Forcing Updates

It’s a pain in the a**, friends come round you switch on Sonos and guess what you can’t play any music, it worked fine the day before but not now. The system does not NEED an update, the update might help but it’s not NEEDED, please give us the option to update when we’re ready.

You're not forced to update*. Disable the update check in the system (which BTW doesn't automatically update, it just notifies that an update is available), and ensure that Sonos apps on iOS/Android don't automatically update from their respective app stores.

If you don't prevent the controller apps updating they'll go out of step with the player firmware, which will then usually require a system update before you can play anything. This is because controllers and players must be at compatible versions.

(*Except when you add a new unit to the system.)

You can likely solve your update hassles by assigning static/reserved IP addresses to your Sonos gear from your router's DHCP page. Usually fairly quick to do, follow by unplugging your Sonos gear and rebooting the router. Plug in any wired Sonos devices one at a time, give it about a minute between each one, then the wireless ones, again one at a time.

If you turn off update notifications you might want to manually check for updates every month or two so you don't get too far behind.

Ooooh, yet another answer from a techy. "Assign static/reserved IP addresses". NO. I'm a consumer, not a pointy head. 99.99% of the population haven't a clue (and don't care) what you are talking about. This is a CONSUMER product, not a nerdy/Machine code wet dream.

SONOS - get your act together or you will DIE......

If my 93 year old mom can do it (with a bit of over the phone prompting) I don't think it is rocket science but you know your limitations better than I do.

Totally agree. Stop forsing me to update. Stop stop force me.

Thanks for the suggestion on turning off the auto updates. It hasn't been a problem for me until recently. The last couple of updates have been complete junk. I have had to re-add one of my speakers and then it knows about all of them.
Yes SONOS, you need to get your act together on the updates. It MUST be seamless again. I don't know what has cause the headaches this year, but that must end.
As one person put it, most of the users are consumers, not tech heads.
If you make it simple, they will come!!!

I don't think, 'making it simple' is really a viable option. Sonos functionality/requirements around IP addresses has not changed over the years. What has changed is the volume of devices in a typical home that utilize a wifi network (and volume of wifi networks in general). If all you have is a couple computers along with your Sonos, the odds of running into IP address conflicts are very low. But today, we have dozens of devices in the home that use IP addresses and thus the odds of conflicts are a lot higher.

Can Sonos somehow maintain the same stable multi-room audio system and change it's use/dependence on non-conflicting IP addresses? I don't know.

SONOS should be able to make it simple.
I have a network with quite a few devices. I like playing with computers and automation systems. I have never, even with multiple SONOS speakers, ever had any IP address conflict problems. Almost all, but not all, of my systems use DHCP, some have reserved DHCP addresses. If you are having issues with IP conflicts, then you may need to look at how you are handing out IP addresses. If you have systems with statically defined addresses within a DHCP range, that is a problem. Also check your system that is handing out addresses, if it get confused about who has what addresses that is also a problem. DHCP has been around for a long time and just plain works if it is configured correctly. If you are having problems with address conflicts, then the DHCP configuration needs to be checked.

One underlying desire that I have for all systems, is to make them simple to use. If my wife takes more than a couple clicks to get what she wants done, it will get tossed away.
If an update requires me to reconfigure the system, I get very upset.

In general, SONOS is very easy for her to use. However, the last several upgrades have tried my patience. Having to re-add speakers that I already have on the system is unacceptable.

SONOS should be able to make it simple.
I have a network with quite a few devices. I like playing with computers and automation systems. I have never, even with multiple SONOS speakers, ever had any IP address conflict problems. Almost all, but not all, of my systems use DHCP, some have reserved DHCP addresses. If you are having issues with IP conflicts, then you may need to look at how you are handing out IP addresses. If you have systems with statically defined addresses within a DHCP range, that is a problem. Also check your system that is handing out addresses, if it get confused about who has what addresses that is also a problem. DHCP has been around for a long time and just plain works if it is configured correctly. If you are having problems with address conflicts, then the DHCP configuration needs to be checked.


I'm confused. You're having trouble with speakers disappearing after an update, which is usually do to IP address conflicts, but your familiar with the issue? Have you setup reserved address for your Sonos speakers (not static, but reserved)? If you do have reserved addresses and you're still losing speakers on updates, then it's a different issue. Submitting a diagnostic after the next update could help.


One underlying desire that I have for all systems, is to make them simple to use. If my wife takes more than a couple clicks to get what she wants done, it will get tossed away.
If an update requires me to reconfigure the system, I get very upset.


And that's reasonable. I do think that one downside to all the emerging tech around voice control, smart speakers, and IoT in general that it's too complex right now. That's due to emerging tech, integrating of different products, and so many products potentially on a network.