How do you add speakers now via S1 since the MacOS app insists a system update has to happen?

@Dougal_1, iOS 12.4.8 is fine. Do you have any wireless range extenders or a second router with enabled DHCP server in use? I think it would be best to call in to Sonos support for assistance.

This is the situation. Your operating system is fine. Your controller has updated (to S1 I believe) while your system is on 'old Sonos'. Tbe version incompatibility is causing your controller to have limited functionality. 

Smilja - thanks - no, there are no range extenders here + only one router. Previously that was enough, and the signal reached all necessary rooms. I don’t know what an enabled DHCP server is, but I could learn, if necessary, I’m sure. 

I tried directly connecting to the Bridge via Ethernet to one of the orphaned Play1: speakers, but it still doesn’t appear on the system. I contacted Sonos support yesterday, but they said (a) it might take 7 days to get a reply (b) to try the on-line community for help and advice… so I will wait and see what they have to say about these disappearing speakers. Thanks for your time, help and advice. It could have been worse - I still have music + podcasts etc in four rooms, and perhaps someone in Sonos support will have met and solved this problem before. If not...I sell the orphans and buy an old-fashioned amp and speakers, and keep using the ‘legacy’ products which work. Thank you for your time.

This is easy to solve, but it seems my posts are not appearing on your version of the forum so I won't bother to post further.

@Dougal_1, Is it possible to update the speaker’s firmware to 11.2.3? It should be. Do you get an error message when trying to do so?

On iOS or Android

From the Settings tab, tap System > System Updates > Check for Updates.

John B - thanks - yes, I am seeing your posts, just trying to read and answer various posts, not all of which appear at the same time -  someone on another thread is suggesting that there’s no danger of accidentally switching to S2, and therefore the conclusion would be that the ‘latest system software’ referred to in the ‘system update message’ that comes up within system settings is going to give me a newer version of S1, and not railroad me into S2 (which would zap the bridge and the Play5s). So...it would appear that I can dare to hit update and that S1 should then be able to see the orphaned speakers. I hope. Thanks for your interventions.

@Dougal_1, As I said before you’d need to run the compatibility check in ‘settings’ in order to unlock the S2 app. Stay away from this setting and you’re fine.

By the way: As long as you have an unit running on S1 there’s the possibility to downgrade the whole lot back to S1 even if your system gets separated into S1/S2 by accident.

Smilja - I haven’t tried to update any speakers’ firmware to the version you mention - 11.2.3 - because I wouldn’t know how to, I’m afraid. ‘Add product’ is still greyed-out. I bravely / recklessly hit ‘update’ in iOS on the IPhone and... it tells me no update is needed. Orphaned speakers still invisible. However, I still have music in four rooms, so I may well wait and see what Sonos support have to say ; community advice has been fast, helpful and interesting, though, I must say. It is reassuring and useful to hear, from you + another community voice, that you cannot accidentally lurch into S2 from within S1. Puzzlingly, the system settings app on iOS tells me an update is available, then produces an error message, then says it is updating, and all four rooms are working *but* the ‘add product’ is still greyed-out. This may be a job for Sonos support. I will update via this bit of the community re any progress / lack of progress ! Thanks for your time and advice. The app version is 11.2.3 and the speakers and bridge are all 11.1 ; this may be important - I don’t know, but someone at Sonos support may well know. 

@Dougal_1 

On iOS or Android From the Settings tab, tap System > System Updates > Check for Updates.