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Contributor I
September 19, 2018

New Skill Enables Managing Groups of Sonos Speakers with Alexa

  • September 19, 2018
  • 31 replies
  • 9638 views
I've created the Speaker Groups Alexa skill (https://skills-store.amazon.com/deeplink/dp/B07HGQGT6P?deviceType=app&share&refSuffix=ss_copy) that allows you to group your Sonos speakers together through Alexa! Let me know if you run into any issues with it.


Some example interactions
Change Groups

"Alexa, ask speaker groups to play the living room in the master"
"Alexa, ask speaker groups to stop the master bedroom"

Create Scenes of Speakers
"Alexa, ask speaker groups to create a master group"
"Alexa, ask speaker groups to add the Master Bedroom to the master group"
"Alexa, ask speaker groups to add the Master Bathroom to the master group"
"Alexa, ask speaker groups to group the master speakers" or "Alexa, ask speaker groups to play in the master"
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      31 replies

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      UKMedia
      UKMedia
      December 27, 2018
      Ahh, you don't need to add it to the group just in the Preferred Speaker setting. So in one Group, the Sonos One is the Controlling Device and the Sonos One and Playbase + Play:1's are set as the Preferred Speakers. In the other (Everywhere) don't add a controlling device, just select all your Sonos devices within the Preferred Speaker setting. Then when you give the Alexa command include the group name. i.e. 'Alexa, Play Piano Chill Playlist on Everywhere'
      Remember: Sometimes Red Wine helps :)
      julien.d
      Lyricist III
      December 27, 2018
      Thanks a lot @UKMedia
      Theflipside
      Lyricist I
      December 29, 2018
      Sorry but I still don't get this - if I create a group in the Alexa app the commands will not control all of the speakers in that group. Also there appears to be no way to "don't add a controlling device" as the Alexa app will not allow the group to be saved unless a device is selected.
      UKMedia
      UKMedia
      December 29, 2018
      Sorry but I still don't get this - if I create a group in the Alexa app the commands will not control all of the speakers in that group. Also there appears to be no way to "don't add a controlling device" as the Alexa app will not allow the group to be saved unless a device is selected.

      I can create an Alexa Group and as long as I select either a Controlling Device or another Device to be included within the Group, I can save it. I can then Edit it to change the Preferred Speakers.

      As per my post here: https://en.community.sonos.com/amazon-alexa-and-sonos-229102/an-overview-and-explanation-of-the-new-support-for-alexa-grouping-6817788/index1.html#post16298346
      Remember: Sometimes Red Wine helps :)
      Theflipside
      Lyricist I
      December 29, 2018
      OK that makes sense - if I select say a Play:1 as the controlling device I can then disable it (which I can't with an Alexa-enabled One). But if I then add the One back in as a preferred speaker into this group (called "Home") if I ask Alexa to play something on "Home" it only plays on the Play:1
      UKMedia
      UKMedia
      December 30, 2018
      OK that makes sense - if I select say a Play:1 as the controlling device I can then disable it (which I can't with an Alexa-enabled One). But if I then add the One back in as a preferred speaker into this group (called "Home") if I ask Alexa to play something on "Home" it only plays on the Play:1

      I'm using Alexa on Android and I'm not forced to select a controlling Device as long as I include a device within the group. So in your Example Create a Group 'Home' and don't select an Alexa Device but Scroll Down and select your Play:1. Then click Save. Then Edit the Group and Add the Play:1 and Sonos One as Preferred Speakers and Save. Allow 10-15 seconds for everything to Sync and then ask 'Alexa, Play Soft Jazz on Home'
      Remember: Sometimes Red Wine helps :)
      Theflipside
      Lyricist I
      December 30, 2018
      You're quite right, but following the same setup routine I still only have playback on the Play:1, with the One remaining on whatever it played last. I have a spare Play:1 somewhere, so will add that to the group and test the behaviour then.
      UKMedia
      UKMedia
      December 30, 2018
      One other thing to try, my Group support stopped working the other day and I had to Disable then Enable the Sonos skill in the Alexa App to get it working again.
      Remember: Sometimes Red Wine helps :)
      Arhynion
      Trending Lyricist I
      January 29, 2019
      Hello everyone,
      Would love this to be in French also.
      Let me know if I can help with some translations :)

      I second this for German (and to work in France).

      Alexa groups aren't really a good option because Alexa can't play the music stored on NAS, which is still 90% of want I want to play. (Or can I just use Alexa to group the Sonoses without having to start to play something from Spotify?)
      UKMedia
      UKMedia
      January 29, 2019
      Hello everyone,
      Would love this to be in French also.
      Let me know if I can help with some translations :)

      I second this for German (and to work in France).

      Alexa groups aren't really a good option because Alexa can't play the music stored on NAS, which is still 90% of want I want to play. (Or can I just use Alexa to group the Sonoses without having to start to play something from Spotify?)

      Neither Google or Alexa allow the playing of locally stored music currently, so Sonos can't either via voice control.
      Remember: Sometimes Red Wine helps :)
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