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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ben85

Contributor I

For me this is the nail in the coffin. The feature to play from my device - phone made Sonos more accessible than ever and truly game changing. The removal of this makes no sense. I'm fairly old school and still keep to my old DJ routes - I download my music, the music I like and want to listen to. Spotify and other just don't do it. I do this mainly through my phone and pc. If I wanted a feature to only Bluetooth music to my speaker I'd do it though a much cheaper system than Sonos. Not to mention I live in an area where BT Guarantee a 2mbs service! I will look to swap my system out before my current Sonos gets too old. Poor show Sonos.

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Darkstar 1974

Lyricist I

I would just like to say now that sonos has removed the my device access to android what a utterly useless piece of kit this speaker system has become. Will now be buying a different system.

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Silverthorn

Prodigy II

Wow. People really don't understand how Sonos works. I just can't imagine spending the coin on Sonos and not setting up some sort of media library whether it be a NAS or router.

Perhaps Sonos should have sent a message through the app when it went on Apple devices. They writing has been on the wall for a long time.

"I saw the Stooges and the MC5"

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iggyf

Lyricist III

I'm hoping that a class action lawsuit materializes. Until the mandatory app update, certain functionality (that was part of the product when I purchased it) was removed without my consent. There was no technical reason (such as an Android update) for Sonos to do it. Is "removing functionality" covered by the Terms and Conditions?

jgatie

I'm hoping that a class action lawsuit materializes. Until the mandatory app update, certain functionality (that was part of the product when I purchased it) was removed without my consent. There was no technical reason (such as an Android update) for Sonos to do it. Is "removing functionality" covered by the Terms and Conditions?

I'm afraid you are out of luck. Like most software, your Sonos EULA explictly states "Sonos reserves the right to discontinue access to and/or support for any third party service, content or technology at any time, and for any reason." This is just one clause, there are several pertaining to third party content and services.

I

iggyf

Lyricist III

I'm hoping that a class action lawsuit materializes. Until the mandatory app update, certain functionality (that was part of the product when I purchased it) was removed without my consent. There was no technical reason (such as an Android update) for Sonos to do it. Is "removing functionality" covered by the Terms and Conditions?

I'm afraid you are out of luck. Like most software, your Sonos EULA explictly states "Sonos reserves the right to discontinue access to and/or support for any third party service, content or technology at any time, and for any reason." This is just one clause, there are several pertaining to third party content and services.

This clause covers services, content, and technology provided by third parties, not technology provided by Sonos.

jgatie

This clause covers services, content, and technology provided by third parties, not technology provided by Sonos.

So Sonos provided the music files (content) you are trying to play, and the operating system (technology) which gives access to those files? Wow, who knew?

I

iggyf

Lyricist III

This clause covers services, content, and technology provided by third parties, not technology provided by Sonos.

So Sonos provided the music files (content) you are trying to play, and the operating system (technology) which gives access to those files? Wow, who knew?

The plain meaning of the clause is that Hulu reserves the right to subtract third-party music streaming services from its lineup, even such giants as Spotify. To read any other meaning to this clause could lead to conclusions like "Sonos reserves the right to make its software completely non-functional."

I

iggyf

Lyricist III

This clause covers services, content, and technology provided by third parties, not technology provided by Sonos.

So Sonos provided the music files (content) you are trying to play, and the operating system (technology) which gives access to those files? Wow, who knew?

The plain meaning of the clause is that Hulu reserves the right to subtract third-party music streaming services from its lineup, even such giants as Spotify. To read any other meaning to this clause could lead to conclusions like "Sonos reserves the right to make its software completely non-functional."

I meant "Sonos reserves the right ..."

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Frustrateduser1980

Lyricist II

So is the only way to play music on my Ikea Symfonisk speaker now to pay for a music streaming service?

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