Sonos and Mac OS 10.15 Catalina

In the past, when I was willing to mess around with Apple betas, I used to have difficulty with the "gold master" being slightly different than the actual release. Yea, I know...that really doesn't make any sense, but it's true. I don't know if it is really a difference in the code base, or whether it's a difference in the app checking for a release number, but it used to happen.

Have you tried running the Sonos app using this morning's Apple release, rather than the "gold master" to see if it works for you? I'm in terminal "please wait while we install as slowly as possible" mode.

Catalina drops support for the .XML file format hence breaking Sonos and most other DJ/music apps that rely on reading that format to manage music files and playlists.

https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/7/20903391/apple-macos-catalina-itunes-dj-software-breaks-xml-file-support-removal-update

So what I’m reading out of that is that Apple’s playlists wont work, but existing Sonos playlists will?

I have just updated to the new Catalonia operating system, and have the same problem, nothing showing in my library. If you go to Apple Music, (if you use it that is), there is a folder called my music, low and behold all my music and playlist created in iTunes are now here and they all work)

Mac OS X 10.15 Catalina has dropped support for XMLs with the iTunes app, now called Music. The Sonos software looks for an XML file for importing playlists out of iTunes. Because of this, music libraries shared with Sonos will not be able to find playlists that are created in or updated with the new Music app. Please note that the rest of your music library should work with Sonos without any issues, this just affects the playlists in XML format from iTunes.

We'd recommend holding off on updating to Mac OS X 10.15 Catalina, but if you've done so already, you can use AirPlay 2 in the Music app to play your playlists to Sonos (if you have compatible Sonos players). Also, if you have an Apple Music subscription, your playlists and music should be available in there.

The team is investigating this now, and we'll update you when we have more to share.

For anyone that's updated and isn't currently seeing any of their music, go into the Sonos software and under Manage > Music Library, remove your music library, and then add it, but choose the folder that has your music library. This should locate all of your tracks, since they're still in the same music format which Sonos can read. It's just the XML files that are currently an issue.

If that's still not working, alan_52 shared that you can do the following:

uninstalled using CCleaner
Removed Sonos and Sonos Library from Settings > Security & Privacy
Rebooted

Installed Sonos from scratch
Tried adding Library - no dice
Granted Sonos Library Full Disk access in Settings > Security & Privacy
Granted Sonos Full disk access in Settings > Security & Privacy

Sonos now plays my own library and Sonos created playlists again

You may not need to fully uninstall, I'd recommend starting with granting the disk permissions:

Granted Sonos Library Full Disk access in Settings > Security & Privacy
Granted Sonos Full disk access in Settings > Security & Privacy

so how long will we have to pay for a subscription service to listen to our own music, and will you pay us a refund for the extra costs.

Hi alan_52, we don't have a timeline on this the team is still investigating, but I'll let everyone know when we have more details to share. If you have a Sonos player that's capable of AirPlay 2, that's probably the best free option at the moment for playing your iTunes playlists that aren't imported anymore with the Mac OS changes. You're also welcome to contact our support team to discuss if you have any concerns.

so how long will we have to pay for a subscription service to listen to our own music, and will you pay us a refund for the extra costs.


Do you think Apple let Sonos know they were making a change to iTunes?

I have tried "Music Library, remove your music library, and then add it, but choose the folder that has your music library. This should locate all of your tracks, since they're still in the same music format which Sonos can read. It's just the XML files that are currently an issue." but still won't work

I have tried "Music Library, remove your music library, and then add it, but choose the folder that has your music library. This should locate all of your tracks, since they're still in the same music format which Sonos can read. It's just the XML files that are currently an issue." but still won't work
In that case it may be best for you to contact the team directly. Another option would be to manually set up an SMB share to the location that has your tracks, and add it to Sonos using the app as if it were a networked location. But while Catalina is in testing for Sonos, the more details we can get on issues, the better.