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Smix
Contributor I
March 17, 2023

No Controls on iOS lock screen

  • March 17, 2023
  • 22 replies
  • 28048 views

Hi Guys,

I have the latest sonos app version (15.1.1) and the latest iOS firmware (16.3.1) and i can’t see the controls sonos app on my lock screen.

The few same issues related on the forum are outdated.

Can you help me please to resolve this issue?

Thanks in advance,

Regards.

I have 3 Play:1 and 1 Roam at home.

 

Moderator note: We updated this article in October 2023 with new information below.

We’ve removed the ability to control the Sonos app for iOS using lock screen controls and device hardware buttons. The way these features were architected do not meet Apple’s experience guidelines for developers and no longer offer a reliable control experience.

 

The alternatives to controlling volume, mute, tracks that I’m aware of are:

  • Voice control (acknowledging OP rejects this option)
  • Opening up app on phone (again, acknowledging rejection)
  • ‘hard buttons’ on the speakers themselves.
  • For home theatre room, TV remote controls will control volume and mute
  • Various third party smart home remotes
  • Using a different device (tablet, iPad, Mac, PC) that does not lock to control Sonos.

Here’s the release notes about the change.

https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/release-notes-for-sonos-s2

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22 replies

Corry P
Corry P
Sonos Staff
March 20, 2023

Hi @Smix 

Welcome to the Sonos Community!

First, please ensure the setting to do so is enabled:

  1. Open the Sonos app for iOS.
  2. From the Settings tab, tap App Preferences.
  3. Tap Lock Screen Controls to enable.

There’s more info on our Control Sonos from the iOS lock screen help page.

I hope this helps.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
    SmixAuthor
    Contributor I
    March 20, 2023

    Hi @Corry P and thank you for your quick reply.

    I searched the internet (Google, Reddit, SONOS forums...), but apparently, it's a bug that comes from SONOS since one of the last updates of the S2 app. Anyway, that's what I thought I believed.
    P.S. the Lock Screen Controls tab is checked in the app preferences. I even unchecked it, restarted iOS and checked again. Nothing to do.
    Thank you, I will be patient while waiting for the problem to be definitively resolved by the Software team.

    Regards,

    Malik

    Corry P
    Corry P
    Sonos Staff
    March 20, 2023

    Hi @Smix 

    We are not currently tracking any such issues.

    The reports you have read (and the issue you experience) may be related to the following:

    Lock Screen Controls do not appear:

    • If the Lock Screen is paused, after 7 minutes it will be relegated to the Control Centre only
    • If Airplay/Bluetooth is being used
    • If Airplay is enabled on any third-party endpoints
    • If another app is playing audio and takes the Lock Screen over (Spotify/Apple Music)

    On your iOS device, please also navigate to Settings > Face ID (Touch ID) & Passcode. Ensure that Control Centre is enabled.

    That was the short version of the information I found. Here is the longer version:

    Please be aware of the following rules built-in to iOS regarding the lock-screen and how apps interact with it: 

    1. A paused audio app should not enable the lock screen or Control Centre until played. If played it will enable lock screen/Control Centre even if paused after (see below on pausing when device is unlocked)
    2. The last man wins, the last playing music app/video app takes control of the lock screen and control centre and interrupts the audio from the previous application
      • Last man wins does not apply to Sonos. Sonos is a second-class citizen and will give way to any audio playing on the device regardless of playing state of the room
    3. Pausing on the lock screen will keep the lock screen active for 7 minutes, then the app is relegated to Control Centre only
      • Sonos will not relegate to Control Centre. Instead, it will be removed from Control Centre to preserve battery life.
    4. Pausing on the lock screen, unlocking the devices and locking will again relegate the app immediately to Control Centre only.
    5. Unlocking devices and pausing in app, then locking the device will again relegate the app immediately to Control Centre only.

    And the following additional rules that apply to Sonos:

    1. The last room selected in the Sonos app will be displayed on the lock screen. 
      • To control a different zone on the Lock Screen, another room in the Sonos app needs to be selected and playing audio. 
    2. Sonos will give up lock screen to any app playing music or a video as primary audio app (some apps mix and do interrupt - i.e. Instagram)
    3. Home Theatre rooms will not support play/pause or prev/next track skipping.
    4. Plugging headphones into the iOS device will surrender volume control to iOS and the system.
    5. Connecting other audio routes like AirPlay/BT will disable the lock screen and Control Centre for Sonos.
    6. When disconnected from Sonos for 5 minutes, the Lock Screen and Control Centre will be disabled.
    7. For iOS 9 spilt screen apps, when Sonos is on screen and another application is playing audio, Sonos will give up all volume control and lock screen to the other application.
    8. Disabling "Hardware Volume Controls" in the iOS settings app for Sonos will also disable volume control from the lock screen. 

    I hope this helps.

    "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
      SmixAuthor
      Contributor I
      March 21, 2023

      Hello again @Corry P 

      I'm sorry to contradict this text which seems official, but in my case, like that of many friends, Lock Screen Controls does not appear in the control center of iOS.

      Please find attached the screenshots of my iPhone with all the settings supposed to enable sono on the lock screen (with those you mentioned above). 

      Unfortunately, it still doesn't work for me. So did I miss something?

      Regards,

      Screenshots:

       

        Ken_Griffiths
        Ken_Griffiths
        March 21, 2023

        @Smix,

        Maybe try a reboot of the controller device and/or router - the iOS lock screen controls for Sonos are definitely working okay here for my S2 setup. See screenshot attached, taken a few minutes ago.

         

          SmixAuthor
          Contributor I
          March 21, 2023

          Hi @Ken_Griffiths 

          No way and nothing new happened rebooting my router.

          BTW, is this any special setting on router when running a device like Mikrotik Brand?

          Ken_Griffiths
          Ken_Griffiths
          March 21, 2023

          Hi @Ken_Griffiths 

          No way and nothing new happened rebooting my router.

          BTW, is this any special setting on router when running a device like Mikrotik Brand?

          Not that I’m aware of @Smix  - I actually don’t use any lock-screen controls that often and normally have them disabled in the Sonos app, so all I did was enable them in “Settings/App Preferences” moments before I posted the screenshot in my last post, but I know if you have ‘other’ Airplay beacons running on the LAN subnet, then the lock-screen controls don’t work (as stated in the FAQ) … The only other Airplay beacon I have, is an Apple TV4 and so I just ensured that was powered off, the Sonos controls then work for me, I also ensured the S2 App had ‘focus’ before I locked the iPhone XR.

            SmixAuthor
            Contributor I
            March 21, 2023

            @Ken_Griffiths

            Now i understand the issue’s origin, as i have airplay beacons running on a macmini acting as an airplay server.

            I will deal with that and thank you so much for your help.

            Ragerds,

            Malik

              peds
              Contributor I
              April 8, 2023

              I agree with @Smix .

              I have the latest Sonos update successfully installed and am running iOS 16.4.1. I confirm that after rebooting/restarting every related device and checking everything mentioned in this thread the Sonos lock screen widget is gone from my iPhone.

              1st world problem but annoying nevertheless.

              Regards,

              Peds

                SamMon
                Lyricist I
                April 17, 2023

                Same issue. 
                Tried all the above. 
                Spotify, Music, BBC Sounds all show controller in Lock Screen. 
                Quit all apps, launch and play Sonos. 
                Still no controller. 
                worked a few weeks ago. Not sure what update might have caused this (iPhone or Sonos)

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