Alexa doesn't recognize a Spotify playlist

[user-removed]

Plan

Free

Country

Canada

Device

Pixel 7, Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen.

Operating System

Android 13

My Question or Issue

I created an Eagles playlist using Spotify on my phone. When I ask Alexa to play this playlist on Spotify, it plays Eagles radio on Spotify, rather than my playlist. I can play the playlist using the Spotify app on my phone, but not using an Alexa command.

Should the free version of Spotify allow me to do this?

[Dfletch1306]

I was having this same issue with no end of frustration. I finally got it to work! I went to my device settings on my Alexa app and realize the location was different (a previous address) than where I actually was/where my Spotify account is linked to. Reset the location and it work seamlessly. 

[AC1943]

Glad that it worked for you. My location is not the problem however.

[MichaelJinWei]

Huge announcement!!!

After being through a lot of frustration like you mate, really...

I finally found a brief solution to ask Alexa to find all your own playlists on Spotify.

Literally just ask, "Alexa, rescan playlists on my Spotify" really solved my problem as yours.

Hope this could help you guys!!  And don't give up on Alexa 🥺

[tzimmer1]

Plan

Free

Country

USA

Device

Amazon Echo Dot

My Question or Issue

Echo Dot Spotify skill cannot play playlist.  Spotify account and playlist are public.  Plan is free.  Have relinked multiple times.

Any ideas out there?  Thanks.

[tzimmer1]

I’m still seeing this issue after trying the great suggestions from above.  Thanks.

[Yordan]

Hey folks,

Thanks for reaching out!

This article has some tips on how to help Alexa find and play your playlist, so check it out and give them a try, if you haven't already.

Cheers 🤘

[tzimmer1]

Thanks for the info.

Still not working for me.  Verifed the voice command was received correctly by the Echo Dot device.

[Susan_GP]

Hi there @tzimmer1,

Thanks for trying out our recommendations.

Does this happen with only one playlist? Or with all of them? Could you let us know what happens when you ask Alexa for that playlist?
 
On another note, keep in mind that with a free account, Alexa will only play radio stations when you ask for a specific playlist, song, or artist via voice command. Playing music on demand works only on desktop and the Web Player with a free account.

We'll wait for your reply.

[tzimmer1]

Thanks.

Then it sounds like my answer is this by design due to using a Free account.

Any idea if Spotify will update this feature to work with Free accounts?

[Susan_GP]

Hi @tzimmer1,

Thanks for keeping in touch.

Currently, this is how Alexa works with free accounts. We don't have any info about upcoming changes. However, you can search for the artist or album from your phone, or the device you're using, and then play it on your Alexa with Spotify Connect, instead of using voice commands. That way you'll have more control over what you're listening to.

If you have any questions or need anything else, the Community is here for you.

[tzimmer1]

Upgraded to pay account.

Now playlist is found using “rescan playlists” voice command but playlist cannot be found by name.  Any ideas?

[AlejaR]

Hey @tzimmer1,

Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

You can find in this article a list of voice commands you can use to play music on Spotify. 

Keep in mind that you must use the exact name of the playlist you want to listen to. The playlist names that contain punctuation, emojis, acronyms and initialisms (e.g. NASA and BBC) or other words that are just difficult to pronounce are likely to cause issues. The easiest way to deal with those is to rename the playlist from within Spotify.

If after renaming the playlist(s) you continue encounter issues, here some steps you can try:

• Unlinking & relinking the Spotify skill on Alexa. You can check how to do it here.
• Removing the app permission for Alexa on Spotify through the account page > Manage apps.
• Making sure Spotify is set as the default player.
• Clearing the cache of your Spotify app.

Keep us in the loop!

[07mcollins]

Steps to recreate: say
“Alexa, play chill mix on Spotify”

Expected result:
“Chill Mix” (A made for you playlist) plays on Spotify
Observed behaviour:
“Malayalam Chill Mix” (A Spotify playlist) plays on Spotify

Voice history checked- Alexa heard the command correct.
Routine created to manually trigger chill mix. Malayalam Chill Mix plays instead.
Behaviour is consistent & only observed in the last month or two.
Prior, Chill Mix would play correctly.

[tzimmer1]

I still see the issue too

[MonicaMND]

This started on December 20, 2024. Every time I ask Alexa to play a playlist I created, or any playlist created by a user that I have saved, she says she can’t find that playlist.

I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled the skill. I’ve checked for updates. Nothing works.

All Alexa users are having this problem. If you look at the recent reviews for the skill you will see that it’s not working for anyone.

We can only play Spotify created playlists.

Please fix this as soon as possible!

[interesetedbystander]

The problem lies with Alexa, not with Spotify.  There is a built in bias for Amazon Music, call me a cynic, but could it be a commercial decision Amazon have made not to tackle a basic issue.  For the record some of my playlists will play others will not.  I follow the same naming protocol for them all so it's not grammar or punctuation.  This is a fault in the Alexa search function 

[neiln7]

Try "Alexa, rescan my playlists on Spotify". Worked for me.

[jimm2003]

I had a problem with Alexa not being able to find a playlist that worked before I changed the name (to "Jims custom")

So....

I opened the app on my computer and chose the list in question

Then clicked on the "more options" icon. (...)

Selected "add to another playlist"

Chose "+new playlist"

A new playlist was created as "Jims custom (2)"

Then I deleted the original and renamed the new list as "Jims custom"

then clicked the download icon

after download was complete,

I restarted Spotify 

THEN Alexa was able to recognize my playlist.

Hope this helps. 🎵

[FairComment]

I have this exact problm but have et o fnd a solution. My issue started in February.

[MihailY]

Hey folks,

Thanks for your comments and apologies for the radio silence here.

If you're still experiencing this, we'd suggest adding "my" ("Play my Chill Mix") or "my playlist" ("Play my playlist Jim's custom") to your Alexa commands. If that doesn't help, let us know the following so we can report this issue to the relevant team:

• Your smart speaker model.
• Your current Spotify version.
• A few examples of what playlist names work and what don't and what plays instead.

We'll be on the lookout for your responses.