Retired Sonos Staff

‘On this Device’ for Android controller no longer supported

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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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Airgetlam

Not sure I understand what you’re saying, @Eldorkable …

Bruce

E

Eldorkable

Contributor I

@Airgetlam Based on the solutions others have discovered in the comments. The easiest solution would be to add any blutooth supported sonos device to the same grouping as your other Sonos devices. Except i dont have a blutooth supported device, so i would need to go a purchase one to use a feature that was removed a week ago.

Other solutions is to upload all my phone music to a network storage system, which would require my computer to be on 24/7 and i would need to upload all new songs manually.

Its alot of extra work and money to use a simple feature, that up until last week i was able to use simply through the app.

S

Silverthorn

Prodigy II

I have a Samsung SSD plugged into my router which shares it. It's the best way in my opinion though you do need a little bit of technical savy. Not sure why people don't do this a their go to method.

I don't really want to use my phone to do it.

"I saw the Stooges and the MC5"

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SleepyRobot

Trending Lyricist III

For one, you would need a router that supports such a function. I don't think mine does.

S

Silverthorn

Prodigy II

It's been a pretty common feature for quite a while. Would have thought it would be odd not to have it, at least where I am.

"I saw the Stooges and the MC5"

S

SleepyRobot

Trending Lyricist III

I checked mine and even though it has a usb port it can't be used for much other than a sim dongle. I assume that's how yours is connected?

.

S

Silverthorn

Prodigy II

Yep. Samsung external SSD into the USB port. Turn on USB sharing and good to go. My latest router sharing is a bit basic as far as I can tell, you can't share sub folders, but for Sonos I just add the music folder to the network path.

Been doing it this way for years. Once it's set up you can forget about it pretty much.

"I saw the Stooges and the MC5"

I

iggyf

Lyricist III

Hopefully, a class action lawsuit materializes. How dare they disable my device? Does anybody have suggestions for a user-friendly speaker to replace the bulky paperweight that I now own?