How To Use Alexa as a Bluetooth Speaker – The Ultimate Guide

Since Amazon has improved their Echo devices’ sound quality, more users are making Alexa their go-to BlueTooth speaker. Connecting is easy once Alexa has been set up over WiFi. 

You can use Alexa as a Bluetooth speaker by connecting through the app over WiFi and to your phone via Bluetooth.   

There are multiple ways to use Alexa devices as Bluetooth speakers. In what follows, I’ll show you how to connect to Alexa via Bluetooth and maximize its flexibility. 

Also read: 6 Best Soundbars With Google Assistant and Alexa

How to Use Alexa as a Bluetooth Speaker

When discussing speakers, the name Alexa is a proprietary eponym used to stand in for Echo devices, so the two names are used interchangeably.

Sometimes it’s easier to play something from your personal smart device instead of adding a new skill to Alexa and operating it from there. Plus, even though Alexa has a growing library of over 100,000 skills, she can’t do everything (yet), so using Bluetooth fills the gaps.

Note: you can’t use a new Alexa device that has not been set up yet. Echo requires setup first, so not anyone can pair using Bluetooth. In other words, you can’t pull an Echo out of the box and instantly make it a speaker like you can with dedicated Bluetooth speakers. 

1. Connecting Your Phone or Tablet to Alexa

1. Pull up the BlueTooth settings menu on your phone or tablet that connects to Alexa.
2. Select the Echo you use as a speaker under “Other Devices.”
3. Open the Alexa app and select “Devices” from the bottom menu.
4. Tap “Echo & Alexa” at the top. (If you see the device you want under “Favorites,” select it and proceed to step 6.)
5. Select the Echo device you want.
6. Tap the box labeled “Status.”
7. Tap the blue “Change” text under “Connected Devices.”
8. Under “Other Speakers,” select “Bluetooth.”
9. Tap the name of your phone or tablet. The Echo will emit a tone signifying it has made a successful connection.
10. Play some content to make sure the connection is solid. 
11. (Optional) Walk around to test signal strength. 

Connecting to traditional Bluetooth speakers requires little more than setting them to pairing mode. 

With Alexa, you’re connecting to a smart device that has a speaker and Bluetooth functionality. The process is easy when connecting at home on an Echo set up on WiFi. 

Below are scenarios for using various Echo devices relative to their strengths as Bluetooth speakers. 

2. Using Alexa as a Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Alexa typically lives indoors, with access to plenty of fresh WiFi and climate control. But if you want to take her outdoors and let her roam around a bit, you’ll need to bring a few things.

• A battery base. The minimal and affordable Battery Base for Echo Dot (available on Amazon.com). It gives Alexa up to five hours of playback, though some reviewers noted that high volumes tend to push this estimate back. Ensure it’s fully charged before you go.
• A compatible Echo. Not all battery base models work with every Echo generation. Double-check your Echo model with the battery base specifications. The base mentioned above specifies that it is not made for previous generations. 
• A battery backup. Playing music from your phone to Alexa draws power from both, especially at higher volumes and extended listening sessions. Bring a power bank (don’t forget the cable) to ensure low batteries don’t spoil the fun.  

3. Creating Stereo Sound With Two Alexa Devices

Stereo separates the musical pieces by sending a channel to each speaker to hear each instrument more clearly. 

Alexa can create a stereo pair of two Echo devices, greatly improving the listening experience. 

You can pair two Echos for stereo, provided they

• Are the same model
• Have been setup
• Are both updated
• Not the first or second-generation Echo Dot
• Are within Bluetooth range of each other
• Are connected to WiFi

Tech Advisor wrote an article on creating a stereo pair, which you can read here.

4. Using Alexa for TV Speakers

Smart TVs have BlueTooth functionality, so if you have one, you can connect to Alexa via Bluetooth will function as your main TV speaker. You pair using voice command (one of the few commands available without WiFi; however, the local voice command must be set up first).

To quickly pair Alexa to your smart TV:

1. Open your TV’s settings and turn on the Bluetooth function.
2. Select the option for your TV to become discoverable.
3. Tell Alexa to pair, and she will scan for devices trying to connect.

If you want to make the Echo Studio your soundbar, I wrote a guide you can find here. Pairing two Studios together provides a stereo experience for your TV.

Adding a subwoofer to the stereo pairs dedicates all the low frequencies to the sub while leaving your Studios free to push the mids and highs, similar to a home theater system.

5. When Your WiFi Isn’t Working

If your WiFi isn’t working, but you still want to use Alexa’s speaker, you can if you’ve already paired them. However, you can’t make a new pairing between a device and an echo if the WiFi is down because the Alexa app and Alexa device use the WiFi to communicate to verify security. 

For Alexa to verify your commands and check the security of the connections, it must have access to its servers. If your Echo lacks an internet connection, it cannot communicate with servers or run most of its services.

Echo devices contain insufficient storage to handle all possible voice commands, so her abilities are limited without the internet. 

If your phone includes a mobile hotspot, you can activate that long enough to connect to Alexa. Once you’ve made the Bluetooth connection, turn off the hotspot and stream to Alexa like a traditional Bluetooth speaker.

Suppose you’re connected to an Echo, and your phone loses its internet connection. In that case, you can stream any content you have saved to your device. 

Final Thoughts

With a few steps, you can make Alexa your preferred Bluetooth speaker for every occasion, inside the home or out.

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