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LindyLogan
Contributor I
May 30, 2026 10:09 PM UTC
Answered

How to create playlists

1. How can I create ad-free playlists of various genres? 
2. Does Sonos still block playing downloaded music from my iPhone? 

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Airgetlam
AirgetlamAnswer
May 30, 2026 10:41 PM UTC

‘Ad free’ depends on the service streaming the content. 
 

Apple blocked the streaming of music for various vendors several years ago. You can, if your Sonos speakers allow it, use AirPlay 2 to connect your iPhone, and use the ‘player’ installed on your iPhone, such as ‘Music’ by Apple. Sonos controller (the app on your iPhone’ is not a player, it is merely a remote control. 

I would consider moving the music (or as I’ve done, copied) from your iPhone to a desktop (Mac or Windows), or NAS. Neither Apple nor Google have blocked SMB access (the method Sonos uses to access data from those devices). 

Bruce
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8 replies

Airgetlam
AirgetlamAnswer
May 30, 2026 10:41 PM UTC

‘Ad free’ depends on the service streaming the content. 
 

Apple blocked the streaming of music for various vendors several years ago. You can, if your Sonos speakers allow it, use AirPlay 2 to connect your iPhone, and use the ‘player’ installed on your iPhone, such as ‘Music’ by Apple. Sonos controller (the app on your iPhone’ is not a player, it is merely a remote control. 

I would consider moving the music (or as I’ve done, copied) from your iPhone to a desktop (Mac or Windows), or NAS. Neither Apple nor Google have blocked SMB access (the method Sonos uses to access data from those devices). 

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Bruce
Airgetlam
Airgetlam
May 30, 2026 10:42 PM UTC

Oh, creating a playlist is covered here. 

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Bruce
    LindyLoganAuthor
    Contributor I
    May 30, 2026 11:06 PM UTC

    Thanks, Bruce. I don’t know where/how to find Air Play. 

    And when I look at the song currently playing, I see 3 dots at the lower right, but that only gives me options to save to Sonos favorites, search, crossfade, or sleep timer. I don’t see anything that says create/add a playlist. 

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    Airgetlam
    Airgetlam
    May 30, 2026 11:27 PM UTC

    Having issues posting a screenshot…hang on a sec (minute or two)

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    Bruce
    Airgetlam
    Airgetlam
    May 30, 2026 11:27 PM UTC

     

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    Bruce
    Airgetlam
    Airgetlam
    May 30, 2026 11:30 PM UTC

    Ok, now that’s posted, explanations. Pull down on the top left of your iPhone, uou’ll see much as I’ve posted from my iPad.

     

    Click on the top left doohickey, that looks like a triangle under concentric circles. That will pull up the AirPlay 2 screen, where any devices that play AirPlay 2 will show up. Let me screen cap that, too, just for help.

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    Bruce
    Airgetlam
    Airgetlam
    May 30, 2026 11:32 PM UTC

    Ok, you can see both my iPad, a bunch of capable Sonos speakers, and other devices that can accept AirPlay 2 there. When you choose one of them, all sounds that normally come from your iPhone will be sent there. OS sounds, and music playing. 

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    Bruce
    Airgetlam
    Airgetlam
    May 30, 2026 11:33 PM UTC

    What song are you playing, and what’s the source?

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    Bruce
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