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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
    Bellalaurita
    Avid Listener
    May 28, 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: May 21, 2024. See release notes.

    • VoiceOver on iOS now properly interacts with individual elements of the Sonos app's home screen - and now adds improved VoiceOver support for allowing for navigating and controlling the Now Playing Screen, System View, Output Selector, Queue, Volume Sliders, and Add Product
    • Improved TalkBack support for the Now Playing Screen, System View, and Add Product
    • Improved Local Music Library playback of folders
    • Adding and editing alarms with the ability to Search for content


     

    Coming soon

    • Continued improvements to navigation for visually-impaired customers: mid-June
    • Adding to queue and playing next: early June
    • Sleep timer: mid-June
    • Local music library search and playback: mid-June
    • Update WiFi settings: mid-June
    • Snooze alarms: TBD



     

    Known issues and workarounds


    "Sign in as the System Owner" error while updating products during setup

    • Workaround: No workaround currently available.

     

    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.

    Keith, please provide a current update. Due to the horrible new app, one of my speakers will no longer connect and Pandora won’t connect or play within the app. Both were fine for 8 years until this load of garbage was dropped on us without QA testing and without apology or recourse, such as rolling back to the previous functional version. This is completely unacceptable and would not be tolerated in other companies. I’ve spent over 20 hours and four tech calls trying to resolve these and other issues to no avail since early April. 

      Bellalaurita
      Avid Listener
      May 28, 2024

      Keith, please provide a current update. Due to the horrible new app, one of my speakers will no longer connect and Pandora won’t connect or play within the app. Both were fine for 8 years until this load of garbage was dropped on us without QA testing and without apology or recourse, such as rolling back to the previous functional version. This is completely unacceptable and would not be tolerated in other companies. I’ve spent over 20 hours and four tech calls trying to resolve these and other issues to no avail since early April. 

        obituary
        Lyricist III
        May 28, 2024

        I’m a local music library user. Not only is that gone, but the app only detects my system half of the time. I have thousands of dollars of speakers that don’t work. 

        The lies this CEO keeps telling himself and others needs to stop.

        The app is more responsive? No, it’s less responsive. 

        The app is easier to navigate? No, it’s not.

        The app works? Half of the time it can’t even detect my system.

        This is a joke.

          Derjie
          Lyricist III
          May 28, 2024

          Continuing the rant….  Who does the PR at Sonos?  On top of an honest apology and explanation why the app was launched in this state (guess - unstoppable deadline re new hardware launch from the top) did someone not think it was a bad idea for the Chief Product Officer to dump a load of shares last week…. I guess it was his choice, but really doesn’t sit well as a customer right now.

            osm
            May 28, 2024

            I’m a local music library user. Not only is that gone, but the app only detects my system half of the time. I have thousands of dollars of speakers that don’t work. 

            The lies this CEO keeps telling himself and others needs to stop.

            The app is more responsive? No, it’s less responsive. 

            The app is easier to navigate? No, it’s not.

            The app works? Half of the time it can’t even detect my system.

            This is a joke.

            What method have you used to add your library to the system? Apparently some old methods are no longer supported, but smbv2 and smbv3 shares are (it works for me).

            Dirk55
            Enthusiast I
            May 28, 2024

            I am not sure anyone at SONOS reads this thread any more. Why should they? They got a clear direction of action from their management. They are going to pull this through. So either get out of the SONOS universe or accept your fate that SONOS has taken your hardware prisoner. They can do with your hardware what they like. And they are doing it. 🤑 

              Rhonny
              Prodigy III
              May 28, 2024

              I am not sure anyone at SONOS reads this thread any more. Why should they?

              I agree with this. Not sure why issues continue to be reported on two monster threads that have 30+ and 60+ pages (or why new threads of issues keep being started). Sonos will have record of ALL possible issues by now to work through them. Yes, it is a monumental calamity. No, they shouldn’t have released it before it was ready. Yes, they should have posted an update on progress. Yes, it is a pain to have to wait for fixes - but there is no alternative but to wait. To keep posting to voice disquiet or to flag issues is simply a waste of time now. Some will doubtless argue “It keeps the pressure on” but there can be no doubt they will already know the pressure they are under.

               

              They can do with your hardware what they like. And they are doing it. 🤑 

              This I don’t agree with. Clearly they can’t do what they like with the hardware - and nor would they - as hardware is bought with an understanding of how it works, solely for a fixed purpose. The app was not developed to mess with hardware - that is an unfortunate (but huge) side effect.

              Derjie
              Lyricist III
              May 28, 2024

              I am not sure anyone at SONOS reads this thread any more. Why should they?

              I agree with this. Not sure why issues continue to be reported on two monster threads that have 30+ and 60+ pages (or why new threads of issues keep being started). Sonos will have record of ALL possible issues by now to work through them. Yes, it is a monumental calamity. No, they shouldn’t have released it before it was ready. Yes, they should have posted an update on progress. Yes, it is a pain to have to wait for fixes - but there is no alternative but to wait. To keep posting to voice disquiet or to flag issues is simply a waste of time now. Some will doubtless argue “It keeps the pressure on” but there can be no doubt they will already know the pressure they are under.

               

              They can do with your hardware what they like. And they are doing it. 🤑 

              This I don’t agree with. Clearly they can’t do what they like with the hardware - and nor would they - as hardware is bought with an understanding of how it works, solely for a fixed purpose. The app was not developed to mess with hardware - that is an unfortunate (but huge) side effect.



              agree with you also - am sure they’re feeling the pressure, although many people have been asking just to have the S2 app back into the store while  Sonos product engineering rethink launch plan for S3, that would take the pressure off. The fact that there’s not even a word on whether this is possible or not is frustrating.

                Rhonny
                Prodigy III
                May 28, 2024


                many people have been asking just to have the S2 app back into the store while  Sonos product engineering rethink launch plan for S3, that would take the pressure off. The fact that there’s not even a word on whether this is possible or not is frustrating.

                You'd imagine this would/should have been the ultimate crisis management move within the first few days. Think how quiet the forum might have been then…!

                 

                (The new app isn’t S3 - it’s still S2.)

                  akanowil
                  Contributor II
                  May 28, 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: May 21, 2024. See release notes.

                  • VoiceOver on iOS now properly interacts with individual elements of the Sonos app's home screen - and now adds improved VoiceOver support for allowing for navigating and controlling the Now Playing Screen, System View, Output Selector, Queue, Volume Sliders, and Add Product
                  • Improved TalkBack support for the Now Playing Screen, System View, and Add Product
                  • Improved Local Music Library playback of folders
                  • Adding and editing alarms with the ability to Search for content


                   

                  Coming soon

                  • Continued improvements to navigation for visually-impaired customers: mid-June
                  • Adding to queue and playing next: early June
                  • Sleep timer: mid-June
                  • Local music library search and playback: mid-June
                  • Update WiFi settings: mid-June
                  • Snooze alarms: TBD



                   

                  Known issues and workarounds


                  "Sign in as the System Owner" error while updating products during setup

                  • Workaround: No workaround currently available.

                   

                  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.

                   

                  This is just calamity, pure and simple.

                   

                  To continue to ignore user's plea and issues with the new app, is self suicidal.

                   

                  to continue to promote new products while your app is s****, is an insult.

                   

                  my daughter wanted a roam for her birthday, that ain’t gonna happen.

                   

                  All my 5 speakers are now on sale on ebay, am tired of this s***

                  Moderator Note: Modified in accordance with the Community Code of Conduct.

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