How do I stop Amazon Music from cutting out?
Many users experience issues with Amazon Music randomly cutting out or stopping while listening to songs or albums. This can be extremely frustrating when trying to enjoy music through the Amazon Music app or service. The purpose of this article is to provide troubleshooting steps to resolve the problem of Amazon Music cutting out so you can listen without interruptions.
We will go through a series of troubleshooting techniques, from simple fixes like checking your internet connection to more advanced solutions like clearing the app cache. The goal is for Amazon Music to play smoothly without any skipping, buffering or sudden stops. With the right troubleshooting, you can identify the cause and get Amazon Music working properly again.
Check Internet Connection
A poor internet connection can cause issues with music streaming like interruptions, buffering, and sudden drops in playback (Source 1). Music streaming requires a constant flow of data, so any disruptions to your internet connectivity can disrupt the music stream.
First, try disconnecting from the wifi network and reconnecting. This resets the connection and may resolve temporary glitches. If you are streaming over wifi, also consider switching to mobile data as an alternative. Mobile data may provide a more stable connection. The speed of your internet plan impacts streaming quality as well – faster speeds above 10 Mbps are recommended for smooth music streaming without interruptions (Source 2). So upgrading your internet plan could improve connectivity for music streaming.
Checking your internet connection is one of the first steps to take if you notice your Amazon Music stream cutting out frequently. A stable, fast internet feed is essential for the app to deliver glitch-free playback.
Update the App
An outdated app version may cause issues like music cutting out. Open the app store on your device and check for any available updates for the Amazon Music app. Tap ‘Update’ to download the latest version.
According to an article on Testlio, “Updating mobile apps is essential to keep your users and maintain a sense that your business still exists and is doing well. The user experience is ruined if the app is outdated.”1 Updating apps can fix bugs, improve performance, and add new features.
As noted on Smartprix, “An outdated version of an app may not be compatible with the latest OS version of your Android device.”2 Installing the latest update of the Amazon Music app ensures you have the most optimized version running.
Restart Your Device
A simple restart can often fix software glitches and other issues that may be causing Amazon Music to cut out. Completely rebooting your phone, tablet, computer or other device resets everything and reloads the operating system.
To restart your Android device, hold down the power button for a few seconds until the power off prompt appears. Tap “Restart” and wait for your device to fully reboot. For iPhones and iPads, hold down the side or top button until the “Slide to power off” prompt appears. Then slide to turn it off. Once it’s fully powered down, press and hold the side or top button again to turn it back on and restart.
For computers, locate the restart option in the Start menu (Windows) or Apple menu (Mac). Select “Restart” and let your computer fully restart. If the problem persists after a normal restart, you can try a force restart by holding down the power button on your device for 15-30 seconds until it powers off.
According to this source, restarting can fix many technical issues because it clears out any glitches in temporary memory and completely reloads the operating system and apps. Though simple, restarting your device is one of the first troubleshooting steps to try when experiencing issues like Amazon Music cutting out.
Check for Background Apps
Other apps running in the background can interfere with music streaming and cause interruptions. This Reddit thread discusses how background apps often interrupt music playback on Android devices. Similarly, an Apple forum post notes background apps can pause iPhone audio.
Try closing out any unnecessary apps running in the background that you aren’t currently using. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the multitasking view and close apps you don’t need. This prevents them from interfering with your music streaming app and stops playback from cutting out randomly.
Clear the Cache
Over time, built up cache files from the Amazon Music app can negatively affect performance and cause issues like music cutting out. The Amazon Music app caches songs you’ve listened to as well as artwork, playlists and other data to optimize loading times. However, allowing the cache to grow too large can have the opposite effect.
Try clearing the cache and data for the Amazon Music app on your device. This forces the app to rebuild its cache files from scratch which can resolve problems caused by outdated or corrupted files.
To clear the cache on an Android device, go to Settings > Apps > Amazon Music and select Clear Cache. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, select Amazon Music and tap Offload App, then reinstall it. After clearing the cache, test if music playback has improved in the Amazon Music app.
Clearing the cache can be an effective troubleshooting step for apps like Amazon Music that begin to exhibit performance issues over time. As one Reddit user described for a similar issue with Apple Music, “This leads me to believe that everything that you play get’s cached. That wouldn’t be bad if you could simply delete it or officially use it.”1 Just be sure to clear the cache for Amazon Music specifically and not system-wide, which could inadvertently delete important files.
Check Audio Settings
Your device’s audio settings can sometimes cause streaming music to cut out or lower in quality. Check the audio settings in both your device and the Amazon Music app to optimize performance.
First, make sure your device’s media volume is turned up high enough. Low volume levels can sometimes lead to choppy playback. You can adjust the volume under Settings on your smartphone, tablet, computer, or speaker system.
Next, check the streaming quality settings within the Amazon Music app. Under Settings, select Streaming Quality. Here you can choose a higher bitrate like High or Ultra High which may provide smoother, uninterrupted playback. According to CNET, higher quality streaming can improve the listening experience. However, this uses more data so consider your plan limits.
You can also try switching the Audio Mode under Settings. While always leave it on Default, trying Headphone or Home Audio modes may help playback over different speaker systems. Reddit users report that Desktop mode provides the highest fidelity.
Experiment with these audio options to find the best fit for your device and internet connection. Adjustments here can often resolve playback issues with Amazon Music cutting out.
Contact Amazon Support
If you are still experiencing issues with Amazon Music after trying the troubleshooting steps above, you may need to reach out to Amazon customer service for additional help. According to the Amazon Help & Contact page, you can contact Amazon customer service through the following methods:
- Online chat: Visit the Amazon Help site and click “Start Chatting” to be connected with an agent.
- Phone: Call 1-888-280-4331 to speak with a customer service representative.
- Email: Send an email to [email protected] describing your issue.
When you contact Amazon support, provide details about your device, operating system, and the specific issues you are experiencing with Amazon Music. Their technical support team may have more insight into fixes or workarounds for the problems you are facing. Be prepared to walk through troubleshooting steps again and provide any log files or error messages. With help from Amazon’s knowledgeable customer service staff, you will hopefully be able to resolve the issues of Amazon Music cutting out.
Consider Switching Services
If you continue having issues with cutting out and interrupted playback after trying the steps mentioned earlier, it may be time to consider switching to a different music streaming service. While leaving a service and transferring your content elsewhere can be a hassle, it may provide a better overall user experience in the long run if Amazon Music continues struggling.
Some top competitors to consider include Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and others. Take some time to research and compare factors like library size, sound quality, platform availability, pricing, and more.
Use a third-party music transfer service like Tune My Music to seamlessly migrate your playlists, favorites, and library between services. This will allow you to keep your musical identity when changing platforms. Overall, don’t be afraid to try something new if Amazon Music is no longer meeting your needs.
Conclusion
Having trouble with Amazon Music cutting out on your device can be frustrating. In this guide, we covered several troubleshooting steps you can take to try and resolve the issue:
First, make sure your internet connection is strong and stable. Restart your router if needed. Try moving closer to the router or connect to a different network.
Next, update the Amazon Music app to the latest version. Bug fixes in new versions often resolve glitches like music cutting out.
Also try restarting your device completely. This clears out memory issues and resets connectivity.
Check that other apps aren’t running in the background using data or interfering with Amazon Music. Close out any unnecessary apps.
Clearing the cache and data for the Amazon Music app can also help resolve app crashes and music cut-outs.
Additionally, check your audio settings. Toggle airplane mode on/off, ensure the volume is up, and check that sound isn’t muted.
If you still can’t resolve the issue, contact Amazon Music support. They may have specialized troubleshooting tips or can escalate the issue.
As a last resort, you may need to switch services if Amazon Music has recurring technical issues or bugs causing music to cut-out. Explore alternatives like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, etc.
With consistent testing and troubleshooting, you should be able to narrow down the cause and get uninterrupted playback.
