Forcing Updates

Sorry for the confusion about the IP reservations. I don't reserve addresses for my speakers. The interesting thing to me is that after a controller upgrade, the controller doesn't know about any of my speakers. I then go through the steps to add 1 and amazingly it knows about the specifics for the one that I added (like name) and also all the other speakers also show up.
That tells me, that after a controller update, the controller looses track of everything and doesn't know how to contact any speaker. I assume that the speakers know about each other so that when the controller finally is forced to query one of the speakers, it learns about all of them.
The strange thing to me is that this issue has only popped up this year, on some, but not all of the updates. I find out about it because I go ask Alexa to send something to a speaker and nothing happens. If I'm lucky enough to be the one that does that, all is well. But if a visitor or my wife asks Alexa to play something and nothing happens, I get yelled at.
So, I have now taken the steps above and have turned auto updates off so that "I" control when an update happens and can verify it afterwards. That should stop the screaming. 🙂

No, the router loses track because an update causes the Sonos to reboot and get a duplicate IP address from a wonky router. The controller is a very dumb application, all the information is stored on the Sonos units themselves. If the controller cannot reach the Sonos units, then it cannot retrieve any information about the Sonos unit.

Do a network refresh. Reserve IP addresses for your Sonos units so they never again get a duplicate. 99.99% of the time, this fixes what you are seeing.

Not having reserved IP addresses is still likely to bite you when you finally do run an update and also when the router and/or Sonos gear reboots due to a power glitch or other reason.

I finally gave in and did the IP assignments after getting tired of power cycling after every storm.

Sorry for the confusion about the IP reservations. I don't reserve addresses for my speakers.

So you've reserved address for some of the devices in your home, just not the Sonos speakers? From what you wrote previously, it seemed like you understood that reserving IP addresses resolves IP address problems? Were you quoting someone else or was that actually you, talking about your system?

I'm just not following the train of thought around this. I'm not sure why you aren't considering reserving IP address for your Sonos devices when you understand how to do it and it's been recommended as a fix to the issue your having with updates.

Totally agree with these comments. These forced updates are driving me nuts. Almost chucked a Sonos across room. Can never just turn the damn thing on to listen to music when i want to.

Updates are not forced, only suggested. You can also turn off the update suggestion or with a bit of work block the updates if I understand some of the other posts on updates.

This is absolutely not so - I have turned off auto updating and was forced to update my sonos system and both iphones this week. What is the worst thing about it is that I cant do anything with the sonos system until the update is applied. I am being held ransom in my own home at the whim of sonos. Further, the update forced me to enter some unnecessary and unrelated information to complete the update. This is a totally unacceptable. I have paid for the system that I have in my house, I'm not interested in updated features on newer model. If I were, I would choose to update at that time. This is something that should always be driven by my need to apply a fix or get access to new features that are important to me. It is my home after all.

This is absolutely not so - I have turned off auto updating and was forced to update my sonos system and both iphones this week. What is the worst thing about it is that I cant do anything with the sonos system until the update is applied. I am being held ransom in my own home at the whim of sonos. Further, the update forced me to enter some unnecessary and unrelated information to complete the update. This is a totally unacceptable. I have paid for the system that I have in my house, I'm not interested in updated features on newer model. If I were, I would choose to update at that time. This is something that should always be driven by my need to apply a fix or get access to new features that are important to me. It is my home after all.

Make sure you turn off auto-updates for the controller (iOS or Android). I suspect you updated the app and when that happens you will be required to update the Sonos units too.

Not just you but anyone (visitors) with access to your WiFi that has an updated controller can be a problem if you don't want to update.

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......
You got a perfectly good answer, but apparently you need someone to come over and hold your hand.
Why look for help then insult the people who are trying to help you out?
You deserve whatever headache you get.