Contributor I

Answered

ROAM connects to iPhone via bluetooth but doesn't appear as device in music

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
July 3, 2022
22 replies
3629 views

I’m traveling with my ROAM, so not on my home wifi-network (where all my other sonos devices are connecfed; all other devices show in Sonos app on my phone, but wilth an error as they are not on the wifi where I’m at)

ROAM is connected on iPhone via bluetooth, but the device is never shown as a device option in the music apps so I can’t get the music to play through the ROAM.

How do I get the music being streamed on my iPhone (iOS 15.5)

No clue what firmware/version the ROAM is on -- have never had it connected to a wifi: only time I ever try to make it work I’m away from home and can’t figure out if changing the network in my Sonos app will impact the home-based devices (that my husband is using).

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Best answer by Ken_Griffiths

apparently one CAN pair it via Bluetooth when it’s not set up via the SONOS app.

I’ve just factory reset my Roam here and it doesn’t let me go into BT pairing mode, so that’s odd? Maybe it’s an older firmware, but I’ve never come across being able to do this, personally speaking.

Maybe that’s really my question: can I switch the wifi my app is config’d with (my home wifi that all my other devices are synced to AND being used on) to set-up the ROAM without impacting the home-based devices and their operations?

OR - to avoid shutting down the home systems (which will negatively impact my husband’s ability to watch TV and my quality of life for the duration) do I need to wait until back home to set up ROAM on my normal wifi so it’s part of my SONOS app system?

You can set a (reset) Roam up quickly by doing it this way …

Reset the controller App, just for now, whilst you’re away from Home. (That’s done via ‘Settings/App Preferences’).
Connect your mobile device to a nearby accessible WiFi signal w/internet. So, just as an example, you could use a mobile WiFi hotspot from another phone that has mobile internet access 3G/4G etc.
Open the Sonos App and click past the opening screens and ‘accept the T&C’s’ - Choose to create a ‘new’ system and go onto setup the Roam. When done, the App is finished with, just reset it again. When setting up BTW, use the same email/credentials as for logging into your own Home Sonos system, or the login you’re using to access this forum.
Now disconnect your mobile from the Wifi hotspot and BT pair your mobile to your Roam as outlined in this link: https://support.sonos.com/s/article/4989 and it will play the audio from the paired BT device.
On return Home, you simply connect your reset Sonos App back to the ‘existing’ Sonos System that you have there and if it suits, you can go onto reset/add your Roam to the Home system too, just like you would add any other new, or reset, Sonos device.

So it’s quite simple to do and I hope those few steps assist you to get the Roam up and running as a BT speaker until you manage to return Home.

buzz

Grand Maestro

Has ROAM ever worked at home? You should be able to pair your phone with ROAM and play music directly from the phone without using the SONOS controller App or WiFi at the remote location..

SarahN

Local Superstar

I would say the same as above. Have you set up the Roam, at home on your wifi and added it to your home system? I took my Roam away the other week and just linked it to my phone via bluetooth and streamed music from my phone directly to the Roam. No need for the app or wifi.

So for example, as you are an apple user, just open apple music on your phone and start playing. It should just come through the Roam instead of your phone speakers if linked via bluetooth

Can you have too many Sonos speakers? 🤔 😆

L

lcarlsonAuthor

Contributor I

Has ROAM ever worked at home? You should be able to pair your phone with ROAM and play music directly from the phone without using the SONOS controller App or WiFi at the remote location..

no - I’ve never set it up on home system (have plenty of devices; Roam is in my travel kit.

I can see ROAM is bluetooth-paired to my phone; i can play music on my phone. But in the music apps (MixCloud, SirisuXM) ROAM is not one of the “other devices” offered.

Ken_Griffiths

no - I’ve never set it up on home system (have plenty of devices; Roam is in my travel kit.

I can see ROAM is bluetooth-paired to my phone; i can play music on my phone. But in the music apps (MixCloud, SirisuXM) ROAM is not one of the “other devices” offered.

Once the Roam is Bluetooth paired to the iPhone, the phones audio output becomes redirected to the Roam. You shouldn’t have to select anything, but it will be shown as linked in the device list (where you see Airplay devices) but with a Bluetooth icon showing the Roam as connected and in use. See screenshot attached.

Ken_Griffiths

Simply play the music audio on the idevice and it should output to the Roam (check that the audio output is not muted, or set to a low volume) if the audio is playing on the phone instead, then it’s quite probably not BT paired.

L

lcarlsonAuthor

Contributor I

that’s what’s not working -- music won’t play on the ROAM

ROAM IS paired
music plays on iPhone but not on paired ROAM

music-services have “other devices” option but the paired ROAM is never in the list

Ken_Griffiths

that’s what’s not working -- music won’t play on the ROAM

ROAM IS paired
music plays on iPhone but not on paired ROAM

music-services have “other devices” option but the paired ROAM is never in the list

Perhaps some screenshots from your system Bluetooth list and the iOS connected devices list will help, just to see what you’re seeing. Also, what is the front/top status LED showing on the Roam just above the Sonos logo?

Just for info, I’ve tested my own two Roams here and both are working fine with the latest Sonos software and each pair/play over BT with my iPhone and iPad, so perhaps it’s a fault with the mobile.

Have you tried deleting the BT pairing and setting it up again, or (if you have one available) maybe try another mobile/tablet etc. paired to the Roam BT RX instead.

S

sjw

Local Superstar

I thought ROAM needed to be set up as a ‘normal' Sonos speaker in the App before it could be used as a Bluetooth speaker?

Ken_Griffiths

I thought ROAM needed to be set up as a ‘normal' Sonos speaker in the App before it could be used as a Bluetooth speaker?

That’s correct, I don’t think the Roam has been setup/registered either, but it’s also not possible to BT pair it, unless it has been setup and OP insists they have it BT paired - hence why I asked about seeing screenshots and what it’s status LED is showing.

Post boot-up on a non-setup Roam the LED flashes green, but is a steady blue colour when BT paired. It can easily be setup however when away from Home, if there is access to a ‘separate’ mobile WiFi hotspot etc.

buzz

Grand Maestro

I thought ROAM needed to be set up as a ‘normal' Sonos speaker in the App before it could be used as a Bluetooth speaker?

This is my thought too. ROAM is not a generic Bluetooth speaker. If ROAM has not been formally setup as part of a SONOS system, I don’t know if it will be fully functional. Certainly, it will not have the latest firmware.

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