Avid Contributor I

Answered

Easier Factory Reset

39 replies
607 views

Factory reset instructions say to unplug the power cord and hold a certain button down while plugging it back in.

Can we not just turn the speaker or whatever off at the wall socket and turn it back on while holding the button instead of actually unplugging the power cord. Wouldn't that do the exact same thing and be so much easier i mean if we can then why dont Sonos just say to turn the speaker off at the wall then turn it back on while holding the button down? seems extremely overkill to me to tell us to pull the power cable out. Some peoples cables are hard to get to.

Out of curiosity i did actually test it and it seemed to work fine but i dunno just seems like they really overcomplicated the reset procedure and I cant think of a reason why they would do that. Which leads me to think unplugging the cable is actually important and my reset may not of actually wiped everything

This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

Mr. TAnswer

Yes, you can just turn the power off on the socket and turn back on.

Some sockets do not have a separate power switch, so makes sense to say to unplug the power cord in order to fully cut power to the speaker.

Show previous replies

MoPac

Headliner III

I know a reset isn't advised but sometimes its needed, my old arc is being put into a media wall this weekend and its going to be hard to unplug the cable if it ever needs a reset, So we were thinking of just using a smart plug and plugging the Sonos into that, i'm assuming that's what Stanley means by remote power switch. But the way Sonos words them reset instructions has us thinking unplugging maybe an important step. Like I said I did test just turning it off at the wall and it appears to have reset but if it really is that simple why do Sonos tell us to unplug the cable are they trying to piss people off with hard to get to cables :/

Unplugging is different than a Factory Reset. Yes it’s part of a Factory Reset. For what purpose are you desiring a Factory Reset? Unplugging is something I do if a storm is rolling in. In my case there is no other reason I would unplug a Sonos device. If I was going to sell a Sonos device I would be a nice guy and Factory Reset it first.

Ken_Griffiths

I know a reset isn't advised but sometimes its needed, my old arc is being put into a media wall this weekend and its going to be hard to unplug the cable if it ever needs a reset, So we were thinking of just using a smart plug and plugging the Sonos into that, i'm assuming that's what Stanley means by remote power switch. But the way Sonos words them reset instructions has us thinking unplugging maybe an important step. Like I said I did test just turning it off at the wall and it appears to have reset but if it really is that simple why do Sonos tell us to unplug the cable are they trying to piss people off with hard to get to cables :/

Aside from being able to either ‘power-cycle’ or ‘factory reset’ your Sonos Arc, it’s also worth remembering that the Sonos Home Theatre Soundbar has speakers that fire both sideways and upwards, aswell as forwards, towards the viewing position, so when ‘embedding your Arc in a media wall, you need to leave space around your product for these angled speakers. The positioning/space requirements are outlined in the online Sonos user guide here (if required):

https://www.sonos.com/en-us/guides/arc

How to factory reset the Arc is outlined here:

https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/reset-your-sonos-product

To otherwise power-cycle the Arc, rather than factory resetting it, simply disconnect the ‘mains’ power supply to it and restore that supply (I usually wait 10s, or so, before restoring its power) - I choose to use a smart-plug to do this power reboot and some folk tend to leave things switched off too when they’re away from Home for extended periods (Holidays etc.)

Ken_Griffiths

There is no way to change the WiFi network on a non-BLE speaker without a factory reset, that has been confirmed by Sonos on multiple threads here since the release of the new Sonos app.

If you didn’t post factually inaccurate comments, I wouldn’t have to correct you.

A workaround to the ‘reset’ here is to quickly setup a mobile hotspot using the original routers SSID/Credentials and swap the speaker, or entire Sonos Household, over to the new nearby WiFi in the Sonos App’s network settings, that’s if the old router is perhaps no longer available, but you can swap such a speakers network credentials too, if you can access it over a ‘wireless’ SonosNet connection.. so that’s using two non-BLE speakers, just as an example, and subsequently swapping the wired device to achieve the switchover on both.

In my own use-case, I tend to take the easier option anyway and use the same SSID/Credentials on any new router, so that I don’t have to change any Household products that are connected to the Home WiFi - so keeping things simpler and usually far less-time consuming.

That said, I do like to change the Home WiFi password at least once each year, and that can take time to do, with all the various wireless devices we have in our Homes these days.

Mr. T

There is no way to change the WiFi network on a non-BLE speaker without a factory reset, that has been confirmed by Sonos on multiple threads here since the release of the new Sonos app.

If you didn’t post factually inaccurate comments, I wouldn’t have to correct you.

A workaround to the ‘reset’ here is to quickly setup a mobile hotspot using the original routers SSID/Credentials and swap the speaker, or entire Sonos Household, over to the new nearby WiFi in the Sonos App’s network settings, that’s if the old router is perhaps no longer available, but you can swap such a speakers network credentials too, if you can access it over a ‘wireless’ SonosNet connection.. so that’s using two non-BLE speakers, just as an example, and subsequently swapping the wired device to achieve the switchover on both.

In my own use-case, I tend to take the easier option anyway and use the same SSID/Credentials on any new router, so that I don’t have to change any Household products that are connected to the Home WiFi - so keeping things simpler and usually far less-time consuming.

That said, I do like to change the Home WiFi password at least once each year, and that can take time to do, with all the various wireless devices we have in our Homes these days.

Doesn’t change the fact that to add a new WiFi network to older devices, they require a factory reset.

Are you aware the process changed after the introduction of the new Sonos app?

Both support pages previously linked make this clear.

** Note that as of May 2024, speakers that do not support BTLE need to be reset to be added to a new network. Please see updated instructions at our Connect Sonos to a new router or WiFi network help pages for more information **

Ken_Griffiths

There is no way to change the WiFi network on a non-BLE speaker without a factory reset, that has been confirmed by Sonos on multiple threads here since the release of the new Sonos app.

If you didn’t post factually inaccurate comments, I wouldn’t have to correct you.

A workaround to the ‘reset’ here is to quickly setup a mobile hotspot using the original routers SSID/Credentials and swap the speaker, or entire Sonos Household, over to the new nearby WiFi in the Sonos App’s network settings, that’s if the old router is perhaps no longer available, but you can swap such a speakers network credentials too, if you can access it over a ‘wireless’ SonosNet connection.. so that’s using two non-BLE speakers, just as an example, and subsequently swapping the wired device to achieve the switchover on both.

In my own use-case, I tend to take the easier option anyway and use the same SSID/Credentials on any new router, so that I don’t have to change any Household products that are connected to the Home WiFi - so keeping things simpler and usually far less-time consuming.

That said, I do like to change the Home WiFi password at least once each year, and that can take time to do, with all the various wireless devices we have in our Homes these days.

Doesn’t change the fact that to add a new WiFi network to older devices, they require a factory reset.

Are you aware the process changed after the introduction of the new Sonos app?

Both support pages previously linked make this clear.

** Note that as of May 2024, speakers that do not support BTLE need to be reset to be added to a new network. Please see updated instructions at our Connect Sonos to a new router or WiFi network help pages for more information **

Yes, I was/am aware of the changes and have spoken about them here in the community on several occasions in the past since the new App was introduced - my post here was to just mention that there are ways to achieve a network switchover on such products without a factory reset - if that’s what the OP here might find helpful.

Mr. T

…but you can swap such a speakers network credentials too, if you can access it over a ‘wireless’ SonosNet connection.. so that’s using two non-BLE speakers, just as an example, and subsequently swapping the wired device to achieve the switchover on both.

Yes, I was/am aware of the changes and have spoken about them here in the community on several occasions in the past since the new App was introduced - my post here was to just mention that there are ways to achieve a network switchover on such products without a factory reset - if that’s what the OP here might find helpful.

What you have stated is also contrary to the steps listed on a 3rd support page.

https://support.sonos.com/en-gb/article/switch-sonos-between-a-wireless-and-wired-setup

For these products, you are able to add them to a wireless network by following these steps:

Temporarily wire one Sonos product via ethernet.
Disable WiFi on the wired product.
Factory reset a different (non-wired) product in the household.
Re-add the factory reset product.
Enable WiFi on the wired product
Reboot any missing Sonos products.
Remove ethernet cable from the product connected in Step 1.

Ken_Griffiths

…but you can swap such a speakers network credentials too, if you can access it over a ‘wireless’ SonosNet connection.. so that’s using two non-BLE speakers, just as an example, and subsequently swapping the wired device to achieve the switchover on both.

Yes, I was/am aware of the changes and have spoken about them here in the community on several occasions in the past since the new App was introduced - my post here was to just mention that there are ways to achieve a network switchover on such products without a factory reset - if that’s what the OP here might find helpful.

What you have stated is also contrary to the steps listed on a 3rd support page.

https://support.sonos.com/en-gb/article/switch-sonos-between-a-wireless-and-wired-setup

For these products, you are able to add them to a wireless network by following these steps:

Temporarily wire one Sonos product via ethernet.
Disable WiFi on the wired product.
Factory reset a different (non-wired) product in the household.
Re-add the factory reset product.
Enable WiFi on the wired product
Reboot any missing Sonos products.
Remove ethernet cable from the product connected in Step 1.

I’m not looking to switch between a wireless and wired setup (or vice versa) in my example… wiring the one device is just a means of gaining access to changing the network settings on the (second) non-wired device. After that, the user can switch/exchange them and do the same WiFi network switchover with the (now) ‘other’ non-BLE device, whilst it’s uncabled. Hope that makes sense, without causing too much confusion here.

Mr. T

I’m not looking to switch between a wireless and wired setup (or vice versa) in my example… wiring the one device is just a means of gaining access to changing the network settings on the (second) non-wired device. After that, the user can switch/exchange them and do the same WiFi network switchover with the (now) ‘other’ non-BLE device, whilst it’s uncabled. Hope that makes sense, without causing too much confusion here.

Just the one flaw in your example, the app doesn’t allow it.

Ken_Griffiths

I’m not looking to switch between a wireless and wired setup (or vice versa) in my example… wiring the one device is just a means of gaining access to changing the network settings on the (second) non-wired device. After that, the user can switch/exchange them and do the same WiFi network switchover with the (now) ‘other’ non-BLE device, whilst it’s uncabled. Hope that makes sense, without causing too much confusion here.

Just the one flaw in your example, the app doesn’t allow it.

I appreciate that things can and sometimes do change around here, without notice, but have you tested that it doesn’t work then? What is the App saying when you try this now then?

Mr. T

I’m not looking to switch between a wireless and wired setup (or vice versa) in my example… wiring the one device is just a means of gaining access to changing the network settings on the (second) non-wired device. After that, the user can switch/exchange them and do the same WiFi network switchover with the (now) ‘other’ non-BLE device, whilst it’s uncabled. Hope that makes sense, without causing too much confusion here.

Just the one flaw in your example, the app doesn’t allow it.

I appreciate that things can and sometimes do change around here, without notice, but have you tested that it doesn’t work then? What is the App saying when you try this now then?

I am basing my comments on the support articles linked, previous Sonos comments on this community as well as user threads who are unable to update the WiFi network on older devices, even when wired using the Sonos app.

If you or others are saying the support pages are incorrect, then you should be calling that out.

Show more replies

Sign up

Login to the community