The New Sonos App and Future Feature Updates

I find it very interesting that there appear to be some specific groups of issues with this app update. 

• Those (like me) who have been lucky and experienced no issues at all with the app (other than temporarily finding it hard to connect one of my Symfonisk lamp surrounds)
• Those whose wifi networks cannot find any speakers.
• Those who have lost access to only certain speakers. 
• Those who have lost access to all or some music services.
• Those who cannot access their music library while others can

There are more groups than this of course. The point is that the issues caused by the roll-out are vastly inconsistent, but that it’s likely the issues each specific ‘group’ is facing will be down to them having the same type of network set-up, or device, or speaker combination as others in that group. As a result, it feels to me that there might not be as many issues with the app (user interface aside) as we’re anticipating. Fix one specific thing, and that ‘group’ will be fixed. Fix another, and that’s another group who can use their system again. 

The problem is, because people are posting only about general issues or complaints, they are not posting any details of their set-up/device/speakers, so other forum users are unable to see any patterns that might match their own problems. 

It’s unlikely to happen, but I wonder whether including details of wifi, device and speakers might reveal patterns? 

I’ll start:

• Issues:  NO ISSUES (besides existing app omissions like queue management, etc)
• Main device:  iOS, fully updated, with updated Sonos app.
• Speakers:  7 x One SLs, Home theatre (Arc, 2 x Symfonisk lamp speaker surrounds, Sub gen2). All firmware updated.
• Network:  Gigabit wifi, with three TP-Link Deco wifi mesh disks. No speakers connected by Ethernet.
• Services:  Apple Music, Spotify, BBC Sounds.
• Remote music Library:  None.
• Location:  UK

So I wonder whether others without issues have anything similar to this? i.e. is there a pattern to who has issues and who doesn’t..?

One of the main issue is the lack of ability to access Music Library’s

It is getting worse by the day. Grouping, switching and volume has gone crazy and the new norm is Expecting the speakers to randomly turn off. Sometimes no access to radio, sometimes no voice capability for the roam or the Sonos ONE, the most expected daily occurrence is not trusting that the system will work… using the UE boom when all else SONOS fails. I tried rolling back and updating. It’s all been a disaster. This forum is intended too help but WHY is it the customers job to fix what they did not break? 

With the app update came speaker firmware updates. People are focused on the app, but the entire ecosystem has been thrown away and rewritten from scratch. I think they’ve also stripped some codecs from the playbar 😕

Also, remember the app is the controller; that’s where I suspect the intelligence is (or not)

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
  • Use the Sonos app for macOS or Windows or Sonos Voice Control to set sleep timers today.
• 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.

Ye, that was my thoughts too. So, it may be likely we’ll see a number of firmware fixes required too over the coming months, as well as app fixes / restoration of missing functionality. I think it might be a bumpy few months for Sonos support.