(Credit: RaShawn Dixon; Amazon)
Do you have more than one Echo device in your home? If so, you can direct them to play music throughout the house, an option supported across Amazon's lineup of Alexa smart speakers, which can be connected to work in tandem with one another. Here's how to set up multiple speakers and configure them for multi-room playback.
Set Up Your Echo Device
Your first step is to set up the devices. Open the Alexa app (iOS, Android) and tap Devices on the home screen. Select the plus (+) button in the top-right corner and then tap Add Device.
You’re asked what kind of device you want to set up. In this instance, select Amazon Echo, then choose which Echo device you’re setting up, such as an Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Pop, Echo Show, or Echo Studio. The app then takes you through the setup process.
If you’re setting up a traditional Echo, wait for its light to turn orange and tap Continue in the app. If the light doesn't turn orange, hold down the action button for around 15 seconds until it does. Then tap Yes in the app when it asks if your Echo is plugged in and displaying an orange light.
Select the Echo device listed on the screen. The name should take the form of Echo-XXX, with the XXX represented by a series of three uppercase letters. Unless you’re still using a first-generation Echo device, the Alexa app should search for your Wi-Fi network and connect. Alexa will also announce that the device is ready.
After you choose a language and address for your Echo, the app may ask for the exact location of your new device to help with local weather and traffic. You can then designate a room for the device. Using two Echo devices in the same room can be helpful for music playback and similar tasks. Choose the correct room and tap Continue. You’re then told that your device is all set.
As you add more devices of the same type, Alexa gives them sequential names, such as Echo-1 and Echo-2. But you can assign each device a more descriptive title. To do this, go to the Devices screen, tap the name of your new Echo device, and then tap the gear icon for settings. Tap the Edit Name link under the name of the device and enter a new name.
Organize Your Echo Devices into Groups
You can place multiple Echo devices in groups and then play music only on those devices by specifying the group name. The Alexa app already comes with a default group called Everywhere, to which all your Echo devices should automatically be added. If you want to play music on every Echo in the house, you don’t need to manually create any additional groups.
However, if you wish to narrow the focus to specific devices, you’ll need to set up some custom groups based on location or other factors. When you initially set up a device, you’re asked to specify which room or group it should be placed in. You can also manually add a device to a group. To do this, go to the Devices screen in the Alexa app, tap the plus (+) button at the upper right, and then select Add Group > Create a room or device group > Next.
The next screen prompts you to name the room or device group. You can choose an existing one or swipe to the bottom and select Custom Name to make something new. If you do opt for a custom name, type the name you wish to use and tap Next.
Now, select the devices that you want to add to the group. Note that you can add a device to only one group or room, so you can't add a device that’s already part of an existing group to another group. After you’ve selected the device for your new group, tap Save and then Done.
Once you’ve added all your devices to specific groups, you can play music on all of them. For example, say “Alexa, play music everywhere” to pipe the music to all your devices. Narrow the focus by saying “Alexa, play jazz music in the office” or “Alexa, play Beatles music in the bedroom.”
Create a Multi-Room Music Group
Your Alexa device also allows you to set up a multi-room group, which puts devices from multiple locations into the same group. To set this up in the Alexa app, go to the Devices screen, tap the plus (+) button, and choose the Combine speakers option. The next screen shows three ways to combine your speakers: multi-room music, home theater, and stereo pair with subwoofer. Select the Multi-room music option.
Pick the Echo devices that you want to add to the multi-room setup. Make sure all the speakers are online and connected to the same network. If you don’t see all your Echo devices, tap Rescan at the bottom to look for them again. When done, tap Next.
You must then choose a name for your multi-room group. Select one of the existing names or swipe down to the bottom and type a custom name. Tap Save, and you're returned to the Devices screen where you can see your new group.
To play music on all the Echo devices in your multi-room group, say “Alexa, play music on [name of multi-room group].” You can also tap the play icon in the Alexa app, choose the music you wish to play, and then select your new group as the output.
About Our Expert
I've been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I've written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, PC World, Time, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET as one of the site’s East Coast reporters. I've also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.
I've used Windows, Office, and other Microsoft products for years so I'm well versed in that world. I also know the Mac quite well. I'm always working with iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and Android on my various mobile devices. And these days, I write a lot about AI, so that's become another key area for me.
My wife always jokes about all the tech products we have around the house, but I manage to put them to good use for my articles. I like Lenovo computers, so I own a couple of Lenovo desktops and several laptops. I have three MacBooks and a Mac mini. For my mobile life and work, I use an iPhone 16 Pro, iPad Pro, and iPad mini as well as an Apple Watch. But since I write about Android, I own several Android phones and tablets. Like any tech person, I have a cabinet full of cables, wires, and assorted mysterious gadgets. And when it's time to take a break from writing, I have an old Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, both of which I use for exercise and fitness games.
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