Anyone with any significant experience of the system knows that a version mismatch between controller and players can often, but not always, result in greyed out options. 

And you still didn’t answer the question JohnB posed.

Here are the release notes.

A lot of the issues are going to be bug fixes that only a small number of users are experiencing in rare cases.  It does not make a lot of sense to give details about these changes, since the vast majority will not care, or perhaps even understand what the issue is (myself included since I don’t have inside knowledge on how some parts of Sonos work)

It could also be security related changes to protect against known attacks.

It could be that these are pre-emptive changes to deal with future OS changes that Apple or Google has planned.  Or changes that Sonos has planned but not yet fully implemented.

And sure, as a consumer, we might prefer to have less updates and only apply the changes that we care about.  However, that makes it rather difficult and expensive to troubleshoot issues when every installment is potentially a different version of your software.  So Sonos requires that you update to the current version before working on issues.

All you need do is turn off auto-update on speakers and controllers. 

It’s not guessing, and you didn’t respond to JohnB’s query:

i came here to make this thread, UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE and all i experience is a graduately worsening user experience. I was holding on tightly to my S1 app since i was told S2 is **, but then i added a one gen2 to my system and was FORCED to update, and i see npw what they meant whe they said it was crap. Unstable, often not working, uses more CPU power on fancy animations than actual functions that works, when and why did sonos decide to become manufactor of useless crap..?

*Moderator Note: Modified in accordance with the Community Code of Conduct.*

I’ll note that SONOS offers far fewer iPad updates than SPOTIFY or AMAZON MUSIC.

The routers shouldn’t have any effect on whether or not Sonos system updates suck.  We have sonos in 3 retail locations, at home and a rental unit.  CONSTANT updates are so bothersome.  I want my systems to be up to date.  I don’t understand why they can’t figure out how to do it at 3am in the background.  I have selected automatic updates to no avail.  The app, controller and speaker updates are just too much.  Most of the time you also have to reconnect apple music or spotify accounts because the update disconnected you.  It’s such a crappy experience.

Maybe assigning static/reserved IP addresses to the Sonos gear would make the Sonos system happy with the router?

In most instances this is probably due to a mismatch in versions when an update has been made to a controller app but not to the system, rather than on not being on the latest version.  This situation can be avoided by the user, as explained by @Stanley_4 .  Most uses of Sonos are simply to play music, and it is to be expected that “system management” tasks require a stable and predictable environment.

Do you have your Sonos system set not to update automatically (setting in Sonos app) but the Sonos app to update automatically (setting in your app store)?  If so, then that would explain your experience. 

My problem with the updates is that nothing really seems to change or get better. Recent updates only took away functionality instead of adding them. You also don't get any info off what is about to change when it does like taking away of the - On This Device - option. 

Well… maybe not. Then again, all sorts of things can go on at 4am… Maybe that’s why she won’t notice the update?

I’ve mine set to 4am. She won’t notice an update…..

The firmware on the speakers and software on your controlling apps should be matched,  If you updated one and not the other, it’s understandable that certain feature would not work.   And it’s not surprising that you have to be on the current version in order to install new products.  And sure, some cloud based features are going to require being on the latest version, although I’m not aware of any specifically for Sonos.

I assume you didn’t mean to say that new features should work without having to update.

I'd advise just the opposite: turn auto-update on. 99.9% of Sonos updates go unnoticed on my system. Why is your experience different?

Sonos frequently updates their app and devices to make enhancements to their products and improve the Sonos user experience. This is pretty common with modern-day technology. And Sonos updates aren’t that difficult. You update the app which takes a few seconds. Then you update the speakers which usually takes anywhere between 1-5 minutes depending on the update. That’s it.

If this process is a burden in your life and makes the speaker unusable to you, then you are probably better off selling your speakers and using a traditional stereo system that doesn’t require an app and doesn’t connect to your wireless network.

I think you are mistaking me for someone who now gives a **** about whether or not you improve your understanding of the Sonos system.  I was just trying to help, as in your thread here.

I can’t prove what I said there, either.

The S2 controller offers more features and can use more controller resources. In my case the latest S2 controllers are slightly slower starting up because they collect more data from the players and from online servers, but I’d need to use timing instruments to prove that screen to screen operation is significantly faster or slower than the older controllers.

With regard to “no network issues” we have helped hundreds of people, who had “perfect” networks, achieve full use of their SONOS system (after reconfiguring their network slightly). SONOS makes more demands on the local network than simple web browsing and email.

When I first started my SONOS system it was awful. After I reconfigured my “perfect” network and dealt with a neighbor’s wireless phone interfering with my system, it has been smooth sailing since 2005.

Something like that. 

Then prove it.

So you’ve still not done the right things:

• fix your router
• ste updates to automatic.

‘In most instances this is probably due to a mismatch in versions’

that sounds like guessing to me, but updating is defo not optional.

A “poop”?

It is not optional when you are prohibited from adding new services or doing anything but basic operation before you update. 

But Sonos updates are optional, they are never done unless a user requests one be done.

Do you possibly have your phone or tablet automatically requesting controller updates? If you do that then yes, the speakers will want to update to match what you have already done to the controller.

There is no need to keep your Sonos on, just let it go to low-power mode and set it to update automatically overnight, have your controller also update and you will never see an “update needed” message again.

Exactly like that