Skip to main content
dani.w_nders
Trending Lyricist I
November 4, 2022

Cannot adjust volume buttons with Android phone unless I'm in Spotify or Sonos app

  • November 4, 2022
  • 42 replies
  • 4180 views

Hi Team!
 

I rented a Sonos Five for a few months on Grover and was very happy with it.

Now I purchased my own device and I ran into the following problem which is quite detrimental to the experience.

This applies to the Spotify Listening, which I always use via the Spotify App on my Android Phone.

 

Before, I could always control the volume from wherever I am.

Now I cannot control the volume unless I am currently in the Spotify or Sonos app.

If I change the volume when the phone is locked or I am outside the Spotify or Sonos app, it just controls the phone ringtone volume.
So every time I have to adjust the volume, i need  to unlock the phone, open one of the 2 apps, and control the volume. this does take up a lot of time because i need to adjust the volume very frequently.

 

I already adjusted the settings as shown in the following articles

 

Control Sonos volume with a mobile device’s hardware buttons

Control Sonos from the Android lock screen

 

Any clue on how to fix this?

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.
Pinned Reply By Corry P

Hi all,

I was able to resolve this issue on my own Android 9 device in the following way:

Android Settings » Notifications » Sonos (tap the name Sonos, not the switch) » disable Background Services.

Hopefully, the same method will work on Android versions 10 and 11, though it will not work on 12 and will likely not work on versions later than 12, due to changes in the Android operating system. This fix comes from 

No official updates as of yet.

I hope this helps.

42 replies

dani.w_nders
Trending Lyricist I
November 28, 2022

Hi there,

I updated my phone from Android 12 to Android 13 last night, and now it works perfectly just like before!

Even if I play from my Spotify App to my SONOS, I can change the Spotify Volume from the Home/Lock Screen by default (when I press volume buttons). 🤩
So it seems to be an Android issue as I expected.

 

@Rich86 have you tried it out?

Rich86
Lyricist I
November 28, 2022

@dani.w_nders thanks for the info! Unfortunately my phone is 1 version too old and won't be getting Android 13 so I'm stuck with Android 12 or a new phone (which I don't want as this is only just over 2 years old and works really well still!!). Never mind, at least I know the feature will work as and when I get a new phone this time next year!!

dani.w_nders
Trending Lyricist I
December 2, 2022

Okidoke!

I confirm that after several days this still works perfectly.

I will make sure to update this thread in case anything changes.

Contributor I
December 11, 2022

@dani.w_nders  I have an Android 13 Pixel 7 and am NOT able to control Sonos volume from the lock screen using the volume controls. This only works if i unlock the phone and open the Sonos app.

It used to work from the lock screen until Android 12 was upgraded to 13 about a year or so ago. 

Is my understanding correct that you are able to adjust Sonos volume with the volume controls when the phone is locked?

Thanks

dani.w_nders
Trending Lyricist I
December 11, 2022

@dani.w_nders

Is my understanding correct that you are able to adjust Sonos volume with the volume controls when the phone is locked?

That's correct! It works by default. 

Both on the home screen and also when the phone is locked, screen off. If I press the volume buttons it controls the Sonos volume. 

Both when Sonos is playing music but even if the Spotify app is playing music through the Sonos. 

I'm using android 13, Samsung s21

Sorry it's not been working for you :(

Contributor I
December 11, 2022

Thanks @dani.w_nders  - Interesting that this must be a Pixel specific issue then. I did read that there was some ongoing bun-fight between Sonos and Google but would have thought this would have impacted all Android implementations not just Pixel. I wonder if any other Pixel users reading this have run into this issue - especially if they have found a work-around.

Lyricist I
December 11, 2022

I have a pixel 6a, running android 13 and am having the same issue. This function used to work fine on my pixel 2, whether I was controlling music through Sonos or Spotify.  

Corry P
Corry PPinned
Sonos Staff
December 15, 2022

Hi all,

I was able to resolve this issue on my own Android 9 device in the following way:

Android Settings » Notifications » Sonos (tap the name Sonos, not the switch) » disable Background Services.

Hopefully, the same method will work on Android versions 10 and 11, though it will not work on 12 and will likely not work on versions later than 12, due to changes in the Android operating system. This fix comes from 

No official updates as of yet.

I hope this helps.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
Lyricist III
December 30, 2022

Pixel 5, Android 13, Sonos S2 14.20.1 build 70436090 I have both Home Screen Volume Control and Lock Screen Controls turned on, but neither of them work, as @dani.w_nders described above. Android 13 didn’t resolve the issue. I also notice that when I click the 3 dots under my volume control (which by default adjusts my notifications volume when Sonos is on, not media volume), I don’t see Sonos volume in the list, like I used to. 

Virtuoso
December 31, 2022

Samsung S20 and Android 12 for me. 

Unless the Sonos S1 app is active on screen the volume buttons will not adjust Sonos.

Always used to do it on the Home Screen.