Easier Factory Reset

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.

Most people do not plug their Sonos into a switched wall outlet. For most folks doing that would be a bad idea.

But yes, anything you do do that removes power and then supplies it again will do for the factory reset.

Related, the Factory Reset should only be done in specific, documented situations or when advised to by Sonos support. 

I have a couple that are hard to unplug, added a remote power switch for them, very rarely needed.

 Factory reset is not advised unless you’re purchasing a used Sonos.  Why are you doing a factory reset?

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 :/

Tbh i never really thought about that, i guess I'm just to use to seeing switched sockets but yeah  makes total sense now lol.

Most people do not plug their sonos devices into switched outlets. You generally don’t want to remove power from devices that are supposed to be on all the time. Unplugging is a way to remove power. That’s really all they are saying. And using a smart plug is a great way to do it when access is limited.

Can you explain why would it would be a bad idea for some people, its just in my bedroom I have an arc ultra wired to a double socket (switched), 2 ceiling speakers wired to an amp which is plugged into the other socket the arcs plugged into. And I also have a sub mini which is plugged into a single socket (switched) all switches are easy to get to but pulling the cable is not so easy

Ah I see makes sense, were i live pretty much every 3pin socket has switches

It would appear a lot of people commenting here haven’t been to the UK.

The process of a ’factory reset’ rarely fixes an issue, and when performed, always deletes any error logs that Sonos employees might use to determine what the real problem is. 

At best, a factory reset ‘kicks the can down the road’ temporarily. If there’s a reason why you feel the need to do a factory reset, you’re ignoring other issues. Often to the detriment of your network, and certainly to the Sonos system. 

That being said, Sonos is an electronic component. It can be affected by various outside influence, but for most, say 99.9% of them, a simple power cycle is all it needs to reset internal electronics, and a reload of the firmware. 

If it’s a reboot your shooting for Sonos should provide a way to do that in the app.  Factory Reset is a different story, but would be a rare occurrence.

Too rapid power-cycling is a great way to blow up a capacitor or diode in a power supply. A switch that can easily and accidentally be flipped off and back on, maybe a couple times is begging for trouble. Personally I don't even trust wall power, without the switching issue, to directly power my Sonos, I use a high quality surge-suppressor on every one. Might be wasted effort but I have never lost a Sonos to power issues in 20 years.

As to smart switches, not something I trust, I want simple and reliable. Decent cost is lower on the list. Amazon and others sell a variety of switched outlets, very basic to nice enough the spouse likes their looks.

Nice where they can be seen: (I have a bunch of this one)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0845PYFPK?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

Cheap for out of sight: (example, not recommendation)

https://www.amazon.com/STANLEY-31324-Polarized-Extension-Receptacles/dp/B07M9JGD9Z/ref=sr_1_10

Pulling the plug is synonymous with cutting the power from the outlet.  There is nothing about actually pulling the plug that is different from removing power from the unit in any other way.

As to the bolded - No, it is not.  There is only one legitimate reason for a user to do a factory reset without Sonos support advising it, and that is when it is switching between owners via sale, gifting, etc.  Other than that, a reboot does everything a reset does, except it doesn’t erase diagnostic information that may be helpful to Sonos if the device is actually defective.  

Changing the WiFi network on a non-BLE speaker is also a legitimate reason for a factory reset.

No, it isn’t.  The proper way to change the WiFi credentials for non-BLE equipped speakers is to connect via Ethernet.  

Wrong.

https://support.sonos.com/en-gb/article/connect-sonos-to-a-new-router-or-wi-fi-network

Is there a technical reason why you don’t trust smart switches? I generally use them for things that don’t have their own on/off switches and in which I usually want several things turned on/off at once...or scheduled. Say Christmas lights for example, it’s usually all coming on at night at the same time.  

Smart switches work sometimes. Dumb switches always work.

Plug a dumb one in and you are done, no updates, no power draw, no need for Wi-Fi or an Internet connection, no controller, no issues making sure equipment is powered down during a power outage and won't be connected before the grid stabilizes. 

Smart switches do some neat stuff - if you need it. 

I just need a simple way to remove power and in some situations make sure it stays off.

And Sonos has stated this is bad info and should be changed.  Sonos states right here when one should reset (and it says nothing about changing WiFi).

https://en.community.sonos.com/speakers-229128/factory-reset-what-you-need-to-know-6832540?tid=6832540&fid=229128

As an aside, did I do something to you I don't know of?  I've noticed lately you take great delight in "correcting" me.  Though I appreciate the puppy dog like attention, can we just agree to a mutual ignore?  It's getting rather creepy.  

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.

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.

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.)

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.