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Answered

App volume control

  • November 29, 2025
  • 19 replies
  • 200 views

wticeman
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Is there a plan to improve the volume control on app?

Best answer by nik9669a

I prefer to use Spotify app because it has a better volume control than Sono. I rarely use the Sonos app except for Sonos specific needs. Maybe Sonos is ok with this. 

What would improve the Sonos version? How can you expect Sonos improve it, if you won’t tell them what would be better?

19 replies

Triticale
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  • Prominent Collaborator I
  • November 29, 2025

I hope so. I use SVC to avoid enter in the app and slide the bar. But I don’t know which are the Sonos’ plans.

Tell us your ideas. Perhaps them inspire Sonos.


wticeman
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  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • November 29, 2025

I prefer to use Spotify app because it has a better volume control than Sono. I rarely use the Sonos app except for Sonos specific needs. Maybe Sonos is ok with this. 


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  • Senior Virtuoso
  • Answer
  • November 29, 2025

I prefer to use Spotify app because it has a better volume control than Sono. I rarely use the Sonos app except for Sonos specific needs. Maybe Sonos is ok with this. 

What would improve the Sonos version? How can you expect Sonos improve it, if you won’t tell them what would be better?


Triticale
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  • Prominent Collaborator I
  • November 29, 2025

If you use Spotify via AirPlay the volume control could be done with the physical mobile buttons even if it’s blocked. It’s the best way in my opinion. My problem is that if I want to enjoy Dolby Atmos I need to use the Sonos app, and then the volume control is quite a long process, that’s why I’m using SVC. 


wticeman
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  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • November 29, 2025

What you stated proved my point. The Sonos app should be the best option, the one stop shop. Unfortunately it is not. Sonos has been greatly called out on underwhelming app updates. Love the sound quality and the technology but Sonos should revamp the department. Maybe, next update will revamp the whole interface (hey Sonos, users are smart enough to figure it out) based on last update maybe they are gun shy. 


Belly M
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  • November 29, 2025

The hardware volume controls are tricky…

With Spotify the music is playing on the phone / tablet hence the player is allowed access to the volume hardware controls. When it’s switches to the connect mode the Spotify player is still able to access the hardware, sort of a cheat.

The Sonos app however, never, ever plays music on your phone or tablet and only controls the Sonos hardware. Android and iOS won’t let anyone use the hardware volume buttons in this scenario unless it’s playing locally on the phone or tablet/ tablet.


AlwaysJammin
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  • Enthusiast I
  • November 29, 2025

I prefer to use Spotify app because it has a better volume control than Sono. I rarely use the Sonos app except for Sonos specific needs. Maybe Sonos is ok with this. 

Sounds like a solid solution. I'll use the Spotify app since the Sonos app will randomly not pull lossless. After the recent history I think it's safe to say the Sonos app is what it is and will be short of functionality in someone's eyes.

 

But hey, you can use it for your lights cant you.......?


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  • Prodigy I
  • November 30, 2025

It is correct that you can use the side button on your phone if you play music via Airplay from your music App.
You can't do this on the Sonos App, however I can use my Apple TV 4K remote to control the volume even if my TV/Apple TV is off, which in my world is just as easy as using your phone's side buttons.


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  • Local Superstar
  • November 30, 2025

What would improve the Sonos version? How can you expect Sonos improve it, if you won’t tell them what would be better?

 

The volume control could be vastly improved when using the Sonos App on small mobile devices and/or users with large hands and/or poor eye sight (no glasses) if target practice wasn't required on the small dot, ie consistent with the volume controls on modern Sonos devices (eg Era-100)

There shouldn’t be a requirement to actually slide the dot, ideally just touch anywhere on the volume control and slide left or right. When the volume slider is touched, change the size/brightness to show its been touched, possibly haptic feedback, and change volume up/down. The same concept as the volume control in Apple Music App and be consistent with the volume slider on the actual modern Sonos speaker, eg Era-100.

 

 


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  • Senior Virtuoso
  • November 30, 2025

What would improve the Sonos version? How can you expect Sonos improve it, if you won’t tell them what would be better?

 

The volume control could be vastly improved when using the Sonos App on small mobile devices and/or users with large hands and/or poor eye sight (no glasses) if target practice wasn't required on the small dot, ie consistent with the volume controls on modern Sonos devices (eg Era-100)

There shouldn’t be a requirement to actually slide the dot, ideally just touch anywhere on the volume control and slide left or right. When the volume slider is touched, change the size/brightness to show its been touched, possibly haptic feedback, and change volume up/down. The same concept as the volume control in Apple Music App and be consistent with the volume slider on the actual modern Sonos speaker, eg Era-100.

 

 

Thanks ​@craigski. I agree it can be improved, and these suggestions - and others on similar threads - have been put forward. But I was trying to get input from ​@wticeman to learn their views, to see if there are more ideas. 


  • Lyricist I
  • December 1, 2025

So interesting.  I was running a 5 speaker home theater, old Play 3, Move and old 5 original on S1.  The volume on my iPhone controlled everything.  I upgraded all but the 5 to S2 today and voila, no no longer can use the volume control on my phone.  Have to use the tiny little slider in the app.  Not acceptable.


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  • Senior Virtuoso
  • December 1, 2025

So interesting.  I was running a 5 speaker home theater, old Play 3, Move and old 5 original on S1.  The volume on my iPhone controlled everything.  I upgraded all but the 5 to S2 today and voila, no no longer can use the volume control on my phone.  Have to use the tiny little slider in the app.  Not acceptable.

Or revert to the old S1 app? 


wticeman
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  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • December 4, 2025

Allow user to tap either end of slide bar to adjust volume or when sidebar is tapped it would automatically increase in size, zoom effect. 


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  • Senior Virtuoso
  • December 4, 2025

Allow user to tap either end of slide bar to adjust volume or when sidebar is tapped it would automatically increase in size, zoom effect. 

Taping on the slider bar either side of the volume circle (as long as you avoid the mute button - not easy at already low volumes!) is already an option. 


wticeman
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  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • December 4, 2025

Yes it does and I apologize if I was unclear, and you are right, one needs pinpoint accuracy when getting in lower volume. Obviously the volume control is an issue for many based on responses. I am sure there are just as many who have zero problems with it. A suggestion, how about a separate volume control pop up when tapped. Similar to the volume control on Spotify (up or lower volume on phone, a volume control pops up). 


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  • Local Superstar
  • December 4, 2025

Yes it does and I apologize if I was unclear, and you are right, one needs pinpoint accuracy when getting in lower volume. Obviously the volume control is an issue for many based on responses. I am sure there are just as many who have zero problems with it.

I am sure this was suggested a few posts back in this thread and in a few other threads? 🤔

Those that have not experienced a ‘better’ volume slider (eg Apple Music) will be none the wiser.

I also have a suspicion that Sonos are restricted by the controls that are available in the 3rd party development tools they have used to build the Sonos App, so are limited to ‘basic’ controls.


controlav
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  • Lead Maestro
  • December 5, 2025

I also have a suspicion that Sonos are restricted by the controls that are available in the 3rd party development tools they have used to build the Sonos App, so are limited to ‘basic’ controls.

No they are not limited in such a way.

My own Sonos apps are more restrictive, because I am a dude in his basement without a full UX team, but I just added volume + and - buttons to the ends of the volume slider to solve this problem.


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  • Local Superstar
  • December 5, 2025

I also have a suspicion that Sonos are restricted by the controls that are available in the 3rd party development tools they have used to build the Sonos App, so are limited to ‘basic’ controls.

No they are not limited in such a way.

I vaguely recalled the use of Flutter, but after rereading the AMA, its seems there is limited use of Flutter:

The app is not exclusively built with Flutter, but does make use of Flutter for certain portions of the setup experience. We’ve actually been using Flutter for those experiences for many years, and ported that forward to the new app.

The majority of the app is in fact native. On iOS that means Swift, using SwiftUI. On Android that means Kotlin, using Jetpack Compose. These are the best in class layout engines offered on their respective platforms, and we’re excited to be able to use these modern technologies.

No restrictions with the technology used then? 😀


wticeman
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  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • December 5, 2025

If I read this correctly, Sonos can fix? I’m surprised since the last big update was so successful (not). If I was Sonos, I would scan these post and offer employment 

I am 70yo and a bit behind on all things tech. I really appreciate the input! What I do know is what makes life easier, even the little things like the Sonos volume control, lol.