Retired Sonos Staff

‘On this Device’ for Android controller no longer supported

Related content:Software

297 replies
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Starting May 23rd, 2023, the Sonos S1 and S2 controller for Android will no longer support the ‘On this Device’ feature for streaming locally saved audio files directly to Sonos devices.

As newer versions of mobile operating systems are released, it can sometimes change the way information is shared between devices, and this feature will no longer be compatible with newer versions of the Android operating system.

While this feature will no longer be available in the app, we know local audio files are important to our listeners and we’ll continue to offer other options to enjoy downloaded tracks on Sonos, including:

Streaming the catalog from a music service. There are more than 100 music services available on Sonos, many with several millions of songs.

See our article on 'Adding music services' to get started.

Some music services allow you to upload your own music files to a cloud storage service like YouTube Music for example, which allows for an upload of up to 100,000 files with a free account. Services that allow you to upload files to a cloud storage:

Streaming through music services or cloud storage allows you to access your music without your phone.

You can play music files from your Android device to a supported Sonos product using Bluetooth.

See more about 'Using Bluetooth on Sonos' here.

Setting up a Music Library share on a Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive. You’d need to have the drive available in your network when you want to play music, but your library would be easy to transfer to these devices, if it isn’t already on them.

See our article on 'Using a NAS drive with Sonos' to get started.

If you have a Sonos Play:5, Connect, Connect:Amp, Amp, Era 100 or Era 300 (with the Line-In dongle), you have a Sonos player with a Line-In connection. Using that Line-In, you can play music directly from any device connected to it, to any player around the house.

See more about 'Using the Line-In on Sonos' here.

We'll continue to support everyone through this change, and will help you through the necessary steps to keep listening to your favorite tracks on Sonos.

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Show previous replies

jgatie

In the Terms and Conditions, it seems that Sonos reserves the right to subtract music streaming services from its lineup, which is understandable because it needs continuing business agreements with those services, which may not be forthcoming. The clauses that have been brought forward so far do not give Sonos to the right to hobble functionality in other ways. In doing so, Sonos would seem to have broken the implied contract between manufacturer and consumer. Mysterious doings by Google have been supposed by some, but no evidence has come to light thus far. But I am howling into the wind.

Bzzzzt. Sonos has no “business agreements” with their content providers, aside from any technology licensing such as Airplay. Adding a service to Sonos costs a service nothing aside from their own development time, and Sonos makes no income from any 3rd party service. Strike two.

And yes, you are howling into the wind, but not for the reasons you think.

I

iggyf

Lyricist III

In the Terms and Conditions, it seems that Sonos reserves the right to subtract music streaming services from its lineup, which is understandable because it needs continuing business agreements with those services, which may not be forthcoming. The clauses that have been brought forward so far do not give Sonos to the right to hobble functionality in other ways. In doing so, Sonos would seem to have broken the implied contract between manufacturer and consumer. Mysterious doings by Google have been supposed by some, but no evidence has come to light thus far. But I am howling into the wind.

Bzzzzt. Sonos has no “business agreements” with their content providers, aside from any technology licensing such as Airplay. Adding a service to Sonos costs a service nothing aside from their own development time, and Sonos makes no income from any 3rd party service. Strike two.

And yes, you are howling into the wind, but not for the reasons you think.

Darn the Sonos

Howoooooooool

D

Deedee02

Lyricist II

I am really annoyed and saddened by this news, I play music from device daily, I don't want to use paid streaming services to enable me to hear the music I have on my phone.

I didn't receive any notifications on the app regarding the changes, I only stumbled across this news while looking up possible solutions on the net to why the feature was no longer on my android and how I can resolve the solution.

I have spent a lot of money added to my sonos equipment over the years and now I truly feel duped.

I did read Sonos and Google are in a legal dispute, so we as the customers/users of their products are suffering the consequences which is truly unfair.

I will consider selling all my Sonos products if they cannot find a solution to return the feature soon.

B

beynym

World-Class Superstar

I don't want to use paid streaming services to enable me to hear the music I have on my phone.

You don't have to. Add myTuner Radio to your Sonos and you're good to go.

S

SleepyRobot

Trending Lyricist III

I do think Sonos should have communicated this more and better than with just an announcement on this site. Most owners aren't on here or on a regular basis. At least they could have send a message via the app.

S

SleepyRobot

Trending Lyricist III

I don't want to use paid streaming services to enable me to hear the music I have on my phone.

You don't have to. Add myTuner Radio to your Sonos and you're good to go.

How is that the same?

106rallye

@Deedee02 You could try Youtube or iBroadcast before doing anything rash.

N

nik9669a

Senior Virtuoso

I don't want to use paid streaming services to enable me to hear the music I have on my phone.

You don't have to. Add myTuner Radio to your Sonos and you're good to go.

How is that the same?

They are free streaming services.

B

bobthefunny

Lyricist III

This article is an insult to entrenched Sonos users, and is a disgrace.

Where was this communicated out to users? This update kicks in, and I have to WADE through MULTIPLE google results telling me that I should have access to browse my files on android before I this article even shows up.

Where was the email notifying us that we’d lose features? Where’s the notification in the app that I would be losing access to my own files? No good faith attempt was made to let users know this was coming, and even AFTER it happened, this article is so far buried that there are multiple support threads of users confused about the loss of their functionality. That is INEXCUSABLE.

Then the article mentions a nebulous “the way information is shared is changing”? What bullshit is this? As if Android will no longer have file access? Trying to push the blame off? What in particular is changing in Android 14 that suddenly causes files to no longer be accessed? Because I see no major changes in the keynotes for file access or security access for valid apps.

All this, and the answer is “You want to keep your functionality? Spend more money with us! Buy another speaker! Subscribe to a streaming service! Leave your computer on non-stop! Spend more time configuring some b***t folders, which you can’t even search!”

Abysmal.

This feature was one of the major reasons I chose to go with Sonos compared to some of the competitors. Shame on me, and I will never trust Sonos again.

I

iggyf

Lyricist III

This article is an insult to entrenched Sonos users, and is a disgrace.

Where was this communicated out to users? This update kicks in, and I have to WADE through MULTIPLE google results telling me that I should have access to browse my files on android before I this article even shows up.

Where was the email notifying us that we’d lose features? Where’s the notification in the app that I would be losing access to my own files? No good faith attempt was made to let users know this was coming, and even AFTER it happened, this article is so far buried that there are multiple support threads of users confused about the loss of their functionality. That is INEXCUSABLE.

Then the article mentions a nebulous “the way information is shared is changing”? What bullshit is this? As if Android will no longer have file access? Trying to push the blame off? What in particular is changing in Android 14 that suddenly causes files to no longer be accessed? Because I see no major changes in the keynotes for file access or security access for valid apps.

All this, and the answer is “You want to keep your functionality? Spend more money with us! Buy another speaker! Subscribe to a streaming service! Leave your computer on non-stop! Spend more time configuring some b***t folders, which you can’t even search!”

Abysmal.

This feature was one of the major reasons I chose to go with Sonos compared to some of the competitors. Shame on me, and I will never trust Sonos again.

You would think that Sonos would have had the decency to give notice in the app . But, no.

You would think that Sonos would explain the technical reasons why functionality was hobbled, if in fact there is one. But, no.

You would think that Sonos would offer refunds to its customers. But, no.

Here is the link to the discussion from the iOS discussion a year ago.

Then too, the only response to user complaints was “take a hike and jump over a cliff”.

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