Contributor I

Answered

Removal of lock screen and volume control iOS 2023

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
July 27, 2023
41 replies
9910 views

How does Sonos plan to solve the issue of accessing lock screen controls and device hardware button on iOS? Removing that functionality with release 15.6 on July 25, 2023 is a significant impact on the user experience. Our phones are the primary way we control the product so is there a solution other than having to unlock the phone every time we want to control the volume, change a track or turn the system off? Please clarify your plans or provide alternate solutions. Note: I do not use voice controls with my products, so that is not an alternative. Thanks.

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Best answer by melvimbe

Here’s the release notes about the change.

https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/release-notes-for-sonos-s2

We’ve removed the ability to control the Sonos app for iOS using lock screen controls and device hardware buttons. The way these features were architected do not meet Apple’s experience guidelines for developers and no longer offer a reliable control experience.

The alternatives to controlling volume, mute, tracks that I’m aware of are:

Voice control (acknowledging OP rejects this option)
Opening up app on phone (again, acknowledging rejection)
‘hard buttons’ on the speakers themselves.
For home theatre room, TV remote controls will control volume and mute
Various third party smart home remotes
Using a different device (tablet, iPad, Mac, PC) that does not lock to control Sonos.

Are there any other methods I missed? What other method would you want Sonos to create (either a device or software solution) for controls?

edit: Airplay would likely work. If you initiated playback on Sonos via airplay, then Apple would surely let you control volume via the lock screen.

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F.Dutchman

Lyricist I

I also think this is a big issue and disappointment!!😤 I also use the Sonos-app as discribed (without voice control etc.). Sonos, please devellop a widget for volume control on the lockscreey. I think you’ll make the Apple-users very happy.😄

Airgetlam

I don’t think Apple wants any third party app to have that capability. As suggested before, they want to sell their own stuff.

Bruce

Ken_Griffiths

I still think that ‘sliding right’ at the Lock Screen, to reveal the iOS Home Screen and using the services of a 3rd-party ‘widget’ to control all Sonos speakers, without unlocking the mobile, seems to be quite a viable alternative🤔?

C

craigski

Local Superstar

Maybe there is an opportunity for Sonos to design a handheld controller with no lock screen, automatically turns on when you pick it up, maybe it could have tactile hard buttons for volume and music selection, possibly an old school scroll wheel (like the original iPod) to scroll through music? Just a thought. 😀

Airgetlam

I think Sonos got out of the ‘make our own controller’ business with the CR200. Too much, I’d think, change in features that make it hard to figure out the CPU and memory to make it ‘affordable and sale-able’.

Bruce

Airgetlam

Plus you’d need to add a team of programmers for support of just that device, as well as customer service…could be a fairly expensive corporate decision to take.

Bruce

Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

If Sonos would release a CR-100 version 2 the spouse might finally get off my back over hers going away. She might also start using Sonos again and not be so negative about me buying more.

I know, it isn’t going to happen. :-(

C

craigski

Local Superstar

In case of any confusion, I was just jesting with some dry British humour, especially for those that remember the good old days. 😀

S

SamanthaPAuthor

Contributor I

Update from Sonos - I had a nice chat with Ariel S, a customer service manager with Sonos today. He’s been with Sonos for 5 years and was very courteous. He confirmed several points regarding the removal of the controller from the lock screen.

1. This is not a security issue nor was it initiated by Apple. He said it has been unreliable and they do not want to invest further engineering or customer support time on it. Simple profit/loss decision by Sonos.

2. This is an Apple issue only - Android users continue to enjoy lock screen controls (as evidenced by edited instructions on Sonos site that no longer include iOS: https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/control-sonos-from-the-android-lock-screen).

3. They have no current plans to add a widget for Apple users.

He also said if we as a community wanted to at least make Sonos aware of the frustration, we could either call the support number (800-680-2345 for US calls) or email ceo@sonos.com. Obviously it doesn’t go to the CEO, but he said it would provide some tracking on the complaint.

Also, thanks @Ken_Griffiths for the thought on the widget. I’ve since learned there is no widget, but found multiple threads asking for it with someone named Corry P. from Sonos saying he would register the feature request and then cheerfully closing the thread.

Moderator edit: If we were to close a thread before all activity had stopped for 3 months (which is when they will automatically close), we would announce the fact on the thread before taking any action. It would usually be preceded by a request for people to get back on-topic, or to stop arguing.

Airgetlam

How are you able to discern @Corry P ’s demeanor, especially as threads are automatically closed by the forum software for non-activity after a certain amount of time? Is there a possibility he was merely the last respondent, but didn’t close the thread(s) himself?

Bruce

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