Why do I need to sign in

I totally agree with the comments made in this thread: I own my Sonos system for probably 10 years now. I have large music library myself and use it a lot to listen to my own stuff. It used to be simple, reliable, great! Then more and more SW updates were made... some of them added great features and new services for sure. But it is no longer as intuitive and simple as it used to be. As far as I can tell it is also not as reliable as it used to be (e.g., rooms dropping from the app, radio stations stop playing, etc. even though my internet connection is now probably 20 times as fast as it used to be;-) ). And then there is the account sign-in - no more comments necessary about that. I am also at the point where I can no longer recommend it to folks without some technology background. It's sad. I hope Sonos listens and goes back to the root and makes it a great system to listen to music.

There are two (or more) separate issues here: One, the privacy concerns of requiring people to give an email address to use the product, and Two, the need to enter the email and password every time you need to connect or re-connect a Sonos device. The privacy concerns can somewhat be remedied by getting a new free email account from gmail, but having to log in to add a device is extremely inconvenient when you are experiencing connection issues and trying to resolve them. Infuriating would be a better word, as I just spent the last two hours trying to get four devices connected and only succeeded with one. [Yes, I will call support, but that's beside the point.]

As I understand it you only need to log-in when adding a NEW component. I recently did this with a new Play 1 and had to enter my mail and password.

You appear to be suggesting that you have to go through the process of adding a component as the result of having connection issues. It's very unlikely that the primary resolution of connection will be to go through the add new component process to re-connect existing previously added components. Further, I would say it will most likely lead to further frustration as adding components back that have dropped off/disappeared will most likely NOT resolve the core network issue and will at the very least lead to significantly further user frustration.

I do agree, however, that the last thing to attempt if you are suffering connection issues is to add a new component (a genuine new component). Get the system working properly before you attempt to add a new component

I am also completely frustrated with Sonos. Recently - 1. I bought my mother in law a Play:1. In the past I just fired up the controller, the controller found it, and it played. Now I need to set up a Sonos account. What a hassle and waste of time.
2. When I returned to the USA my system could not see the Connect I use and asked me to set up an account blah blah this system used to be easy to use now it's nearly as hard as Apple stuff. Thank you Sonos for taking something which was beautifully easy and messing it up. Suppose I didn't have an internet connection when I was trying to set it up? What then? Guys you need to get back to basics and give us a music player which simply connects to the controller and works. This is what it used to do and it why I recommended it. I am much less confident about recommending Sonos now.

Surely, this sign in step can be automated? Constantly asking a a client to log in to their account when adding multiple ne products (something that happens daily) gets old *very* fast.

Z...

I object to, to having to essentially ask permission from Sonos to use my own legally purchased speakers, in the privacy of my own home, there have been previous answers to the above question that suggest I should create a specific email account r some other rubbbish, just to be able to do this, it's also been suggested that this isn't a big deal, my problem is that the most recent software update from Sonos effectively deleted my rather than overwrote my system, which meant I had to install rather than reinstall the software on my PC, which meant losing my saved setting services names of speakers, music library settings etc and having to call sonos on 0800 026 1526 (UK) a hard to find phone number, then submit a diagnostic (which of course means being online) collect my spakers and plug them individually into the bridge to help them help me reinstall my speakers, up until now I been happy with the Sonos system its why I bought it, what I don't want to do is have a continuing relationship with Sonos other than updates, I don't use Spotify and whatever happens in this in the future happens in the future, but right now I just want to be able to use my system in its most simple from, I feel as though sonos still has its hand in my pocket after sale if they have this much control over my speakers in my own home does that mean that they can turn off turn them off or listin in? how much control do they have over my speakers without my consent, because to be clear they do not have my consent Sonos (they changed the rules after purchase) they tell me that this is a security measure, them having control over my speakers home speakers, so Sonos as if you read your own community support I would like in future to have to choose to opt in or out of any system, the same choice I have with every other system including Microsoft.

I'm afraid all the tin-foil hats raving on here about data gathering are just plain wrong. In order for Sonos to continue working with Spotify, or for that matter more importantly Alexa (both are massively widely used and desirable to end users of Sonos) the account system is REQUIRED. There is no way for them NOT to make you register each device with your account, there cannot be one system for one person and one system fore another. As an AV installer I agree it is a massive pain to have to put your password in to add devices but unfortunately they have no choice. And yes, even though us asking for clients passwords to set additional kit up has GDPR implications they still don't really have a choice. As a side note, if you are constantly having to re-add units to your account something is going wrong big time with your network environment. A registered box can be unplugged for a fair amount of time and then plugged back in and it should work, let alone dropping off the network briefly!

I'm already using Sonos as an example of "how not to do things" in my lectures. This is going all the wrong way. The Facebook lesson learned them simply nothing. Time to save your reputation Sonos...

Made an account just to post a reply here, I'm so happy I'm not the only one having this issue! We are officially done with Sonos. Have used it for over 5 years, and it has been the go to Christmas gift when buying people things. I have never made an account ever. Today I go to add a new Sonos One to my home. The app says I need to log into my account, and then shows j************c@hotmail.com. NO idea who that is, doesn't match any email we have ever seen, doesn't match my initials, my husbands, we have no kids etc (plus who uses hotmail anymore?). Nothing I do would work, so finally I see an option to transfer speakers to a new Sonos account. I enter all my info, it then says my password is too weak, has to be 8 characters and include an uppercase and lowercase character. Are you serious? It's a goddamn speaker! My online BANKING is a 6 digit numerical password only, yet SONOS is soooooo secure that you have to use 8 characters with upper and lower.

I go through all of that, it says press play and volume up to add the speaker, I do that, nothing happens. Try for over 15 minutes, does not work. Finally gave up, returned the speaker to Best Buy plus the Sub and Playbar we bought 2 weeks ago, and am selling all the remaining equipment we have. What a total joke, thanks for locking me out of using my speakers.

More than likely that account belonged to an installer, and you could have switched it to anything you wish using the Sonos app. If security is your concern, you could have made it a one-off gmail or yahoo account. But don't let that stop a good rant.

Extraordinary poor judgment to force your customers to log in, in order to use Sonos; have you guys not learnt anything from the FB data abuse and the general trend among customers not wanting to log in/ share private information/ provide emails etc. Will be checking the requirements before buy Sonos again. Just bought a Player5 today