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Edward R
Retired Sonos Staff
January 5, 2018

Resolving (the majority of) Issues with Alexa on Sonos

  • January 5, 2018
  • 111 replies
  • 205033 views

Moderator note: This article was updated in December 2024.

 

This thread is intended to help get you going if you get stuck setting up Alexa with Sonos, or if you have run into any errors. The setup process does use two different apps, so don’t stress if you’re having trouble, we can help.

If you are reading this thread, you will now be aware that integrating the two platforms requires several authentication steps which require you to move between applications and interfaces, providing login details and authorising services along the way.
Simply put: It involves some moving back and forth, providing information as you go.

The issues this post may help you resolve include but are not limited to:
- "Your Spotify account does not support streaming on this device."
- Radio stations not playing when you ask them to.
- Asking for something to play- whether this is acknowledged or not- only to be met with silence.

It is worth noting, however, that several of your desired functions may simply not be available on Alexa via Sonos just yet. We have an article that describes exactly what services to expect at this time: Control Sonos with Amazon Alexa

Is your desired functionality available? Then let's move on to fixing your issue.

If you get to a point where you're not able to complete a step, just skip to the next section.

1. In the Alexa app, go to More > Skills & Games > Your Skills > Sonos > Settings > Manage Smart Home Devices > Tap 'Forget All'.
Note: The step to 'Forget All' will delete all actions in all Routines within an Alexa set-up.

2. Go to Alexa's UK site or Alexa's US site (again, depending on your region).
Please do this in a web browser on a computer (PC or Mac).
It's also best to do this using private browsing or incognito mode to avoid using cached information.

Go to Settings. Click on your Sonos One in the list of devices. It will probably be listed both as '(your name)'s Sonos One' and whatever room name you gave it in Sonos. It's the '(your name)'s Sonos One we're looking for. On this page, click on 'deregister' and confirm that.

If on this page you do not see your Sonos One already set up, then it's probably linked to a different account somehow. In this case you can skip the rest of the troubleshooting. Just add the Sonos skill on this website, then follow the prompts.

3. Make sure you know your Amazon account password, and then log out of your Amazon account everywhere. Log out of the Alexa app, log out on your web browser, log out on the shopping app, the music app.

4. Delete all your Amazon apps, including the Alexa app, and then just install the Alexa app.

5. Add the Sonos One back to the system in the Sonos app, via Settings -> Add Speaker or Component. Follow the prompts to set up voice services which will require you log in to your Sonos account, and then your Amazon account, to link them together. You'll also need to enable the Sonos skill in the Alexa app at this point.

6. If that's all worked you should hear the Sonos One say "Hello". Try asking it to play something like a radio station (Radio by TuneIn is enabled by default) and see if that works.

If this does not work, or you are getting stuck at any stage, please post a diagnostic confirmation number and describe how/where it went wrong.

Thank you, keep us posted as to whether or not this helps!

This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

111 replies

Lyricist III
August 23, 2018
Hi, nothing else called kitchen. The Echo Dot is called 'Echo Dot'. The volume isn't muted.......
Ken_Griffiths
August 23, 2018
pjb904,

Go to your Alexa App ... remove the sonos devices in the smart-home section (Devices Tab) .. then goto skills and remove the Sonos Skill. Give it a minute or so. Now restart your Router and the two Sonos devices. Wait till they are booted and both speakers are back online and appearing in your Sonos App.

Now reinstall the sonos Skill in the Alexa App, logging into both your Sonos Account and your Amazon Account and accepting the sharing agreement.

As the Sonos Skill install finishes, it will prompt you to scan for devices .. during the scan it should find both your Play: 1, called Kitchen and your Play 5 Room too.

When the Alexa scan has finished try the voice command again “Alexa play music in the kitchen”.
Lyricist III
August 23, 2018
Weeelll, it worked, but only once. 'Alex stop kitchen' silenced it. 'Alexa play (anything) in kitchen' = Silence. But the Play:5 in the dining room responds and works as one might expect.
The Play:1 does emit music from the Sonos app. I just noticed after saying 'Alexa play radio 4 in Kitchen' (Dot then says playing on Kitchen) but silence happens - if I go to the Sonos App, the Kitchen Sonos says 'started from Alexa' and I need to press ▶️ to make the sound emit, and then ⏹️ stops it. It's like the Sonos App has retained the control over that.
Soooo.....?
Ken_Griffiths
August 23, 2018
Weeelll, it worked, but only once. 'Alex stop kitchen' silenced it. 'Alexa play (anything) in kitchen' = Silence. But the Play:5 in the dining room responds and works as one might expect.
The Play:1 does emit music from the Sonos app. I just noticed after saying 'Alexa play radio 4 in Kitchen' (Dot then says playing on Kitchen) but silence happens - if I go to the Sonos App, the Kitchen Sonos says 'started from Alexa' and I need to press ▶️ to make the sound emit, and then ⏹️ stops it. It's like the Sonos App has retained the control over that.
Soooo.....?

Strange it worked the one time, did you restart the router and speakers? I’m just wondering if it’s a network issue? What happens if you plug the Sonos One onto your router, does it work then every single time or not ?
Lyricist III
August 23, 2018
Now....I looked at the Sonos App/settings/advanced/control from other devices. It was ticked...but I toggled it off, then back on. Then things worked consistently! If it still works tomorrow, a virtual beer for you ?. Thanks for your assistance so far...... I'll tell you tomorrow. Have a nice evening Ken, wherever you are !
October 2, 2018
Exactly the same for me....if I turn off the Sonos speakers at the wall and then turn them back on again I get the following message Alexa says "hmm, ensure that the sonos skill is enabled in the alexa app, then say discover devices."

However, if I leave the speakers on for something like 12 hours then the voice commands return???
UKMedia
October 2, 2018
Exactly the same for me....if I turn off the Sonos speakers at the wall and then turn them back on again I get the following message Alexa says "hmm, ensure that the sonos skill is enabled in the alexa app, then say discover devices."

However, if I leave the speakers on for something like 12 hours then the voice commands return???


Hi

If you are willing to switch off your Sonos One again, can you please open the Alexa App>Settings and confirm if the device is shown as 'Online'. I suspect that this could be connectivity issue, how far away from your router is the Sonos One located?
Remember: Sometimes Red Wine helps :)
Renowned Enthusiast I
October 24, 2018
What is the current state of Alexa on Sonos? When I first tried it with the Sonos One it was pretty bad. is it equal to an Echo device now or am I better off using an Echo Dot and Sonos skill?
UKMedia
November 3, 2018
What is the current state of Alexa on Sonos? When I first tried it with the Sonos One it was pretty bad. is it equal to an Echo device now or am I better off using an Echo Dot and Sonos skill?

There is still a difference between the two devices but the gap has narrowed significantly - not sure when first tried.
Remember: Sometimes Red Wine helps :)
chicks
November 3, 2018
“Every time you curse at Alexa, she gets better — so don't stop." — Jeff Bezos