Retired Sonos Staff

New to Sonos or Alexa? How to set up

Forum|Forum|9 years ago
October 3, 2017
194 replies
139190 views

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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A

andywgg

Lyricist I

I’ve tried to add the skill to Alexa thru the app and the website but every time it says I need to connect my speakers to my email address - which they already are. I’ve been into the Sonos app and set them up again with my account, but every time it just defaults to that page. Any idea what the problem is?

K

kclayton

Lyricist I

Ryan,

This forum is great - saw the exchange below and got a new Play One w Alexa today but I'm having trouble getting it to play music on both my Echo and new Play One at the same time. Did I misunderstand the comment - is it not possible to play the same source through both the Echo and Play One at the same time?

C

Cchris

Enthusiast II

Ryan,

This forum is great - saw the exchange below and got a new Play One w Alexa today but I'm having trouble getting it to play music on both my Echo and new Play One at the same time. Did I misunderstand the comment - is it not possible to play the same source through both the Echo and Play One at the same time?

It is not possible to play the same synchronised source on both echo and sonos devices at the same time. You can have a group containing all sonos devices, or all Echo devices, but you cannot have a mix of hardware in a single group.

As an additional point to note, you cannot create a stereo pair with a new Sonos One and an older Play:1. A group, yes, but not a stereo pair.

K

Kash Tambar

Contributor I

So I've hooked up my Echo dot to my Sonos speakers.

I'm having a few teething issues as i have to speak the commands a few times before they take effect and often there is a big lag, but im aware its just a beta.

However, are we sure Alexa doesn't support Spotify (at this time)?
I don't have amazon or apple music, only Spotify. I asked Alexa to play Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds and she did, and shes previously mentioned she couldn't find a track on spotify when i mispronounced the name. I'm assuming she isnt plucking the music out of the ether sooooo are they linked on some level?

Thanks

melvimbe

Alexa does support Spotify. What isn't currently support is requesting Spotify music services to play on Sonos speakers through Alexa voice commands.

Danny

S

Skelton

Prodigy I

I'm having a few teething issues as i have to speak the commands a few times before they take effect and often there is a big lag

That's surprising. I normally only see long lags or ignored commands if all my bandwidth is being eaten up by something else.

Alexa does support Spotify. What isn't currently support is requesting Spotify music services to play on Sonos speakers through Alexa voice commands.

So many qualifiers to get that point clear, good job 😉

5zero9

Lyricist III

Amazon dot will not turn down or turn up volume. Did I do something wrong? Does the volume control work? I’m constantly getting the “Sonos isn’t responding” or “kitchen isn’t responding” anything I can do?
No other smart devices are connected besides 2 sonos speakers the soundbar "living room" and a play 5 "kitchen" using the command "Alexa, turn up volume in (room xxxx)." or any variation does not work and results in "xxxxx isn’t responding”

D

dean76

Trending Lyricist I

Amazon dot will not turn down or turn up volume. Did I do something wrong? Does the volume control work? I’m constantly getting the “Sonos isn’t responding” or “kitchen isn’t responding” anything I can do?
No other smart devices are connected besides 2 sonos speakers the soundbar "living room" and a play 5 "kitchen" using the command "Alexa, turn up volume in (room xxxx)." or any variation does not work and results in "xxxxx isn’t responding”

"Alexa increase volume in Dining Room"

"Alexa lower volume in Dining Room"

I guess if you change Dining room to your Zone name, it should work.

Works with SONOS Play 5 gen 1 and Dot amazon Music Paid.
(UK)

The volume increase / decrease is quite a lot though. Maybe they will look at this.
hope this helps

T

tw1st

Contributor I

What about Line-In sources, and if so, what would the command be? Anything I can think of would sound very confusing and I am not too confident that it is supported at this time. If not, I am reconsidering my order of a dot echo as Spotify and Line-In (TV audio and turntable) are the majority of my listening.

jgatie

What about Line-In sources, and if so, what would the command be? Anything I can think of would sound very confusing and I am not too confident that it is supported at this time. If not, I am reconsidering my order of a dot echo as Spotify and Line-In (TV audio and turntable) are the majority of my listening.

There is no control of the line-in via Alexa, which stands to reason because Alexa would need to control the device hooked up to the line-in. There is also no way to switch to the line-in via Alexa, but that could be accomplished via Autoplay.

Alexa support for Spotify is coming soon, the Sonos Facebook account says it will arrive "by the holidays". However, even at this time you can initialize play from the Sonos app and control pause, play, skip, previous, volume, etc. via Alexa.

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