How to Use an Echo as a Speaker for a Mac, Chromebook or Windows PC

An Amazon Echo device offers a multitude of uses. You can use it to control your smart home, set timers, get answers to your questions, and more. If you want to improve the audio quality of your PC without wasting money on new equipment, you can turn your Amazon Echo into a speaker.

If you’re interested in learning how to use an Echo as a speaker for PC, look no further. This article will explain what you need to do to play audio from your computer using an Echo.

How to Use an Echo as a Speaker for a Windows PC

Using an Echo as a speaker for your Windows computer requires you to pair them via Bluetooth. Follow the instructions below to do so:

The first action you need to take is to enable pairing a new device:

1. Open your browser and log in to your Alexa account.
   
2. Select “Settings” in the left menu and find your Echo under “Devices.”
   
3. Press “Bluetooth.”
   
4. Select “Pair a New Device” in the right corner.
   

Now, you need to open Bluetooth settings on your computer:

1. Open the Start menu, type “Bluetooth” in the search bar, and open the settings.
   
2. Ensure Bluetooth is turned on. If it’s not, switch the toggle button under “Bluetooth” to enable it. The button should be blue and be labeled as “On.”
   
3. Select “Add Bluetooth or other device.”
   
4. Press “Bluetooth.”
   
5. Find “Echo” in the list of available devices and select it.
   
6. Press “Done.”

The final step is ensuring your Echo is selected as the playback device. Here’s how to do so:

1. Select the volume icon (the megaphone) in the bottom-right corner.
   
2. Check what device is selected above the volume slider. If it’s not your Echo, tap the device’s name and switch it to Echo.
   

Troubleshooting

If you’re having difficulty connecting your Echo to your Windows computer, here’s what you can do to resolve the issue:

• Ensure your Echo is in range. Your computer won’t be able to detect the device if you place it too far away.
• Turn the Echo off for a few seconds and turn it back on. Repeat the steps to connect it to your Windows.

If this doesn’t work, there may be an issue with your computer. Check out these potential problems and solutions:

Turn Airplane Mode off

If you’ve turned on the airplane mode by accident, your Bluetooth won’t function. Here’s how to turn it off:

1. Open the Start menu and press the gear icon to access settings.
   
2. Select “Network & Internet.”
   
3. Choose “Airplane Mode” in the left menu and ensure the toggle button is switched off.
   

Restart Your Bluetooth

Your computer may be experiencing a temporary glitch. You can try fixing it by turning the Bluetooth off and on:

1. Open the Start menu. Start typing “Bluetooth,” and access the settings.
   
2. Press “Bluetooth & other devices.”
   
3. Turn off Bluetooth, wait several seconds, and turn it back on.
   

Reconnect the Device

Another action you could take is to remove your Echo from the list of paired devices and try pairing it again:

1. Open the Start menu, type “Bluetooth” in the search bar, and launch the settings.
   
2. Select “Bluetooth & other devices.”
   
3. Find and select Echo, and press “Remove device.”
   
4. Pair it again.

How to Use an Echo as a Speaker for a Mac

If you don’t want to purchase new speakers for your Mac but want better sound quality than your built-in speakers, you can use your Echo. Connecting it to your Mac is straightforward and doesn’t take much time.

Follow the steps below to use your Echo device as a speaker for Mac:

1. Open a browser and log in to your Alexa account.
2. Access “Settings” from the left-hand menu and locate Echo in the list of devices.
3. Choose “Bluetooth.”
4. Press “Pair a New Device.”

Now you’ll need to minimize the browser and access Bluetooth settings on your Mac:

1. Press the Apple icon in the top-left corner.
2. Select “System Preferences.”
3. Choose “Bluetooth.”
4. Ensure your Bluetooth is on and press “Connect” on the right of your Echo.

Troubleshooting

If you’re not able to connect your Echo to your Mac device, there may be an underlying issue you’re not aware of. Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you discover and fix the problem:

• Ensure your Echo and Mac device are close to each other. If they’re too far away, they won’t connect.
• Restart your Echo and pair it again.

If this doesn’t work, your Mac might be causing an issue. Here’s what to do:

Restart Your Mac

Restarting your Mac device could resolve temporary glitches:

1. Press the Apple icon.
2. Select “Restart.”

Restart Your Bluetooth

Disabling and enabling your Bluetooth could help you connect your Mac to the Echo:

1. Press the control center icon in the upper-right corner.
2. Select the Bluetooth icon.
3. Switch it off, wait a few seconds, and switch it back on.

Reconnect the Device

Another way to resolve connection issues is to remove your Echo from paired devices and reconnect it:

1. Launch System Preferences and press “Bluetooth.”
2. Locate and select your Echo.
3. Press the “X” icon on the right and confirm you want to remove it.
4. Reconnect your Echo.

How to Use an Echo as a Speaker for a Chromebook

Chromebook users will be happy to know they can use their Echo device as a speaker. This comes in handy if you don’t have enough space for external speakers or want a small speaker you can carry around.

Before using your Echo as a speaker for your Chromebook, you need to connect them via Bluetooth. Here’s how you can do so:

1. Launch your browser and log in to your Alexa account.
   
2. Open Settings from the left menu.
   
3. Under “Devices,” find and select your Echo.
   
4. Press “Bluetooth.”
   
5. Select “Pair a New Device” on the right side of the screen.
   

Echo will start searching for available devices. Now you need to go to Bluetooth settings on your Chromebook. Follow the instructions below:

1. Select the time at the bottom-right corner of your screen.
   
2. Press the Bluetooth icon to access settings.
   
3. Select the Echo device from the list and follow the on-screen instructions to finish pairing.
   

You can always double-check whether you’ve successfully connected your Echo by going to the “Paired devices” section.

Troubleshooting

If your Chromebook can’t connect to your Echo device, here’s what you can do to solve the problem:

• Ensure the devices are within range.
• Restart your Echo device and reconnect it to your Chromebook.

There may also be an issue with your Chromebook. Here are the possible solutions:

Restart the Bluetooth

Follow these steps to turn your Bluetooth off and back on:

1. Press the user menu in the bottom-right corner.
   
2. Choose “Bluetooth.”
   
3. Switch the toggle button off and turn it on after several seconds.
   
4. Reconnect your Echo.
   

Restart Your Chromebook

Your Chromebook may have experienced a temporary issue. Try resolving this by restarting it:

1. Select the user menu at the bottom-right.
   
2. Press the shut down icon.
   
3. Turn your Chromebook back on.

Let’s Get Ec(h)onomical

Echo devices have so much to offer. They connect to Alexa, enable you to create to-do lists, stream content, look up different information, and more. Although small, Echo devices have become essential members of many households. With only a few clicks, you can turn your Echo device into a speaker and connect it to your computer.

What features do you like best on your Echo device? Have you ever had any connection issues with it? Tell us in the comments section below.