Contributor I

Answered

Bring back the ability to search music library

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
May 8, 2024
119 replies
6027 views

I have been using Sonos for several years, and it is attached to a streaming service and my music library on a USB drive, which has years worth of accumulated music, including a lot not available on streaming. I have just (8 May) updated to the new Sonos app. Now I can still see and trawl through my music library, but cannot search in it. The general search function just returns the streaming and Sonos radio results, and there’s no dedicated search for the music library. This effectively cuts off my access to my own music, by making it prohibitively difficult to find anything. Please bring this functionality back. I know you want to prioritise revenue generation, but this is disrespectful to your customers.

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Best answer by BazDistro

Taking away search capabilities is bad enough—I’m already looking for Sonos alternatives. But they also removed the alphabetic side bar that allowed us to more efficiently move around the library. It’s hard to imagine this was an oversight. It’s a concerted effort to turn us away from our own music libraries and I agree with others who interpret this as egregious disrespect. If things remain unchanged, this is an absolute deal breaker. I don’t use streaming services and never wish to. Sonos is useless if it cannot help me to easily stream my own carefully curated music collection.

S

stein067

Enthusiast I

I agree that the new app is completely disrespectful to many customers. It has turned me from a Sonos lover to a Sonos hater. That is the definition of a bad app upgrade.

J

justinian_77

Lyricist III

I second that motion - Sonos, please bring back the search functionality for local music libraries!

I have c.19,000 tracks across 1400 albums in my local library on a Synology NAS; without a search function, it’s simply not possible to use the new app to select the music I want to listen to, thus rendering a 7-room Sonos system almost completely redundant.

I would love to know whether the removal of the local search was a bug, an oversight or intended functionality? If the latter, what was the reasoning behind it? Its a decision that will put off a lot of long-term customers and early adopters like myself.

R

ripplin'

Lyricist III

The main if not only reason I have joined and invested in the Sonos system is to easily access my massive, personal music library. I have spent a lot of money and time with my digital music collection and it is central to my homestead. Please reinstate the capacity to search one’s own computer for one’s own music. Indeed, optimize it! Thank you.

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wontfunk

Lyricist I

Posted in another thread, but just to add...

Also just found out I’m unable to search Music Library… annoying doesn't even cover it!

Pls sort this out, SONOS!

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Ghazpar

Lyricist I

I mostly use my Sonos system to listen to my music library. You could remove all streaming services, and I would not care all that much. But removing the ability to search my music library is a complete show stopper.

Moreover, not justifying this decision is adding insult to injury.

On top of all that, I find the new search mechanism to be quite a bit lagging.

I am no longer a happy customer ;-(

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wurstbad

Lyricist I

It also stopped showing the artwork and when playing music from the folders it doesnt even show the titles.

this all is unacceptable!

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Nigel64

Lyricist I

I agree with all the comments above I started my system over 15 years when all there was was the bridge / connect and the amp! So I could play my music easily anywhere in my house. Streaming didn’t exist then. While I accept you move with the times Sonos also need to remember where they started from and why so many early adopters bought their systems!

Sonos seem to be very quiet on all the complaints about the new app. Perhaps they should issue a email / statement let us all know what’s happening and how they will resolve all the issues like they did with the S1 debacle.

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mattvenn

Lyricist III

I can only think they have made some kind of deal with streaming services? Why would they do this otherwise?

I

ian02054

Enthusiast II

As they had both "classic" search and new search available in the last update, why don't they just reimplement that in this new release so we can search the local library??? If they can't make it work in the new search, just give the option again to use classic.....not ideal, but if they are incapable of getting it working in the new app..............

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Mike D_1

Lyricist II

does anyone from SONOS read these threads - this issue is causing a MAJOR problem to me and SONOS are not responding at all !!!!!!!

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