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Answered

Sonos Android app - has it improved?

  • January 24, 2026
  • 14 replies
  • 150 views

Wondering if Sonos ever improved their Android app?  I haven’t been forced to do any updates but honestly haven’t used my system much since the app destroyed my listening experience.  Sonos was not responsive to my concerns.  The old app worked perfectly. 

Best answer by Stanley_4

Working better, I'll say yes as more things are working as they should be, but not all.

Some of the design decisions in the new app are poorly thought out compared to the old. Usable, but a bit frustrating.

If you are on an older release of the new app there is no big reason not to update to the latest app which will also bring in the latest firmware. That is a one-way trip though, no going back.

14 replies

AjTrek1
  • January 24, 2026

That question really depends upon your point of view. The app is nowhere near the degree of flux it was in back in May, 2024. However, as with any software/app there will always be things about it that to some are insignificant and to others a degree of concern and/or disdain. 

I’m primarily an iOS user but have an Android tablet for testing. IMO iOS has always been a bit more stable for Sonos; but that’s not to say that with Android it has a mirid of issues. I think that if you look throughout the community, you won’t find iOS nor Android outpacing the other with community member complaints. 

Bottom-line IMO the Android app is stable offering a pleasant user-experience. YMMV for as I said in the beginning “it depends upon your point of view”. 

 


Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • Answer
  • January 24, 2026

Working better, I'll say yes as more things are working as they should be, but not all.

Some of the design decisions in the new app are poorly thought out compared to the old. Usable, but a bit frustrating.

If you are on an older release of the new app there is no big reason not to update to the latest app which will also bring in the latest firmware. That is a one-way trip though, no going back.


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  • Enthusiast II
  • January 27, 2026

I’ve posted elsewhere but might be useful here.

Up until a couple of days ago I was still using the old S2 app (pre May 2014 disaster).

I'm now on the latest version and for my current usage it works OK. The app is speedy and there’s no lag when changing values or stations on my speakers. I will say that I’m only listening to internet radio stations these days so this isn’t an extensive “review”.

I’m not over keen on the design and UI but time will tell. Having been a software developer for over 30 years I’m probably a lot more citical on design issues than others?

There seems to be an extra step when changing radio stations. On the old system I could click on a radio favourite and it would play on the room that I currently had selected but now I have to select the room after selecting the station - maybe I’ve not spotted an option somewhere to prevent this?

I do like the way it changes volume using the phone volume buttons. It now does it in 1 increments whereas the old app used to do it in 3 increments if memory serves me right.

The mute button also works a lot quicker than on the old app for my system.

 


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  • Local Superstar
  • January 27, 2026

The biggest thing holding me back (and I'm still genuinely astonished it's still lacking) is we still can't take the queue and save it as a Sonos Playlist. This was a huge issue for our NYE party (at a family member’s who has updated) where we needed to power down the speakers to move them and we had no way to (easily) save the queue that everyone had spent some hours contributing to, power down and then load it back in again.


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  • Enthusiast II
  • January 27, 2026

I’ve just had an update on iPad app that says you can now save your queue as a playlist.

 


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  • Local Superstar
  • January 27, 2026

Could be great news if it's a new update and also (or imminently) on Android too.

EDIT:looks like it's a part of the new Android update, just announced.  It could be where it's phased too, even after installing the update.


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  • Enthusiast II
  • January 27, 2026

I’ve just this minute had an update on my Android phone which gives the same release notes saying save queue to playlist

 


Airgetlam
  • January 27, 2026

Have you also run the matching ‘player’ (which I call firmware) update on your speakers? Accessed from inside your controller?


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  • Enthusiast II
  • January 27, 2026

Have you also run the matching ‘player’ (which I call firmware) update on your speakers? Accessed from inside your controller?

 

Just doing it now. Thanks for the heads-up

 


Airgetlam
  • January 27, 2026

No promises, mind you, I’ve no idea if this ‘feature’ is associated with a rollout by Sonos separate from the software/firmware rollout, but it is worth double checking ;)


Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • January 27, 2026

I run 10 to 14 days behind on the actual app download, more if there are phased internal options.

Seems to be a fairly consisten delay for me so if you note your delay it might predict our future availability.


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  • Enthusiast II
  • January 28, 2026

I run 10 to 14 days behind on the actual app download, more if there are phased internal options.

Seems to be a fairly consisten delay for me so if you note your delay it might predict our future availability.

 

Could you explain further please for those of us who have only done one update in the last 2 years :)

 


Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • January 28, 2026

There are two unrelated things here.

1. Update availability from the App Store, which is something Sonos decides when uploading it and the App Store then manages. You will not see the update menus in the Sonos app or in the App Store listing until they decide it is your time to have access to it.

2. Feature updates within the app, fully under Sonos control, they decide who gets them enabled and who waits.

First one isn't too aggravating as it is easy to see if you are among the chosen or left out by checking the app version.

The second is really aggravating as there is no way to know the feature is even there until it is enabled and you stumble across it. Unless I've missed it there is no notification when hidden options are enabled.


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  • Enthusiast II
  • January 28, 2026

There are two unrelated things here.

1. Update availability from the App Store, which is something Sonos decides when uploading it and the App Store then manages. You will not see the update menus in the Sonos app or in the App Store listing until they decide it is your time to have access to it.

2. Feature updates within the app, fully under Sonos control, they decide who gets them enabled and who waits.

First one isn't too aggravating as it is easy to see if you are among the chosen or left out by checking the app version.

The second is really aggravating as there is no way to know the feature is even there until it is enabled and you stumble across it. Unless I've missed it there is no notification when hidden options are enabled.

 

OK thanks for the explanation. I’ve never come across this kind of update release before so no wonder I was confused!