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Play:5 firmware not updating

  • May 10, 2026
  • 6 replies
  • 57 views
C

Hi All,

Looking for help about my issue about firmware update.

I have several Play:1 and Play:5. 2 days ago, I moved a pair of 5s in another room. This is where the problem occured. Right after plugging in, one for the speakers in a pair asked for an update and disconnected from the pair. I tried updating, but the update always get an error 30. Here are the things I tried and used different devices in doing it just to isolate my phone or tablet. 

1. Connected via ethernet - error 30

2. Wifi - error 30

3. Reboot my router and disabled all fw - error 30

4. Reset to factory the play:5 while using ethernet cable - error 30

5. Fresh Installed the play 5 in a new S1 environment system as a new room while directly connected to my router - error 30

6. Turned off all my other sonos speakers, used a new app and membered the play:5 in an existing system - error 30

I have been trying to troubleshoot this for 2 days now. I did report thru Sonos chat and advised me to do an international call which is not doable for me because it may take hours and will cost me a lot. 

 

Have anybody experienced the same? How was it resolved? 

 

The update is needed for the speaker to work. All options are greyed out especially adding services. 

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

Best answer by Christiannnn

I got it sorted out, but never really got the cause. What I did different was reboot the speaker after adding it to a new system. I never did it once it got adopted and I just tried to update manually.

 

So what I did was, did another factory reset. Downloaded a fresh S1 controller then added it as a new system using my hotspot then triggered the update which will give an error 30 as expected. I then chose the stop install for now. I turned off the speaker then after a few minutes turned it on then pressed the check update. It went through! I honestly still do not know what caused it and if the reboot really did something.

 

The speaker is now paired again with the other one!

 

Many thanks!

6 replies

buzz
  • buzz
  • May 10, 2026

Are the other units updated and working when power is removed from this unit?

C
  • Christiannnn
  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • May 10, 2026

Are the other units updated and working when power is removed from this unit?

Thanks for the reply. All the rest are up to date with 11.16.1 and working fine. The only Play:5 that is not updating is at 11.15.3. Can't do much about it now even after all the tshoot I have done. This was completely working fine after I removed it from the outlet.

buzz
  • buzz
  • May 10, 2026

I assume you’ve read the error 30 note.

Just to review your sequence; keep all of the other units powered dowm, Factory Reset this unit, install a fresh controller, and setup a new system. During setup you should be prompted for the update. If successful, Factory Reset this unit. When you power up the other units they should come online.

I haven’t worked with S1 for a while. There may be a complaint that you are attempting to connect to a different system. If there is not an easy click option to connect to the existing system, power down the updated unit and restart the controller.hopefully you will not need to reinstall the controller. Check the other PLAY:5 to make sure that it is not showing as paired with the problem unit. Now you can add the problem unit to your system as a new unit. Keep this unit wired until it joins the system.

Could there be a reason why this unit cannot access the SONO site?

    C
    • Christiannnn
    • Author
    • Contributor I
    • May 10, 2026

    I assume you’ve read the error 30 note.

    Just to review your sequence; keep all of the other units powered dowm, Factory Reset this unit, install a fresh controller, and setup a new system. During setup you should be prompted for the update. If successful, Factory Reset this unit. When you power up the other units they should come online.

    I haven’t worked with S1 for a while. There may be a complaint that you are attempting to connect to a different system. If there is not an easy click option to connect to the existing system, power down the updated unit and restart the controller.hopefully you will not need to reinstall the controller. Check the other PLAY:5 to make sure that it is not showing as paired with the problem unit. Now you can add the problem unit to your system as a new unit. Keep this unit wired until it joins the system.

    Could there be a reason why this unit cannot access the SONO site?

    Yes, I read about the error 30. Thats why I tried disabling all the firewall rules even though the others updated succesfully. I even created a separate port and network for it.

    I actually tried already with a new install of S1 controller and tried creating a fresh new system - still error 30. I hoped to get it to update so I can just reset and install in my existing system. I'm at wits end. 

    By the way, the other unit that is paired with this shows its no longer paired. 

     

     

    C
    • Christiannnn
    • Author
    • Contributor I
    • May 10, 2026

    By the way, I also tried to hotpsot using my mobile carrier and same error 30. Forgot to include this in my initial post.

     

    Thank you!

    C
    • Christiannnn
    • Author
    • Contributor I
    • Answer
    • May 10, 2026

    I got it sorted out, but never really got the cause. What I did different was reboot the speaker after adding it to a new system. I never did it once it got adopted and I just tried to update manually.

     

    So what I did was, did another factory reset. Downloaded a fresh S1 controller then added it as a new system using my hotspot then triggered the update which will give an error 30 as expected. I then chose the stop install for now. I turned off the speaker then after a few minutes turned it on then pressed the check update. It went through! I honestly still do not know what caused it and if the reboot really did something.

     

    The speaker is now paired again with the other one!

     

    Many thanks!

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