Personal music library features removed in the new May 7 2024 app version

I still cannot access the Music Library on my iMac in the new Sonos App. When trying to manage access, all I get is ‘Sonos was unable to add the music folder. Unable to add the shared folder “//IANSIMAC/IPOD to your Music Library (913). I thought this was going to be sorted ‘Mid-June’. What is the latest please?

I have the same issue (but on a Windows device).

Hi @Apolloslyre and @Ian_73 and others. A little context: some years back, Sonos added their own proprietary music library mechanism, building it right into the Windows and Mac desktop apps.

• Good news: that mechanism (called “http sharing”) was super easy to use and required zero knowledge of setting up ‘conventional’ file sharing using the tools built into Windows and MacOS.
• Bad news: http sharing klunky and insecure.
• Really bad news: Sonos pulled the plug on http sharing unceremoniously last month. Yet they left the appearance of super easy music library setup in the desktop apps.
• More bad news: rather than popping up a kinda-sorta helpful message along the lines of “Hi there, sorry, we don’t support this any more, click here to read all about the solution” someone decided “Error 913” was all you were gonna get.
• SUMMARY: there is NO local library setup mechanism built into the Windows/Mac desktop apps.

Early last month (a few days before the new app dropped) I wrote up a set of instructions to access your local library music on Windows 11.

I hope this helps you re-access your music!

Along these lines - anyone else noticing serious skipping going on when using a local music library but when using streaming services (Amazon Music or Bandcamp in my case) it works without any real issue?

My music library is on a pretty powerful iMac, the wireless network between everything seems pretty good as best I can tell.  But any song I play from the local library skips horrendously; completely unusable.

»  Yes, looks like folder feature is removed now forever. For me it renders Sonos speakers useless. My bill to them for all the struggle over the years for the messy app updates and multiple removed features is to walk away from this brand - untrustworthy and money grabbing brand.

Yes, Sonos is the worst of the worst.  I spent $1,000 on a Sonos system, which worked for about 8 years.  Suddenly, without warning, Sonos pulled the plug.  The last six weeks I’ve been unable to play my 2GB Music Library stored on my PC’s hard drive despite googling right and left and reading posts on this forum.  It’s impossible to call in without waiting hours, only to get someone to read a script.

Don’t ever buy a Sonos product.  Ever.

I have no longer any trust in Sonos.

Moderator Note: Modified in accordance with the Community Code of Conduct.

I’ve been sharing music off an actual Windows 2019 server for years now, using SMBv2/3, with a standard working share, permissions, etc. Has been working great on the old version until this latest app debacle.  Then the app basically stopped working, could no longer see my local library. No matter what. Figured it was just due to the fact that the mobile app was half-baked. The Desktop controller app continues to work fine. It sees all speakers. It sees the shared library… I can direct local music or streams to certain speakers. Protocols and network are working fine. This has nothing to do with this SMBv1 issue that everyone seems to be running into. SMBv1 isn’t even enabled on the Windows Server… it’s disabled by default. I applaud those who are helping others through this Error 913 issue, but this issue is not that. It’s purely the inability of the mobile app to function correctly.

A few weeks ago, the “music library” made a brief appearance on the mobile app, then pretty much disappeared for good. Then on the last app update (80.03.03)… it FINALLY started showing the “music library” under “sources” again. But, not for long… as it will just disappear… then come back… disappear… comes back. Sometimes it will stay for a while… Then all my devices disappear… one, a few, or all come back. Half the time, the screen looks like it’s trying to load.  So when you really need it, the speaker and/or the library will be nowhere to be found. It’s beyond frustrating.

The reason I bought Sonos was to play music from my local library without the need for internet. I believe this is all about to change. If you don’t have a working internet connection, there’s a good chance your app is not going to work, and being able to play local music will no longer be possible.

I also believe Sonos will be slowly moving to a paid subscription model. Want to play your own music? Want to listen or make use of streaming through Pandora or Spotify?  That’s going to be a small fee per month. Other music systems are starting to go down this path… I believe Sonos will also be jumping on that train to keep that cash flow coming in.

I will bet you a brand new Sonos Arc (or its future equivalent) that Sonos will not charge any mandatory monthly fee for use of their system, aside from a voluntary fee like that of Sonos Radio Premium.  You can even set the time limit on when the cutoff is to call one of us the winner.  Are you up for it?  Will you put the FUD where your wallet is?

Sadly, I am already in the process of replacing my Sonos products. Besides, I’ve already got a Sony HT-A5000 soundbar, which is more than I could ask for, and would never want to replace it with a Sonos. I wouldn’t necessarily call it FUD… I would call it a bad feeling, or even a good possibility based on current market trends. Sticking your head in the sand and telling yourself that everything is going to be alright in the end due to your extreme product loyalty is certainly something you can continue doing, but I’m not going to be around for it. Enjoy your new Sonos Arc!

You name the device at a comparable price.  Come on, if you trust your own analysis, how can you go wrong?  If you aren't really spreading FUD, this one is an easy win, right?  

Unlike you, I don’t need to take it to this extreme kind of level. I will simply be satisfied knowing that some day you will probably be forking over money to Sonos to use their system/network/app, which you will probably have normalized over time, rationalizing that it’s completely fine… and on the flip-side, you can be satisfied that for the next foreseeable future, Sonos will still not be charging you for their system/network/app, and I would be in the wrong, but much happier with a different system. Just end it there. There’s really no need to get your knickers in a twist over this.