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Sonos Play 5 second generation wifi card failure

  • January 13, 2026
  • 7 replies
  • 94 views
F

Hi All,

 

I have a Sonos play bar, sub,  2 play 5 second gen for surrounds stereo setup for my entertainment area. In the last month one of the 2 play 5s (out of warranty sadly) stopped connecting to the system. When I plug it into Ethernet it works but unfortunately that is not an option for my space.

I sent customer service a diagnostic and was told it’s a failed WiFi card. They basically said I was SoL and my options are to get a 30 percent discount on one new 5 and buy an additional new 5 because that’s the only way I could have two surrounds. Kind of a hard answer to hear if I have two very expensive play 5 speakers, one of which works fine and the other of which only the WiFi is malfunctioning (apparently a problem that has been experienced by quite a few play 5 second gen owners).


Does anyone have other ideas of solutions? Has anyone ever effectively replaced the WiFi card on one of these? Does anyone know a good source of refurbished play 5 gen 2s?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Sincerely,

 

Ben

Best answer by Airgetlam

Since Sonos doesn’t ‘allow’ breaking open their speakers without breaking the 30% replacement, there isn’t a large community in these Sonos sponsored forums, but if you search, you may find a thread or two…although perhaps not about replacing the WiFi card on that model. At least, I don’t remember it, but I don’t really follow those threads very closely. I can say that both my PLAY:5 gen 2s continue to function properly on WiFi, but I use them for music, not surrounds. 

Before you crack them open, you may want to consider using the offer for replacements from Sonos. 30% is nothing to sneeze at, and I think you’d be happy with Era 100s, Era 300s, or Fives. But for a single replacement, you may want to look at the standard ‘resale’ websites and see what is available. It’s been a while, but I used to look at both Sonos refurbished, as well as eBay, but you may want to look further. Occasionally, you might be able to find ‘new’ stock in random stores, even though they haven’t been made by Sonos in years. Although I don’t recall the last time I saw a PLAY:5 gen 2. 

7 replies

Airgetlam
  • Airgetlam
  • Answer
  • January 13, 2026

Since Sonos doesn’t ‘allow’ breaking open their speakers without breaking the 30% replacement, there isn’t a large community in these Sonos sponsored forums, but if you search, you may find a thread or two…although perhaps not about replacing the WiFi card on that model. At least, I don’t remember it, but I don’t really follow those threads very closely. I can say that both my PLAY:5 gen 2s continue to function properly on WiFi, but I use them for music, not surrounds. 

Before you crack them open, you may want to consider using the offer for replacements from Sonos. 30% is nothing to sneeze at, and I think you’d be happy with Era 100s, Era 300s, or Fives. But for a single replacement, you may want to look at the standard ‘resale’ websites and see what is available. It’s been a while, but I used to look at both Sonos refurbished, as well as eBay, but you may want to look further. Occasionally, you might be able to find ‘new’ stock in random stores, even though they haven’t been made by Sonos in years. Although I don’t recall the last time I saw a PLAY:5 gen 2. 

Bruce
F
  • flyingroti
  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • February 7, 2026

So, I figured out a solution to my problem that didn’t involve buying two new Play 5 speakers (the totally unacceptable solution floated to me by Sonos support). 
 

I don’t have an Ethernet port near my surrounds, but I realized I could put my Sonos AMP, which I use for my turntable, in the corner where the defective WiFi card Play 5 is. The AMP is connected to the network via WiFi. By connecting the AMP to the broken Play5 speaker with an Ethernet cord, it allows the speaker to rejoin the system. So far so good! If anyone else is having the defective wifi card problem on the second gen play 5 speaker this may be a more economical solution for you also.

Airgetlam
  • Airgetlam
  • February 7, 2026

Glad you figured something out.

Much as we all hate it, electronic devices we use in our tech forward world can fail, and the fact that you’re still able to use yours is a blessing…for others that have the same failure. It won’t work in all cases, but certainly is an excellent choice for yours.

Bruce
Stanley_4
  • Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • February 7, 2026

Would a Boost serve the same purpose? They are cheap used.

F
  • flyingroti
  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • February 8, 2026

I think any device that can daisy via Ethernet but connect with WiFi would work.

 

As for “all tech devices run the risk of failing,” if you are selling smart speakers for 500 dollars and there is a pattern of WiFi cards failing, not having a system that allows for fixing/repairing or replacing the otherwise good speaker purchased less than 5 years ago is not reasonable. I’d have gladly paid to have it repaired. Replacing 1000 dollars of speakers for 1 bad WiFi card doesn’t seem right to me. But everyone is entitled to their opinion!

And yes, I’m very glad I found an alternative solution.

Smilja
  • Smilja
  • February 8, 2026

I think any device that can daisy via Ethernet but connect with WiFi would work.

 

By establishing a “Zeroconf SonosNet”? Elsewise the ethernet ports are disabled, when the system is not running “Standard SonosNet”.

»And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space, Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.« (›Windmills Of Your Mind‹ [1967]. Music by Michel Legrand ; English lyrics written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman)
Stanley_4
  • Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • February 8, 2026

Support suggested I connect two Play 1s together with Ethernet and disable wifi on one of them to deal with a "too close" issue, found a better solution and didn't verify it would work. 

Been years since my Boost was out of the spares bin so I don't want to test it here.

Owner's manual

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

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