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Contributor I
February 6, 2019
Answered

Changing Alexa wake word

  • February 6, 2019
  • 26 replies
  • 20848 views
Are there plans to be able to change the Sonos One wake word? My daughters name is Alexa, so it's not practical to have it as the wake word ( I don't need two people telling me that they "don't know that one")
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    Best answer by Keith N
    Hi there, User96576. There are no plans to change the Sonos One wake word at the moment, while I can absolutely understand how that can be a bit impractical. I am happy to forward this as a feature request along to the team for consideration and visibility, however.

    Thanks for reaching out!

    26 replies

    Lyricist I
    November 16, 2019

    Just add this already. I'm debating between Sonos and Sennheiser and will get whichever allows me to say "computer", as I hate branding.

    Lyricist I
    November 24, 2019

    I have a number of Alex devices and multiple devices pickup when I say hey Alexa. It is now limiting my ability to purchase more Sonos devices.

    Please allow me to customize this (as is possible for Echo devices already)

    I am right there with you. I was in love with the Sonos at first and was even mote excited to hear Alexa integrated with it. However, since the limited customizable features (i.e. wake word change, Alexa on Sonos Beam ONLY with surround sound setup, etc), it has halted my purchases with Sonos products.  

    Lyricist II
    November 27, 2019

    For me, the wake word has an ethical importance. It should be something machine-specific, like “computer”. Amazon was enlightened when it allowed for this, but as users of a third-party product it makes me think of that meme that says “If something is free, you are the product”. Except that we pay a high price for Sonos hardware, and as such we should not be forced to repeat Amazon’s moniker as if that was the price to pay to use this technology.

    Changing the wake word has actually been possible for a third-party for many years. Companies like Kitt.ai offer a way to implement it. If Sonos wanted this, they would already have done it, maybe purchasing Kitt.ai like they recently purchased Snips?

    Lyricist I
    December 9, 2019

    +1 for the feature request 

    Please enable changing of the wake word.

    I’ve just bought a Sonos One to replace the Echo in our kitchen (we’ve got a few other Sonos dotted around the house) and in setting it up I was disappointed to discover that we cannot use the same wake word we use for the other Amazon devices around the house (Echo).

    I realise that this may be a branding issue with Amazon looking to promote the prominence of their assistant. We don’t use the Google home we bought because we don’t like saying “Hey Google”. 

    Lyricist III
    December 12, 2019

    I have the same issue as I have a dot and a Sonos in the same room. Dot is for cooking timer etc. Wife doesn't want to change wake word.   Solution?  Sonos one is back in the box and on way to UPS...

    Lyricist I
    December 26, 2019

    +1 need this Sonos!

     

    We’re naming a new Echo Dot Samantha (thx Olaf) and it would be great to change our Sonos speakers throughout the house.