Can you play Alexa and a Bluetooth speaker at the same time? Well, Bluetooth speakers typically connect to our Alexa speaker in order for us to stream music through the Echo at a higher volume.
But how do we make both speakers work simultaneously?
You can’t play music simultaneously through your Alexa Echo and the Bluetooth speaker but there are quite a few workarounds.
They involve using the Alexa “Multiroom Audio”, connecting the devices directly via AUX, or simply using an app that allows multi-groups!
Let’s next unwrap some of the most important factors!
Can I Play Echo and Bluetooth Speaker at Same Time?
Unfortunately, there is no official option that enables simultaneous playout from both your Amazon Echo and a Bluetooth speaker.
By default, the speaker connects to the Alexa Echo speaker, and the playout from the Bluetooth device is outputted through the Echo speaker.
However, there are quite a few workarounds so let’s take a quick look:
- Use the Amazon Multiroom Audio
- Use a Dual Audio Switch (Android)
- Connect both speakers via AUX
- Use a Smart Home Hub for playout
- Use Spotify Connect (Multi-Speakers)
- Manually play music simultaneously
These are the best possible ways to play your Alexa speaker and a Bluetooth device at the same time.
Let’s next unwrap each of them in greater detail for anyone to succeed!
How to Play Alexa and Bluetooth Speaker at Same Time?
Tip: Try all of the following methods!
1. Use Multiroom Alexa Audio!
Note: Skip to the next step if your Bluetooth speaker is a smartphone or tablet!
To make your Alexa Echo and your Bluetooth speaker play simultaneously, you need to pair your Bluetooth speaker with the Alexa app first.
Then you’ll be ready to add both your Echo and the third-party speaker in one group so they can play the same song at the same time.
How to Pair Bluetooth Speaker to Alexa?
The first and most important aspect of this method is to identify whether your Bluetooth speaker is compatible with the Alexa app (Alexa-enabled).
You can check on the speaker’s box or in the user’s manual for more information but you can as well, directly attempt the steps:
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone.
- Tap on “Devices” and hit the “+” (Add Device).
- Then again, tap on Add Device to enter the tab.
- Scroll down and select “Bluetooth Speaker”.
- Then put your speaker into Pairing Mode.
- Select the speaker in the Alexa app to pair.
How to Create a Multiroom Audio Group?
In the Alexa app, tap on “Devices”, scroll down to “Speaker Groups” and select “Combine Speakers”.
In there you would be able to select “Multi–room music” and combine your Echo and your Bluetooth speaker.
Tip: Name your group “Everywhere” so you can ask Alexa - “Alexa, play music everywhere”!
1. Use Dual Audio Switch (Android)
Note: This method requires an Android smartphone or tablet!
One of the quickest ways to play the same music from both your Alexa Echo and a Bluetooth speaker would be to connect both to your smartphone.
Well, with iPhones this is not possible, since AirPlay only works with iOS speakers, hence Alexa won’t connect.
On an Android device, go to Settings > Bluetooth > Advanced Menu > Dual Audio Switch!
Now you should be able to pair your smartphone or tablet with 2 x Bluetooth speakers, which would be your third-party device and Alexa Echo.
Connect to both speakers and start streaming music from your smartphone to play the same songs on both speakers simultaneously.
3. Use a Double AUX Cord (Wired)
In case you’re still wondering can you play Alexa and a Bluetooth speaker at the same time, then you need to know about the “wired” way of achieving this goal.
Well, you can’t use your smartphone, except if you have a Double AUX Cord, so you can freely use any computer that has two AUX output ports.
This way you can connect both your Alexa Echo and Bluetooth speaker to one device (smartphone via an adapter or computer).
Info: This way when you play music on your connected device, both the Alexa speaker and Bluetooth speaker will play out the same music.
4. Use a Smart Home Hub!
There are many smart home hubs on the market such as Google Home, Zigbee Gateway, and SmartThings Hub, allowing you to connect multiple Bluetooth speakers.
This means that you would be able to connect both your speakers and stream music simultaneously from both.
This is not hard to achieve at all, you only need to unpair your Echo from the Alexa app as well as your Bluetooth speaker from any smartphone or playout device.
When both your speakers are disconnected, enter Pairing Mode and download the respective app for your Hub to connect.
Note: The smart home hub is then used as a playout device to stream on both speakers so you can even connect a smartphone on top to control the payout.
5. Download & Use “Spotify”
In case you didn’t know the streaming service “Spotify” allows you to play in Multi Mode via Spotify Connect.
This allows WiFi and Bluetooth speakers to connect to Spotify and stream playout music simultaneously, and all happens from within the Spotify app!
- In the Spotify app, select the group called “MULTI” from the “Available Devices”!
Then you can select both your Alexa Echo and Bluetooth speaker in order to start streaming music simultaneously.
Spotify would be a good recommendation since the app is free. Well, there are limitations but you don’t need to pay to stream your playlists.
Tip: Test other applications that claim they support multiple speakers playout!
6. Manually Play Music Simultaneously
This method offers many opportunities, but it’s not the way most users would prefer using it due to the syncing issues.
You can play music on both your Alexa Echo and Bluetooth speaker by manually streaming the same song at the same time.
You would need to connect your Bluetooth speaker wirelessly to your phone or tablet while the Alexa Echo can play music from Amazon Music.
This way you can hit the “Play” button from the Alexa app and on your Bluetooth speaker at the same time, hence playing simultaneously.
Amazon Music?
If you don’t have a secondary smartphone or tablet to use for your second speaker, you need to know that with Amazon Music, your Echo can stream independently.
The service costs $9.99 per month and it’s possible to play music via voice commands or simply from the Alexa app.
7. Use a Subwoofer or Soundbar!
In case you’ve got a soundbar or subwoofer at home, connecting both your Alexa Echo and Bluetooth speaker would be the easiest thing.
The subwoofers are made in a way to support multiple speakers so you wouldn’t need to worry about compatibility.
Simply put both your speakers into Pairing Mode and connect them via Bluetooth to the subwoofer or connect both devices via AUX.
In case there is no second AUX that you use on your Subwoofer simply acquire the Double AUX Cord which solves the problem.
Tip: You can then control the volume, reverse, next song, and much more through the playout device, hence the subwoofer or the soundbar.
Amazon Alexa Fire TV / Firestick & Bluetooth Speaker?
Yes, this is entirely possible, but you should be aware that your Fire TV will output the audio through WiFi, where if the wireless connection is bad the sound will cut.
However, to merge your Bluetooth speaker with a Fire TV or Alexa Firestick, follow the steps below:
- Turn on the television as well as your Fire TV / Firestick.
- Go into Menu Settings using the provided Alexa remote.
- Go to Controllers & Bluetooth Devices > Other Bluetooth devices.
- Reminder: Don’t forget to put your speaker into Pairing Mode.
- Wait for the devices to discover each other and connect.
- Then your Bluetooth speaker will output the Fire TV audio.
However, keep in mind that when using WiFi, your television where your Firestick is connected would be muted. Hence you won’t be able to output music through your TV in combination.
Info: In addition to this setup, you can also pair more speakers to your Fire TV or Firestick, and they don’t even need to be Alexa Echo devices.
Quick Recap:
Now that we know can you play Alexa and a Bluetooth speaker at the same time, we’ve learned that the best possible way is to use the Alexa app “Multiroom Audio”.
In case that doesn’t work we can connect both devices via AUX or manually play the same song!
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