Why isn t Amazon Music working in my car?
Amazon Music not working in cars is a common frustration for many users. The issue prevents streaming music through the car’s infotainment system, leading to an unreliable and inconsistent listening experience. There are several potential reasons why Amazon Music may not function correctly in vehicles. Solutions involve troubleshooting the music app, car software, device connections, and app permissions. With some focused effort, it’s often possible to resolve problems and get Amazon Music streaming smoothly during drives.
Verify Amazon Music Subscription
The first thing to check is whether you have an active Amazon Music subscription. You’ll need an Amazon Music Unlimited, Amazon Music HD, or Amazon Prime membership that includes Amazon Music access to listen to songs in your car.
To verify your subscription status, open the Amazon Music app and tap on the profile icon in the upper right corner. On the next screen, check under “Your Plan” to see the status. It should say “Amazon Music Unlimited” or “Prime” if you have an active subscription.
If you don’t see an active subscription, you’ll need to sign up for Amazon Music Unlimited or confirm your Prime membership includes music access. Visit amazon.com/music/unlimited to purchase a subscription or manage your Prime membership.
Also check that the subscription is properly activated on the device you are using in your car. Make sure you are signed into the same Amazon account across devices. If it still doesn’t show as activated, you may need to sign out and back in on your car software or app.
Check Car Software Version
It’s important to check your car’s software version and ensure it is up to date. Car software updates include infotainment system updates, engine control unit (ECU) updates, and more. Outdated car software can cause connectivity issues with apps like Amazon Music.
To check your car’s software version, first consult your owner’s manual for instructions specific to your make and model. Many cars display the software version right in the infotainment system menu. You may need to dig into the settings to find it. The version will often be displayed as a number like “1.2” or “V55.”
You can also use tools like an OBD2 scanner to check car software versions by plugging into the OBD port, usually located under the steering wheel. Software like Carista and OBDeleven also allow you to view and update car software versions.
Compare your car’s current software version against the latest version available. This information can usually be found on your automaker’s website or from your dealership. If your car is behind on software updates, schedule an update appointment with the dealer to get the latest version.
Keeping your car software up to date is important for fixing bugs, improving safety features, enhancing connectivity, and more. Outdated software can prevent apps like Amazon Music from working properly in your car. Checking and updating the software regularly helps avoid issues.
Ensure Proper Car Connection
To play Amazon Music in your car, you need to properly connect your smartphone to your car’s audio system. The most common connection methods are Bluetooth, USB, or AUX.
For Bluetooth, go into your phone’s Bluetooth settings and pair it with your car. Consult your car’s instruction manual for the exact pairing process. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on in your car as well. Once paired, your phone should automatically connect when you start your car. You may need to select Amazon Music as the media audio source from your car’s interface.
For a wired connection via USB, simply plug your phone into the USB port in your car using the appropriate cable. Allow your car to recognize and connect to the device. USB often automatically launches a compatible media app like Amazon Music. If not, select the app on your phone or car.
The AUX audio connection requires plugging a 3.5mm audio cable into your phone and the AUX input port in your car. Switch the car audio source to AUX mode. Then launch and play Amazon Music on your phone. Volume is typically controlled via the phone in this case.
If you are having trouble getting your phone to connect to your car, first ensure Bluetooth is turned on if trying a wireless connection. Move the phone closer to the car’s receiver. Delete existing pairings and try pairing again. Check that the appropriate connection mode like Bluetooth or USB is selected in your car. Refer to your car’s instructions and troubleshoot your specific model.
Properly pairing and connecting your smartphone with your car audio system via Bluetooth, USB or AUX is the essential first step to get Amazon Music playing through your car speakers. Take the time to ensure the devices are communicating smoothly before troubleshooting other issues.
Confirm App Permissions
One common reason Amazon Music may not be working in your car is if the app lacks the proper permissions to run in the background and sync with your car’s infotainment system. On both iOS and Android devices, you’ll want to check that Amazon Music has permission to access media, files, and storage on your phone.
On an iPhone, go to Settings > Amazon Music and ensure the app has permission to access your media library and files. You can toggle permissions on or off here. According to discussions on Google Groups, insufficient permissions is a known cause of issues with Amazon Music downloading and functioning properly (source).
For Android devices, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Amazon Music. Tap Permissions and ensure the app has access to storage, media, and files. You may need to toggle some permissions on. As covered on GuidingTech, Android users should go to Music and Audio settings and allow Amazon Music to run in the background (source).
Granting proper background permissions is key for allowing Amazon Music to sync and stream to your car stereo. Check these settings and toggle permissions on if needed.
Restart Devices
One of the first troubleshooting steps to try is restarting the devices connected to Amazon Music. Often, temporary glitches or connectivity issues can be resolved by powering devices off and back on. This resets any processes that may have gotten stuck and cleans out memory, which can fix software errors or connectivity problems.
Try restarting the car, phone, and Amazon Music app to see if that resolves the issue. Make sure to power cycle the car stereo completely by turning the car ignition off and then back on again after a minute. Also restart your smartphone and close out of the Amazon Music app before relaunching it. Restarting gives a fresh start and often resolves temporary bugs.
According to one Reddit user, restarting Echo devices and the Amazon Music app resolved a connection issue with the Everywhere group after troubleshooting for hours. Sometimes a simple reboot is all that’s needed. See here for details: https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonecho/comments/p232xu/echo_devices_cannot_play_music_on_the_everywhere/
After restarting, check if Amazon Music connects properly in your car. If not, additional troubleshooting steps may be needed to pinpoint the cause.
Clear App Cache
One reason Amazon Music may not be working properly is if the app has too much cached data built up. Clearing the cache and app data can help resolve performance issues and connectivity problems. Here are step-by-step instructions for clearing the cache and data for the Amazon Music app on iPhone and Android devices:
On iPhone:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap General > iPhone Storage
- Find Amazon Music in the list and tap on it
- Tap Offload App, then tap Offload again to confirm
This will offload the app while retaining its documents and data. To completely reset, you’ll need to tap Delete App next instead.
On Android:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap Apps & notifications
- Tap See all apps
- Find Amazon Music and tap on it
- Tap Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear data
Clearing the cache and data forces the app to fully reload, which may resolve any software glitches. Make sure your Amazon Music login details are saved so you can easily sign in again after resetting the app. This step often fixes playback issues, loading problems, and connection errors.
Sources:
[How To Clear App Cache on iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide](https://www.capterra.com/resources/how-to-clear-app-cache-on-iphone/)
[How to clear app cache and data on a Google Pixel](https://www.androidpolice.com/clear-app-cache-data-android/)
Check Known Issues
There are a few known issues between Amazon Music and car connectivity that could potentially be the cause of problems getting Amazon Music to work properly in your car. According to Amazon’s support site (1), there is an issue with iOS 15 causing problems syncing Amazon Music properly with CarPlay. This is a widespread known issue Amazon is investigating. There are also some reported connectivity problems between Amazon Music and Android Auto (2), though the exact technical causes are still being determined. Checking sites like Reddit for recent posts about Amazon Music car issues can give you a sense of any new widespread problems being reported. If you’re experiencing problems, it’s a good idea to check if there are known bugs related to your specific setup that Amazon is still working to resolve.
Contact Support
If you have tried all of the troubleshooting steps and Amazon Music is still not working properly in your car, contacting Amazon Music customer support is the next step for further assistance. Here are some tips for reaching out to their support team:
You can contact Amazon Music support through their Contact Us page. Select Amazon Music from the dropdown menu and fill out the online form with details about the issues you are experiencing.
Alternatively, you can call Amazon Music support directly at 1-888-280-4331. Their support team is available 24/7 to help troubleshoot any problems.
When reaching out to Amazon Music support, provide as many details as possible about the issues you are experiencing, including the make/model of your car, your Amazon Music subscription type, and the steps you have already tried. The more information you can provide, the better they will be able to assist you.
Amazon Music’s customer service team can help diagnose what might be causing the issues in your specific case. They can also check if there are any known bugs or software updates related to your car model that could be impacting connectivity with Amazon Music.
With hands-on troubleshooting and technical expertise, Amazon Music’s support team is your best resource for resolving persistent issues to get Amazon Music working seamlessly in your car again.
Consider Alternatives
If Amazon Music still does not work in your car after trying all troubleshooting steps, you may want to consider switching to alternative music streaming services. Here is an overview of some popular alternatives:
Spotify – With over 456 million users, Spotify is the most popular music streaming service globally. It offers a free ad-supported tier, and premium subscriptions from $9.99/month. Spotify has a huge catalog of over 82 million songs and works across multiple devices. However, the free tier has limitations, and audio quality maxes out at 320kbps for premium users (Source).
Apple Music – Apple’s music streaming service costs $9.99/month and has over 90 million songs. It offers lossless audio quality up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Apple Music works seamlessly with iOS devices and CarPlay. However, it lacks a free ad-supported tier (Source).
YouTube Music – At $9.99/month, YouTube Music provides ad-free access to YouTube’s massive catalog of official songs, albums, live performances, and music videos. Audio quality goes up to 256kbps AAC. However, the free version plays ads and has limited features (Source).
Researching the features and compatibility of other top services like TIDAL, Pandora, Amazon Music Unlimited, and SiriusXM may help you find the best alternative if you decide to switch from Amazon Music.
