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I have a system upstairs and another downstairs both connected to the same WiFi.

new app now has arbitrarily separated the two systems and I must switch from one to the other, and can no longer have the same music playing everywhere.

The mind boggles as SONOS in a dev team hole, keeps digging.

I suspect there is no way out of yet another unasked for “improvement?”  Is there a way that someone knows, a workaround perhaps where I can control both from one source?  Prior to this, they were identified easily by how I named them.  Absolutely NO NEED whatsoever for this further bastardization of their app.  I see countless complaints but no response from SONOS.  Instead they ask their users to make their excuses.

Ah….for the days of a simple amp with speakers.  

You’ve set up two different systems. Unfortunately, as you’ve learned, more than one system can exist on a single WiFi. This turns out to be a huge benefit to some people. 

I’d suggest that you choose which ‘system’ you need to save, and factory reset the devices on the other system. Then use the ‘add a device’ function in the controller to add these devices back to the system that you want to keep. This will put all your speakers on the same system, and allow you to share music across all speakers. 

This does, of course, assume all the speakers are running the same operating systems. If some speakers are incapable of running one or the other OS, due to CPU or memory restriction (see the FAQ), there isn’t anything Sonos, or you, can do. 


Hi.  Well, in actuality, the updated app separated them as opposed to me setting them up that way, but regardless, I appreciate your fix.

My only concern is that I do want the option to play either upstairs or downstairs.  And, in the past I could play different music up and down.  If I do what you suggest, do you know if that is still possible?  My guess is that I wouldn’t be able to play different selections in the two different areas.


The way your question is phrased makes it hard to reply with a yes or no answer.

I’ve never seen the Sonos app itself split my 20+ speakers in to two separate systems, but I suppose anything is theoretically possible. But arguing theoretical doesn’t resolve your issue. And it’s always ‘possible’ somebody other than you ‘split’ them, for some reason or another. I could do that right now, I’m a giest in a Sonos equipped house, and have access to do so, if I wanted to mess with my host. 

Assuming that they’re all updated, running the same OS, and in two systems, then yes, putting them all in a single system will allow you to play in any ‘zone/room’ that you desire, upstairs or downstairs. You’ll could choose a room individually, to play a stream, or you could group them. 


That makes sense, and that’s essentially what they  used to be...zones identified as such.  Well, I suppose I can try it and if it works, hallelujah!  if not...reset and make them separate again.  

Thanks for the help.