Sonos should make a remote control for turning the volume up or down, pause, skip and rewind
As an iphone user the buttons don’t work on my iphone 16e. Would be nice that I didn’t have to go into the app to do those things
Answered
Seperate Remote control
Best answer by Ken_Griffiths
I often just use Sonos voice control ‘Hey Sonos, set the volume (in room name, if required) to 3%, 10%, 25%’ etc. so I do not need to reach for any type of ‘remote’. I just find that quite an easy option and it works well too.
A somewhat ‘similar’ thing can be done with the other compatible voice assistants aswell.
If playing the audio ‘through’ a mobile device, using such things like Apple Airplay, UPnP, Line-in, or Bluetooth etc. then the mobile device hardware volume controls can be used to adjust the Sonos device playback volume.
In addition to the available HDMI CEC control, Sonos Home Theatre ‘rooms’ can also have their volume controlled with nearly every type of infrared remote - some remotes are specifically sold via Amazon to do this too - see (example) link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Remote-Control-Replacement-Soundbar-Speaker/dp/B0DR8QFBZT
In addition to Apps, there are other hardware remotes that will work with a hub to adjust the volume of players over WiFi aswell, using the Sonos API - a search via Google will usually list helpful links to get you started with these things.
Sonos used to make dedicated remote controls, now third party o es are the only option.
Apple changed the rules on when the phone buttons can be used, not Sonos.
+17This shows you can’t please everyone all the time…
Sonos made remote to control speakers, but people kept asking to use their phones, since smart phones are always nearby.
Now requests are going back to a dedicated remote again!
While I wish Apple would allow Sonos to add the use of hardware buttons again, there are many other ways to have instant control over the volume and tracks on Sonos speakers.
I often just use Sonos voice control ‘Hey Sonos, set the volume (in room name, if required) to 3%, 10%, 25%’ etc. so I do not need to reach for any type of ‘remote’. I just find that quite an easy option and it works well too.
A somewhat ‘similar’ thing can be done with the other compatible voice assistants aswell.
If playing the audio ‘through’ a mobile device, using such things like Apple Airplay, UPnP, Line-in, or Bluetooth etc. then the mobile device hardware volume controls can be used to adjust the Sonos device playback volume.
In addition to the available HDMI CEC control, Sonos Home Theatre ‘rooms’ can also have their volume controlled with nearly every type of infrared remote - some remotes are specifically sold via Amazon to do this too - see (example) link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Remote-Control-Replacement-Soundbar-Speaker/dp/B0DR8QFBZT
In addition to Apps, there are other hardware remotes that will work with a hub to adjust the volume of players over WiFi aswell, using the Sonos API - a search via Google will usually list helpful links to get you started with these things.
Or voice control can be used. This is often quicker and easier to deal with than any sort of hardware. There’s no fumbling through counter tops or pockets and no passwords.
+19Hi
Welcome to the Sonos Community!
Thank you - I've marked this thread as a feature request and it will be seen by the relevant teams for consideration. Keep the ideas coming!
I have marked a reply here as the “Best Answer”, as it highlights some alternate ways to go about this (we already discontinued 2 remotes years ago).
I hope this helps.
+18
I indeed use an IKEA Dirigera remote and Hub just for this. Not sure it will work if you'd set it up now IKEA has gone over to Matter and Sonos and IKEA have stopped collaborating.
I would agree with this. I share an office with an electronics recycler. I have a small Sonos system in my office but in the larger area we’ve collect a bunch of S1 equipment and use that for music and to distribute Apple TV sound everywhere. Someone turned in one of the original Sonos remotes. It works so well with Sonos S1 to this day.
When I would offer iPads as a remote control for an AV system, I would always include a dedicated iPad for that purpose and have it pretty much be ready to go all the time. The volume is one of those things that you generally want without unlocking a phone and going to the Sonos app to accomplish. Some people, like me, prefer hardware buttons to voice control. I use voice for some tasks, but generally not for Sonos.
+18The use of the side buttons on iPhones and Android phones has been made impossible by Apple and Google respectively, on iPhones even for Spotify.
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