How to set up Alexa in an unsupported geo/country - should you be so inclined.....
I have recently joined the SONOS family. When my four SONOS Ones arrived I was keen to get Alexa up and going through my SONOS speakers everywhere I could.
However, imagine my surprise when when I got to the voice services setup page and it said (Alexa) 'Not available in your country.' However, as they say in the trade when the going gets tough, the tough open a beer and start tweaking/modding/hacking.
For the curious I bring you a step-by-step 'hypothetical' guide to getting Alexa going with you Sonos One in an unsupported region. Should you be so inclined.......
1. Login to your SONOS account. Change your country to the US.
2. Go to alexa.amazon.com and login with your Amazon account. Just log in. Nothing else needs to be done here.
3. Go back to the Sonos app on your phone. Go to 'More' at the bottom right and tap on “Voice Services”. If everything went well, there will be a set of instructions to link up SONOS and Alexa.
4. Getting and installing the Alexa App. Ok now here comes the hard part as the Alexa App is geo restricted. Alexa won't be available on Apple or Google's stores in your country. Hence the reason you are following this guide:
A) For Apple try this https://beebom.com/how-to-install-georestricted-apps-iphone/
😎 For Android you have two options:
i) The VPN method. You can try installing a VPN service, disabling location services, clearing the cache from the Play store and logging into the Play store in the US over VPN. NordVPN seemed to work for me (other leading brands of VPN are available).
ii) The APK method. YOU DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Downloading the Alexa APK from a 3rd party site such as APK monk(https://www.apkmonk.com/app/com.amazon.dee.app/). Because of potential malware issues BEFORE you run this APK file upload it to Virus Total (https://www.virustotal.com/) or if you are a techie use log cat. But again installing APKs from third party sites is done totally at your own risk
NB: I'm NOT an iPhone guy. I'm told that method A will work by my iOS/iPhone using counterparts. If it doesn't work find another way and append your method to this thread.
5. Go back to the SONOS App you should be able to setup your SONOS with Alexa following the menu in the regular way.
6. Annoy you spouse/partner/cat/imaginary friend with Alexa voice commands through your swanky Sonos ONE.
NB: This is 'hypothetical' guide to an unsupported tweak/hack and I take zero responsibility for any damage you do to yourself or anything you own following the instructions above.
However, imagine my surprise when when I got to the voice services setup page and it said (Alexa) 'Not available in your country.' However, as they say in the trade when the going gets tough, the tough open a beer and start tweaking/modding/hacking.
For the curious I bring you a step-by-step 'hypothetical' guide to getting Alexa going with you Sonos One in an unsupported region. Should you be so inclined.......
1. Login to your SONOS account. Change your country to the US.
2. Go to alexa.amazon.com and login with your Amazon account. Just log in. Nothing else needs to be done here.
3. Go back to the Sonos app on your phone. Go to 'More' at the bottom right and tap on “Voice Services”. If everything went well, there will be a set of instructions to link up SONOS and Alexa.
4. Getting and installing the Alexa App. Ok now here comes the hard part as the Alexa App is geo restricted. Alexa won't be available on Apple or Google's stores in your country. Hence the reason you are following this guide:
A) For Apple try this https://beebom.com/how-to-install-georestricted-apps-iphone/
😎 For Android you have two options:
i) The VPN method. You can try installing a VPN service, disabling location services, clearing the cache from the Play store and logging into the Play store in the US over VPN. NordVPN seemed to work for me (other leading brands of VPN are available).
ii) The APK method. YOU DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Downloading the Alexa APK from a 3rd party site such as APK monk(https://www.apkmonk.com/app/com.amazon.dee.app/). Because of potential malware issues BEFORE you run this APK file upload it to Virus Total (https://www.virustotal.com/) or if you are a techie use log cat. But again installing APKs from third party sites is done totally at your own risk
NB: I'm NOT an iPhone guy. I'm told that method A will work by my iOS/iPhone using counterparts. If it doesn't work find another way and append your method to this thread.
5. Go back to the SONOS App you should be able to setup your SONOS with Alexa following the menu in the regular way.
6. Annoy you spouse/partner/cat/imaginary friend with Alexa voice commands through your swanky Sonos ONE.
NB: This is 'hypothetical' guide to an unsupported tweak/hack and I take zero responsibility for any damage you do to yourself or anything you own following the instructions above.