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Hello Sonos Comunity,

I really struggle to change the room / speaker that my music plays through. It looks so simple in the App - just select the room and Apply.  But it simply doesn’t work.  I get a message saying unable to connect and asking me to try again!  The speakers are definitely connected and will sometime still play the music that I’d played on them last rather than the music I want to play now.

 

any ideas?  What am I doing wrong?

 

thank you

I’d get it to happen again, submit a diagnostic and contact Sonos Support (not here) directly with the number. They can see internal troubleshooting data we users can’t.

@Attwater, 

Are your Sonos devices using your WiFi for their network connection, or SonosNet?

If using WiFi, perhaps check that they have reasonable SNR connection levels showing in the Sonos App as mentioned in this link:

https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/understanding-the-network-details-section-in-the-sonos-app

Ideally, it’s good to have their levels at 45dB, or higher, but anything over 30dB should be fine. 

I personally recommend putting the Sonos products onto the ‘faster’ 5Ghz band where that’s available/practical-to-do, aswell.

These Sonos products support a 5Ghz WiFi connection:

  • Play:1
  • Play:3
  • Play:5 (Gen 2)
  • Sub (Gen 1)
  • Sub (Gen 2)
  • Era 100
  • Era 300
  • Move 2
  • Roam
  • Roam 2
  • Roam SL
  • Five
  • Move
  • One (Gen 1)
  • One (Gen 2)
  • One SL
  • Port
  • Sub (Gen 3)
  • Sub Mini
  • SYMFONISK Bookshelf (Gen 2)
  • SYMFONISK Floor lamp
  • SYMFONISK Picture frame
  • SYMFONISK Table lamp (Gen 2)
  • SYMFONISK Bookshelf (Gen 1)

It’s also helpful to have the routers 2.4Ghz WiFi band using a ‘fixed’ non-overlapping channel 1, 6, or 11 and if the router allows, set that bands channel-width to 20Mhz only.

If using SonosNet, with device(s) wired direct to the main router ensure the wired device is set at least one metre away from the router and other wireless equipment and set its channel to one that is not in use by the local routers 2.4Ghz band.

There might be some things on your mobile controller device that may not be helping things too, such as…

  • ‘Private WiFi Address’ & ‘Limit IP Address Tracking’ enabled within the phone/tablet’s WiFi connection properties?
  • Mobile Data Access for the Sonos App?
  • WiFi Calling?
  • VPN client/other security software running on the phone/tablet ?
  • Firewall/Security Software enabled on the Router?

If so, perhaps see if toggling these things off, just temporarily, may also help to resolve the grouping/playback issue.

Hello Sonos Comunity,

I really struggle to change the room / speaker that my music plays through. It looks so simple in the App - just select the room and Apply.  But it simply doesn’t work.  I get a message saying unable to connect and asking me to try again!  The speakers are definitely connected and will sometime still play the music that I’d played on them last rather than the music I want to play now.

 

any ideas?  What am I doing wrong?

 

thank you

 

I don’t know whether this will avoid the connection issue, but it sounds like you’re using the Grouping screen to play music or to change speakers which isn’t the correct route.

To play music on a speaker of your choice, don't press the icon that calls up the grouping screen. Instead:

  • Drag up the Now Playing section from the bottom of your screen. This brings up your list of speakers. (This list is also shown by tapping the name of your system top left of the Home Screen.)
  • Tap the speaker you want to play music on. This becomes the active speaker.
  • Select the music you want to play. Press play. It will play on the speaker you selected.

Only select the grouping screen when you want to add other speakers to the one currently playing music. That’s when you tick the speaker(s) and press Apply. 

See if that works and avoids any ‘Unable to Connect’ messages...

 

 

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