Sonos and Internet issues

Sonos recently released a pretty disastrous update. It's all you'll read about here: https://twitter.com/brickedbysonos   https://www.reddit.com/r/sonos/

I'm currently limping along on reduced functionality, but do have a mostly working system for my uses. Some people are reporting nothing working (like you?).

I doubt your issues are anything to do with the WiFi, possible of course, but unlikely. I'd be ruling out their recent crappiness first.

Short term I believe the desktop app works better for some (doesn't seem any different to the app to me), and some people have been using this on an iPhone  https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/sonophone-for-sonos/id815251931

If you're on Android, and comfortable doing so, revert your app to an older version  https://techissuestoday.com/heres-how-to-roll-back-to-the-previous-version-of-sonos-app/

Long term you have two choices.

1) Hope Sonos sort themselves out.

2) Go somewhere else. Of course your Sonos gear will likely be worthless if it comes to that.

aha, a fun topic in which I've become immersed. If you have the time, check out reddit.com/r/sonos.

The short version is it's not your internet or wifi. In May, Sonos rammed out an update to its app (the controller that sits on your phone) that completely rewrote how the app interacts with your network, your speakers and the internet. And it doesn't work; they have been firefighting ever since, trying to add back in features that were removed, make it more reliable etc.

The real issue is that in updating the app, Sonos also updated the speaker software (ie the backend firmware that enables your speaker to talk to anything around it); and the most recent firmware updates mean that your speakers will not work without the latest (non-functional) app update.

The good-ish news is that Sonos is pushing out updates to fix it as quick as they can, and it's apparently better than it was; the bad news is it still ain't what it was before this ridiculous decision to change the app.

If you’re on Android, and comfortable doing so, revert your app to an older version  https://techissuestoday.com/heres-how-to-roll-back-to-the-previous-version-of-sonos-app/

Unfortunately one of the things removed from the new Sonos app (phone part) is the ability to downgrade to the Sonos S1 app (the forked older version); one of the things removed from the new firmware (speaker part) updates is the ability to use an older version of the Sonos S2 app. So not only are you locked into a non-functional piece of software, you can't even downgrade it to the older, functional, one

One of the things removed from the new firmware (speaker part) updates is the ability to use an older version of the Sonos S2 app.

Ah, didn't realise that as I'm iPhone. They really have lost it haven't they?

Good to hear it wasn't me recently mucking my lot up. BT sent a new hub and I had huge issues reconnecting everything and keeping them from disconnecting. Tbh I gave up and started listening to old records instead... but luckily Mrs Yak persevered and it all works... Apps look different too.

So my advice is dust down the old turntable, get the vinyl out then wait for someone more competent to fix it.

The one thing that doesn't work now is the pause/play button on each speaker. If I press that the speaker disconnects, so I have put a post-it note over the button with 'NO' on it. Have to turn on/off via the app.

Now the Mesh doesn’t seem to be working as it did, how can it just stop working efficiently?

No expert here at all, but my TP link mesh system has a 'network optimisation' thing that does things a little

This is music to my ears (see what i did there...IGMC) I've just spent the last few days trying to get my Sonos Play 1s to be recognised on the app to no avail. I thought i'd made a breakthrough with the possibility that the Bridge unit was not working. But if it's app related then it's at least fixable.

That said i have noticed over the last year it becoming more unreliable in recognising the speakers around the house. So what do the experts suggest as a suitable replacement for roughly the same kind of budget? (in my case that' 3x Play 1s and the want to upgrade to a soundbar in the living room)

This is music to my ears (see what i did there…IGMC) I’ve just spent the last few days trying to get my Sonos Play 1s to be recognised on the app to no avail. I thought i’d made a breakthrough with the possibility that the Bridge unit was not working. But if it’s app related then it’s at least fixable.

Are you using the legacy Sonos S1 controller app (grey icon)? It's possible the Bridge is kaput; there seems to be a thread that older devices have very limited RAM and it is gradually chewed up by firmware updates until they're unusable (many of the user complaints seem to be around the Connect: Amp specifically).

If you're using the new app instead, it could well be that. Sonos claim that in August they'll add back in the ability to downgrade speakers or systems to the S1 app (those speakers that are compatible with it) - which is what I'll be doing with my Play:1s, Play:3 and Connect.

And it doesn’t work; they have been firefighting ever since, trying to add back in features that were removed, make it more reliable etc.

To add some balance I have Sonos in two houses and the new app has always worked great.

@nicko74 yes the legacy app. That's not good to hear about the Bridge unit, i'll look at that Reddit link and investigate further. Thanks for your help.

Any thoughts on a comparable alternative?

We had various Sonos issues awhile back. Changed broadband and new router didn’t make any difference. It eventually settled by itself. Though the app seems slow and dim witted compared to the original app.

So what do the experts suggest as a suitable replacement for roughly the same kind of budget?

The best upgrade I carried out on my sonos was to leave the speakers on my front garden wall for someone else to take.

Replaced with edifier speakers following a recommendation here and now have a system that works first time, every time.

What do you use the Bridge for? Is it just to boost your wifi/ set up a network for your Play:1s, or do you have it plugged into a hifi or somesuch?

If it's the former, apparently you may not need it: https://en.community.sonos.com/what-to-get-228989/do-i-need-the-sonos-bridge-6822494

If it's the latter (which I use my Connect for), a Sonos Connect Gen 1 should be fine - you can pick them up dirt cheap on eBay, and they still work with the S1 app.

To add some balance I have Sonos in two houses and the new app has always worked great.

Great stuff! Tbf mine works fine, but that's partly because I refused to upgrade to the new app 😀

Got Sonos throughout the house - works fine and always has done. New app is a pain but getting better. One thing is I have my 5's on ethernet and the wireless ones using channel 11.

To add some balance I have Sonos in two houses and the new app has always worked great.

It works "fine" for me too, sometimes takes a little while to load up and be useable with a "Log in to your system" message at the top until it sorts itself out, maximum of 30 secs.

But it's definitely not as intuitive as the old one, I'm still learning my way around it.

On the other hand my Virgin broadband often grinds to halt, despite speed tests showing 260+Mbps. It's worse on our phones and seems to be when they connect to the 2.4GHz connection rather than 5GHz. Sometimes the wired computer connection slows down too, but much less often. It doesn't seem to affect Sonos as even when the internet is unusable on my phone I can used the phone to connect and control it with no problem.

Getting used to the new app.. just need to add back in the features that they nobbled!

OP you may find a full power cycle improves matters - turn off the router, mesh devices and speakers and then turn them back on in that order, waiting for each to fully start up before you do the next.

You could also try changing the Wi-Fi channel SonosNet is using (assuming you are using that as you still have a Bridge) - it may be clashing with your mesh network, neighbour etc.

I would also look at ditching the Bridge and SonosNet in favour of a 'normal' Wi-Fi setup. The Bridge is pretty old tech these days and SonosNet doesn't bring any real benefit if your 'normal' Wi-Fi is functioning correctly.

Oh, and Virgin broadband is notorious for both throttling bandwidth and requiring router restarts on a regular basis to restore full performance.

We got fed up with our Play 5 speaker dropping out and requiring a laborious reboot to reconnect so it’s now gathering dust in the cupboard. We are currently using a Google speaker which never seems to drop out. Could do with something with better sound though.

I do have a Sonos Roam which works a treat on Bluetooth it’s just the wi fi that seems to cause all the issues. I would not buy another Sonos.

To add some balance I have Sonos in two houses and the new app has always worked great

Humblebrag of the week, nay year!

To add some balance I have Sonos in two houses and the new app has always worked great.

To add a bit more balance I also  have Sonos in two  houses and it's always worked well in the smaller of the two, but was bit rubbish in the larger. Oh yes.

(Skipping channels I think until we got a mesh network and turned off the rubbish virgin router).

The new app I don't like but it's worked for me so far. Have to say that I regret having standardised round sonos and am wondering about moving off it.

Thanks @nicko74 i use it for the Network setup, but that's because that's how it was done when I bought them initially. I never knew the bridge was no longer needed. More reading for me to get to the bottom of this, thanks for the link.

I'll also check out Edifier, thanks @Kilo

We got fed up with our Play 5 speaker dropping out and requiring a laborious reboot to reconnect so it’s now gathering dust in the cupboard.

I think the Play 5 was dropped as it was one of the models with not enough RAM to run the updated firmware properly.

Maybe this was your issue?

Our Sonos kist has been a pain in the backside lately. We've currently only got one speaker working out of three, the others won't connect to each other or the app.

I'm seriously considering dumping them and just buying a couple of the Apple speakers or something like that. I certainly won't be spending a penny on Sonos kit ever again.

I had issues a while back (pre-update) and got a Sonos Boost which fixed everything immediately. Then last week all my speakers dropped out. After cursing the whole damn system, I reset the Boost and it immediately fixed it all again. May be worth considering?

Another solid alternative is Audio Pro.

Great if you have a turntable with pre amp as you can plug it into one speaker and create stereo pairs and multi room when playing records or add a cd player to one etc.

I have never had any issues with the app or connectivity. Changed router recently and setup was quick you just need to make sure you do the few steps in the right order

I used to have issues with mine, but since I put Ethernet cable in my arc all my others work faultless

I just connected mine up again after getting new router and now sonos will not connect to my network drive where my music is.

Just gettting access to the driver denied.

Anyone got any ideas?

Tried from the mobile app and desktop.

The mobile app just hangs desktop give me the access denied messge

Have there been any changes to your assigned local IP addresses?

The Network drive address might have changed and the original target address may no longer exist.

Sonos user and previously a tenda MV3 user also. you may have 2 separate problems

New Sonos app is indeed absolute horse***t but going back to when I had the same network kit as the OP, that is also complete bobbins. what finally made mine near to unusable was when a neighbour started a network (probably with the same kit) on the same wifi channel causing a load of interference. there was no way to change the channel of the network which sounds insane but there we are

upgraded the network to a Ubiquiti Unifi setup which tho admittedly very costly, provides perfect coverage across the house and garden and resolved all the issues I used to have with Sonos components dropping out or going unresponsive.

new Sonos app remains comprehensively awful tho

btw, since we now seem to have a Sonos own goal thread - the latest iOS update somehow seems to be even more of a Dodo. I've deleted it as it was using 65% of my battery.

I'm not the only one  https://www.reddit.com/r/sonos/comments/1eai1rw/has_the_sonos_app_been_draining_anyone_elses/

My Sonos in the far corner from the house from the Virgin router was always a bit flaky. I have since:

* Ditched Virgin for a FTTP connection from one of those upstart ISPs (this probably didn't make a measurable difference, but it felt good)

* Gone for a TP-Link Deco mesh system, with wired backhaul between the mesh nodes

* Hardwired the Sonos beam

* Hardwired everything else that could be due to physical proximity to the fibre termination point (TV, Xbox, Hue bridge etc.)

With the end result that my wifi network is being handled by higher quality devices, with everything hardwired that could be, with Sonos kit not on the main wifi and instead being handled by Sonosnet.

It's all rock solid now. I don't use the app though, generally just Airplay direct from Apple Music or similar.

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btw, since we now seem to have a Sonos own goal thread – the latest iOS update somehow seems to be even more of a Dodo. I’ve deleted it as it was using 65% of my battery.

thanks for the tip - its using 20% here which is frankly unacceptable.  if I wasn't so heavily invested in their kit I'd be ripping it out

Not helpful, but with a decent mesh setup and hardwired soundbars, I've never had a single drop out or disconnection in ~5 yrs of owning 9 Sonos speakers.

Obviously it's a bit crap if they have hobbled the app but I never touch it other than to go in and turn night mode on/off occasionally. All control is done via sending media over Airplay from whatever app I'm using for that media (or it's coming straight out of the TV).