When Amazon first launched its Echo smart speaker, the number of popular music services included at launch wasn't massive. However, you can now link practically all of the most popular streaming providers to your Echo, and make it the default. That includes Apple Music. 

If you want to know how to get your Apple Music playlists playing on your Echo, or you just want to use it as your default, read on to find out how to do just that: 

How to activate Apple Music on your Amazon Echo device photo 2
Pocket-lint

How to ask Alexa to play Apple Music tunes your Echo device

The setup process is very similar to how you set up Apple Music on Fire TV. First, enable the Apple Music skill in the Amazon Alexa app by following the instructions below: 

  1. Open the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone
  2. Tap 'More' on iPhone, or open the side menu on Android
  3. Select 'Skills & Games' 
  4. Search for Apple Music, then tap on the Apple Music skill
  5. Select 'Enable skill' 
  6. Now sign in to your Apple Music account 

Another way to enable it is by just linking your account in the Music settings of the app. To do that follow the steps below: 

  1. Open the Amazon Alexa App on your smartphone
  2. Open the Settings menu in the app
  3. Find 'Music & Podcasts' 
  4. Choose 'Apple Music' from the list of services
  5. Now sign in and enable it

Once it's been linked, you can simply say 'Alexa, play my [playlist name] playlist on Apple Music', and it will use that service to play your playlist. However, you can also set it to be your default. 

Set Apple Music as your default

So that you don't have to say 'on Apple Music' after every music request, you can set it as your default. That means whenever you make any playlist, album or song request, your Echo will automatically choose Apple Music first. 

  1. Open Settings in the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone
  2. Choose 'Music & Podcasts' 
  3. Tap 'Default Services' 
  4. Select 'Change' next to the current Music, Artist & Genre stations and Podcasts options
  5. Choose Apple Music from the popup list that appears

When Apple Music first launched on Echo it was seen as evidence of a growing thaw in the relationship between Apple and Amazon. The two even struck a deal, allowing Apple products such as the Apple TV and iPad to be sold on Amazon's website, which hasn't always been the case. It's clear then that the two companies benefit from working with each other rather than against. 

Amazon Echo Dot (2020)

Amazon

Only time will tell if these deals are so-called one-off situations between the two tech giants, or instead, the start of a great relationship that could make our lives a lot easier. Now if only Amazon and Google could do the same thing. We'd love to natively access YouTube on our Echo Show (though it's now available on Fire TV after an agreement).