Sonos bricked my system by forcing an update on me

I just updated the IOS Sonos app and speaker firmware.  No issues.  Make sure all the Sonos devices are powered up before updating the firmware.

What products are in your SONOS system?

If you have used Sonos for any period of time, you probably had to do some updating in the past. Sonos has always disabled some functionality when there was an update that was needed. This is nothing new.

if you have a PC. Windows has either notified you of updates or just Microsoft just installed them for you. 

My app and speakers are up to date with no issues.

I have my Sonos App and controller device set to auto-update aswell - no issues seen here either. All working fine.

I guess if someone decides they do not want updates (App and/or product firmware), then simply disable them and either do them manually, or perhaps don’t bother. Although not bothering could mean that any security, or bug, fixes might leave things open to future problems.

In addition to auto-updates, I often check manually for firmware updates manually anyway post-Sonos App update.

My whine is my £1,00.s system is bricked because I am forced to update the app et al. I have ZERO access to the system. Just a white screen telling me to update.

As a long standing Sonos user, 10 years plus, “Some functionality” added has NEVER bricked my system. “Some functionality” has ALWAYS been want to do this then update.

I do not want to update at this juncture as explained I have neither the time nor inclination to spend my tine trouble shooting my perfectly working system should Sonos’ update decide to screw round with my system.

my whine is my system is bricked. I can not access it. At all. Via the Sonos app.

As a ten year user of Sonos, I’m very surprised you’ve not experienced this before. 
As you are now in this situation, turn off AutoUpdate to prevent it happening again. Then do the update - it’ll probably be quicker than the time you’ve spent on these posts. 

If you don’t want to update automatically, then you need to not update the Sonos App via the controller device(s) App Store. Plus, you need to disable the automatic updates for the Sonos Hardware - it means too that you can’t add a ‘new’ or a ‘reset’ product to your setup. In some cases you can’t do one type of update and not the other, so disable both types of updates. If you decide later you want to update, then do them manually. Note that by not updating you may be missing out on bug-fixes, new features, or security updates etc. some services may not continue to work too.

I am going to play devils advocate for a second...

You are using the term “bricked” in the wrong context. Sonos did not “brick” your system because you DID NOT download any new firmware to your system, for your system to become “bricked”. To prove my point, and un-”brick” your system, do the update so that you will be able you use your system instead of complaining about it being “bricked” for days now.

https://www.quora.com/What-happens-when-an-electronic-device-gets-bricked

I think many are missing the point of the original post. I did the update nine days ago or so because I had no choice. Neither the app on my computer or my phone would work without updating. This is not acceptable. I know of no other company who forces updates in this way.

I did the update nine days ago or so because I had no choice. Neither the app on my computer or my phone would work without updating. This is not acceptable. I know of no other company who forces updates in this way.

After completing the update, once again, my entire Music library was gone and it took me hours to add it back. It is not an easy process. Many of us bought Sonos speakers simply to use them as speakers. We have no interest in Sonos “ecosystem“ their music service or anything else, we just want to be able to play music from our local music library over our local Wi-Fi network. When I bought my very expensive speakers, there was no disclosure or disclaimer that told me I would lose this basic functionality every six months or so, based on buggy future updates that would be required download  to use the devices. I don’t want headphones, I don’t need headphones. I would like them to keep their filthy paws of my system or refund my money. 

You do have the choice - there are two types of update, a speaker firmware update and a Sonos App software update - they go hand in hand. You obviously have one or both of them set to auto-update. You need to switch off both types of update. The mobile App Store update and the auto-update in the Sonos App. The choice to update will then be in your hands. Personally I’d suggest updating anyway as it usually fixes bugs, closes any known security vulnerabilities and it may add new features… perhaps see the Sonos "update release notes” prior to updating.

There were notifications in the Sonos App last April 2024 about upcoming changes to local libraries - here’s a screen capture of an example notification (This is in addition to all the other information that Sonos put out via emails, posts in this community, and the update release notes etc.) There was also a fair few weeks of discussions that took place here in this community throughout last year particularly in the months that followed the May 7th switchover to the new Sonos App.

I think many are missing the point of the original post. I did the update nine days ago or so because I had no choice. Neither the app on my computer or my phone would work without updating. This is not acceptable. I know of no other company who forces updates in this way.

I did the update nine days ago or so because I had no choice. Neither the app on my computer or my phone would work without updating. This is not acceptable. I know of no other company who forces updates in this way.

Microsoft -  not only has reduced functionality, they will force an update if there are needed security patches

Apple - reduced functionality until important updates have been installed.

After completing the update, once again, my entire Music library was gone and it took me hours to add it back. It is not an easy process. Many of us bought Sonos speakers simply to use them as speakers. We have no interest in Sonos “ecosystem“ their music service or anything else, we just want to be able to play music from our local music library over our local Wi-Fi network. When I bought my very expensive speakers, there was no disclosure or disclaimer that told me I would lose this basic functionality every six months or so, based on buggy future updates that would be required download  to use the devices. I don’t want headphones, I don’t need headphones. I would like them to keep their filthy paws of my system or refund my money. 

I hate to be the one who tells you this, but you bought into the ecosystem when you bought your first speaker. The speakers NEED an app to work properly. If you used the old CR200 or mobile phone, you are using it to control speakers... in the Sonos ecosystem

Sonos speakers are not very expensive in the realm of audio. It's not even considered high end.

High End Speakers

But they work for what they are intended to do and look great doing it. I never lost access to my local library with the introduction of the new app. I use the app and my 5100+ music files everyday. If you do lose access, I would suggest you have a look at your router/mesh/network for issues.

I’m surprised that frankly disappointed at how many smart asses are committing here. The user had a really valid complaint. I’ve been caught in update nightmareland  between Sonos one and Sonos two and updating speakers and then removing the updates to go back to Sonos one. I have no idea how this one (being forced on me April 2025) is going to go but my past experience is 100% that it will go badly. I’m not sure what software some of you people are using, but I do not have the option to work around updates. You either go with the update or the app won’t work. Apparently there are some Sonos geeks who find this stuff fun , but it would be a whole lot better to try to be helpful. my overall experience with Sonos is that when my  six speakers are working, it’s great. But it’s not dependable at all. And I would never ever recommend it to anyone.

Try the $3 SonoPhone app. Works flawlessly.