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Griff_
Contributor I
May 8, 2024
Answered

Bring back the ability to search music library

  • 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. 

    119 replies

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    madmachinery
    Lyricist II
    May 13, 2024

    NOT SURE IF THIS HELPS YOU.

    "Can I revert to a previous version of an app iOS?

    To do this, go to the My Apps section in iTunes; you will find all the purchased and synced applications. Choose the app to downgrade and select the version number from Get INFO" 

    This might still be available from Windows or an older version of macOS. iTunes for macOS has been replaced with Apple Music which is primarily focused on Apple’s Music service and no longer syncs iOS apps.

    We have a PC running Windows in our house, so I may try this. Thanks, @moe_2020!

    moe_2020
    Contributor I
    May 13, 2024

    NOT SURE IF THIS HELPS YOU.

    "Can I revert to a previous version of an app iOS?

    To do this, go to the My Apps section in iTunes; you will find all the purchased and synced applications. Choose the app to downgrade and select the version number from Get INFO" 

    This might still be available from Windows or an older version of macOS. iTunes for macOS has been replaced with Apple Music which is primarily focused on Apple’s Music service and no longer syncs iOS apps.

    We have a PC running Windows in our house, so I may try this. Thanks, @moe_2020!

    I hope it helps because the new app is literally unusable, let me know if it works, so we can advise others. 

      paul55
      Lyricist II
      May 13, 2024

      Rediculous that it will take that long to reinstate features that should never have been taken away. Better than nothing but mid June is far away, can’t believe we’ll have to deal with this rubbish app for that long.
       

      @Sonos, why can’t you just make the old app available and let us install it instead and forget about the mess you created with this new app. If I was in charge I would scrap the new app entirely and forget that it ever happened, it is an embarrassment. Why make loyal customers wait months while their systems are useless.

      Its possible to re-download the older app version from mirror sites.  Someone sent me a link and now I'm enjoying my music library again. 

        Boyd Howdy
        Lyricist I
        May 14, 2024

        I recently bought 2 Sonos Move speakers on the assumption that I could use the Sonos app to access my 120k tracks on my Synology NAS. Finding that Sonos could only handle 65k tracks was a disappointment, but at least I could access the most important stuff on my personal library using the app. Now with the app update my ability to use my personal library is effectively limited to things that start with ‘A’ . NO rapid scrolling, NO jumping by alphabet, and NO searching. It seems like Sonos is planning to have support for personal libraries fade away. At least I am within the return window on Amazon for the speakers.

          ddsski
          Lyricist III
          May 14, 2024

          There are other products out there I will be researched. It's like Sonos some of the planned obsolescence cast boff from Apple. Need to learn how to go back to the old program. This SUCKS. 17yr user is ready to punt

            Schweizermag
            Enthusiast I
            May 14, 2024

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

            Dead right. Aimed at generating more revenue by directing you to where they want you to go and they where they will pick up payment for each user. Absolutely disgraceful.

              Xanti
              Lyricist I
              May 14, 2024

              Hola, pensaba que Sonos era una empresa diferente tanto en productos, software y atención a sus clientes pero tras esta actualización de la aplicación se encaminan hacia un futuro con un camino equivocado. No permitir el acceso a las bibliotecas locales para que los usuarios puedan disfrutar de ellas en sus productos va a hacer que su empresa sea del montón y muchas personas no elegirán comprar sus altavoces y los que somos clientes nos querremos marchar. Es irrespetuoso hacia quienes tenemos sonos y es arriesgado para los nuevos. 

              Espero rectificación pero mientras esto no ocurra la mejor opción es quitar la nueva aplicación y reinstalar la inmediatamente anterior.

              Gracias y ojalá lo arreglen

              Ronmac13
              Lyricist III
              May 14, 2024

              Total screw up!

              disrespectful to customers by people who do not understand their customer base similar to other US companies driving away the core base.

              when I updated the search etc disappeared but the next day the source also disappeared. Tried the usual reboot of device, router etc but nothing.

              needs fixing NOW not mid June or whatever

              had sonos for well over 10 years

                jmjonson
                Lyricist I
                May 14, 2024

                This change really makes the product less interesting and I regret buying so many.
                When I read about the changes I was really hoping to be able to keep the old app but the new one was forced on me!
                Now I suddenly can find my library but only play one song at the time. Not a complete record.

                  Ronmac13
                  Lyricist III
                  May 14, 2024

                  This change really makes the product less interesting and I regret buying so many.
                  When I read about the changes I was really hoping to be able to keep the old app but the new one was forced on me!
                  Now I suddenly can find my library but only play one song at the time. Not a complete record.

                  My NAS has now disappeared completely from the app

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