Sonos app on Android: How to see my playlists?

@buzz 

» A SONOS MOVE or ROAM would allow Bluetooth play from your phone.

Yes. But that is not my use case.

I want the flac files to get to the Sonos for higher fidelity.

If all I want is a bluetooth speaker, I would not bother with Sonos.

Hi @SamJones6 

I believe if you keep your music on the SD card, but don’t export your playlists and instead allow Android/Black Player EX to save them where it wants to, you won’t have this problem.

@Corry P 

I regret to report that the above is not the case.

1. I first tried WITHOUT doing any exporting. Had the problem reported on this thread.
2. I then tried exporting. Had the identical problem (details above on this thread)
3. I then tried using the VLC player and creating a playlist in that player. Had the exact same problem (details above in this thread)

IOW: If what you suggest were the case, I never would have had a problem!

Hi @SamJones6 

That’s not what I expected. As it worked on my phone, I can only presume therefore that it has something to do with the difference between your setup and mine. My first thought is to try a different, generic music app for Android.

Do you have another Android device that you can test on? If so, it might be worth trying it out.

It may also be worth checking that the Sonos app on your phone has all the permissions it needs. If you don’t know how to do this, it’s probably easiest to just uninstall the app and reinstall it.

I hope this helps - if it doesn’t, I’ve run out of ideas. As I mentioned before, we are aware of the issue and are looking to work on it, but my own experience is that playlists on internal storage do work, so I don’t get why yours will not.

Please see below.

» My first thought is to try a different, generic music app for Android.

The above was suggested early on, and I followed the suggestion and wrote up my experience above on the thread.

» Do you have another Android device that you can test on? If so, it might be worth trying it out.

I already in the past tried this on multiple Android devices and saw the issue is consistent or worse. For example, I have a Pixel 3 with 100% of the music library on internal storage (this phone does not support an SD card). The Sonos app doesn’t see the playlists at all (it sees and plays the music as albums and artists, but the Playlist area of the Sonos app is empty when I do have a number of playlists).

There are a number of threads on this forum of folks reporting the same issue I report. I do not expect this issue should be new to the Sonos team.

» It may also be worth checking that the Sonos app on your phone has all the permissions it needs.

In Android Settings, the Sonos app has the Storage permission.

That is all I can think of that might apply?

(And the Sonos app has no trouble playing music that is on the SD card… so the permissions would appear to be solid, yes?)

» we are aware of the issue and are looking to work on it,

This makes it sound like the issue is known or probable in the eyes of the Sonos team.

If that is the case, why would I go banging around trying to fix it as a user?

Hi @SamJones6 

The permissions certainly seem right.

When you used VNC and another phone, were you still exporting playlists as M3U, or did you leave them as Android playlists? There could be a difference.

Although we are aware of the issue, it does not happen in all circumstances. I was trying to help you fix it so that you can find some way of listening to your playlists before we get round to fixing it in software - you mentioned your phone is your only source of music.

Due to the inconsistencies of this issue, we would appreciate you calling in to our technical support team so we can create a case and take some details and diagnostics - we are still investigating, so this would serve to help us help you. I completely understand if you don’t wish to spend further time on this, however, and I appreciate the time you’ve already spent.

» When you used VNC and another phone, were you still exporting

» playlists as M3U, or did you leave them as Android playlists? There could be a difference.

Yes?

Here is the workflow in detail:

Phone #1 -- Sony Experia, music on SD card:

• Black player EX, native playlists: Sonos SEES playlists created in Black Player, symptoms described in detail above on this thread
• Black player EX, exported M3U playlists: Sonos SEES exported M3Us, symptoms as described in detail above on this thread
• VLC Player, native playlists: See write up above on this thread

Phone #2: Pixel 3, Music on internal storage (phone does not support SD card)

• Black Player: native playlists: Sonos DOES NOT see playlists at all
  • Did not try exporting playlists

» Due to the inconsistencies of this issue, we would appreciate you

» calling in to our technical support team

I am happy to consider this, but I am NOT happy to start the conversation from zero

If you have a ticket number, and have fully painted it up internally, so a call in will directly move to gathering further info, I am happy to help. If there is ANY chance of simply spending all the time AGAIN, I am not interested.

Hi @SamJones6 

I completely understand. In fact, I think the only further piece of information we need is the Android version on your phone(s). Please let me know, and I’ll set all that up so that we won’t need you to call us at all.

Thanks.

» Android version on your phone(s).

Phone 1, main phone: Sony Xperia, Android Version 10

Phone 2, referenced above, Google Pixel 3, Android Version 11

If any other info is needed, pls advise.

@SamJones6 

Thanks!