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Windows 10 playback anomaly on remote tablets

  • September 1, 2025
  • 6 replies
  • 67 views
B

I recently “upgraded” to Windows 10 from Windows 7.  No Sonos issues with 7.  No changes to Sonos hardware; running latest version of S1 O/S, music libraries up-to-date, Android tablet and iPad running latest S1 updates.

My Win 10 desktop contains my music libraries.  I can operate all features of Sonos from this desktop just like under Win 7.

However, unlike under 7, Sonos app must now be running or minimized on Win 10 desktop in order for any of my tablets to play any items in my music libraries.  Tablets accurately display libraries and their contents, but “Unable to Play xxx” is displayed on all tablets.  Exception: tablets can discover and play Sonos radio stations even with desktop app closed.

I suspect this is a Windows 10 problem, not a fault of the Sonos software.  Have any of you experienced this?  If so, please describe any solution.

Best answer by Corry P

Hi ​@Baltobernie 

Welcome to the Sonos Community!

First, please be aware that if you only now just upgraded to Windows 10, you would soon need to upgrade again, as Windows 10 will not be supported by Microsoft for much longer!

As for the issue you seem to be having, it is most strange - whether the Desktop Sonos app is open or not should make no difference as the speakers will access the files through SMB file sharing, which does not rely upon the Desktop app to work.

I suspect that this SMB setup is where the problem lies, but without seeing the behaviour directly, and without seeing logs from the speakers, I can only guess as to what is happening, and I don’t have any good guesses.

I recommend you get in touch with our technical support team who have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your Sonos system and what it reports.

The following guide may be of help:

I hope this helps.

6 replies

Corry P
Forum|alt.badge.img+19
  • Corry P
  • Sonos Staff
  • 9152 replies
  • Answer
  • September 2, 2025

Hi ​@Baltobernie 

Welcome to the Sonos Community!

First, please be aware that if you only now just upgraded to Windows 10, you would soon need to upgrade again, as Windows 10 will not be supported by Microsoft for much longer!

As for the issue you seem to be having, it is most strange - whether the Desktop Sonos app is open or not should make no difference as the speakers will access the files through SMB file sharing, which does not rely upon the Desktop app to work.

I suspect that this SMB setup is where the problem lies, but without seeing the behaviour directly, and without seeing logs from the speakers, I can only guess as to what is happening, and I don’t have any good guesses.

I recommend you get in touch with our technical support team who have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your Sonos system and what it reports.

The following guide may be of help:

I hope this helps.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
Corry P
Forum|alt.badge.img+19
  • Corry P
  • Sonos Staff
  • 9152 replies
  • September 2, 2025

Hi ​@Baltobernie 

Another thought occurred to me - as you are on S1, it is possible that the S1 systems still utilise the SonosLibraryService that is installed with the desktop app - something the S2 app no longer does. If this is the case, it is possible that uninstalling the Sonos app from your Windows 10 machine and reinstalling it after, may repair the functionality of the SonosLibraryService background service.

If it does not, please call in as I suggested before.

I hope this helps.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
B
  • Baltobernie2
  • Lyricist I
  • 2 replies
  • September 2, 2025

Wonderful.

I uninstalled and reinstalled the desktop app.  Now I can’t play music from anywhere.

“Unable to connect”   “file not found”  I see the libraries and can explore them, but no play.

I will contact tech support.

B
  • Baltobernie2
  • Lyricist I
  • 2 replies
  • September 2, 2025

This is why I never upgrade software

106rallye
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  • 106rallye
  • 6597 replies
  • September 3, 2025

Did you turn on SMBv1 in Windows 10?

B
  • Baltobernie
  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • 1 reply
  • September 4, 2025

Yes, and then the entire library became “unable to connect”; desktop as well as tablets.

I phoned tech support, and Charles was able to resolve the issue entirely.

Thank you.


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