Why don't SONOS Updates ever work?

Updates now are painful at best, non existant at worse, so far since over 10 years my system has pretty much done a software update the first time, if not the second time, and been 100% rock solid. All of a sudden I have 2 Sonos One products that plain refuse to update no matter what I do to a point I am convinced by matter of elimination Sonos has introduced something in the previous update to cause this. None of my tech has been changed, moved, repaired, reconfigured or anything else and all of a sudden this happens. I am fed up of FAQ advice saying ridiculous suggestions like: reset your router, wifi etc/power off/move your sonos closer to wifi, connect via cable/look at the solutions on the website yadda yadda blah blah when none of it works and it is merely a fob off and diversion to what is actually causing it. Clearly they have done something to make life difficult so we legacy users buy new, well that’s fine I will, I give in but it won’t be Sonos.

A year after this thread started, the Sonos Mac update finds ever more creative ways to generate frustration.

I typically get around the update by downloading the app and again and replacing my old one. Today, though, I tried the update and was told I needed to register my devices (the newest of which I’ve had for months). Hitting the register button let me to a message saying my Sonos system was up-to-date and giving another option to register the products which told me my  system was up-to-date and so on. There was no option just to continue.

Eventually a system window showed up briefly. But, by the time I saw it, the register screen again took its place.

I’m playing music on my Sonos One right now. But, I cannot select anything new from my Mac Laptop. So, I’m listening to the same thing on that device that has been playing for a month now.

I repeat, nothing on my setup has been changed, I know this is a Sonos issue, to add further the 2 devices that will not take the update are version 11.14, build 572150280 HW Version 1.20.1.6-2.2 and the Sonos one which updates is 11.14 build 572151190 HW Version 1.8.3.7-2.2. Strange coincidence both devices are the exact same that refuse the update - I know for sure this is the cause of the issue clearly with Sonos

Wait a couple of days and the app wil be replaced by a web environment. You could also use a phone to command Sonos.

I've been a Sonos advocate for years and today have had 3 different frustrating, dumb yet intractable issues:
1. app doing the exact same as above (just keep getting the “update” button...”up to date”...and can even get the details of the system, but no way to use the controller).
2. Stereo pair not working. Nothing wrong with the speakers or connection as they work fine on their own. No error message. Just no sound from one of the pair. Reinstalled and working fine...now….
3. Play 1 speaker not updating (so now completely unusable).

Definitely starting to think about moving away from this increasing sh1t show.

Every time there is an update there is a problem, not to mention that everything is always changed to make it hard to find. The point of any of these systems is to for them to be intuitive and easy to use! If you have to update something internal fair enough but why change the appearance every time and move things just for the sake of it.

I for one would definitely change systems but when you have 5 or more pieces of Sonos equipment you are in too deep and held hostage. 

Why do they insist on fiddling and then doing things that don’t work initially. Surely things should be thoroughly tested before roll out!!!!

The volume control isn’t working properly, pairing rooms is a nightmare and everything has a massive delay. Please don’t talk to me about my Wi-Fi as that hasn’t changed, it is top quality fibre optic and everything else works perfectly.

Comments Sonos????

Did this happen? I’m still getting messages to update the app and going through the same ridiculous loops.

What are you trying to do? Can you not update your Sonos phone app at its App Store?

If trying to update your speakers, try doing it instead via the desktop app for Windows or Mac which often solves update issues that the phone app can’t solve. 

The problem is the app on my Mac which, as of yesterday, has the same problem as always. Choosing the update option never updates. So, I download a new app which then reports to me that one of my products isn’t registered (they are all registered with Sonos). I’m left unable to manage any device from my desktop.

I thought a radically new version of the desktop app was coming available to address this long standing and rather absurd problem.

I prefer having a larger display area with my options easily accessible, something I often don’t feel on phone apps. Of course, if no option is accessible—as is the case on my desktop—it appears Sonos has made the choice for me.

I thought I’d add to this massive thread in the hope that somehow these issues will go away. I too have had my system (4 products) for around ten years and I also have the same issues referred to in this post. I use both the Windows desktop and the Android apps - today, my Windows Desktop gives the “There was a problem during the update of your Sonos system” (see attached). So I go to my Android app and this one is showing “We were unable to find your products. You can factory reset the product to reconnect it to the network” - which is boll***s because if I back out, I can play music. 

I also note many of my services are no longer available, such as SOMAFM on TuneIn and Soundcloud, yet, I can play my Soundcloud playlist - so the service is fine.

Worth noting that I’ve worked in I.T. Support for over 30 years, so clearly I’ve done all the basics and spent a lot of time troubleshooting, but I really shouldn’t have to - though I know development gets it wrong sometimes and compatibility issues are imminent - but the arrogance of Sonos to think that their customers are just going to keep “resetting their router, resetting their players etc” up to 10 times a year, is not on.

I for one will certainly be spending time looking for an alternative product, because we are now of an age where we do not have to put up with poor software management and bad customer service. 

Note: I’ve just read the latest reviews of the Sonos Android app on Google Play Store - wow!