Question

Is Sonos killing local libraries with these new software updates?

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
May 7, 2024
40 replies
1838 views

Just updated the iOS app and I don’t see any way to search or access my local library on my computer.

I know this was the case when Sonos updated the search feature in the S2 app, but now it seems like there’s no “classic search” option.

What’s the deal?

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.

Show previous replies

Ken_Griffiths

The Web App also has local library access so check there to see if it is visible (in Your Sources at the bottom). In my experience the entries in Your Sources on the Android app are very flakey, I think something is timing out too early when it’s populated. I rarely have all three entries that should be ther (TV, Line-In and Library) but it’s random which one is missing.

The TV icon will only show of course if a Home Theatre Sonos ‘room’ is in focus in the App’s mini player at the bottom of the screen. So number of icons under ‘Your Sources’ may change for that reason. I’m not sure why the local Music Library icon may disappear though. I haven’t figured that one out, but I’ve not noticed it here at the moment.

I’m still keeping an eye out for it to happen though.

buzz

Grand Maestro

Is it possible that a sleeping NAS will not be discovered? Or, not be discovered fast enough? I find that the SONOS Apps are a bit impatient. If there is a lot to be discovered, IE: multiple players, services, and favorites, the App might time out. I can imagine that LAN and remote access times could be in this mix.

E

Emanef

Avid Contributor I

OK, so I’m on a chat with a Sonos support chat person and they’ve said;

“I understand how much of an inconvenience this must be so I'll try my best to help you with this situation. The option to access your Music Library via your phone is currently not available via the new app. The features will be re-added in the app in a future update but for now it is not available. We recommend using the desktop app for Music Library control until the feature will be reinstated in the new app.”

When I mentioned it’s in the iOS app and someone on here has it on their Android tablet, they said;

“It is missing from both iOS and Android, some might still be able to control it and some controllers might not be able to. You can try to update your app and see if there is any updates pending that allow you to control the Music Library, but overall the option is not working altogether until an official fix will be rolled out” and “many features are delayed from the new app, they will be reinstated in a new update.”

So there you go, according to that support person, anyone who does have access to their local sources on their mobile apps should think themselves lucky! Seems a crazy omission to me, to replace a perfectly working app with a very limited replacement without giving users a choice to wait.

buzz

Grand Maestro

Desktop controllers can play local Music Library tracks.

Ken_Griffiths

OK, so I’m on a chat with a Sonos support chat person and they’ve said;

“I understand how much of an inconvenience this must be so I'll try my best to help you with this situation. The option to access your Music Library via your phone is currently not available via the new app. The features will be re-added in the app in a future update but for now it is not available. We recommend using the desktop app for Music Library control until the feature will be reinstated in the new app.”

When I mentioned it’s in the iOS app and someone on here has it on their Android tablet, they said;

“It is missing from both iOS and Android, some might still be able to control it and some controllers might not be able to. You can try to update your app and see if there is any updates pending that allow you to control the Music Library, but overall the option is not working altogether until an official fix will be rolled out” and “many features are delayed from the new app, they will be reinstated in a new update.”

So there you go, according to that support person, anyone who does have access to their local sources on their mobile apps should think themselves lucky! Seems a crazy omission to me, to replace a perfectly working app with a very limited replacement without giving users a choice to wait.

I can access my NAS local library from my iPad, iPhone and Android controller devices using the new Sonos App, or Web App. The library share is using the SMBv2 protocol.

Note SMBv1 and http library shares are not available to the new Sonos App, or Web App, but they are ‘still’ accessible via the Sonos Desktop Controller App.

Ken_Griffiths

If using a Windows PC for a local music library share using the older SMB/http protocols, then this link gives a step-by-step guide on how to setup an SMBv2 share in its place (using Windows 11) to apparently make the library share compatible with the new Sonos App/Web App…

https://en.community.sonos.com/controllers-and-music-services-229131/adding-a-windows-smb-share-step-by-step-6892060

Ken_Griffiths

I believe the reason manufacturers, like Microsoft and Sonos etc. are stepping away from SMBv1 is perhaps partly explained here in this link…

https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/smb-protocol-explained-understanding-its-security-risks-and-best-practices

P

Philip Allcock

Lyricist III

“It sounds like the authority to access the local network is perhaps the issue here.”

I don’t think so because the Sonos app on my android phone was still able to play the current album from the library. And if I changed the current song (from the old app running on the PC that hosts the library) then that new song/album is now visible from the phone and I can freely play it. What I can’t do is browse the library, and any attempt to do so just generates “Something went wrong” errors. So I think it’s deliberate.

I’ve rolled back to 16.1 via APK and disabled updates of app and firmware. This is the third time I’ve had library functionality arbitrarily removed from my Sonos and had to find a workaround and/or move to a new library, and I am SO fed up with Sonos. It’s like buying a four-door car because you need four doors, and having them come around in the night and “upgrade” it to a two-door version! Not getting any more of my money, that’s for sure, but would kind of like to keep using what I’ve already paid for!

S

stevepow

Prominent Collaborator I

Plex is definitely over the top, but it works and is free. No need for the Pass subscription unless you want to go deeper into it. It also does some odd things like needing an internet connection - it wants to do something outside of my local network and I have no idea what that is. So I’m not loving that.

Less of a hassle is the SonoPhone app (only iOS) or Android can rollback. SonoPhone isn’t the best interface either, but it works with my music library well. I haven’t had any “buggy” issues with it at all.

T

Tod

Contributor I

That’s weird, I can see them in the old app and play them to. I can also access them via an app I have built ie:

I will be using this going forward rather that the appalling sonos app.

Hey, you said “app you built.” Can you explain? Is this an IOS app you create? Windows? I’m surprised many folks smarter than me haven’t created a “sonos knock off” app.

Sign up

Login to the community