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Question

Local library scan

  • June 28, 2026
  • 11 replies
  • 62 views
C

Hi

Since 2013 I have been a happy Sonos user - until the amateurish app update May 2024.

 

Luckily I had automatic AppStore and Sonos system updates switched off by then and have managed to stay on the S2 app (gold), which for me worked perfectly.

However, last week, in my naivety I took the plunge and upgraded my app + system to latest versions.

Now indexing my local library (living on a Synology NAS) takes forever - if it works at all. If I use the Windows app (gold), it works like a charm - as fast as the older S2 (gold) app used to.

Since 2013 I never had an issue indexing my local library, but that seems to have been destroyed by the new app/system updates.

Does anybody experince the same when local library indexing, and can anybody explain why this is happening?

I could downgrade to S1 as all my speakers are S1 compatible - but then I’d have to remain from buying new Sonos units as they will not be compatible with S1, to avoid 2 systems.

    11 replies

    K
    • kdowling
    • June 28, 2026

    Welcome to the “new” S2. There are certainly problems with local libraries. Indexing is slower. There are plenty of support articles on downgrading to S1 and/or running split S1/S2 systems. That is the approach I took. All my music playing is on S1 and home theater is on S2. But I kept one pair of Ones on S2 for testing. S2 has come a long way since the May 2024 disaster, but local music library support seems to be lacking attention. That's my opinion anyway.

      AjTrek1
      • AjTrek1
      • June 28, 2026

      My local library will not index at all and another member (in the UK) is having the same experience. iOS 26.5.1 iPhone 17.  Something may be afoot at lease with iOS. My android has no issues scanning the local Library. I’m using a Synology 925+.

      Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
        User117655
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        • User117655
        • Prodigy II
        • June 28, 2026

        On Synology too... I have also found the app (Android) to take significantly longer to complete, or at least report completion of, a library (re)index. No idea why - I stick to the desktop app if needed quickly 🤠

          Stanley_4
          • Stanley_4
          • Grand Maestro
          • June 28, 2026

          I've surrendered, don't even hope for a library fix after all this time and number of posts.

          One may happen, be nice if it did.

            MoPac
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            • MoPac
            • Headliner III
            • June 28, 2026

            My library does index, but it is slower when executed from the Sonos app on IOS.  The Windows Sonos app is faster.  Will be unhappy when Sonos dumps the PC app.

              Airgetlam
              • Airgetlam
              • June 28, 2026

              I’ve always thought than local library scans were done at the speakers, and not the controller, and as such, subject to CPU speed. Is it possible your controllers are choosing different speakers to run the process, or does it really run on the controller (display only) device?

              Bruce
                Stanley_4
                • Stanley_4
                • Grand Maestro
                • June 28, 2026

                Wasn't there something about really slow speakers handing the index task off to faster ones? Don't recall any details.

                I'd sure try doing the index from my fastest device, would that be my Arc Ultra or a 300?

                MoPac
                Forum|alt.badge.img+19
                • MoPac
                • Headliner III
                • June 28, 2026

                Wasn't there something about really slow speakers handing the index task off to faster ones? Don't recall any details.

                I'd sure try doing the index from my fastest device, would that be my Arc Ultra or a 300?

                How do you control which Sonos device is the “Associated Product”?  All my Sonos devices are newer so probably not much difference.  Seems to me the app is  maybe not actually doing a “Scan for new content” which would take a shorter amount of time to complete compared to the scan of a new library of around the same size.  I’ll have to try both the Sonos app on IOS and the Windows Sonos app to see if they take approximately the same amount of time to complete.  Let’s see…. What music do I want to add?

                  K
                  • kdowling
                  • June 28, 2026

                  The indexing takes place on a sonos device. The app just tells a device (the associated device) to scan for new music. Which device does the scan is a crap shoot as far as I can tell. The only way to guarantee a specific device does the scan, is to unplug all the others.

                    C
                    • ClausN
                    • Author
                    • June 28, 2026

                    I, too, have always been convinced that the speakers, not the controller, will handle the indexing. Thus my confusion new mobile app vs. Windows app performance. 
                    For the latest 2-3 indexing the associated product in the Windows app (gold) was my Connect (gen 2)(ethernet), which indexed within a minute or so - but in the new mobile app I cannot see which speaker is the associated product. 
                    My other speakers are a mix of Sonos One gen 1 and gen 2 on SonosNet, plus a Move connected by wifi 


                     

                      Stanley_4
                      • Stanley_4
                      • Grand Maestro
                      • June 28, 2026

                      I don't know how to tell which one is doing the indexing,  but what I have done when time matters is select a newer device in the app before starting the index off.

                      Only really old ones are a Pair of Play 3s that are normally unplugged. Gen 1 Beams and Ones are all the newer old ones left here.

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