Skip to main content
Ryan S
Retired Sonos Staff
October 3, 2017

Alexa + Sonos: How it Works

  • October 3, 2017
  • 179 replies
  • 100089 views
So you’ve read all about Amazon Alexa working with Sonos and you want to know more. Here’s a rundown of how the integration works.

Your Amazon Alexa devices are listening for you to say the wake word, “Alexa”. When they hear that word, the microphones record what you say and send the audio to the Amazon Alexa cloud to be translated.

That voice line turns into a string of text. The Amazon protocols determine if it’s meant for Amazon Alexa or for a Sonos player. If it’s for Sonos, that text is then sent directly, and securely, over to the Sonos cloud to be turned into a command using our own codes.

Finally, the Sonos intended command goes down to the system.

Want to try it out?

Here are some fun commands to try. I like starting with:

“Alexa, play some salsa in the kitchen.”
This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

179 replies

Airgetlam
October 4, 2017
npompei,

Yes, if you have an Alexa device that can hear you, you can control any of your associated sonos devices.
Bruce
Ryan S
Ryan SAuthor
Retired Sonos Staff
October 4, 2017
This is more of a hardware question - for people with in-ceiling speakers where you have say a Connect:Amp, will the new Alexa integration benefit you as well? Or is this only for the physical Sonos speakers?

So for example: I am running a connect amp, into a receiver which powers my in-ceiling speakers. I also have an echo/dot somewhere in the house. Can I say, Alexa, play "xxx" in the kitchen?

Because in theory, Alexa now communicates via wi-fi to the Sonos cloud. So does that work with the amp? Or only physical speakers? Hopefully this makes sense?

Makes total sense. The commands are sent to the Sonos cloud, then down to your players over the internet and network. Strictly speaking, Alexa doesn't even know the difference between your Kitchen CONNECT:AMP or a PLAY:1 called Kitchen. It's just looking for a Sonos player with that name.

Those commands will work great for you. The Alexa device in the Kitchen just needs to be online, same as your CONNECT:AMP.
Mark good posts by pressing the like button, and select the best answer on questions you've asked to help others find solutions.
Ryan S
Ryan SAuthor
Retired Sonos Staff
October 4, 2017
Airgetlam beat me to it.
Mark good posts by pressing the like button, and select the best answer on questions you've asked to help others find solutions.
Lyricist III
October 4, 2017
Playing with it, this is freaking awesome... And more flexible/powerful than I thought it would be for the first generation of integration.
Wow!
Lyricist II
October 4, 2017
npompei,

Yes, if you have an Alexa device that can hear you, you can control any of your associated sonos devices.


Awesome news! Thank you Airgetlam and Ryan S!
Trending Lyricist I
October 4, 2017
+1 on the 'Stop Playing" bug. Alexa wont stop playing music on a Sonos player even though she was able to start it.
Trending Lyricist I
October 4, 2017
Sonos' continued support for their older devices continues to impress me. Where other companies seize upon forced obsolescence to feed their revenue stream, Sonos take the high road and continue to improve functionality on much older yet still perfectly capable hardware, making your Sonos acquisitions a true long term investment which you can grow and enjoy over time.

To answer your question @npompei (though @Airgetlam has already done so above) I'm using an Echo and an Echo Dot to control a Sonos ZP120 (Sonos Connect:Amp before they introduced that new name) and ZP90 (Sonos Connect - before the renaming).
Avid Contributor III
October 4, 2017
If I ask Alexa to start playing music in the bedroom all the Sonos speakers will play. Should it be possible to just start playing on one speaker or do I need to group/ungroup in the app before giving the play command?
Lyricist I
October 4, 2017
I'm unable to enable the Alexa skill. Despite going through the Amazon and then Sonos dognon pages it still doesnt appear as an enabke skill. Any ideas?
Lyricist I
October 4, 2017
Been waiting a long time for this - it's really great! My question for someone in the know:

I can enable two rooms to play from Pandora if I ask Alexa separately, i.e., one at a time. Is there something I'm missing to play in each room with just one command?

Thanks.