Contributor I

Answered

Where has the Apple Watch functionality gone.

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
July 12, 2018
19 replies
19620 views

The Sonos AP was so easy to use, choose the rooms, choose the music and play. Then using my Apple Watch or the phone lock screen you could, pause, play, change tracks, change volume. Instant control with minimal effort.
New AP update arrived and it’s now a real pain as it now involves have getting the phone out, go through the unlock process, find and open the AP just to change volume. This is such a backward step in functionality and disappointing.

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.

Best answer by melvimbe

Apple Watch functionality you were using is a part of Apple lock screen control Unless you have an airplay 2 compatible Sonos unit the lock screen control no longer functions.

Chris, I'm not sure this is 100% accurate. From Ryan's announcement post...

It will no longer be possible to control your Sonos system from the lock screen of your iPhone or iPad, including the use of the hard volume buttons from the lock screen if you have any AirPlay-capable non-Sonos devices in your household with AirPlay enabled. It is still possible to use hard volume buttons from within the Sonos App.

So if I'm reading this correct, @Williamsweb probably has an AppleTV or something that currently has airplay enabled. If airplay is disabled on that device (I assume through settings), the lock screen controls should return? I could be completely misunderstanding how this works.

All that said, if @Willamsweb wants to use airplay with AppleTV, then it's not a solution.

Chris

Lead Maestro

Apple Watch functionality you were using is a part of Apple lock screen control Unless you have an airplay 2 compatible Sonos unit the lock screen control no longer functions.

Best bet if that is the case is to get a third party app like sonobit for your watch (will actually give you additional functionality beyond the lock screen control tools you were using)

Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)

W

WilliamswebAuthor

Contributor I

Unfortunately the 15 Sonos speakers which I purchase last year are not airplay2 compatible, thanks for advice but shame SONOS have taken this functionality away and are relying on 3rd party’s to fill gap. If I knew this wouldn’t work with going forward I probably wouldn’t have invested £3.3k on Sonos hardware with such limited functional life.
Any idea how I could downgrade my whole system software so it works better?

Chris

Lead Maestro

It’s not like they wanted to take away but they have to play by Apple rules. As said though apps like Sonosbit will give you better functionality anyhow.

Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)

Chris

Lead Maestro

They added a lot more than was taken away. If you get an airolay2 compatible Sonos it will come back. It’s apple isssues with their locking down of the lock screen. It’s always been a rather hack to get it to work because of Apple. Get sonosbit or other such Sonos watch app and be happy.

Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)

W

WilliamswebAuthor

Contributor I

Cheers I’ll give it a go although I’ll see if there is anyway to downgrade my speaker software first.

I take it the other apps don’t play by the Apple Rules?

I would get another speaker but as I’ve already flooded the house with playbars, play1s and play3s it would mean binning speaker to replace it and I don’t want to do that on a yearly basis.

W

WilliamswebAuthor

Contributor I

Not able to downgrade software once it’s installed. Gives me an excuse to try the HomePod, goodbye Sonos hello Apple....

Chris

Lead Maestro

That’s going to cost you a whole lot more than $3 for the app. Plus adding a Sonosone which is airplay2 like HomePod gives you lock screen anyhow. A little bit of drama over minor issue.

Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)

melvimbeAnswer

Apple Watch functionality you were using is a part of Apple lock screen control Unless you have an airplay 2 compatible Sonos unit the lock screen control no longer functions.

Chris, I'm not sure this is 100% accurate. From Ryan's announcement post...

It will no longer be possible to control your Sonos system from the lock screen of your iPhone or iPad, including the use of the hard volume buttons from the lock screen if you have any AirPlay-capable non-Sonos devices in your household with AirPlay enabled. It is still possible to use hard volume buttons from within the Sonos App.

So if I'm reading this correct, @Williamsweb probably has an AppleTV or something that currently has airplay enabled. If airplay is disabled on that device (I assume through settings), the lock screen controls should return? I could be completely misunderstanding how this works.

All that said, if @Willamsweb wants to use airplay with AppleTV, then it's not a solution.

Danny

W

WilliamswebAuthor

Contributor I

Thanks Danny, that’s really useful, I suspect it’s the Sky Q’s I’ll have a look tonight and thanks again.

Chris

Lead Maestro

But I was under impression if you have Sonos airplayndevice you will get it back.

Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)

Show more replies

Sign up

Login to the community