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Contributor I
Oct 25, 2017 12:33 PM UTC
Question

Sonos One Alexa not working correctly

Set up new Sonos One. Alexa will start playing when requested but when requested to stop or pause, Alexa responds with "I can change playback mode only when music is playing" despite the fact that music is currently playing. Alexa will respond to other questions like "what's the weather?" but then music resumes. Alexa just won't stop, or play music on another speaker once started.
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36 replies

UKMedia
Nov 6, 2017 3:59 PM UTC
The reason why the commands are not working is because you probably started playing your music thru the app. I noticed if you do so, voice commands Do Not work. You have to stop music thru app. As long as you start your music thru Alexa all commands for playing, pausing, skipping songs will work. Its really annoying. Hope this helps.

This is the issue but it worked a week ago. I think an update was pushed server side and functionality has since been diminished.


There have been some issues but if you reboot these items in this sequence it appears to resolve the issues associated to the latest Update:

- Router
- Connect or other wired device;
- Sonos Players.
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Trending Lyricist I
Nov 6, 2017 5:23 PM UTC
Just tied rebooting. Still having the same issue. I started playing a podcast from within the sonos app, then asked Alexa to stop. Alexa told me she could not adjust playback when no music is playing. I had to use the app to stop playback
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UKMedia
Nov 6, 2017 5:41 PM UTC
Just tied rebooting. Still having the same issue. I started playing a podcast from within the sonos app, then asked Alexa to stop. Alexa told me she could not adjust playback when no music is playing. I had to use the app to stop playback

I've just tested this again, it was working earlier but I can now replicate your issue consistently. Diagnostic 8050731.

Can you please Submit a diagnostic and post the number here?
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Trending Lyricist I
Nov 6, 2017 5:52 PM UTC
8050756
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Ryan S
Retired Sonos Staff
Nov 7, 2017 1:03 AM UTC
I recently replied to one of your other threads Jason, but for others not there, we're looking into an issue similar to what some of you are describing.

Currently, if you start music on the Sonos One using the Sonos app, you can't use the "Alexa Stop" command all of the time, it may give you an error. If you use "Alexa, stop in the ____" it should work though. We're working with the team on that right now, but for that specific command, the implicit targeting is having trouble.
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Trending Lyricist I
Nov 7, 2017 12:20 PM UTC
I only have one Sonons. It is in the kitchen. I started a podcast in the sonos app, then told "Alexa, stop in the kitchen" She replied that there were no cameras attached to the device.

I tried several more times, and now it seems to be working by adding the room. Weird.
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Ryan S
Retired Sonos Staff
Nov 7, 2017 5:10 PM UTC
The issue we were looking into is now resolved, so the direct naming shouldn't be needed for those commands on the Sonos One. Let us know if anything else comes up.
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Contributor I
Nov 8, 2017 11:39 AM UTC
Hello my problem with new sonos1 I ask Alexa to set timer and a alarm it shows up but the never go of I have set the time right and date but dose not work
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Ryan S
Retired Sonos Staff
Nov 17, 2017 11:53 PM UTC
Hello my problem with new sonos1 I ask Alexa to set timer and a alarm it shows up but the never go of I have set the time right and date but dose not work
Just making sure, have you tried setting the date and time for both of the Sonos One entries within the Alexa website using a computer? alexa.sonos.com for the US.
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Contributor I
Jan 11, 2018 7:41 AM UTC
Hello, i recently started having thing problem randomly. Everything was working fine and then 4 days ago, the pause does not work. To re cap, i can start music by saying "Alexa play Piano Music" or even just "Alexa Play" and then if i say "Alexa Pause" i get a "i am not quiet sure how to help you with that" . I am playing from spotify. how do i fix this?

Arun
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