Heads up: "Update Required" prompt in the Sonos app

As far back as I can remember, there’s been a loose connection between the app version (controller) and what is running on the system (speakers). That extends back to the late 2000s. I’ve had to call in in the past to get an un-updated device I’d been charged with maintaining up to a version that could be updated by the current controller and subsequently updated without a call. This would have been long before the S1/S2 split, back around 2015 or so. 

I'm not unhappy with the way things are and have been working, where new app versions require compatible firmware but the firmware will continue working, at some level, with older apps.

The rare cases of systems with no Internet connection to update firmware shouldn't be a reason to impact a majority of users.

Might be nice to have a way to update firmware over a cellular or other connection if there are enough users that would help to be worth the investment.

Not the full use of the system that isn't (below) supported, just a firmware update tool that can work over otherwise unsuppoted connections. Maybe a tool to download/cache the files needed for updating with no network connection necessary? (My router offers that as an update option and it is quite handy.)

https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/sonos-system-requirements

​@Smilja Sonos S1 would like a word. 

Just ignore it folks, don't take the bait.

With respect to remotely located devices, beyond Internet coverage, it would be possible to develop an application that could be loaded on to a computer or portable drive that could then update the remote system, but I don’t think that the development cost could be justified.

I am getting the same message in the app: “Update Required” with two options “Enable auto update” and “Update once”. Whichever I choose, I am asked to login but after providing login credentials, I am returned back to the same “Update Required” screen, making it a loop. I am not able to use my Sonos system now. Anyone else having this issue? Thanks

I updated my Mac version yesterday with zero issues, as well as my iOS versions today. Have you called Sonos Support to discuss it?

Oh man awesome work Sonos, not surprised with this given how buggy the app and update process is that people are gonna have this issue. How about you warn people but do not lock them out ever from using their systems? 

I managed to update the Sonos device via the Windows application, I don’t know why this happened in Android (I am using Android 16). Thank you for your feedback.

As explained: they don’t. App and firmware versions always needed to be within a few version number of each other. You can still set your system to not do automatic updates and you still need your phone to also not update the app automatically. Sonos is just being more transparent about this.

I am always amazed that on the one hand there are people on this community that go out of their way to have all Sonos devices on separate IOT networks and on the other hand you have people that gladly refuse to get (security) updates on their connected devices……

Edited.

Again folks, don’t take the bait.  It’s the same stuff that keeps coming around again and again.  The names change, but the shtick stays the same.  Ignore it, it’s not worth the time.

As a result of the forced app update I can no longer use my Sonos Play:1. The update keeps returning an error so I can’t update it & I can’t use my speaker. Sonos please help! You can’t just cut support to legacy products that work perfectly well. It’s not a sustainability message that you’d like shared!!!

Can you show us the error message?

Just because your speaker doesn’t update (which is very annoying, I understand this), does not mean Sonos cut support to older devices. All Sonos devices except for the remotes are still supported, unlike older devices from other manufacturers.

You could try and call Sonos.

Players from the original 2005 batch are still supported. But, due to limited memory and processor speed, these old units can’t run the latest features, such as voice control, demanded by many modern users.

Try running the update from the desktop app (search Sonos desktop app download). That can often succeed in updating where phones etc fail.