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Ditte
Ditte
March 13, 2023

Sonos introduces New Search

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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

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    conor
    Enthusiast I
    May 15, 2023

    Just wanted to add another voice saying that not including personal library in the “new search” is a step backward and a reason not to use it. Please keep library support going forward, it is essential!

      Shaplinfist
      Lyricist II
      May 18, 2023

      Since the rollout of the new search which does not work at all, with classic search I can only search artists, stations and genres. I can no longer listen to Mixcloud nor music on my device. Any help?

      Corry P
      Corry P
      Sonos Staff
      May 18, 2023

      Hi @Shaplinfist 

      You should still be able to use Classic Search just as you used to, though the ability to play tracks stored on an Android device will soon be removed. New Search should also work for you. I recommend you get in touch with our technical support team who have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your Sonos system and what it reports.

      "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
        Shaplinfist
        Lyricist II
        May 18, 2023

        @Corry P thanks for your reply. As you can see from my screenshot I only have 3 options available for classic search. And as for removing the ability for users to play their own music on the system that they have paid for, this is a massive backwards step, to me one which will lose you many customers. I guess it depends if Sonos values their customers or values restricting peoples ability to use the products they have paid good money for to try and squeeze a bit more cash out of them through subscription services

         

        Ken_Griffiths
        Ken_Griffiths
        May 18, 2023

        @Corry P thanks for your reply. As you can see from my screenshot I only have 3 options available for classic search. And as for removing the ability for users to play their own music on the system that they have paid for, this is a massive backwards step, to me one which will lose you many customers. I guess it depends if Sonos values their customers or values restricting peoples ability to use the products they have paid good money for to try and squeeze a bit more cash out of them through subscription services

        Looks like you have an issue with your controller App, as there should be many more tabs/categories in the classic search view - see screenshot:

        Maybe try a reset of the controller App and see if that perhaps resolves the matter for you. I can actually see 18 tabs/categories that can be searched with the MSP services I have installed.

        Shaplinfist
        Lyricist II
        May 18, 2023

        @Ken_Griffiths thanks buddy, the update had removed my services so I can once again access Mixcloud after adding it again. Still pretty disappointed that Sonos are restricting our ability to play music from our devices. I was considering adding another product to my system but now I will probably just get a different system that I can play my music on without restrictions 

        Corry P
        Corry P
        Sonos Staff
        May 18, 2023

        Hi @Shaplinfist 

        The categories you see there are based upon the music services you have installed - the fewer you have, the fewer categories there will be available for searching. Again, I recommend you get in touch with our technical support team for assistance.

        Edit: looks like you found that out by yourself - great!

        "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
        Shaplinfist
        Lyricist II
        May 18, 2023

        @Corry P yes thanks I realised that I had to re add the services after the update. Still very disappointed to have my ability to play music from my device restricted though. This is particularly unfair to people who have already paid for their product and you are now planning to take a massive part of the service away with no discussion or compensation. Terrible move

        Corry P
        Corry P
        Sonos Staff
        May 18, 2023

        Hi @Shaplinfist 

        This is an announcement article for New Search. I appreciate your points, but I request that you please make them on the related thread, or on a new one of your own making:

         

        "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
        Cochonou
        Enthusiast II
        May 19, 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.

        Indeed this is concerning. Releasing this new functionality without such a feature is a quite a message. I would like them to at least acknowledge they are working on it. Otherwise, the writing is on the wall (and it will be time to investigate other solutions than Sonos in the long term...)

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