When will the ability to downgrade software be restored to the S1 app? I just purchased a Move speaker because it was supposed to be compatible with the S1 app and my older Sonos speakers, but in order to make it compatible, it needs a software downgrade. The latest version of S1 removed this feature. When will the app be updated to have that feature restored? Thank you.
Answered
S1 controller and downgrading software
Best answer by DCgal
UPDATE: I was able to resolve this thanks to others in the Sonos Community who reported that they were able to use an old Apple device (specifically, an iPhone 7) to download the old Sonos app to downgrade their speakers to S1. As an Android user, it was a little challenging for me to find an iPhone 7, but I eventually got my hands on one, and it worked like a charm! After logging into the Apple Store with my spouse’s Apple ID, I searched for the Sonos app. The app appears in the Apple Store with the Sonos black logo, but once you download it, it switches to the old Sonos app with the gold-colored logo, which is the only version that is compatible with iPhone 7 operating software. I then connected the app to my wifi network and the Move speaker and used the downgrade feature to downgrade the Move speaker’s firmware to S1. I then used the S1 controller on my regular Android device to connect the Move speaker to the rest of my Sonos system. The whole process took like 5 minutes (after spending weeks and weeks of researching and trying different things). It’s a shame that Sonos cannot be more helpful by continuing to make the old app available while the glitches with the new app get worked out, but I am very grateful to the other people in this community for helping me figure this out.
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I’m in a similar situation. I just purchased two Gen 2 SONOS ONE speakers to add to my S1 system. The ability to downgrade the software has been removed from the S1 app. Moreover, the new SONOS app doesn’t seem to have access to the “update” servers, so I cannot use the speakers at all.
Miguel_7 wrote:
I’m in a similar situation. I just purchased two Gen 2 SONOS ONE speakers to add to my S1 system. The ability to downgrade the software has been removed from the S1 app. Moreover, the new SONOS app doesn’t seem to have access to the “update” servers, so I cannot use the speakers at all.
If you already have a S1 system then surely it is just a matter of hard resetting the Ones and adding them in to your S1 system. If you have trouble adding them connect them one by one using ethernet rather than wireless. Once you have successfully added them they should work on wireless or SonosNet.
Resetting the Move speaker does not work, it requires a firmware downgrade, which can only be done with the app. I have called Sonos twice, and they have no ETA for when this feature will be restored. Totally unacceptable. Longtime Sonos customers have invested lots of time and money into building out their system, and now we cannot use it as intended. The return window for my Move speaker closes soon, and I have no choice but to return it. So much for enjoying Sonos on my patio this summer.
Agree! This is unacceptable. Bought the move 1 for my husband for Fathers Day because Sonos website says can be downgraded through app to play with our FIVE other Sonos speakers. But new app not allowing that. Had to return Move. There is no good option for a wireless portable speaker for Sonos in the s1 system now. We bought a completely different brand mobile speaker now. May eventually need to move to a different brand for all of our speakers. We were planning to sort of transition to the s2 system eventually with products like move 1 as a bridge since they are supposed to be able to work with s1 or s2. But the fact that Sonos is purposefully trying to force long term loyal customers to buy an entire new set of Sonos speakers immediately, is just ridiculous. Would rather find new brand.
im having the same issue. I don't understand why sonos cant give us a timeframe as to when the downgrade feature will be restored. Customer service says its a priority but has no date targeted.
UPDATE: I was able to resolve this thanks to others in the Sonos Community who reported that they were able to use an old Apple device (specifically, an iPhone 7) to download the old Sonos app to downgrade their speakers to S1. As an Android user, it was a little challenging for me to find an iPhone 7, but I eventually got my hands on one, and it worked like a charm! After logging into the Apple Store with my spouse’s Apple ID, I searched for the Sonos app. The app appears in the Apple Store with the Sonos black logo, but once you download it, it switches to the old Sonos app with the gold-colored logo, which is the only version that is compatible with iPhone 7 operating software. I then connected the app to my wifi network and the Move speaker and used the downgrade feature to downgrade the Move speaker’s firmware to S1. I then used the S1 controller on my regular Android device to connect the Move speaker to the rest of my Sonos system. The whole process took like 5 minutes (after spending weeks and weeks of researching and trying different things). It’s a shame that Sonos cannot be more helpful by continuing to make the old app available while the glitches with the new app get worked out, but I am very grateful to the other people in this community for helping me figure this out.
Thanks to DCgal for updating the post. Unfortunately, I do not have access to an older iOS device, therefore I cannot utilize the solution that has been flagged by SONOS as the “best answer.” I think it’s ridiculous that I spent over $400 on 2 SONOS ONE speakers that cannot be downgraded to S1 (with the current “SONOS” app). The speakers were purchased and gift for my wife and the surprise element of the gift was ruined. I cannot return the speakers because I have exceeded the return period trying to understand and fix the problem.
SONOS support says there is no timetable for when the feature will be returned to the new SONOS app, and the only solution the company endorses involves finding and using an unsupported iOS device that may be able to run an outdated version of the SONOS app (S2) to downgrade my speakers! Do better SONOS.
Miguel_7: to clarify, Sonos did not flag my answer as the “best answer,” I did. I totally feel your pain, as the Move speaker that I purchased also was a gift for my spouse that initially was ruined by the inability to downgrade it. When I read about the iPhone 7 solution in the forum, I asked everyone I knew if they had one, but nobody did. I eventually found a used one on Amazon for $115, which I promptly returned after using it for 5 minutes to downgrade the speaker. Hope that helps :).
+18Not sure Sonos does the flagging for best answer…..
Did the same iPhone 7 trick to roll back a sub.
Sonos just don’t want historic clients only new ones. I have so many ‘legacy’ devices that I won’t be buying new Sonos I’ll just migrate over the time to something else as I don’t want to be treated like this again. Added it’s sooooooo expensive now!!!!!
I just spent an hour on hold with Support and they said it’s impossible. When I asked to escalate it to a senior member, they said it’ll be 2 days before they get back to me. What kind of technology company is this?
fameneverdies1: I think you need a device with an operating software between iOS 14 and 15. Is that what you have on your iPhone SE? If so, you can downgrade your speaker using the prior version of the regular Sonos (S2) app, not the S1 controller (which is what I mistakenly assumed when I first posted my question in this forum). So trying downloading on your old iPhone the Sonos (S2) app. The App Store will tell you that your phone is not compatible with the current version and ask if you’d like to download the prior version (the one with the gold colored logo). Do that and then connect that app to your wifi network and try to locate your speaker. I think if you click on “other options” there is an option there for downgrading. You may need to factory reset your speaker first. I hope this helps. Customer Support is useless, by the way.
PS-once you downgrade with the prior version of the regular Sonos (S2) app, then switch back to your S1 controller app to connect the speaker to the rest of your Sonos system.
However, in trying the workaround of upgrading my old system (which still didn’t work) now the S1 app won’t allow me to add products without updating my app to the new Sonos app. And the new Sonos app won’t pickup the signal from the Play:1’s at all. All of a sudden, now my whole system shows incompatible
What a joke
Oh, no, I am sorry to hear that. Why are you trying to upgrade your old system? From what I can tell, almost all Sonos users wished they were still on S1.
I can’t believe their tech is so bad and their customer service is so useless
I only downgraded on an old iPhone with the tan coloured Sonos app then added with my normal phone via the S1 app and had no issues.
the S1 app on my new phone does updates but just don’t go to S2
DCgal wrote:
Miguel_7: to clarify, Sonos did not flag my answer as the “best answer,” I did. I totally feel your pain, as the Move speaker that I purchased also was a gift for my spouse that initially was ruined by the inability to downgrade it. When I read about the iPhone 7 solution in the forum, I asked everyone I knew if they had one, but nobody did. I eventually found a used one on Amazon for $115, which I promptly returned after using it for 5 minutes to downgrade the speaker. Hope that helps :).
Thanks for clarifying. I have been asking around for an old iOS device for a little while now, but no luck yet. You can’t make it up.
Did Sonos now block this workaround as well???
I was able to get an iPhone SE running iOS 15.8.3 and attempted to download the Sonos app as indicated on DCgal’s post. It downloaded, but when I tried to install it, a message came up:
“This application requires iOS 16.0 or later. You must update to iOS 16.0 in order to download and use this application.”
The new Sonos app requirements indicate that you must have iOS 16 or higher. If I update my iOS to 16.0 on the iPhone SE, will that now just install the latest Sonos app and not the previous one with the gold logo???
DCgal wrote: “The App Store will tell you that your phone is not compatible with the current version and ask if you’d like to download the prior version (the one with the gold colored logo).”
Unfortunately, that was not an option (or was no longer an option?) available from the AppStore when I tried to download and install it.
Good news. As of this morning, August 7, 2024, Sonos released version 80.06.03 which now includes the S2 to S1 downgrade tool. Had a couple of quirky things happen, but it worked to downgrade three Sonos One Gen 2 speakers that I had purchased to expand my system (moved to a new home) and that have been sitting on a shelf the last few months.
I have a S1 system and, as many others here, bought a Move Gen 1 that came w S2 loaded and couldn't downgrade. The new version you are mentioning is the S2 app. The S1 app is not updated since March 7th. Shouldn't that one get the same downgrade functionality?
If I download the S2 app, it won't "automatically" try to update any compatible units to S2, thereby damaging my system? I can just install the S2 app, downgrade the Move and then uninstall the S2 app and reinstall S1?
I don't know that the Sonos S1 Controller will ever be upgraded to have the downgrade from S2 to S1 capability.
However, if you download the Sonos app ("the official Sonos app" ... version 80.06.03 for an iPhone, for instance) and start the app, it will search for products, but should not find any, IF you are only using the Sonos S1 Controller for your system. Also, it shouldn't find your Move Gen 1 if you have reset it to factory default (indicated by the product showing a flashing green light).
The app should indicate "No Products Found" and give you the option to go to System Settings. Once in System Settings, go to Visit Help Center. There choose the option Downgrade Product to S1.
Follow the steps indicated by the app. You should be able to downgrade your Move Gen 1 from S2 to your desired S1. Once that is completed, use the Sonos S1 Controller to add your Move Gen 1 to your system.
This is a brief summary of the steps to take. Sonos support has some more detailed documents on both how to reset your product to its factory default and downgrading S2 to S1. (Search on support.sonos.com)
By the way, you do not have to (and probably do not want to) uninstall the Sonos S1 Controller when you install the new Sonos app. You can have both on your iPhone at the same time. If you uninstall the Sonos S1 Controller, you could risk losing your system info and have to start over in setting up your system.
+23slguy wrote:
By the way, you do not have to (and probably do not want to) uninstall the Sonos S1 Controller when you install the new Sonos app. You can have both on your iPhone at the same time. If you uninstall the Sonos S1 Controller, you could risk losing your system info and have to start over in setting up your system.
No, uninstalling the S1 controller will have no affect on your system. All configuration is stored in the speakers.
When you re-install the S1 app you may have to press a button on one of your speakers so it knows which system you want to control.
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