'On this iPhone or iPad' No Longer Available

Starting today, the ‘On this iPhone or iPad’ feature will no longer be available in the Sonos app. There are still many ways to play your locally saved music library to Sonos and control it from your iOS device, including some good free options.

We first launched ‘On this iPhone or iPad’ in 2012 as an option to play locally saved content from your iOS device before Apple AirPlay was available on Sonos. The way this feature was originally designed has become unreliable with newer versions of iOS and Sonos.

The best way to play the music stored on your phone to Sonos is now by using Apple AirPlay 2 on compatible Sonos speakers (Sonos One, Amp, Beam, Play:5 (Gen 2), Playbase, and SYMFONISK WiFi Speakers). Using AirPlay 2, you can send the audio to one of these products and use the Sonos app to group it with any other Sonos rooms to have them all playing in sync. You can find more information about using AirPlay 2 with Sonos here.

For people who don’t have AirPlay 2 capable Sonos products, additional options to play tracks that are stored on your phone to Sonos include:

Uploading your tracks to a music service with a storage feature, such as Apple Music or Google Play Music. These services will store your library and allow you to stream it anywhere. This is a great option if you have songs that aren’t available on a subscription based streaming service. Also, Google Play Music has a free account option that allows you to upload 50,000 tracks and play them which works with Sonos.
Setting up a Music Library share on a Computer or Network Attached Storage drive. You’d need to have the computer or local drive available when you want to play music, but your library would be easy to transfer to these devices, if it isn’t already on them.
Streaming the catalog from a music service. There are more than 100 music services available on Sonos, many with several millions of songs.
Android mobile devices will continue to have access to the ‘On this device’ feature. If you have an Android phone or tablet, ‘Playing music stored on your Android device’ to Sonos is a great option.
If you have a Sonos Play:5, Connect, Connect:Amp, or Amp, you'll 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. You could even look into connecting a Bluetooth or AirPlay receiving device to that line in to use your mobile device without needing to wire it in to the line-in. See more about 'Using the Line-In on Sonos' here.

With the first three options, your phone doesn’t need to be turned on to listen to your music, and the music will keep on playing even if your phone is off or leaves the house. There are also alarm and Sonos playlist features that are available for most music sources that aren't available from 'On this iPhone'.

More about how to ‘Play music stored on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch’ is on our support pages.

We'll continue to support everyone through this change, and will help them set up the necessary workarounds to keep listening to their favorite tracks on Sonos.

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As for a link, here's one from 2015 with a quote from then CEO John McFarland, stating online streaming was 92% (it is certainly more now):

https://www.vox.com/2015/6/5/11563286/streaming-music-is-fundamentally-changing-the-way-we-listen

Globally, 92 percent of all music listening on Sonos is streaming radio or paid on-demand — our customers are bypassing their existing music collections and enjoying the near-infinite choice streaming has to offer.

As I said, believe what you will.

Of course they did.

What was the (sic) for? Becaus I missed a space. Bit petty

And no. the streaming service would be subcribed to and applied through the app on the device cutting out the need for third party syncing

As I said, believe what you will. I'll not ask you to provide links to proof they are lying, because I know you have none.

As to the rest, how exactly is Sonos app syncing with the service any different than iTunes or Google Play Music syncing with an NAS or the Google Cloud?

Streaming revenue grew by 34.0% and accounted for almost half (47%) of global revenue, driven by a 32.9% increase in paid subscription streaming. There were 255 million users of paid streaming services at the end of 2018 accounting for 37% of total recorded music revenue. Growth in streaming more than offset a 10.1% decline in physical revenue and a 21.2% decline in download revenue.

That's for the entire market in 2018. Sonos users are far more likely than the general population to listen via streaming. So, the 92% figure is likely closer to 99% by now.

https://www.ifpi.org/news/IFPI-GLOBAL-MUSIC-REPORT-2019

Globally, 92 percent of all music listening on Sonos is streaming radio or paid on-demand — our customers are bypassing their existing music collections and enjoying the near-infinite choice streaming has to offer.

As I said, believe what you will.

Sorry, but the trends simply don't support your argument. Here's a newer report. Streaming is taking over, rapidly, and not just on Sonos.

The new user adoption rate for streaming is currently around 1 million new subscribers for streaming services per month, which is tiny compared to the number of people who actually listen to music, but that growth rate is still bigger than every other category of recorded music business.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/20/17883584/streaming-record-sales-music-industry-revenue

Do you have any evidence the popularity of online streaming has decreased in the last 4 years? Links please. Because chicks has posted actual statistics that state the opposite.

Also, I would posit that those with "less expendable income" would be more likely to stream free via Pandora, not expensive downloads from iTunes.

Sonos has stated the 7% figure. Believe them or not, I don't care.

As to not going through the "a drawn out process to sync their music library everytime (sic) they purchase new music on their device", wouldn't the same process be required with a Sonos supplied 'streaming solution'? Doesn't that also fail your convenience requirement?

Of course they did.

What was the (sic) for? Becaus I missed a space. Bit petty

And no. the streaming service would be subcribed to and applied through the app on the device cutting out the need for third party syncingAs I said, believe what you will. I'll not ask you to provide links to proof they are lying, because I know you have none.

As to the rest, how exactly is Sonos app syncing with the service any different than iTunes or Google Play Music syncing with an NAS or the Google Cloud?

I have already answered this. The sonos app is on the phone itself. iTunes is on your PC. With Google Play you have to download a third party tool to transfer all of your music files from your IOS to the Google cloud. Soooo ....

Anyway it was an idea for Sonos to decide on. They can take it or leave it. Your opinion does not matter to me.

An even newer report. Streaming now up to 80% of overall market revenues, downloads a mere 9%. The trend is obvious.

https://medium.com/@RIAA/a-tech-forward-music-business-fuels-streaming-boom-572fbbc4bc71

That quote is 4 years old and you assume that "it is certainly more now". I could argue that as the Sonos speaker has been driven through a number of 'free tech giveaways' by companies such as Vodafone in the past three years and the likelihood of the figure reducing is more likely due to those with less expendable income being brought into the world of wireless devices.Do you have any evidence the popularity of online streaming has decreased in the last 4 years? Links please. Because chicks has posted actual statistics that state the opposite.

Rather than state opinions about what direction things have gone I will outline a problem.

Using the figures you oultine 12.5% of consumers still purchase downloaded content. If we equate that to Sonos customers.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/6/17539986/sonos-ipo-filing-public-offering-announced-smart-speaker

"the company reported having sold 19 million products in roughly 6.9 million households around the world"

12.5% of 6.9 million is around 860,000 households who are unable to use their device to play music through the app.

12.5% of 6.9 million is around 860,000 households who are unable to use their device to play music through the app.

And that is not even accounting for the 50% that use Android or the percentage that stream from a PC/Mac/NAS?

So, even with your decidedly skewed data, still no "millions"?

Thanks for the analysis!

12.5% of 6.9 million is around 860,000 households who are unable to use their device to play music through the app.

First, it's absolutely not true that Sonos users are "unable to use their device to play music through the app". There are MANY alternatives, which have been posted here multiple times.

Second, you're trying to apply general usage to Sonos users. Sonos users are FAR more likely to stream than the general population, because Sonos makes it much simpler than just about all other devices to stream. Sonos users who stream are now almost certainly closer to 99% than to 92%.

Also, it's down to just 9% of revenues from the general population who still download, and dramatically shrinking every day. Since downloads are much more expensive than streaming, the actual count of people who still download in more likely 1%-2% of the general music buying population.

12.5% of 6.9 million is around 860,000 households who are unable to use their device to play music through the app.And that is not even accounting for the 50% that use Android or the percentage that stream from a PC/Mac/NAS?

So, even with your decidedly skewed data, still no "millions"?

Thanks for the analysis!

Yawn

Now wouldn’t this sort a few issues?

https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/26/the-time-is-right-for-apple-to-buy-sonos/amp/

personally I hope it doesn’t happen but it has gone very quiet on the home pod front.

No reasonable person could think there was a snowball's chance in Hell of Sonos being distracted by this sort of development for just a trivial gain.You think keeping customers happy.... the millions that own an apple device "trivial?"... I do hope that you do not have a customer base. It's unlikely you do with that mentality.

Your comments have become so ridiculous that my judgement is that you are simply trying to provoke. I'm out.

You think keeping customers happy.... the millions that own an apple device "trivial?"... I do hope that you do not have a customer base. It's unlikely you do with that mentality.Millions? As has been discussed, streaming of local libraries is only 7% of the usage on Sonos. Approximately 50% of those are iOS users. What portion of those are "On this iDevice" users is unknown, but given that the original use case for Sonos was streaming from a PC/Mac/NAS, it is most certainly less than 100%.

As to a free streaming platform, Sonos is a small company, and maintaining a free streaming platform for such a small benefit would bankrupt them. After all, that's why Google sells your data. Besides, Sonos already offers a solution, the same solution they had long before "On this iDevice" existed. Set up a file share on a PC/Mac or NAS (which can be as inexpensive as a < $20 thumb drive connected to your router).Just because the stats have been discussed it does not mean it is fact. I would like to see where this data has come from. Links please? (to the actual data and not someone saying exactly what you said above).

It doesn't have to be a streaming service. Note the 'quotation marks' hinting at it being in name only. As I said after my initial post the service could be set up in a way that allows you to add 'your own content only' by adding as a service on the app. This way there is only a small development cost and would bypass the apple changes.

You are assuming everyone has a computer or NAS or wants to have to go through a drawn out process to sync their music library everytime they purchase new music on their device. People want convenience. Especially when they have been sold this.

I honestly think people who think streaming is less convenient have never actually tried it.

My phone listens to a song and it identifies it for me. If I like it then all I need to do is a couple of touches on my phone and that same song is added to my Google Music library. I can then listen to it anywhere--on Sonos, on my phone, in my car, etc. No downloading, no local library, no messing around with "on my device". Couldn't be easier.

@friskey127 Since you own several Airplay enabled speakers your problem should not be that big. Uploading max 50.000 songs to Google Music Free doesn’t cost a penny.

Totally ill informed. Please check facts before shouting.. The most ludicrois bit of your post is the product packaging bit. Future purchases will be Airplay enabled speakers and so will use Apple's own technology to play from a device.

That seems a rather strange attitude, friskey127. “On this iPhone” was removed months ago and you bought a One SL that was only launched a few weeks ago! You claim these speakers are “over priced” yet you own recently released products including One SL and Move.

May I ask: why did you buy them if they are as you describe?

Why would I ever buy another over priced piece of kit from BLONOS!!! Especially when you get cocky responses from tech not specialist John B (BLONOS). Every remedy offered has me spending more money... Here’s what would work for me, BLONOS should now include a warning on all future product packages for sale. APPLE USERS WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE PLAY MUSIC FROM THERE DEVICES WITHOUT PAYING MORE MONEY THAN YOU ALREADY WILL PAY FOR THIS OVERPRICED SPEAKER!!!That seems a rather strange attitude, friskey127. “On this iPhone” was removed months ago and you bought a One SL that was only launched a few weeks ago! You claim these speakers are “over priced” yet you own recently released products including One SL and Move.

May I ask: why did you buy them if they are as you describe?

Yes, this recent member of the Community and his posts look increasingly implausible. Apparently long-term Sonos user, with purchases spread over many years down to the present day (even after the 'on this iPhone ' was withdrawn). Yet suddenly, over this issue, becomes violently anti-Sonos? And throw in personal attacks on frequent posters. People must make their own minds up on whether this is genuine or not.

I am unable to play on my Sonos speakers, my own recorded music that is located on my IPad Pro, in addition to all the music I downloaded over the years. is there a solution to this problem?

The various solutions to your issue are stated in the opening post of this thread by Sonos Staff member Ryan S.

Hope that assists and that you find the answer you are looking for.

I do believe one or two suggestions have been put forward on this and other threads.

I don’t believe that these solutions are acceptable. I have Play 1 speakers which are not compatible with Apple AirPlay 2. I’m hesitant to upload all my music to Google Play. Many of these songs are not “Ripped” but are original music my band has recorded and they are stored on DropBox. If there is a solution, then please include the link. Thanks

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