Retired Sonos Staff

New to Sonos or Alexa? How to set up

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So you have an Alexa device and Sonos players, where do you go next?

1. Make sure your Sonos and Alexa devices are all powered up and connected to the network.

If you're new to Sonos, this means Installing the Sonos app, and going through the steps for Setting up Sonos here.

If you're new to Alexa, install the Alexa app (currently only available in the US, UK, and Germany) and make sure your Alexa device(s) show up. They will be listed under Settings > Devices. Amazon has a setup guide for the Echo Dot here.

2. In the Alexa app, search for and add the Alexa Skill for Sonos.

3. Follow the on-screen prompts to authenticate your Amazon account, then your Sonos account.

4. Finally, inside your Alexa app, select discover devices under Smart Home or on the Sonos skill page.

You are now ready to try out some commands! There’s a great, comprehensive list here.

Wondering how it all works? Check out the How it works thread.

If you run into any trouble, please feel free to take a look here to start, or ask any question in the Amazon Alexa and Sonos forum.

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chrisreeves

Lyricist I

Works great. To stop music, say "Alexa, stop music in [speaker name]." Also, works with artists: "Alexa, play [artist] in the [speaker name]." I haven't figured out how to play specific services (a Pandora station or an Apple Music playlist) or Sonos Favorite playlists yet.

Also, the Sonos player is muted when you start to issue a command to Alexa, even commands that aren't Sonos-specific, and works even if you started music from the Sonos app instead of Alexa. That's a great feature.

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willkon

Lyricist I

Thank you!!! You just made mine and my wife's lives much easier when putting the little guy down. "Alexa, play bedtime playlist".

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Ryan SAuthor

Retired Sonos Staff

Works great. To stop music, say "Alexa, stop music in [speaker name]." Also, works with artists: "Alexa, play [artist] in the [speaker name]." I haven't figured out how to play specific services (a Pandora station or an Apple Music playlist) or Sonos Favorite playlists yet.

Try "Alexa, play Salsa Radio from Pandora on [speaker name]." You will need to have Pandora added to your Alexa app too.

Also, the Sonos player is muted when you start to issue a command to Alexa, even commands that aren't Sonos-specific, and works even if you started music from the Sonos app instead of Alexa. That's a great feature.

It's called "ducking," glad you like it 🙂

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Mark good posts by pressing the like button, and select the best answer on questions you've asked to help others find solutions.

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Skelton

Prodigy I

Also, the Sonos player is muted when you start to issue a command to Alexa, even commands that aren't Sonos-specific, and works even if you started music from the Sonos app instead of Alexa. That's a great feature.

It's called "ducking," glad you like it :)

You've got to be ducking kidding me.

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Ryan SAuthor

Retired Sonos Staff

Also, the Sonos player is muted when you start to issue a command to Alexa, even commands that aren't Sonos-specific, and works even if you started music from the Sonos app instead of Alexa. That's a great feature.

It's called "ducking," glad you like it :)

You've got to be ducking kidding me.

You quack.

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Mark good posts by pressing the like button, and select the best answer on questions you've asked to help others find solutions.

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chrisreeves

Lyricist I

Thanks, Ryan - that's great! But now I have a few questions... :)

Is there a command to start music playing on all speakers?

Also, do all the services that will play on Sonos via Alexa also have to be set up on Alexa (as in your Pandora example), e.g. Spotify? Does this mean there's not an incantation to play Apple music playlists?

Is there a way to start something in "Sonos Favorites" playing?

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Wolffy

Contributor I

Thanks, Ryan - that's great! But now I have a few questions... :)

Is there a command to start music playing on all speakers?

Also, do all the services that will play on Sonos via Alexa also have to be set up on Alexa (as in your Pandora example), e.g. Spotify? Does this mean there's not an incantation to play Apple music playlists?

Is there a way to start something in "Sonos Favorites" playing?

Same question here. I have set up everything nicely and can use the commands to get music playing. The only problem i am facing is that when i say for example, Alexa, play X in Living Room. The music will come out of all speakers (I only have a soundbar and Play 1).

Is there a way of splitting it so you can control each speaker separately or if needed altogether via Alexa commands?

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Wolffy

Contributor I

Sorry for being so rude and not introducing myself.... I get excited by all this techno stuff and forget my manners! I am brand new to this so hey everyone! 😃

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maxf

Lyricist II

Having a few issues with this Alexa implementation - it’s works on my play 1 in the study but when I try it on my play 5 in the kitchen it will only start the current selected track in the sonos app - nor will it allow me to pause or skip music, whereas in the study it does. I’ve tried to remove the kitchen device and then search for it again but it doesn’t seem to make a difference. Any ideas?

Update: Things seemed to right themselves when I renamed my kitchen echo (both the sonos and echo were called kitchen) I think this caused some kind of conflict.

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EssBee03

Lyricist I

I have the original Echo. All of my Sonos players are synced up beautifully, but is it correct that the music WILL NOT play on the echo at the same time - it's just there to accept the voice commands? Is that why the Sonos One was introduced?

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