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Contributor I
October 22, 2017

No Alexa

  • October 22, 2017
  • 22 replies
  • 2045 views
Am I the only one that hates the idea of Alexa on my Sonos? I just want my music to play on my Sonos. I don’t need some device listening to me. Music. That’s all I want.
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22 replies

jgatie
October 22, 2017
Then don't enable the skill. Alexa is 100% voluntary. Nothing is listening to you unless you enable it. Even the Sonos One with Alexa built in needs you to enable the skill, and Sonos hardwired the LED to the microphones so they cannot be activated without lighting up. That way, even on the oft chance the device is hacked or Big Brother takes over, those most fearful of being spied on will know when it is listening.
Contributor I
October 22, 2017
I had wondered if you could not enable Alexa, but I couldn’t find that information on the website.
Stanley_4
Grand Maestro
October 22, 2017
I'd really like a hardware mike disable switch.
Lyricist III
October 23, 2017
You can turn the mic off.
October 23, 2017
Isn't there one already on top of the unit as it is on Echo/Dot?

Though even with it left on and Alexa enabled, I suspect that unless the trigger word is uttered, all that is listened to by the mike isn't being relayed to the cloud. If it was, there would be a huge load on Amazon cloud servers, and I don't think Amazon=NSA.
October 23, 2017
I worry more about misuse by kids/guests to move volume levels around or to start music play. As for all other buttons on Sonos units, can the one for the Mic be disabled in the controller?
Contributor I
October 23, 2017
So I’m not the only one that doesn’t want things listening. A hardware switch would make me feel better too. I figure Sonos will want to add this to all the units on the next iteration. Just say no.
October 23, 2017
Just press the existing button on top of the unit?
jgatie
October 23, 2017
There is both a hardware switch and a hardwired LED that lights up whenever the microphone is listening and cannot be defeated without opening the unit and desoldering a coupling.
Ryan S
Retired Sonos Staff
October 23, 2017
I worry more about misuse by kids/guests to move volume levels around or to start music play. As for all other buttons on Sonos units, can the one for the Mic be disabled in the controller?

There is one controller setting which turns off all the buttons on a player (except for the connect button). For the Sonos One, this also locks the state of the microphone. You can turn off the microphone, then turn off the touch commands for that player. From that point on, the only way for the microphone to be enabled is to go into the controller and turn the buttons back on, then by touching the microphone button on top of the unit. There's no way around this. It's a security feature.

We wanted to make sure if you were worried about microphones on in your home you could rest easy with the Sonos One. The microphone can be turned off with a button press, and you don't even need to enable Alexa in the first place. As jgatie said, there isn't a software way to disable the microphone LED. It's linked to the power on the microphone itself, if that has power, the LED does too.
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