SiriusXM
  • Vevo

You can also use the music that is already stored on your mobile device. By using a Bluetooth connection to access your music through Alexa, you will be able to stream any music that is on your smartphone or tablet.

What Causes Alexa to Randomly Play Music?

Technology can be fickle, and Alexa is no different when it comes to playing music on Spotify and other music streaming apps. There are a handful of different causes for this music issue with Alexa. We’re going to take a closer look at the most common explanations, so you are equipped to handle the problem on your own.

Issues with Routines

There is a chance someone may have created a routine that causes Alexa to play music from your playlist at random times throughout the day. Sometimes, the wording of a routine can cause it to trigger and malfunction.

There is also a chance someone with access to your Alexa account did it on purpose, too. Should that be the case, make sure to find out if it was a joke or if you have been hacked. In the case of the latter, it’s important to take the necessary steps to secure your account once more.

External Interference

If another person has access to your account, it is possible for them to play music through your devices. This could be a friend or family member, or it can be an indicator that you have been hacked by an outside source.

Whatever the case, it can lead to a lot of frustration on your end, which is why it’s important to figure out a resolution to the issue as quickly as possible.

Microphone/Speaker Issues

As with all forms of technology, technical bugs are a common occurrence. Some can simply be classified as small glitches that can easily be resolved by the user—in this case, you.

Other issues that can be causing the music mishap include microphone and speaker malfunctions, which you will most likely not be able to fix on your own.

What Can You Do About It?

There are many different methods you can try to stop Alexa from playing your music without your command. Luckily, most of them are straightforward, so you won’t have to deal with any long, drawn-out procedures that leave your Alexa device out of commission for weeks on end.

Let’s check out some of the most common fixes, so you can get started.

Remove Your Routines

One of the first things you should do is check all the routines that are already saved in your smart home. Whether a faulty command was added on purpose or by accident, the best way to fix the issue is to remove all routines and add the ones you think will be useful back into the system.

Log Out of Other Devices & Change Password

If you suspect that another person is using your music streaming account, open the streaming service that is connected to your Alexa device and navigate to the settings. You should then be able to select an option to log out of all other devices.

At this point, promptly change your password to avoid any future security breaches. This may seem self-explanatory but be sure to only share the new password with people you want to have access to your account.

If you have multiple Spotify accounts on Alexa, switch to the correct one, so you don’t mess around with someone else’s settings.

Perform a Factory Reset

Once you have determined that an outside user is not the cause of the problem, try to do a factory reset of your device. This will restore everything back to the original factory settings and effectively get any bugs out of the system. On the downside, it will wipe everything out, so you will have to go through the setup process once more.

Turn on “Do Not Disturb Mode”

While this isn’t a permanent fix, turning your device on “do not disturb” mode can be a useful trick. This is especially true if Alexa is playing music in the middle of the night when you are trying to sleep. Just say, “Alexa, turn on do not disturb,” and it will mute all notifications and actions until turned off once more.

At the very least, this will stop you from jolting awake from unexpected songs throughout the night.

Contact Support Team

When all else fails, get in touch with the Amazon Alexa support team. Remember to relay the steps you have already taken to try to fix the issue. That way, you can save yourself the headache of repeating the same methods over and over again.

As you may already know, waiting for person-to-person technical support can often be a bit of a pain. That’s why we suggest exhausting all other options before trying to reach out to the Alexa support team.

Common Alexa Music Commands

Alexa can perform many actions, so you don’t have to be near the device to control your music. This can be useful when you’re doing a hands-on activity at home—cooking, cleaning, showering—or hanging out with a large group of people who all want easy access to the music selection.

Here are some common commands you can use when listening to music through Alexa:

  • “Alexa, play some music.”
  • “Alexa, play/pause.”
  • “Alexa, next song.”
  • “Alexa, previous song.”
  • “Alexa, turn shuffle on.”
  • “Alexa, turn shuffle off.”
  • “Alexa, crank it up.”
  • “Alexa, turn it down.”
  • “Alexa, stop music.”

…and so many more!


Related Questions

Can I play music for free on Alexa?

Yes, you can play music for free while using Alexa. Sign up for free subscriptions to music apps like Spotify Free or utilize any free trials such as trying Amazon Music. You can also connect to your Amazon Echo speaker to play any music source through a Bluetooth connection.


Can I play music from my personal library on Alexa?

Yes, you are able access your own music through My Media for Alexa. This free skill will let you stream any music from your home media collection. You’ll have to install the skill, enter your credentials, and select the folders or songs in your iTunes library that you wish to play.


Can you queue up songs using Alexa?

Unfortunately, no. It is true that Alexa does have a “Queue” tab on the app. However, it simply shows you the next song that is going to play. You are not able to ask Alexa to play a specific song after the one that is currently playing.

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Conclusion

Alexa is a useful tool when listening to music. However, as is the case with most technology, it comes with its occasional quirks. If your Alexa has been randomly playing music, there are many things you can do to fix it.

Fortunately, the chances of the issue being too serious to deal with on your own is low. Most can be resolved with quick fixes, though it may mean you have to reset some of your account settings.

Chatting to an Amazon Alexa support team member is also always an option. Whatever the case, we’re confident you won’t have to deal with unwanted music coming from your Alexa device for much longer.

Kerry Souder
Kerry Souder

I am a copywriter and editor based in the Las Vegas area with nearly a decade of experience under my belt writing landing pages, cost guides, blog posts, newsletters, case studies, and social media content. I have a degree in Strategic Communication and experience working in both the account and creative spheres. My goal is to always be discovering new interests and bettering myself as a writer and editor along the way.

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