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Vizzola
Contributor I
April 24, 2025
Answered

Frustration with the Sonos App!!!!

  • April 24, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 190 views

I use my iPad as the controller for Sonos but sometimes I can’t switch the Sonos off! I can actually switch off the iPad and the speakers keep playing? Very weird. I have to shut down the app then go round and switch the speakers (x4) off at the mains and back on again to make them silent?
 

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Best answer by Airgetlam

The Sonos system runs on the speakers. The controller itself is only a remote view device looking in to what is happening on the system itself. So turning off the controller device will have no effect on your Sonos. Much like walking out of the TV room with the TV’s remote doesn’t stop your TV from working. 

As explained, in order to turn off the music, you just need to go back into the remote, and ‘pause/stop’ the music. After a certain amount of time, the speakers will enter sleep mode, a reduced power state, much like your TV does, waiting for the next command. 

4 replies

DonkeySong
Enthusiast I
April 24, 2025

Turning off your iPad or force closing the app won’t stop the music playing ever. If the speakers become unresponsive in the app it’s probably the buggy app crapping out or a network issue. Best to call support. 

Airgetlam
AirgetlamAnswer
April 24, 2025

The Sonos system runs on the speakers. The controller itself is only a remote view device looking in to what is happening on the system itself. So turning off the controller device will have no effect on your Sonos. Much like walking out of the TV room with the TV’s remote doesn’t stop your TV from working. 

As explained, in order to turn off the music, you just need to go back into the remote, and ‘pause/stop’ the music. After a certain amount of time, the speakers will enter sleep mode, a reduced power state, much like your TV does, waiting for the next command. 

Bruce
Rhonny
Prodigy III
April 25, 2025

I use my iPad as the controller for Sonos but sometimes I can’t switch the Sonos off! I can actually switch off the iPad and the speakers keep playing? Very weird. I have to shut down the app then go round and switch the speakers (x4) off at the mains and back on again to make them silent?
 

If pressing pause isn’t stopping the music, I’d turn off your phone (or iPad) and turn off your router. Then turn the router back on and let it fully reboot, then turn the phone/iPad back on and let it load up.

Then try playing and pausing the music again in the Sonos app. 

DonkeySong
Enthusiast I
April 25, 2025

I use my iPad as the controller for Sonos but sometimes I can’t switch the Sonos off! I can actually switch off the iPad and the speakers keep playing? Very weird. I have to shut down the app then go round and switch the speakers (x4) off at the mains and back on again to make them silent?
 

If pressing pause isn’t stopping the music, I’d turn off your phone (or iPad) and turn off your router. Then turn the router back on and let it fully reboot, then turn the phone/iPad back on and let it load up.

Then try playing and pausing the music again in the Sonos app. 

Just to add to this excellent advice I’ve also found that the desktop app, SonoPhone and ikea symfonisk hardware controls work 100% of the time when the new crappy Sonos iOS app does not, ymmv. 

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