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Ramtin
Contributor I
March 27, 2025

What is Sonos' plan for transitioning from Google Assistant to Gemini?

  • March 27, 2025
  • 59 replies
  • 16031 views

With Android phones moving to Gemini, this change interferes with using Google Assistant on Sonos devices. If Google Assistant is not already set up on Sonos, the setup process now redirects to Gemini, making it impossible to connect GA to Sonos. For those who have GA already activated, enabling Gemini on the phone causes GA on Sonos to respond with a connection issue, rendering it unusable.

 

This creates a difficult choice for users either stop using GA on Sonos or avoid switching to Gemini on their phones. Given that GA is likely to be fully replaced by Gemini in the near future, how does Sonos plan to address this transition and ensure continued voice assistant functionality on its devices?

 

 

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    AJ2029292
    Contributor I
    July 25, 2025

    I'm so over all this crap, I've returned my new system, goodbye Sonos

      Corry P
      Corry P
      Sonos Staff
      July 28, 2025

      Hi ​@Thomas TT. 

      Sorry to hear about the issue you are still having with adding Google Assistant to your Move and Arc speakers.

      To be clear, you should be able to.

      I can only recommend that you get back in touch with our technical support team for assistance.

      I hope this helps.

      "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
      Smilja
      Smilja
      July 28, 2025

      @Corry P, Could this be the root cause of the current issues with “Adding Google Assistant to Sonos?” It looks like GA is being phased out by Google.

       

      https://blog.google/products/gemini/google-assistant-gemini-mobile/

      »And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space, Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.« (›Windmills Of Your Mind‹ [1967]. Music by Michel Legrand ; English lyrics written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman)
      Corry P
      Corry P
      Sonos Staff
      July 28, 2025

      Hi ​@Smilja 

      It seems likely to me, but I cannot confirm.

      We are aware that if you have Gemini installed and set as the device default, then it needs to be set to standard Google Assistant for the duration of adding the assistant to a speaker, but if that does not help, I don’t know what the issue would be.

      I hope this helps.

      "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
      AJ2029292
      Contributor I
      July 28, 2025

      ​@Corry P That does not help. I think Sonos are being deliberately dishonest, here is the lowdown:

       

      Summary of what I found on my own, after following bad advice from Sonos:

       

      It’s highly unlikely that Sonos will re-enable Google Assistant support on older devices where it has already been removed due to the rollout of Gemini (Google’s new AI platform). The transition has introduced significant compatibility issues:

       

      1. Google’s Platform Shift

      • Google is phasing out classic Google Assistant in favour of Gemini, and devices that weren’t set up with Assistant before this change can no longer do so. Even enabling Gemini on a phone can break previously enabled Assistant functionality on Sonos devices.WIRED+15The Verge+15Sonos Community+15

      2. Sonos App Limitations

      • According to official statements and community moderators, the current Sonos app cannot re-add Google Assistant to devices that didn’t already have it–even despite software updates. Sonos has stated the feature will return “in due course”, but no timeline has been provided. Sonos Community

      • If Assistant was active before, it can still function, but new setups or re-installs will not work.Sonos CommunitySonos CommunitySonos Community

      3. Sonos Community Feedback

      • Sonos staff and users confirm: GA is unlikely to ever be supported on newer devices and older units may only retain support if Assistant was already configured. There is no plan to replace it with Gemini.Reddit+15Sonos Community+15Sonos Community+15

      • Many users report that after factory resets, long outages, or mobile device upgrades (like switching to Gemini), Assistant simply cannot be re-enabled.

      Corry P
      Corry P
      Sonos Staff
      July 28, 2025

      Hi ​@AJ2029292 

      I don’t think we are being deliberately dishonest - it is entirely likely that we (or rather, I and many others, but perhaps not everyone) do not know.

      I have asked for further clarification on this matter, which I will provide if/when possible, but in the meantime, all I can say is that Google Assistant is officially supported on Sonos, and should be able to be added if Gemini is not selected as the default assistant on an Android device.

      Having said that, I just tried to add GA to my own speaker and failed - I documented the failure and have reported it. I’ll let you know what I hear back.

      Although these steps did not help in my case, I will include them here in case they do help someone:

      Users may have issues linking Google Assistant with their Sonos system. The process of linking Google Assistant can fail at a few stages during the setup. Utilize the following steps to identify the failure point and resolve the issue.

      Handling

       

      Android

      1. Open your Gemini mobile app.
      2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or initial, Switch to Google Assistant.
      3. Tap Google Assistant, Switch.
      1. Open the Android Settings.
      2. Scroll to Google / Google Services.
      3. Select All Services, then select Search, Assistant and Voice.
      4. Select Google Assistant.
      5. Scroll to Home Control.
      6. Select Sonos, then Unlink Account.
      7. Select Unlink to confirm.
      1. Open the Google Home app.
      2. Select the Profile icon in the top right corner of the screen.
      3. Select Manage your Google Account.
      4. Select Data and Privacy.
      5. Scroll down to Third Party Apps and Services.
      6. Scroll through the list or Search to find Sonos.
      7. Select Delete all connections that you have with Sonos.
      8. Select Confirm.

      iOS

      1. Open the Google Assistant app.
      2. Select the Profile icon in the top right corner of the screen.
      3. Scroll down and select Home Control.
      4. Select Sonos.
      5. Select Unlink.
      1. Open the Google Home app.
      2. Select the Profile icon in the top right corner of the screen.
      3. Select Manage your Google Account.
      4. Select Data and Privacy.
      5. Scroll down to Third Party Apps and Services.
      6. Scroll through the list or Search to find Sonos.
      7. Select Delete all connections that you have with Sonos.
      8. Select Confirm.

      Attempt to Add Google Assistant to Sonos

      1. Open the Google Home app on an iOS or Android device and ensure that the same account is signed in on the app. Check the current account by tapping the account picture in the top right. The email address will be listed under the users name in the main Settings Screen.
      2. Attempt adding Google Assistant from the Sonos app by visiting Settings > Manage > Voice Assistants > Add a Voice Assistant.

      Verify possible DNS issues

      If you use OpenDNS (ex: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220) or ISP specific content-blocking DNS servers, it may block the mtalk.google.com domain that is used during Google Assistant setup and discovery. Whitelist the domain to allow communication.

      • Both the router and the Sonos Players will need to be rebooted for the changes to take effect.

      I hope this helps.

      "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
        lsmith77
        Contributor I
        August 21, 2025

        I should add, I'm not even concerned with Google Assistant. I just want to be able to voice control my Youtube Music subscription. I am happy to switch to Sonos’s Voice Assistant once that is possible.

        ayla16850
        Lyricist II
        August 21, 2025

        This is a tricky situation for Sonos users. It seems like the transition from Google Assistant to Gemini is causing compatibility headaches, especially for those who rely on GA on their Sonos devices. Hopefully, Sonos provides a clear update or workaround soon—maybe a firmware update or official support for Gemini—so users don’t have to choose between their preferred assistant and new phone features. Has anyone found a temporary fix that keeps GA working on Sonos while using Gemini?

          Lyphe
          Avid Contributor I
          September 23, 2025

          Sonos definitely needs to sort this out.  

          My wife and I were looking to upgrade some of our Moves to Move 2’s, and add an Era in our workout room.  This is on hold until we decide how to move ahead.  We are fans of Sonos, but won’t keep our system unless there is a solid plan for gemini integration.  Really frustrating since it means selling all our existing Sonos’ and moving to another speaker system.  Will give this a few months to sort out I guess ...

          Corry P
          Corry P
          Sonos Staff
          September 23, 2025

          Hi ​@Lyphe et al

          Please be aware that after hearing a report from a customer, I tried again and was able to add Google Assistant to a Sonos speaker once more.

          I think the ticket for the issue is still open - we’re waiting on hearing from more customers, I think - but I think it is worth trying again if you have not done so in the last week.

          Please post here if you are successful. Thanks.

          I hope this helps.

          "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
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