Retired Sonos Staff

‘On this Device’ for Android controller no longer supported

Related content:Software

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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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andrejoubert

Lyricist III

I read the thread. Bottom line is I don't have a NAS, my Sonos speakers are not Bluetooth enabled and I do not have line in option. So Sonos unilaterally removed functionality that I bought. That is theft. And a huge loss. If this is their way of operating, I have bought my last Sonos product. Awful support.

106rallye

You’ve probably accepted Sonos’ terms of use. They will say Sonos can do this. I understand you don’t like that they’ve had to take this function away, but it isn’t theft.

V

Vitalius

Lyricist III

So, suggested solutions are to buy NAS which is at least $200 or to upload music to some server which is not option for me.

Hence my Sonos which cost me $400 is now just piece of garbage.

A

andrejoubert

Lyricist III

I read the thread. Bottom line is I don't have a NAS, my Sonos speakers are not Bluetooth enabled and I do not have line in option. So Sonos unilaterally removed functionality that I bought. That is theft. And a huge loss. If this is their way of operating, I have bought my last Sonos product. Awful support.

You’ve probably accepted Sonos’ terms of use. They will say Sonos can do this. I understand you don’t like that they’ve had to take this function away, but it isn’t theft.

Granted, the more accurate term is legalized theft, written into their terms of use. It remains an unacceptable and unethical business practice. I was an avid Sonos fan due to the quality of their speakers. But a super speaker driven by functionless software is a white elephant. They have lost a client and marketer.

jgatie

Granted, the more accurate term is legalized theft, written into their terms of use. It remains an unacceptable and unethical business practice. I was an avid Sonos fan due to the quality of their speakers. But a super speaker driven by functionless software is a white elephant. They have lost a client and marketer.

Legalized or not, theft assumes that you own the software. You don’t. You own the hardware, you license the software. Says so right in the EULA you agreed to when you signed up..

melvimbe

So, suggested solutions are to buy NAS which is at least $200 or to upload music to some server which is not option for me.

Hence my Sonos which cost me $400 is now just piece of garbage.

The original post suggested four solutions, not two. And you do not have to buy a NAS in many cases. A USB drive in your router will often work just fine. Or, if you have a PC or Mac, a network shared drive.

Granted, the more accurate term is legalized theft, written into their terms of use. It remains an unacceptable and unethical business practice. I was an avid Sonos fan due to the quality of their speakers. But a super speaker driven by functionless software is a white elephant. They have lost a client and marketer.

You’re also ignoring the catalyst for this change, which was android changing how files can be accessed externally.

I understand the frustration about the feature going away, but I don’t understand the need to paint it more negatively than it actually is in expressing your frustration. If all you care about is playing from the android file system, then so be it, Sonos is not for you anymore. Pretending the Sonos speakers can’t do anything else is just silly.

Danny

A

andrejoubert

Lyricist III

Granted, the more accurate term is legalized theft, written into their terms of use. It remains an unacceptable and unethical business practice. I was an avid Sonos fan due to the quality of their speakers. But a super speaker driven by functionless software is a white elephant. They have lost a client and marketer.

Legalized or not, theft assumes that you own the software. You don’t. You own the hardware, you license the software. Says so right in the EULA you agreed to when you signed up..

I bought the functionality to listen to my music on my device. If that is not the case then the whole point of buying it is flawed. The hardware is useless without the software functionality. A software license provides you legal access to use the functionality, it cannot be taken away. Taking your point that i don't own the software and hence neither the functionality, makes a mockery of buying the speaker. According to your argument and their EULA, they can remove all functionality if they so choose and all Sonos Users will be left with stunning white elephants. Your argument makes no sense.

What I have learnt is never again to fall for the same trap again. I will read the smallprint and avoid companies that work on the same unethical principles as Sonos.

A

andrejoubert

Lyricist III

So, suggested solutions are to buy NAS which is at least $200 or to upload music to some server which is not option for me.

Hence my Sonos which cost me $400 is now just piece of garbage.

The original post suggested four solutions, not two. And you do not have to buy a NAS in many cases. A USB drive in your router will often work just fine. Or, if you have a PC or Mac, a network shared drive.

Granted, the more accurate term is legalized theft, written into their terms of use. It remains an unacceptable and unethical business practice. I was an avid Sonos fan due to the quality of their speakers. But a super speaker driven by functionless software is a white elephant. They have lost a client and marketer.

You’re also ignoring the catalyst for this change, which was android changing how files can be accessed externally.

I understand the frustration about the feature going away, but I don’t understand the need to paint it more negatively than it actually is in expressing your frustration. If all you care about is playing from the android file system, then so be it, Sonos is not for you anymore. Pretending the Sonos speakers can’t do anything else is just silly.

And that is my point, you buy the speaker with the functionality you want and then it is taken away and "Sonos is not for you anymore". That makes no sense

jgatie

Legalized or not, theft assumes that you own the software. You don’t. You own the hardware, you license the software. Says so right in the EULA you agreed to when you signed up..

I bought the functionality to listen to my music on my device. If that is not the case then the whole point of buying it is flawed. The hardware is useless without the software functionality.

You didn’t buy any functionality at all. You bought hardware. You licensed the software, and that license doesn’t guarantee any continuing functionality, especially the functionality that can’t be continued due to the actions of an OS manufacturer.

A software license provides you legal access to use the functionality, it cannot be taken away. Taking your point that i don't own the software and hence neither the functionality, makes a mockery of buying the speaker. According to your argument and their EULA, they can remove all functionality if they so choose and all Sonos Users will be left with stunning white elephants. Your argument makes no sense.

It makes 100% senser. Ask a lawyer if you don’t believe it.

What I have learnt is never again to fall for the same trap again. I will read the smallprint and avoid companies that work on the same unethical principles as Sonos.

You will be avoiding every piece of software ever produced, because they all have a EULA attached.

A

andrejoubert

Lyricist III

Legalized or not, theft assumes that you own the software. You don’t. You own the hardware, you license the software. Says so right in the EULA you agreed to when you signed up..

I bought the functionality to listen to my music on my device. If that is not the case then the whole point of buying it is flawed. The hardware is useless without the software functionality.

You didn’t buy any functionality at all. You bought hardware. You licensed the software, and that license doesn’t guarantee any continuing functionality, especially the functionality that can’t be continued due to the actions of an OS manufacturer.

A software license provides you legal access to use the functionality, it cannot be taken away. Taking your point that i don't own the software and hence neither the functionality, makes a mockery of buying the speaker. According to your argument and their EULA, they can remove all functionality if they so choose and all Sonos Users will be left with stunning white elephants. Your argument makes no sense.

It makes 100% senser. Ask a lawyer if you don’t believe it.

What I have learnt is never again to fall for the same trap again. I will read the smallprint and avoid companies that work on the same unethical principles as Sonos.

You will be avoiding every piece of software ever produced, because they all have a EULA attached.

You Can spin it any way you like, with or without lawyers, Sonos will be losing customers.The nr if complaints on this thread is enough proof.

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