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Question

support ending for ios devices is unacceptable

  • March 24, 2026
  • 14 replies
  • 100 views

It is unacceptable that a program that completely depends on an app would end support for any of its devices. Especially ones only a few years old. I have a house full of Sonos speakers and was planning on adding more, but not if the support is obsolete or will end a coulple years out from any future OS. 

14 replies

Airgetlam
  • March 24, 2026

Pardon me. Where did you see a release from Sonos that they’re going to end support for iOS devices? I use, 99% of the time, iOS devices, such a release from Sonos would be extremely concerning. Can you please provide a link to this statement?


  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • March 24, 2026

I received a notice that they are ending support for ios17 and earlier. Granted, you can still control playback and streaming from these devices, but no updates or other support. 
The notice was in the app. 
My phone is 16 and iPad is 17. I don’t want to have to buy a new device to be able to have support for this system. 


Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • March 24, 2026

Are you talking about Sonos not being able to provide new app versions for Apple devices that Apple has ended support for?

Sonos would likely be happy to continue supporting them if you can get Apple to restore the support developers need for new development. 

Same for Google and Android, I have many happily running older app versions as Gooogle ended support for them.


  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • March 24, 2026

No, just that they are ending support for IOS 17 and older. 

 


  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • March 24, 2026

This IOS is only three years old. 


Airgetlam
  • March 24, 2026

If I’m not mistaken, it’s because, as ​@Stanley_4 says, Apple is ending support for those versions of iOS. If they don’t have access to the documentation from Apple, they can’t fix any bugs. 
 

I’d try to update your devices to a newer version of iOS, if possible, but it’s unlikely that your current version of the controller will stop working, you’ll just be unable to update it, and the firmware on your speakers. Not ideal, but not life ending either. I don’t think Sonos will be turning off your speakers. 


Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • March 25, 2026

106rallye
Forum|alt.badge.img+18
  • March 25, 2026

My phone is 16 and iPad is 17. I don’t want to have to buy a new device to be able to have support for this system. 

Reading iOS 17 Compatibility: Which iPhones get iOS 17, and which don't? | Macworld , your iPhone was introduced before 2017?

For the iPad there’s always the Sonos web app: https://play.sonos.com/nl-nl/web-app


jgatie
  • March 25, 2026

 

 

In the above Wiki page, it states quite clearly that iOS 16 and 17 are “Unsupported” (pink color) by Apple.  Are you contending that Sonos should keep supporting iOS versions that Apple themselves no longer support?

That said, I agree a company which not longer supports an operating system a scant 3-4 years after release is one you should consider dropping.  So, when are you ditching Apple? 


controlav
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  • Lead Maestro
  • March 25, 2026

This IOS is only three years old. 

But your iOS device is ancient, if it cannot be updated to iOS 18.


melvimbe
  • March 25, 2026

 

 

In the above Wiki page, it states quite clearly that iOS 16 and 17 are “Unsupported” (pink color) by Apple.  Are you contending that Sonos should keep supporting iOS versions that Apple themselves no longer support?

That said, I agree a company which not longer supports an operating system a scant 3-4 years after release is one you should consider dropping.  So, when are you ditching Apple? 

 

IMO, it’s fair to rather quickly drop support for a software version as long as you provide support for a version of the software that operates on the hardware you purchased. Sonos does this, as they do not provide support unless the user is on the latest version of their code.  I can’t think of any app that actually supports older versions of their code.

I understand that we are talking about an OS here, so it’s not a direct equivalency, but I do think the principle still holds the same.  There would need to be a period of overlap between OS versions so that applications running on the OS have time to catch up.

 

In short, support of an OS dropping after a few years isn’t a concern, but dropping support of hardware after a few years is….IMO.


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  • Local Superstar
  • March 25, 2026

In short, support of an OS dropping after a few years isn’t a concern, but dropping support of hardware after a few years is….IMO.

Even if iOS ‘support’ is ending with Apple, they still release security updates for ‘unsupported’ OS, eg iOS15 & 16 had a security update a couple of weeks ago. iPhones that are 10 years old are still getting important security fixes.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100

EU Ecodesign now mandates that mobile phones have at least 5 years of updates after they are withdrawn from market.

Maybe the word ‘unsupported’ in a marketing context is sometimes used as a carrot to get consumers to buy more stuff? 🤔


melvimbe
  • March 25, 2026

In short, support of an OS dropping after a few years isn’t a concern, but dropping support of hardware after a few years is….IMO.

Even if iOS ‘support’ is ending with Apple, they still release security updates for ‘unsupported’ OS, eg iOS15 & 16 had a security update a couple of weeks ago. iPhones that are 10 years old are still getting important security fixes.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100

EU Ecodesign now mandates that mobile phones have at least 5 years of updates after they are withdrawn from market.

Maybe the word ‘unsupported’ in a marketing context is sometimes used as a carrot to get consumers to buy more stull? 🤔

 

I think the point to me is still that anyone who bought an iDevice 3 years ago should be able to upgrade to iOS18+ and still be fully supported….as it able to update to the latest version of Sonos.  I’m sure there are some older Apple devices that cannot update, and IMO, that would be the age/date to be considered as ‘no longer supported’.

 

As far as what ‘unsupported’ actually means. I suppose Sonos could provide security updates for previous versions of the app software, but that seems like a lot of effort for a tiny percentage of Sonos customers.  And the vast majority of those who are not on the latest version of Oracle tend to do so because they do not want to update their system at all.

I think you also have to consider that Sonos is not software on a single device, but a system between the firmware on speakers communicating with apps on both Apple and Android devices.  Providing support for older version can create many more scenraios of potential setups in a home that would be much more costly to support.


AjTrek1
  • March 25, 2026

This conversation is really academic…

The OP either has an iPhone that will upgrade to the latest iOS; but for whatever reason doesn’t want to, or has an iPhone that Apple no longer supports with the latest iOS. Take a look at the information below:

Bottom-line if the OP’s iPhone isn’t capable of running iOS 26 they may be able to purchase a used model 11,12, 13, 14, or 15. Personally if that be the case I’d look for an iPhone 16.