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abs
Contributor II
August 20, 2020

Alexa cannot rewind Audible Audiobooks on Sonos One when started by Alexa

  • August 20, 2020
  • 19 replies
  • 741 views

I have a son who loves listening to audible audiobooks via his Sonos One, but recently the ability to select a chapter or rewind a book has broken.

 

If an audible audiobook is started via the Sonos app on a Sonos One, you can then say “Alexa, go back five minutes” or “Alexa, go to chapter two”, and everything works.

 

If you start the audiobook by saying “Alexa, read bookname”, it just answers “Nothing is currently playing”

 

Sonos App 12.0.4

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    nigep
    Contributor I
    November 30, 2020

    Hi, @abs! Are Alexa and Sonos working fine with other music services aside from Audible? Can you also remember if there were any changes prior to this issue? Submit a diagnostic report after trying to start the Audible using your speaker and reply to us with the confirmation number.

    Keep us posted here. We and the community are always here to help.

    Hi @nigep, thanks for reaching out to the Sonos Community! Have you checked the suggestions above? Just let us know. We and the community are always here to help.

    Hi @Krishma M 

    using an echo dot with Sonos base works fine - ie its possible to start audiobooks and go forward and backwards. I can also use a dot to start and control the Sonos one.
    Using the Sonos one (mk2) I can start audible but when trying to go backwards, forwards, or to a chapter it replies with “nothing is currently playing”

    note this used to work then stopped earlier in the year; I recently retired and it suddenly worked until about a month ago when it stopped working again

    using the Sonos one I can successfully start and control other apps eg Spotify 

    ive tried uninstalling the Sonos skill

    also tried installing the Audible app via the Sonos app

    also found that I can start a book from the Sonos one on another room eg the sonos base but cannot control it from the Sonos one as it gets the same message

    so in summary the cannot control any device playing audible from the Sonos one but can control the Sonos one from other echo dots

    @Krishma M ive also just submitted diagnostics for the iOS app (141948962)

    absAuthor
    Contributor II
    December 8, 2020

    Is there any chance Sonos might actually fix this, as I had to buy a Sonos move for my son for Christmas, but this is the one damn thing he needs a voice activated speaker to do and I’m going to have to get him an Echo and a battery base

      Kshak303
      Lyricist I
      December 16, 2020

      I’m having same issue and it’s frustrating. When I start an audiobook on Audible using Alexa on either my Sonos Move or Sonos One speakers then I can not go back or forward with voice commands. Alexa says “nothing is currently playing” when clearly the audiobook is playing.  This renders voice commands pretty useless because I’m often wanting to go back a few seconds but can not. Is there a solution yet?!

        absAuthor
        Contributor II
        December 16, 2020

        I contacted Sonos support (chat session) and they reported that this is a known issue and they hope to have a fix in the next update, but cannot guarantee.

          JMax95
          Lyricist I
          January 29, 2021

          Argh. I really hope this is fixed soon.

            Ike_1
            Lyricist II
            February 8, 2021

            I have the same problem.  So frustrating since it used to work.  I was planning on replacing my old Sonos Ones with the Alexa enabled, which would be about 12 units and a couple soundbars and subs, but I’m not investing any more with Sonos unless this is resolved.  I had to take the Sonos out of my bedroom and plug in an old Echo just so I can listen to audiobooks.  Ridiculous.  But might be a good story for my YouTube channel.

              scottreadman
              Trending Lyricist I
              March 26, 2021

              Any news on this being fixed?!!! So frustrating.

                NotJK
                Lyricist II
                March 27, 2021

                Same issue for me. Plays audiobook fine on One, and then I want to go back a minute in the book and “Nothing is currently playing.”

                NotJK
                Lyricist II
                March 28, 2021

                I have a son who loves listening to audible audiobooks via his Sonos One, but recently the ability to select a chapter or rewind a book has broken.

                 

                If an audible audiobook is started via the Sonos app on a Sonos One, you can then say “Alexa, go back five minutes” or “Alexa, go to chapter two”, and everything works.

                 

                If you start the audiobook by saying “Alexa, read bookname”, it just answers “Nothing is currently playing”

                 

                Sonos App 12.0.4

                I found this fix as well. Start the book from the app after signing into audible and works like normal. 

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