How to Link Pandora to Alexa Devices

Amazon Alexa app on iOS, displaying the -Music Service Choices- screen, with the -Link Pandora Account- option highlighted.

This piece shows how to link Pandora to Alexa speakers. Note that these speakers do not come with Pandora linked to them by default. Indeed, Pandora will not play if not set up first. E.g. If you ask Alexa to play Pandora when not linked, she says something like:

“To play a station, first register your Pandora account using your Alexa app.”

Well, okay then. We’ll detail how to link Pandora to Alexa here.

If you subscribe to Pandora, you can listen your stuff on Alexa. Play your Pandora stations on Echo devices like the Alexa Dot, Alexa Studio, and Alexa Echo smart speakers. And, with a few easy setup steps, you’ll get access via voice commands to the Pandora content.

Pre Work for How to Link Pandora to Alexa

1a. Connect your Echo device to Alexa

Before you can access any of the services offered by Alexa, connect your Alexa speaker to the internet. Then register it with Amazon via the Alexa app. See our piece here for details on how to perform these tasks.

1b. Create a Pandora Account

If you do not have one already, head on over to the Pandora web site here. Click the Sign Up link in the top right corner of the screen. Then, follow the prompts to create a new account. Make sure to take advantage of any free trial offers that may be in play.

How to Link Pandora to Alexa

2a. Bring Up the Alexa App on your Mobile Device

The Pandora skill appears by default in the Alexa app. So you need not first turn it on to set it up. Instead, just run the Alexa app. You’ll then see the Alexa home screen, as displayed next.

Amazon Alexa App, displaying its Home screen.

2b. Tap the Settings Link

Find this link in the black menu on the left side of the screen. You’ll then see the Settings screen, as shown next.

Amazon Alexa app, displaying the Settings screen, with the Music & Media link highlighted.

2c. Tap the Music & Media Link to Continue with How to Link Pandora to Alexa

You then get the Music and Media screen, as shown next.

The app displaying the -Music Service Choices- screen, with the -Link Pandora Account- option highlighted.

2d. Tap the Link Account on Pandora.com Option

Doing so brings up the first ‘Set up your device to use Pandora’ screen, as shown next.

The -Pandora Device Setup Step 1 of 3- screen.

Now we looked all through the Alexa app. But we did not find the activation code asked for by the above prompt. So, we exited the Alexa App.

Then, we ran it again, and executed steps 2a through 2c above again. But this time, the system did not prompt us again for an activation code. Instead, it displayed the step 2 of 3 screen, as shown below.

If it works like this for you, then skip to step 2f below. But if you were able to locate the activation code, then continue with step 2e below.

2e. Enter the Device Activation Code

The above screen says to find this code on the device you’re activating, or in the app. So, find that code. Then enter it in the -step 1 of 3- screen above. The Alexa app then shows the ‘Step 2 of 3’ screen, as shown next.

The -Pandora Device Setup Step 2 of 3- screen.

2f. Tap the Blue I have a Pandora Account Button to Continue with How to Link Pandora to Alexa

If you followed all the steps above, then you now have a Pandora account. So, no need to sign up for a new one here. So, choose this option that allows you to sign in with that existing account. Then, you get the Pandora Login screen, as shown next.

The Pandora -Login- screen.

2g. Enter your Pandora User Id and Password,

Then tap the blue Lookup Account button.

Then, if you entered your account info correctly, you should see the Pandora All Done screen, which confirms that you’ve successfully linked your Alexa account to Pandora, as shown next.

The -Pandora Device Setup All Done- screen, with the Close (X) button highlighted.

2h. Close this All done Confirmation Screen

Tap the white X (Close) button in the upper right-hand corner. Doing so returns you to the Music Service Choices screen, as shown next. This time however, the Pandora entry no longer shows the -Link account on Pandora.com- option. This means that you’ve successfully linked your Pandora account to Alexa.

The -Music Service Choices- screen, with the -Pandora Linked Successfully- indication highlighted.

2i. Make Pandora your Default Music Service on Alexa, if you So Desire

Press the blue -Choose default music services- button. This brings up the Choose default music services screen, as shown in the next picture.

The -Choose Default Music Services- screen, with the Pandora choice highlighted.

Here we have three choices for our default music service. Amazon Music shows as selected (its radio button is blue). Now the count of choices you see, depends on how many music services set up prior. So we’ve just linked Pandora with our account over there. Thus, Pandora now appears as one of the default music service choices to make the default.

Now once you tap the button button you want, tap the save button, This makes your selected music service the default.

You don’t have to make Pandora the default music library. But if it is your default, you may shorten your voice requests as described below.