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Question

Strange Wi-FI issue losing connection to speaker

  • August 11, 2026
  • 7 replies
  • 51 views
J
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After a long time with no particular issues, I changed access point (a router in AP mode to which an Era 100 and Pixel phone both connect) to a newer tri-band model. The speaker remained on 5GHz but the phone is WIFI 6E capable which can offer 2x speed - although it isn’t great at detecting the 6GHz network SSID.

There are two configs - my usual which is separate SSIDs for each band or a more common router setup of a single SSID for multiple bands.

I switched to the 2nd scheme as it’s possible for a device to connect quickly on 5GHz and then switch over to 6GHz. But each time it switched the Sonos mobile app would no longer see the speaker for some reason. These are just WiFi bands - the router and network remain common.

Getting back on to 5GHz with single SSID instantly resolved it until the phone switched to 6GHz again, and having separate SSIDs with the Sonos on one and the phone on the other also works fine - so that’s what I’ve gone back to.

Possibilities include the router, android / the phone, or the app - I’m assuming it’s some subtle combination of factors, but thought it worth mentioning as app to speaker connectivity is the sort of issue that’s posted from time to time. 

7 replies

Stanley_4
  • Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • August 11, 2026

That really sounds like the 6 gHz band isn't seeing a clean connection to the 2.4 and 5 gHz bands. I'd check the router to see if there are updates available or comments on this topic on their forums.

Submitting a diagnostic, one for each setup you mention and calling Sonos to have them looked at is the best option for seeing if it is a Sonos issue.

    J
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    • jwsg
    • Author
    • Enthusiast I
    • August 11, 2026

    In general 6GHz band operation is fine for all local network and internet functions for a number of clients.

    Sonos app to speaker is also 100% OK when operating on 6GHz when it has its own SSID - including switching the phone band by manually selecting the different SSIDs in WiFi settings.

    This failure of the Sonos app to see the speaker only happens after the phone switches band itself when only one SSID is in use - no other network or internet function seems to be affected.

    With Android there can be different MAC addresses presented - and then different IP address - when a different band is used but I haven't really looked to see if there’s some correlation.

    Airgetlam
    • Airgetlam
    • August 11, 2026

    I think there’s some dependency on the electronics inside the device, too. Obviously, older devices don’t have the capability to connect to 6Ghz, not having the electronics in their WiFi systems. But since it’s all backwards compatible, communications should drop back to whatever the device can indeed handle. 

    Bruce
    AjTrek1
    • AjTrek1
    • August 12, 2026

    That strange…

    I have an ASUS Wi-Fi 7 AiMesh with single SSID for 2.4GHz, 5Ghz and 6Ghz x 2. The main router is Quad band the others are Tri Band (2.4Ghz, 5Ghz and 6Ghz). My Apple products connect to 6Ghz and everything else to 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz. I can see the Sonos app on my iPhone 17 Pro Max.

    I’d make sure there is no “smart connect” commonly referred to as “band steering” activated on the main router. Also, make sure the AP’s don’t have DHCP permission to assign IP Addresses. 

    BTW...what brand of router are you using and are the AP’s of the same brand? If your AP’s connect to your main router wirelessly (backhaul) make sure they are using the 6Ghz band. In that configuration I’d deny access by computers or any device capable of using 6Ghz. My mesh units use a wired backhaul therefore I have no conflicts with devices using 6Ghz. 

    If using network gear provided by your ISP personalization may be a bit difficult. 

    Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
      Stanley_4
      • Stanley_4
      • Grand Maestro
      • August 12, 2026

      The changing MAC and IP addresses on an Android device seems odd, the network identifiers should not change based on the Wi-Fi band being used.

      The MAC should never change, the IP only if connecting to a different network and the DHCP server there issuing a new one.

      I'd give the router's settings a closer look to see if it isn't doing something unexpected.

        J
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        • jwsg
        • Author
        • Enthusiast I
        • August 12, 2026

        On a single Asus AP to which both an Era 100 and Pixel are connected, when I have the 5GHz and 6GHz bands on the same SSID, and the phone connects initially on 5GHz, but then switches to 6GHz, then, and only then, the Sonos app no longer can see the speaker. No other network or internet function is affected. If the phone switches back to 5GHz connectivity is instantly restored.

        When the bands have different SSIDs (perhaps termed “smart connect off” with some routers) then the app sees the speaker happily on either band.

        So it’s only when the phone switches 5GHz band to 6GHz with a single SSID that precedes the issue.

        For now I’ll stick to multiple SSIDs and live with the phone tending to prefer connecting on the 5GHz band rather than losing Sonos app connectivity with a single SSID setup.

        It might seem odd to have multiple MAC and IP addresses but it’s a consequence of the randomised MAC setting in Android - with it enabled connections on each band present a different MAC which yields different IP addresses with DHCP, with it disabled a further MAC is presented but one that’s static.

         

        C
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        • craigski
        • Local Superstar
        • August 12, 2026

        If you are connecting to a ‘trusted’ private WiFi, I would disable MAC Randomisation, and use device MAC. This feature is really only useful for public WiFi networks. 

        https://www.asus.com/me-en/support/faq/1044277/

        I would also disable MLO, if that's possible on your Asus devices:

        https://www.asus.com/support/faq/1053342/

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