It'southward possible to bask a variety of audio content, similar music and podcasts, on your Amazon Repeat device. However, due to Amazon and Google'south ongoing tussle, listening to (or watching) YouTube videos on an Amazon Echo isn't quite and then like shooting fish in a barrel.

Thankfully, playing YouTube videos with Alexa is still possible. Nosotros'll show you how to play YouTube sound through an Amazon Echo so you tin bask YouTube-exclusive music or other content on your smart speaker. We'll also show you lot how to sentinel YouTube videos on your Repeat Evidence.

How to Play YouTube on an Amazon Repeat Using Bluetooth

As information technology turns out, y'all tin't simply ask Alexa to play a YouTube video. Instead, you'll need to pair your phone, tablet, or similar device to your Echo and treat the Echo as a Bluetooth speaker. This isn't besides-integrated as a full connectedness to your YouTube account or a dedicated YouTube skill would be, only it'due south the best selection for at present.

Pairing Your Phone With Your Amazon Echo

To do this, start past proverb "Alexa, pair Bluetooth." This will put your Repeat into pairing mode. Next, you'll demand to open the Bluetooth pairing settings on your phone.

On Android, you'll find these at Settings > Continued devices. Hit Pair new device and afterwards a moment, you should see your Echo appear in the list.

On an iPhone, visit Settings > Bluetooth and the device should appear on this folio.

On either platform, tap your Repeat's name to pair your Alexa speaker and your phone. Y'all can provide admission to your contacts and call history if prompted, but information technology's not necessary.

During our testing, Alexa said that she couldn't find any devices to pair with. However, they did pair successfully, and so don't worry if you hear this bulletin. As long equally your telephone shows that it'south connected to your Echo, y'all can move on to play YouTube videos through Alexa.

Connect Your Devices to Play YouTube Audio on Echo

Once you have your Echo and your telephone paired, y'all'll need to connect them to start playing audio through your Echo. To do this easily, you can say "Alexa, connect Bluetooth."

This volition cause your Repeat to connect to your phone, since it's a previously paired device. Alexa will make a sound and say "Now connected to [Device Proper name]" if information technology's successful.

If that doesn't work, you can connect on your telephone manually. On Android, visit Settings > Connected devices and tap your Repeat's name to connect. You may need to tap See all if you have many devices paired.

On an iPhone, visit Settings > Bluetooth and tap your Echo's name to connect to it.

Y'all're Ready to Play YouTube Videos on Your Echo

Subsequently you've connected your phone and Repeat speaker, any sound or other media you start on your phone will play through the Echo. In this way, information technology acts like whatsoever other Bluetooth speaker you might have.

Thus, you can now open up the YouTube app or website and play any yous'd like to hear. Your Repeat will play it from start to finish. Of form, if you have the Echo, Echo Dot, or some other device that'due south only a speaker, you won't be able to watch the YouTube video. You lot'll merely hear the audio from the video, making it peachy for podcasts or anything else where the visual element isn't important.

If you tin can't hear the video, make sure to turn upwardly the volume on both your phone and the Echo itself. Depending on the Echo model you take and how loud the video is, not all videos may audio not bad on the Echo.

To disconnect when you're done playing the YouTube video on your Repeat, say "Alexa, disconnect Bluetooth." Alternatively, visit the menus mentioned above and tap the Repeat'due south name to access the disconnect option.

Limitations of the Repeat equally a Bluetooth Speaker

Repeat vocalism commands are limited when you connect via Bluetooth. You can play and suspension, skip to the side by side or previous video, and adjust the audio, just non much else. This isn't quite as good as native back up, only information technology'south amend than nothing.

In improver, using YouTube on your phone this way is still subject to YouTube'southward normal limitations. Almost annoyingly, your video will stop if you turn the screen off. See how to play YouTube videos even with the screen off to get effectually this. The easiest way is to consider joining YouTube Premium, though this isn't free.

How to Connect YouTube to Alexa Using a Workaround

If yous'd adopt to ameliorate integrate YouTube with your Amazon Echo, you lot can utilize a more involved workaround for greater control. This requires creating your own Alexa skill and using Google's developer platform to access videos.

Information technology takes a bit of attempt, so it's beyond the scope of this guide. Check out the below video for a full walkthrough.

How to Scout YouTube Videos on an Repeat Testify

The above steps are keen for listening to YouTube audio on an Echo speaker that doesn't take a screen. Only if you lot take an Echo Prove, you can watch YouTube videos in addition to hearing them. There's no dedicated app for doing then, but watching YouTube on your Echo Show just requires a minor workaround.

Get-go, information technology'due south a skilful idea to update your Echo Prove to enable the best browsing functionality, especially if yous have an older model. On your Echo Show, pull downwardly from the top of the screen and become to Settings > Device Options > Check for Software Updates to update the system software.

From there, you can simply say "Alexa, open YouTube." In the past, this would prove a prompt request if you wanted to use the Silk browser or Firefox as your default. Equally of May 2021, however, Firefox isn't supported on the Echo Bear witness anymore. Thus, y'all'll take to use the Silk browser to access YouTube.

Once you have YouTube open up in the browser, you can navigate simply like y'all have the page open on your telephone or tablet. There'south a search bar to look up anything you like, as well as tabs at the bottom for navigation.

Voice commands won't work, though y'all tin can say something like "Alexa, play Drew Gooden on YouTube" and she'll run a search for what you said. This volition provide you with an piece of cake shortcut to what you're looking for.

Enjoy Playing YouTube Videos With Repeat

If you're a diehard fan of YouTube, the Repeat devices probably aren't the best fit for you. The integration isn't well-nigh as smooth as it is with Google'southward devices or about other platforms.

But with these tips, you can nevertheless listen to or watch YouTube videos on your Amazon Echo using Alexa. Information technology's a adept way to grab up on podcasts or follow along with a cooking tutorial.

How to Play and Sync Music on Multiple Amazon Echos

If you accept more than one Amazon Echo device, you can put play the same music on all your devices at the same fourth dimension.

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About The Author

Ben Stegner (1802 Articles Published)

Ben is the Editor in Chief at MakeUseOf. He left his IT job to write full-time in 2016 and has never looked back. He's been covering tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more as a professional writer for over 8 years.

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