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Keith N
Keith N
Sonos Staff
May 11, 2024

The New Sonos App and Future Feature Updates

Hey all, today we're sharing a message from our chief innovation officer, Nick Millington in the announcement here. Going forwards we will update that topic and we therefore close this one for further replies.

 

 

We set out to create a more personalized and effortless listening experience with the updated Sonos app. It was rebuilt from the ground up to ensure it could support future innovation in the years to come. For its initial rollout, we focused on how we could answer some of the most common requests from our customers, including increased reliability, performance, and faster access to music.


Many of you have shared valuable feedback on both the improvements that have made your experience better, as well as the areas where we fell short. We are listening to all of your comments and working to address them as quickly as possible. Over the coming weeks, we will reintroduce the below features, while fixing bugs and performance issues. Thank you for your engagement and we look forward to building upon this first step to create a listening experience that meets everyone’s needs.
 

 

Available now

 

To access these changes, check for updates in the iOS / Android app store to download the latest version of the Sonos app. Make sure your Sonos products are also up to date.


Last updated: Oct 28, 2024. See release notes.

The update has the following version numbers:

 

80.11.38 - iOS
80.11.32 - Android

 

In this update:

 

  • Support for the all-new Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub 4
  • Music library improvements*
  • Improvements to product setup
  • Improved performance when browsing content in Home and in Browse on Android
  • Improvements to multi-system support on iOS
  • Fixes for multiple settings including Bluetooth display, EQ, and Sub bonding on iOS
  • The ability to schedule System Updates on iOS
  • Continued Voiceover improvements on iOS

 

* Requires player update - 81.1-58074 (or higher)

 

 

You can also follow along with updates in this article: 

 

    This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

    2256 replies

    Show previous replies
    robokitty
    Enthusiast II
    June 8, 2024

     

    I tried to sell my Sonos system because I expected QA and software to get worse, and boy was I correct. Unfortunately, many others have been experiencing similar issues and the market is flooded with second hand Sonos products that people are trying to get rid of. And I don’t blame them.

    Putting aside my own thoughts, feelings and experiences of the new app, I have seen a lot of posts like this that state (or imply) that Sonos kit is now worthless, because of the new app.  This post states that @av18 tried to sell his system, suggesting that he was unsuccessful in doing so.

    In the first instance there is no suggestion that the hardware is faulty and of course the app doesn’t render the hardware faulty, so that alone would suggest that the value is not significantly impacted by the new app.  But nobody has to take my word for this — just a quick look at EBay’s completed listings show that second hand Sonos kit sells extremely well and for prices that are broadly in line prices obtained before May’s software release.  


    If you want to sell up and move on, you are completely at liberty to do so, and you of course should be happy with where you spend your money.  But why you are trying to convince the forum here that your (and by extension our) kit is no worthless is beyond me. This is blatantly not the truth of the matter.  
     

    because without the ability to use the hardware it doesn’t matter how good it is. You need the controller app to use it. One can speculate endlessly about why some price on ebay is what it is, but there are a lot of use who have a lot of sonos components and can’t listen to them anymore.

    You are absolutely correct, I agree with you.  But that wasn’t the argument @av18 was puttting forward.  I don’t deny there are many users who are having severe diffficulties with their kit and  I sympathise  with those users.  But thst is not the same as saying Sonos kit is now worthless and impossible, or near impossible to sell.  I am just suggesting that people keep their posts real and grounded in facts — that is all.  

    I don’t know - I wouldn’t buy Sonos at the moment. If the app isn’t fixed quickly, the stuff it indeed worthless. Were that to happen, I think the price would plunge on ebay. You know, if you can’t use it, maybe a smart person wouldn’t buy it?

    BoredofBalham
    Prodigy II
    June 8, 2024

    Wow Sonos. Must WTF is going on. Massive price drops on your speakers.

    Is this designed to seriously disappoint existing customers -  myself being out of pocket to the tune of £200 - or what. There seems no logic to it.

    Is it a way to encourage new buyers? Or is it a massive rushed clearance sale to shift all that stock by any means possible before you go bust with the major disaster area that is the compulsory app which makes them work.

    Do you really think anyone is fooled by this debacle.

    Buy speakers. Can’t use them until the end of July - EARLIEST.

    Come on Sonos. Just WTF is going on.

    You are, if not already have, stumped new product sales. I for one will purchase no more new product until this farrago of a rats nest works absolutely perfectly. NO EXCUSES. 

    Words can not explain my terrible disappointment in Sonos as a company. From best in class to junkyard without trying.

      Madkamel
      Avid Listener
      June 8, 2024

      As many users suggested, please come back to S2. It’s quite impossible to enjoy music with the new app.

      it’s quite strange that an improvement took less functionalities than previous release.

      I’m really disappointed about the new user experience.

        is that unique enough
        Contributor I
        June 8, 2024

        Fire the CEO.  Simple.

        Patrick Spence you are fired!

         

         

          robokitty
          Enthusiast II
          June 8, 2024

          As many users suggested, please come back to S2. It’s quite impossible to enjoy music with the new app.

          it’s quite strange that an improvement took less functionalities than previous release.

          I’m really disappointed about the new user experience.

          Well, having been involved in a few, a ground up re-write will often omit “some” features. But nothing like this fiasco!

          Fiddlefunkpiano
          Listener
          June 8, 2024

          We set out to create a more personalized and effortless listening experience with the updated Sonos app. It was rebuilt from the ground up to ensure it could support future innovation in the years to come. For its initial rollout, we focused on how we could answer some of the most common requests from our customers, including increased reliability, performance, and faster access to music.


          Many of you have shared valuable feedback on both the improvements that have made your experience better, as well as the areas where we fell short. We are listening to all of your comments and working to address them as quickly as possible. Over the coming weeks, we will reintroduce the below features, while fixing bugs and performance issues. Thank you for your engagement and we look forward to building upon this first step to create a listening experience that meets everyone’s needs.
           

           

          Available now

          To access these changes, check for updates in the iOS / Android app store to download the latest version of the Sonos app. Make sure your Sonos products are also up to date.

          Last updated: Jun 4, 2024. See release notes.

           

          • Improved playback settings including “Play next,” “add to end of queue,” and on iOS, the mute button
          • Improved product setup, Bluetooth discovery and WiFi settings
          • Added sleep timer settings
          • Improved Trueplay setup on iOS
          • Introduced distance settings for home theater surrounds
          • Improved navigation for users who are blind or visually-impaired 
          • Added VoiceOver support for toast messages on iOS


           

          Coming soon

          • Continued improvements to navigation for visually-impaired customers: mid-June
          • Playback controls including mute and volume numbers: June
          • Local music library search and playback: mid-June
          • Improved playback settings including Play Now: July
          • Create and edit local music library: July
          • Improved Autoplay settings: July
          • Improved Sub audio settings with Amp: July
          • Snooze alarms: TBD

           

          Our latest update resolves some of the most critical known issues, but know we have more to do. We hear your feedback and are working hard to deliver the experience you expect and deserve.

          I would like to see the clear queue function restored in a future update 

            andrew_131
            Contributor I
            June 9, 2024

            Oh the lag… The baffling and seemingly endless Lag. If you fix nothing else just stop the lag…..

            I love my Sonos system, I have various speakers of various ages in every room, I have been a user for many years and I stream mostly from Spotify or Amazon. 

            I know this seems like such a 1st world problem, but I have gigabit fibre into my network, and stream almost constantly…. 

            I simply cannot cope with the following nonsense…

            • Pressing pause to answer a telephone call, and eventually having to press the “hardware pause” button on top of their speaker to get the music to stop. 
            • Dragging back the play head to hear a great guitar solo again, only to discover that is it showing a different song to the one I am listing to…. 
            • Skipping back to hear a great song again, and … waiting for ever…. and ever…. and ever…. for anything to happen. 
            • Glancing at my phone to find out what Spotify radio has picked for me, and discovering that I appear to still be listing to the song I started 20 minutes ago.

            I have already given up on advanced dreams, such as trying to understand what music is playing in which room, or how to group and ungroup playback. I don't care about my Spotify favourites or browsing Spotify the way it looks in Spotify (you know, like we to used to).

            I have also relinquished the dream of hitting a “like” button and it registering in Spotify that I like something.

            These dreams are over….. Please just stop the lag…. that is all my simple heart needs now…. 

            I still love you SONOS, but we need marriage counselling right now, because you extract pure rage from my old head…..  

              Steve1958
              Contributor I
              June 9, 2024

              Oh the lag… The baffling and seemingly endless Lag. If you fix nothing else just stop the lag…..

              I love my Sonos system, I have various speakers of various ages in every room, I have been a user for many years and I stream mostly from Spotify or Amazon. 

              I know this seems like such a 1st world problem, but I have gigabit fibre into my network, and stream almost constantly…. 

              I simply cannot cope with the following nonsense…

              • Pressing pause to answer a telephone call, and eventually having to press the “hardware pause” button on top of their speaker to get the music to stop. 
              • Dragging back the play head to hear a great guitar solo again, only to discover that is it showing a different song to the one I am listing to…. 
              • Skipping back to hear a great song again, and … waiting for ever…. and ever…. and ever…. for anything to happen. 
              • Glancing at my phone to find out what Spotify radio has picked for me, and discovering that I appear to still be listing to the song I started 20 minutes ago.

              I have already given up on advanced dreams, such as trying to understand what music is playing in which room, or how to group and ungroup playback. I don't care about my Spotify favourites or browsing Spotify the way it looks in Spotify (you know, like we to used to).

              I have also relinquished the dream of hitting a “like” button and it registering in Spotify that I like something.

              These dreams are over….. Please just stop the lag…. that is all my simple heart needs now…. 

              I still love you SONOS, but we need marriage counselling right now, because you extract pure rage from my old head…..  

              It's infuriating isn't it? I cannot stop what's playing in the app either. Well not every time. The volume controls have a mind of their own too, sometimes snaping back to zero even though the sound is  coming from the speaker! I miss being able to create and adapt playlists on the fly. It's such poor show from sonos. I'm very disappointed.

                John Guarr
                John Guarr
                Enthusiast II
                June 9, 2024

                We set out to create a more personalized and effortless listening experience with the updated Sonos app. It was rebuilt from the ground up to ensure it could support future innovation in the years to come. For its initial rollout, we focused on how we could answer some of the most common requests from our customers, including increased reliability, performance, and faster access to music.


                Many of you have shared valuable feedback on both the improvements that have made your experience better, as well as the areas where we fell short. We are listening to all of your comments and working to address them as quickly as possible. Over the coming weeks, we will reintroduce the below features, while fixing bugs and performance issues. Thank you for your engagement and we look forward to building upon this first step to create a listening experience that meets everyone’s needs.
                 

                 

                Available now

                To access these changes, check for updates in the iOS / Android app store to download the latest version of the Sonos app. Make sure your Sonos products are also up to date.

                Last updated: Jun 4, 2024. See release notes.

                 

                • Improved playback settings including “Play next,” “add to end of queue,” and on iOS, the mute button
                • Improved product setup, Bluetooth discovery and WiFi settings
                • Added sleep timer settings
                • Improved Trueplay setup on iOS
                • Introduced distance settings for home theater surrounds
                • Improved navigation for users who are blind or visually-impaired 
                • Added VoiceOver support for toast messages on iOS


                 

                Coming soon

                • Continued improvements to navigation for visually-impaired customers: mid-June
                • Playback controls including mute and volume numbers: June
                • Local music library search and playback: mid-June
                • Improved playback settings including Play Now: July
                • Create and edit local music library: July
                • Improved Autoplay settings: July
                • Improved Sub audio settings with Amp: July
                • Snooze alarms: TBD

                 

                Our latest update resolves some of the most critical known issues, but know we have more to do. We hear your feedback and are working hard to deliver the experience you expect and deserve.

                I would like to see the clear queue function restored in a future update 

                Here is an issue that is making me crazy; when scrolling through my music queue and finally find a song and start playing it, I’ll bring up the larger screen that will show me what’s playing and the time of the song, volume control, etc. Now, when I swipe down to close that window, the IOS Sonos app takes back to the top of the queue and I have to scroll all over again to see where I was. Please make it so it takes you back to the position you where at when you started playing that song. It’s too much scrolling and finding. 

                  Arcticpollen
                  Enthusiast II
                  June 9, 2024

                  The Sonos timeline for fixing the issues in the terrible new controller app seems very optimistic to me. Very little progress seems to have been made so far. 
                  Their approach by forcing device firmware updates with later versions of the 80.x apps is particularly underhand as it means you can’t roll back to a working version of the controller. 
                  I’ve disabled automatic firmware updates in the app and rolled my iOS devices back to the last 16.x version of the S2 app. All original functionality is restored nicely. 
                  I have no intention of buying any more Sonos gear so I’m entirely unworried about the supposed “benefits” of their crappy new app. 

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