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Hi.  I am running two 16.1 systems in different homes - one was cloned from the other several years ago as Sonos had no other way to copy Playlists.  I now want to move a couple of speakers from one home to the other.   I havent upgraded anything, and the comments on the new App continue to tell me that is the right decision for me - Music Library, Playlists, ...and without a roll back plan when I discover the new system wont work with my currently fully functioning wireless I never will…..   So now to the question.

If i take these speakers (a PLay 3 and a Play One), that are running identical software, and using my 16.1 app on the Android that is now dedicated to Sonos, will it allow me to add them, or will I get the ‘you need to do a system upgrade”.   

Is there any genius out there that has either done this, or knows what might work.  I sadly suspect the moderators will respond with a party line telling me that the new app is great, but nope, not until there is a roll back option.   (Prove me wrong please and show you are real customer support...)

And for clarity both systems are running the following on all speakers 

Version: 16.1 (build 78151070)

Many thanks for any help.  

As long as both are running the same version number, and are the same household ID, I think all you have to do is plug them in to your router temporarily. They should then copy all the data back and forth, no reason why you would want to ‘reset’ them at all. And then, consequently, no reason to need to ‘add’ them to the existing system. 


Just curious what a “16.1” system is?


Just curious what a “16.1” system is?

16.1 was the last firmware version before the May 7 disaster mobile app release.


As long as both are running the same version number, and are the same household ID, I think all you have to do is plug them in to your router temporarily. They should then copy all the data back and forth, no reason why you would want to ‘reset’ them at all. And then, consequently, no reason to need to ‘add’ them to the existing system. 

I think Bruce is right here, though it has been a long time since I messed with divorced/merged systems, but I would try it one device at a time.


Many thanks for the input.  I have the Phonos Plus app on my Ipad, will use that the check if the household ID is the same at each location.   They certainly run under the same account and were cloned so would hope so!     And then as suggested, one at a time to see how it goes.  And no plans to reset anything as I am sure thats a one way street with a dead end and no turning back…..     Will report back….


So checked Household ID and they are the same, so thats good.   Now I just have a concern about the copying the data back and forth when a speaker from System A is plugged into System B as suggested by ​@Airgetlam .    

Since the systems were cloned they have diverged a little - primarily different playlists and a few music library changes.  Does that mean I may end up with a ‘muddled’ system with possibly duplicate playlists or worse messed up playlists?   Anyone know what takes precedence - date, system size, or anything else?   I suspect rebuilding Music Library Index is straightforward, but Playlists may be trickier.   I am thinking maybe I should export all my valuable Playlists first ready to reimport if I get a problem?   

With thanks to ​@controlav for your input - and for PhonusPlus as that will allow me to do that.  😀 


The ‘data’ is stored on the speakers themselves, not in any ‘cloud’ system externally, or even in the controller.

As you’re merely plugging back in a ‘missing’ speaker of the same household ID to the system, the system should merely copy any information on both sides, and update them both. Any changes made to ether location will be propagated to all ‘speakers’ in the system. Playlist other than Sonos are stored at the streaming server, and not locally on your speaker. 

If you feel more comfortable using an external system to ‘export’ data, and then ‘reimport it, feel free to do so. I’m not sure why it would be any different that just connecting a speaker, and allowing Sonos to copy data over.

IMHO, you’re way overthinking this process. Just connecting a speaker to your router to get the process started. 


You can test the hypothesis by powering down all except one unit from each system or taking one unit from each system to another network and wire them to the network. After power-up give the two units a few minutes to get their bearings, then view the result. If the results are bad, you can Factory Reset both units and add them back to their original systems.


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