Why does my Amazon Music keep cutting in and out?
Intermittent audio cutting out is a common and frustrating issue for many Amazon Music users. You may be happily listening to music, only to have the sounds briefly cut out every few minutes. This disruption ruins the listening experience and makes it difficult to fully enjoy your music library. In this article, we will explore the various causes behind Amazon Music cutting in and out, and provide troubleshooting tips to resolve the problem.
Potential Causes
One of the most common causes of streaming issues with Amazon Music is a poor or unreliable internet connection. If the WiFi signal is weak or intermittent where you are streaming music, it can interrupt the continuous data transfer required for smooth playback. This will cause the music to cut in and out as the connection drops momentarily.
Streaming music requires a consistent broadband internet connection to maintain a steady data flow. According to The Biggest Pain Points Consumers Have With Music Streaming Services, performance issues like buffering and song interruptions are a top complaint among music streamers. A spotty WiFi signal or unstable internet bandwidth can make these problems worse.
Try moving closer to your router or modem to improve the WiFi signal strength. Or connect your device directly to the router via Ethernet if possible for a stronger, more reliable wired connection. If you’re still experiencing interruptions, contact your internet service provider to troubleshoot potential issues.
WiFi Interference
One common cause of interruptions and cutouts when streaming music from Amazon Music is interference with the WiFi signal between your device and router. Obstacles, distance, and competing signals can all contribute to degraded connectivity. As noted in an article on network latency from Utilities One, “Network latency can significantly impact your music streaming experience, leading to issues such as buffering, poor audio quality, interruptions and more.”
If your WiFi router is located far away from where you are streaming music, or there are walls, floors, or other obstacles between your device and the router, the signal can be weakened and prone to intermittent drops. Having many WiFi networks in close proximity can also lead to interference if they are broadcasting on the same frequency. Per IT professionals on Ars Technica forums, “It uses a variety of applications on it to stream music/audio over the wifi network you connect it to. Interference from other networks, or congestion on the network its using could cause interference.”
To address WiFi interference, solutions may include moving the router to a more central location, adding WiFi range extenders, adjusting the broadcast channel/frequency if competing with neighbors’ networks, or using a wired Ethernet connection if possible, as noted in an article from Network World on “How to Fix Wi-Fi Interference.”
Bandwidth Issues
One potential cause of interruptions when streaming Amazon Music is insufficient bandwidth. Music streaming services like Amazon Music require a minimum amount of bandwidth (internet speeds) for smooth, uninterrupted playback. According to this source, a minimum of 18-20 Mbps is recommended for music streaming services. If your internet connection cannot consistently deliver those speeds, interruptions, buffering, and audio cutouts can occur.
Streaming high quality audio uses significant bandwidth – up to 2.5 Mbps for a very high quality 320 kbps stream according to this source. If there are other high bandwidth activities occurring on your network like video streaming or gaming, there may not be enough capacity left for stable music streaming. Upgrading to a faster internet plan or reducing other network activity can help resolve bandwidth-related streaming interruptions.
Amazon Server Issues
One potential cause of interruptions and outages when using Amazon Music is server issues on Amazon’s end. According to Downdetector, Amazon Music has experienced periodic outages and problems with its servers. When Amazon’s servers encounter problems, it can cause music playback to cut in and out or stop entirely.
Some of the most common Amazon Music server issues include scheduled maintenance downtime, unexpected crashes or failures, and capacity problems during times of high traffic and usage. Amazon runs massive server farms to handle all of its web services globally, so any disruptions or glitches can ripple out and impact services like Amazon Music.
Checking sites like Down For Everyone Or Just Me can give you an idea if Amazon Music is down and experiencing widespread outages versus an issue on your end. When Amazon resolves their server problems, Amazon Music streaming should return back to normal.
Device Compatibility
One potential cause of Amazon Music cutting in and out is compatibility issues with certain devices. Amazon Music is available on a wide variety of devices, including iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, Amazon Echo devices, Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and more (Amazon Music FAQs). However, some users have reported problems streaming Amazon Music smoothly on certain devices, especially older models. Issues like intermittent playback, buffering, and disconnects can occur if the device lacks sufficient processing power, memory, or software support for the Amazon Music app (What devices can play Amazon Music?). Trying Amazon Music on a different, newer device can help determine if device compatibility is the culprit. Updating to the latest OS and app versions may also resolve device-specific bugs causing playback issues. If problems persist on one device but not others, device incompatibility is likely the cause.
App Issues
One common cause of Amazon Music cutting in and out is that the app is outdated, buggy or has compatibility problems with your device. As per the Amazon Customer Service article, updated app versions fix bugs and performance issues.
To resolve app problems, it is vital to confirm you have the latest Amazon Music app installed on your device. An outdated, buggy version can lead to cutting in and out. You can check for app updates in your device’s app store. Amazon recommends force stopping the Amazon Music app to clear the cache and reload the latest version.
Additionally, there can be compatibility issues between the Amazon Music app, your device OS and music streaming. As such, keeping your OS and Amazon Music app updated is key. If issues persist after updates, it may indicate a larger device incompatibility triggering cutting in and out.
Account Settings
The account settings for Amazon Music allow you to make changes to streaming quality and download settings. Amazon Music offers different streaming qualities depending on your subscription:
- Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers can stream music at Low Quality (24 kbps), Standard Quality (128 kbps), High Quality (256 kbps), or Ultra High Quality (except on iOS) (up to 850 kbps at 24-bit) (Change Your Amazon Music Unlimited Subscription).
- Prime members and Amazon Music Free customers stream music at Standard Quality (128 kbps) (Manage Your Account Subscriptions & Devices).
To change your streaming quality on the Amazon Music app or website, go to Settings and select Streaming Quality. Mobile data charges may apply depending on your carrier and plan.
The Amazon Music app also allows you to download songs, playlists, and albums for offline listening. The number of downloads depends on your subscription. Go to Settings > Download Settings to manage the number of downloads and automatic downloads.
If you need to cancel or change your Amazon Music subscription, go to (Amazon Music Settings) and select Manage Your Subscription.
Troubleshooting
There are several troubleshooting steps worth trying if you are experiencing issues with Amazon Music cutting in and out:
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Reset the router. This will clear any potential issues with wireless or internet connectivity that could be affecting the streaming. For guidance on resetting your router, check the user manual or contact your internet service provider.
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Update the Amazon Music app to ensure you are running the latest version. Open the App Store or Google Play Store, search for Amazon Music, and download any available updates. New versions often address bugs and performance issues that can impact streaming.
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Change the WiFi channel that your router is broadcasting on. This can help if your current channel has interference from other devices or networks. Log in to your router admin page to adjust this setting. Many routers allow you to test various channels to identify one with less interference.
Additionally, you can try temporarily disabling WiFi and using a mobile network to determine if the problem is isolated to your home network, or reach out to Amazon support for personalized troubleshooting assistance.
Preventative Measures
There are several preventative steps you can take to minimize streaming issues with Amazon Music:
First, ensure your WiFi connection and internet speeds are as fast and reliable as possible. For the best streaming performance, connect to your router with an Ethernet cable instead of using WiFi if possible. Also consider upgrading your internet plan to ensure you meet the recommended minimum bandwith speeds for streaming music – usually at least 5-10 Mpbs (Issues Streaming Amazon Music).
You should also keep your devices and the Amazon Music app updated to the latest software versions. Updating can fix compatibility issues and improve performance. Check for any available updates for your smartphone, tablet, computer, TV, or other devices that you stream from regularly.
Finally, adjusting some account settings may help. For example, reduce the streaming quality from ultra HD to standard in the Amazon Music settings on each device. Streaming at lower qualities uses less bandwidth and may prevent buffering. You can also toggle off any “data saver” type options which limit streaming quality.