Skip to main content
Ditte
Ditte
March 13, 2023

Sonos introduces New Search

Related content:Software
Sonos introduces New Search

 Hi all,

Last week we started rolling out New Search, a new feature that will make it easier to find content in the Sonos app.

What’s New Search?

We’re introducing a new single search box that searches across all categories (Artists, Songs, Albums, Playlists etc), to improve your overall search experience. This means that you no longer need to select a category to search in ahead of time. Instead, the search results will be broken down by category, and aggregated across all your content services, which you can easily switch between at the top of the search menu. 

When performing a search, you will be able to narrow your search results by content service, rather than by category.

 

New Search on Sonos

To try New Search, tap on “Try the New Search” in the search menu.

New Search will be rolling out to all users over the coming weeks, with all users receiving the feature by 25th April [edited from 18th April].

This means that not all of you will have access to New Search right away, but you can expect it soon. 

Will New Search look through all of my audio sources?

New Search does not currently support searching through personal music libraries, “On this Device” (Android) content, or music services with library functionalities.

 

Why is my specific music service not being searched?

While the vast majority of content services on Sonos are available in New Search, there are some that are not yet compatible. We’re working with our partners to add more music services to New Search and look forward to rolling these out over time. In the meantime, all music services continue to be compatible with classic search.

 

I liked the classic search option, can I use that instead?

You can switch between Classic Search and New Search by navigating to the search menu and tapping the buttons labeled “Switch to Classic Search” and “Try the New Search” respectively.

 

Is Classic Search going away? 
No, users will continue to have the option to use classic search .

 Please note: We can’t grant you access to New Search prior to it being available to you.

 

For further information, please see how to switch between New Search and Classic Search.

    129 replies

    Show previous replies
    RJSUK
    Enthusiast II
    April 18, 2023

    Having invstigated this further, the future for music libraries is not looking very promising at all.

     

    There's no mention of New Search not currently supporting library, just a statement that it does not support it. If Sonos is not supporting search in music libraries you do wonder if there will be ongoing support for music libraries at all. Given Sonos' committment to Bluetooth and line-in connection for its new range of speakers, I'm fearful that the next "innovation" will along the lines of "We no longer support music libraries but you can instead use Bluetooth to play the music in your library on your Sonos speakers using your device's native music player" and this years old technology will be sold as giant leap forward. I was hoping to invest in a couple of Era 300 speakers but that has definitely been put on hold given, what I see, Sonos' lack of commitment to music libraries. Not everyone wants to be hamstrung with an annual/monthly streaming subscription when they have a vast amount of "owned" much of which, in my case, cannot be found on streaming services.

      Guiary
      Avid Contributor I
      April 19, 2023

      I have the new search working at our cabin but when I go home the new search option goes away. Shutting down the app and reloading it temporarily shows “switch to new search” and when pressed it’ll go to the new view but it come up unable to browse music, press the back button and it switches back to the old search with no option to select new search.

      I guess I’ll just wait till the 25th and see if it sorts itself out.

      Bumper
      Bumper
      April 19, 2023

      Having invstigated this further, the future for music libraries is not looking very promising at all  

       

      Seems unlikely they drop local library support. But very likely they continue to treat it like abandonware imo  

       

        beynym
        World-Class Superstar
        April 19, 2023

        New Search doesn't give any results from your own music library (on a NAS). Therefore it is a ueseless product.

          amun
          April 25, 2023

          Having invstigated this further, the future for music libraries is not looking very promising at all.

          No, but then it has languished for many years now. I bought into Sonos about 12 years ago, and (purely from my point of view) nothing has improved much. I prefer the older interfaces, the True Play facility is not available to android users, control has been removed from the desktop and the capabilities re local music haven’t improved.

          I think that we just have to accept that we are no longer the target market for Sonos, and make sure that we have alternatives for when either the hardware fails or the software is changed unacceptably. The benefit of the S1/S2 split is that they are unlikely to mess around with S1 users - which is fine with me. Not so good for S2 users, as Sonos can change or drop features any time that they like and they don’t offer software regression.

          Sonos does some things very well, and if you’re content to settle for streaming services then it’s a good multi-room system - I’m not sure that it has any real competitors.

          DML2
          Lyricist I
          May 1, 2023

          New Search doesn't give any results from your own music library (on a NAS). Therefore it is a ueseless product.

          This. If Sonos is ditching support for (or refuses to develop tools that also support) local libraries then that’s not a great sign.

          ian02054
          Enthusiast II
          May 7, 2023

          Am I missing something?   The new search doesn't search my local library?   Or doesn't find songs (unless there isn't a band if the same name) ? It seems an extra step to find songs?

          I thought I was using it wrong so googled a bit and found this and agree with lots of it… (https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/sonos-new-search/) , hopefully the feedback will be taken inboard.

          Agreed..I rarely use anything other than my music library....that would be essential surely???

            Ken in VA
            Trending Lyricist I
            May 9, 2023

            So… New Search doesn’t support My Library. Nor my classical music service (Idagio), nor Hearts of Space, nor JazzRadio.com, nor PocketCasts.

            Since it doesn’t support services I use, can I turn it off permanently? It’s just… clutter

              SteJames
              Trending Lyricist I
              May 9, 2023

              Wish we could search for Spatial Audio tracks.

                SarahN
                SarahN
                Local Superstar
                May 9, 2023

                Wish we could search for Spatial Audio tracks.

                I agree. I'd love that feature as for now, I have to search on my Amazon music app, then look for the same track or album on the Sonos app 

                Can you have too many Sonos speakers? 🤔 😆
                  Show more replies
                  Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement