Amazon Music WiiM Ultra and Amazon

[Zed]

I’m having problems with Amazon music. I have added my Amazon Music account to music services and enabled Alexa and signed in. Amazon music works within the WiiM app and Alexa app. From both of those I can play HD quality. But when I play from Amazon app Alexa is not activated and I can only cast to WiiM. What am I doing wrong. Not sure if the problem is with WiiM or Amazon and Alexa?

 

[Burnside]

I’m not sure what you’re saying - what do you mean by “when I play from Amazon app Alexa is not activated”?

 

[Zed]

Is there any other way to play from Amazon Music app to WiiM ultra than google cast? I thought there was a way to stream HD content from the app to WiiM.

 

[Burnside]

Is there any other way to play from Amazon Music app to WiiM ultra than google cast? I thought there was a way to stream HD content from the app to WiiM.

Yes, using AlexaCast. Enable and link alexa in the WiiM home app, then choose your WiiM device that has a round casting icon in the Amazon music app “Connect to device” page. That will deliver up to 24/192 bit perfect to your WiiM device.

(Note that AlexaCast must be available in your region - it’s not always the case even if you have Alexa and Amazon Music in your region)

 

[Zed]

Okay. Alexa cast is what I’m talking about snd it is available in my region. I have enabled and linked Alexa in the WiiM app, but Alexa cast won’t work from Amazon music app. If I choose connect to a device there is only google cast options. If I start Alexa app and choose music it lets me cast to my WiiM ultra.

 

[Burnside]

Okay. Alexa cast is what I’m talking about snd it is available in my region. I have enabled and linked Alexa in the WiiM app, but Alexa cast won’t work from Amazon music app. If I choose connect to a device there is only google cast options. If I start Alexa app and choose music it lets me cast to my WiiM ultra.

Are you sure you are using the same Amazon account for both your Amazon Music app and the linking to Alexa? The symptoms would suggest otherwise

 

[Zed]

It could be an account thing. But I have no idea how. I only have Amazon account with one email and one password. I’ve used that on Amazon app, Alexa app and WiiM. Still it doesn’t work. I’m at a loss. Maybe I’ll just switch to Qobuz and hope they get their connect quickly from beta to release

 

[MSdt]

Alexa Cast is country/region dependent. For example, I live in Poland and to be able to play music through Alexa Cast from Amazon Music, my services and devices must be on amazon.co.uk and my address must be set to a UK address

 

[Burnside]

Alexa Cast is country/region dependent. For example, I live in Poland and to be able to play music through Alexa Cast from Amazon Music, my services and devices must be on amazon.co.uk and my address must be set to a UK address

That was already raised and the OP confirmed it was available in their region.

 

[Dennis from Venice]

I have the same issue...I can't find Alexa Cast (or Chrome Cast for that matter)......I'll try rebooting the WiiM

 

[Dennis from Venice]

Alexa Cast is available if I use Amazon Music on my iPhone but not from my Mac Mini with the Amazon Music Desk App. I tried turning off the ad blocker to no avail. So I believe it isn't the Wiim.

 

[Burnside]

Alexa Cast is available if I use Amazon Music on my iPhone but not from my Mac Mini with the Amazon Music Desk App. I tried turning off the ad blocker to no avail. So I believe it isn't the Wiim.

Casting in any shape isn’t available from the Amazon Music desktop app on Mac or Windows - or fire tv for that matter, just the mobile apps on iOS and Android.

 

[Dennis from Venice]

I got the following answer from ChatGPT (same as you) :

You’ve run into a limitation of Amazon’s desktop app.
Here’s what’s going on:

• iPhone/iPad app → supports Alexa Cast, so your WiiM Ultra shows up as a target (since the WiiM is Alexa-enabled).
• Amazon Music desktop app (Mac/Windows) → does not support Alexa Cast or Chromecast. It only streams locally from the computer or via standard output devices (AirPlay, Bluetooth, wired)

That’s why your WiiM doesn’t appear as an option when casting from the Mac.

 

[Burnside]

I got the following answer from ChatGPT (same as you) :

I didn’t use ChatGPT though

 

[Dennis from Venice]

I got the following answer from ChatGPT (same as you) :

It would be nice if Amazon would explain somewhere.

 

[Burnside]

It would be nice if Amazon would explain somewhere.

They only mention its use on iOS and Android on their help page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GMBKJXSDC5EWSRJH although I recall it being clearer in the past when they first announced AlexaCast. Or perhaps it’s always been inferred by exclusion for the desktop apps.

 

[Burnside]

Alexa Cast is available if I use Amazon Music on my iPhone but not from my Mac Mini with the Amazon Music Desk App. I tried turning off the ad blocker to no avail. So I believe it isn't the Wiim.

Does your Mac support iOS apps? If so, install the iOS version of the Amazon Music app rather than the Mac desktop version and see if that allows you to cast ok.

 

[Dennis from Venice]

Now that would be clever

 

[Burnside]

Now that would be clever

What did you expect from me?

 

[Dennis from Venice]

Well, I looked at the available IOS Apps on my phone and there are dozens that work on the Mac but Amazon Music is not one of them. Neither is Tidal or Spotify.