Alexa Will Not Skip Songs? – Learn How to Fix!

If your Alexa will not skip songs, something may be wrong with your connection or the device itself. Luckily, we have the solution.

Your Alexa may be stuck in a loop, making it impossible to skip songs. Or, your music service may not be working properly.

Another possible cause is outdated firmware and app. Also, there may be temporary bugs and glitches in your device that you can fix with a simple restart.

To fix Alexa will not skip songs issue, try using a different command. If this doesn’t work, turn off the Loop Mode. Use the command “Alexa Stop” or “Alexa Loop Mode Off to clear any loop mode settings. 

Fixing an Alexa device that won’t skip songs is easy. But, before we move on to the actual troubleshooting steps, let us discuss why the problem usually arises.

Why Alexa Won’t Skip Songs

When you’re bored of listening to a particular song, the only thing you must do is skip it.

If your Alexa device does not allow this, you may be dealing with poor connectivity. Streaming services require a stable network connection to continue playing songs.

If WiFi or mobile data isn’t the issue, your predicament may be due to the following:

1. Alexa Stuck In Loop Mode

A song will keep playing on repeat after it has finished if you turn on Loop Mode on your device.

2. Outdated Firmware And App

If your Alexa device is not up-to-date, you may be missing new features, security patches, and bug fixes.  

3. Music Service Not Working Properly

There may be problems with the music service that keeps your Alexa from skipping songs.

4. Temporary Bugs And Glitches

Bugs and glitches can keep one song or an entire playlist in a loop.

These are the common reasons your Alexa won’t skip songs. Now that you know them, we can move on to fixing the issue.

Below are straightforward solutions you can do on your own.

How to Fix Alexa Will Not Skip Songs

Before applying advanced solutions to your Alexa problem, start with the simplest solution – restarting your device.

Restarting prevents crashes and ensures your device runs smoothly.

To restart your Alexa, unplug it from the power outlet. Then, plug it back in. If your Alexa comes with batteries, remove and reinsert them to restart the device.

If this does not work, apply the solutions below.

Solution #1: Use a Different Voice Command

Common voice commands may not work with your Alexa. You may need to use a different voice command to control your device to solve the issue.

Try the following voice commands and see if they work.

1. Alexa, skip.
2. Alexa, next.
3. Alexa, next track.

Note: If you are still having issues with the commands, unplug your device from the outlet. Wait for about 40 seconds before plugging it back in.

Solution #2: Add the Room Name in the Command

If you have more than one Alexa device in your house, include the name of the room in the command.

For instance, say “Alexa, skip song in kitchen/bedroom/etc.” to skip the song playing on your device in the respective location.

Here’s what you should do to create a custom command on your Alexa:

1. Go to Alexa Menu and navigate to Routines.
2. Click the + (Add) icon to add a new routine.
3. Select When this happens, then Voice to create a custom command.
4. Enter your custom phrase to trigger the routine.
5. Choose Add action > Smart Home, then select your device.

Note: Repeat the steps above to add as many voice commands as you like. Then, review and test them.

Solution #3: Turn Off Alexa Loop Mode

Alexa’s loop mode can cause this particular error. It allows you to loop songs preventing you from playing the next one.

It’s easy to turn this on to continue to listen to your favorite song. However, the downside is that you can have a hard time getting it back to playing your playlist.

You can use Alexa skills if you experience that it’s not working as expected.

There are some skills that can be bad so make sure you always check them and get reliable ones.

Here’s how to turn off Alexa Loop Mode:

1. Say “Alexa, stop!” or say, “Alexa, loop mode off!”
2. Alternatively, you’ll need to look into Alexa Skills.
3. Turn off all other skills.
4. Turn them back on one by one to see which one is disrupting.

Tip: To access Alexa Skills on the app, you’ll need to tap on the menu icon on the upper left and select Skills & Games.

Solution #4: Check for Duplicate Device Names

Alexa can also get confused especially if you have device names that are the same name.

This is something you’re likely going to face if you’re using voice commands and mention the device’s name.

To ensure that this does not happen, you want to check your Alexa device’s names and make sure that they’re all unique.

Here’s how to check and change device names:

1. Open the Alexa app, then go to Devices.
2. Check for duplicate names.
3. If there are duplicates, select the device that you want to rename.
4. Choose Edit Name.
5. Type in the device’s new name, then tap on Save.

Note: This does not change Alexa’s wake word, as this is more to differentiate your different devices.

Solution #5: Log out of Your Other Amazon Accounts

If you have multiple accounts connected to your Alexa device, it can get confusing and not follow your commands.

This is usually not an issue, but it’s something that you can try to see if it resolves the problem.

Here’s how to log out of your other Amazon accounts:

1. Open the Alexa app on your mobile device.
2. Select Setting on the left menu.
3. Tap on the device you want to remove your account.
4. Click on the Deregister button.

Tip: Make sure to leave your primary account active on your Alexa devices, then try skipping songs or other commands.

Solution #6: Update Your Alexa App and Echo Device

Alexa can stop skipping songs or listening to your commands if there are incompatibilities and errors in the system.

The best way to fix that would be to update your Alexa app and your device’s firmware.

This ensures that you have the latest software and that the update has fixed the bugs and glitches.

Here’s how to update your Alexa app and Alexa device:

1. Open the Alexa app, then go to Devices.
2. Tap on Echo & Alexa.
3. Select the device you want to update.
4. Tap on About to see your device’s current software.
5. If an update is available, select the Update button.

Tip: You’ll also need to check if you need to update your Alexa app. Go to your device’s app store and check if you can update the Amazon Alexa app.

If you’re still experiencing any issues or errors with your Alexa devices, you can contact Amazon’s customer support for assistance.

Whether you can’t skip songs or you’re device is not responding to your commands, they will be able to help you resolve the issue.

Read Next: How to Update WiFi on Alexa?

Bottom Line

Now that you know the causes and fixes for the Alexa will not skip songs error, you can fix it to continue to enjoy listening to your favorite songs.

This isn’t specific to any music player like Spotify or Amazon Music, so if you experience this on any platform, you can follow this guide to resolve it.