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Cannot update Sonos, Error Code 1: Sub.

This is with the S2 Sonos app. I have 2 rooms with Sonos equipment in them.

In my main room, I have 1 no. Sonos TV Soundbar, 2 no. Sonos Play 1s & a Sub.
In my other room, I have 1 no. Sonos 1 paired with a Sonos 1 SL & a Sub.

When first clicking on ‘Check for software updates’ on the ‘Manage’ tab, when the update gets to ‘finishing,’ I am told I have an update problem.

’There was a problem during the update of your Sonos system.’

’Select ‘Try again’ to repeat the update.’

I can try this for time immemorial, but it still does not finish updating.
When I click on ‘More information,’ I get ‘Error code 1: Sub.’ If I click on the ‘For more information, see’ link, I get a range of updated ideas to try.

What I have tried:

Retry the update. That does not work. Reboot your router. That did not work.

What I haven’t tried:

Reboot your Sonos products. Although I haven’t tried this yet, the initial ‘Error code 1: Sub,’ does that mean I should unplug the Subs first? Or completely disconnect all of my Sonos products?

The other one I haven’t tried (which is impossible anyway in my case because the router is next to the TV aerial plug socket) is reducing the distance to your router. Considering it was working fine before getting this update, why would it suddenly not work if it did before?

Can anyone who knows about this problem and has fixed it please relay to me what you did to push the update through? Thank you.

HB

Since the Sub is ‘bonded’ to your soundbar of some type in one room, and the One SL in the other room, I would power cycle all speakers in the ‘room’ that have a Sub in them. 
 

I’d also be tempted to give the Sub extra time to finish updating. You haven’t said which generation of Sub you have, but I often wait an extra half an hour to an hour from when it says it is done before double checking. The gen 1 (and 2, for that matter) has such a slow CPU in it, it seems to take a while, and the controller doesn’t seem to wait. I also have this issue with other ‘older’ devices, where the controller seems to ‘finish’ before the device does…if I wait a few extra minutes, I get the ‘all devices are updated’, whereas if I check immediately, I get the ‘failed to update’ error. I’ve found that allowing them to update on the schedule I have set in the controller (I think I have it set for 4AM), it takes care of it without intervention or worry from me. 


I appreciate you for coming back to me, Bruce.

Sorry, the 2 Subs that are in different rooms to each other are both Gen 3. Everything is shown in the chart below


MAIN ROOM
------------------
Playbar
Sub (Gen 3)
Play 1
Play 1
------------------
ROOM 2
------------------
Sub (Gen 3)
One (Gen 2)
One SL
------------------

Going by your first suggestion, you are advocating that I disconnect all Sonos components. Seeing as I am disabled, I will have to get someone to do this for me.

I am also confused with your comment that you said “I’d also be tempted to give the Sub extra time to finish updating.” What did you mean by this?

Did you mean when I unplug each Sub, I should leave it 1 hour before I plug it back in again and then try the update? The same with the other devices?

Can you please tell me with step-by-step instructions how to set the controller to 4 am?

If I am barking up the wrong tree with any of these suggestions, please tell me in greater detail what you actually mean? Thank you.

HB


Sorry. What I meant by that statement is it feels to me as though the controller itself doesn’t wait for the Sub to finish the process if running the update itself, and reports a ‘failure’ as the Sub is still running the update, and hasn’t ‘finished’ yet. This seems to occur on other ‘older’ speakers sometimes, as well.  So when I check immediately in the controller for updates, it still finds that certain devices need one. However, if I wait for a period of time, and then check, the process has actually finished, and I get told that everything is current, and no updates are needed. What I’m suggesting here is that rather than ‘believing’ these errors, and then checking for updates immediately, and applying them, is to leave the process alone for an hour while it is running. Temporarily ignore those ‘error’ codes. Let the process complete before checking, by ignoring it for a couple of hours before confirming by checking for new updates again. 

Alternately, set up ‘automatic updates’ to the speakers while you sleep. In the S2 controller, go to the gear icon in the top right of the controller, then click on “manage”. Then click on ‘system updates’ (this may require scrolling down, depending on your device), then turn on the slider button for “update automatically”. Mine is already on, so I’m not sure if there is currently an option that will come up for setting a time, but even if not, I’d make sure that this setting is turned on, and let the system itself worry about updating the speakers.

As a side note, since much of what I listen to is a randomized local playlist, stored on my NAS, it resets the playback position to one song when the firmware updates. To me, only mildly frustrating, but it does give me a “tell” when the firmware process has been run on my speakers. Still plays the playlist, and each ‘room’ randomizes differently, as I expect, but it does return to the same ‘starting song’ in the playlist. 

 


Sorry for the delay in replying, Bruce.

First, I think you should know I am dealing with the Sonos S2 app on my Windows PC, not my phone. The first thing I did was check for updates on my S2 controller on my phone. I found an update and updated it on my phone. I then tried updating again on my S2 app on my Windows PC. Still no joy.

Regarding your post about them, sorry, I still do not understand what you’re trying to tell me to try. Let me break it down with what you have said in your previous post. I have put quotes around your sections.

”Sorry What I meant by that statement is it feels to me as though the controller itself doesn’t wait for the Sub to finish the process if running the update itself, and reports a ‘failure’ as the Sub is still running the update, and hasn’t ‘finished’ yet. This seems to occur on other ‘older’ speakers sometimes, as well. So when I check immediately in the controller for updates, it still finds that certain devices need one. However, if I wait for a period of time, and then check, the process has actually finished, and I get told that everything is current, and no updates are needed.”

Let me explain what I think you mean, and then tell me if I am correct or not.

Are you saying to run the update (is this before or after I have unplugged all the equipment first and then plugged them all back in again?)

I had every piece of Sonos equipment I had unplugged for 2 minutes. Then I plugged everything back in again. I tried the update with the same error, but it still did not update.

“What I’m suggesting here is that rather than ‘believing’ these errors and then checking for updates immediately and applying them, we should leave the process alone for an hour while it is running. Temporarily ignore those ‘error’ codes. Let the process complete before checking by ignoring it for a couple of hours before confirming by checking for new updates again.”

Are you saying here to run the update but do not believe the errors? Leave it for an hour and then rerun the updates? Is it better to leave the update as it is for 2 hours and then rerun it?

It would be easier if you could give me step-by-step instructions on exactly what I should do. That way, I can see every step to take in each case.

 

“Alternately, set up ‘automatic updates’ to the speakers while you sleep. In the S2 controller, go to the gear icon in the top right of the controller, then click on “manage”.

I am using the S2 Sonos app I have on my Windows computer and not my phone. On there, I cannot see a gear icon anywhere, either on the top left or right.

However, if I click on the ‘Manage’ tab on the Windows Sonos app, ‘Music Library Settings,’ ‘Service Settings,’ ‘Add Radio Station,’ ‘Update Music Library Now’ & ‘Settings’ are all greyed out. The only 2 settings that I can click on are ‘Check for Software Updates’ & ‘Change Language.’


”Then click on ‘system updates’ (this may require scrolling down, depending on your device), then turn on the slider button for “update automatically”. Mine is already on, so I’m not sure if there is currently an option that will come up for setting a time, but even if not, I’d make sure that this setting is turned on and let the system itself worry about updating the speakers.”

I checked on my phone with the Sonos app, and I already have “update automatically” toggled on.


If you give me those steps to take in a step-by-step fashion, I shall try it. Failing that, I might have to go to Sonos support and let them diagnose the problem. What do you think? Thank you.

HB


I guess Bruce gave up on me :-(

HB


Sorry. Much as it may seem, I don’t live in these forums 24/7. if you’re looking for immediate assistance, and are unwilling to wait for other users to offer suggestions in this community forum, I would urge you to call Sonos Support directly to discuss it.

When you speak directly to the phone folks, they have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your network and Sonos system.

Nor do I use the Windows controller, so I can only make suggestions around the mobile controller, which is the same across both Android and iOS devices. I can’t make suggestions around the Windows controller. 

What I am suggesting is that you run the update, wait at least an hour, then check again for further updates. However, given your ongoing confusion and difficulties, I’d really like you to call Sonos Support directly to discuss it. I think we’re beyond the point that communication via text across this forum is helping. 

 

 


Sorry, Bruce, I wasn't trying to be sarcastic, and I appreciate all the time you have invested in giving me advice. I should have explained that I am disabled (I broke my neck in a car accident back in 2004). Now, I am paralysed from the neck down.

If I tell you my problem, you will understand it further. I have a desktop computer in one room (my garage) where I go in by wheelchair once a week. Being disabled means it is easier for me to control my Sonos equipment via the Sonos S2 app on my Windows computer rather than the phone.

I did just what you said and called Sonos directly. When I rang them, I was in the garage, but I needed someone in there (my carer) to perform the actions. I did not do that but carried out the instructions of the Sonos agent as far as I could. The eventual outcome was that I left the garage with the One (Gen 2) & the One SL speakers working as usual. However, I left the Sub with a flashing green light.

Now, until next Thursday, I am back in my main room where I sleep and where the other Sonos equipment is. This is where I spend most of my time. I still use a Sonos S2 app on my laptop's Windows operating system.

When I checked for software updates while back in my main room, I was told, 'No update required.' It goes on, 'Your Sonos system is up-to-date.'

This points to a problem with the Sub in the garage. I won't know this until I speak with another Sonos agent on Monday (I don't think they work over the weekend). With the green light flashing on the Sub, I need to know what the next step is. I don't know if you know what that is, Bruce, do you?

Bruce, thank you once again for your contributions. I appreciate them.

HB


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