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Sonos Planning Another App Overhaul With Live Activities Support

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Sonos is preparing a major update to its app that aims to simplify navigation and introduce iPhone Lock Screen controls using Live Activities, part of a broader effort to rebuild confidence after the company's troubled 2024 software overhaul, Bloomberg reports.

sonos-logo.jpg

Sonos plans to roll out a series of optional changes to its iPhone and Android app in the coming months, with the company focusing on usability improvements, navigation, and more accessible playback controls. The update is expected to arrive gradually rather than as a sweeping redesign, reflecting a different release strategy following the company's widely criticized 2024 app relaunch.

Sonos CEO Tom Conrad recently demonstrated early versions of the revised interface during a meeting at the company's headquarters in Goleta, California. He admitted to Bloomberg that the current version of the app still contains several usability issues despite improvements made over the past year. While the final design is still evolving, the goal is to reduce friction in common tasks such as switching rooms, managing playback, and accessing frequently used controls.

A notable change being developed specifically for iOS involves adding Lock Screen playback controls for Sonos speakers. The feature is already available on Android devices, where users can control music without opening the Sonos app. On the iPhone, Sonos plans to implement similar functionality using Apple's Live Activities feature.

Live Activities were introduced in iOS 16 as part of the system's Lock Screen and Dynamic Island experience. The framework allows apps to display continuously updated information on the Lock Screen and, on supported devices, within the Dynamic Island area. Live Activities are commonly used for tasks such as tracking sports scores, ride-sharing progress, deliveries, or timers, but they can also provide persistent media controls.

Sonos has not yet provided a release date for the updated interface. Further details about the changes may be shared with customers in late March or April once development progresses further.

Article Link: Sonos Planning Another App Overhaul With Live Activities Support
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/02/24/sonos-planning-another-app-overhaul/
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I never understood how a redesign of their app was such a calamity to users. Are we talking about the same products? I open the Sonos app maybe once a year. It is mostly for just setting up your speakers, which barely ever need to be touched again after being set up. Sure they have features in the app for playing audio sources but that's really just because feel obligated to have it. It isn't meant to be the primary way to play audio. 99% of the time the audio going through my various Sonos devices is coming from the TV. If I'm playing from my phone, I'm not using the Sonos app. I'll use my music app(s), and stream directly to the speakers.

So why exactly did the earth stop rotating over an update to the Sonos app?
 
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Henrikr said:
Sonos app user experience is a complete NIGHTMARE! Both on phones and Macs. It's completely confusing, why do they have two different Sonos apps for Mac OS that looks exactly the same etc....
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Isn't one version of the app for the older generation equipment and the other app is for the newer generation?
 
Farquar said:
I never understood how a redesign of their app was such a calamity to users. Are we talking about the same products? I open the Sonos app maybe once a year. It is mostly for just setting up your speakers, which barely ever need to be touched again after being set up. Sure they have features in the app for playing audio sources but that's really just because feel obligated to have it. It isn't meant to be the primary way to play audio. 99% of the time the audio going through my various Sonos devices is coming from the TV. If I'm playing from my phone, I'm not using the Sonos app. I'll use my music app(s), and stream directly to the speakers.

So why exactly did the earth stop rotating over an update to the Sonos app?
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Multi room playback and control, choosing music from multiple sources, setting alarms. Just because you don’t use it doesn’t mean nobody does.
 
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Liked the old app.

The May 2024 "upgrade" was a disaster with my set up: speakers disappearing, stereo pairs dropping a channel, a seconds-long lag when adjusting the volume, volume changing on its own, radio programs not playing, albums skipping or repeating tracks and the dreaded "system not found" for hours at a time, typically when I most wanted music (when having friends over for dinner, for example). Plus the new interface was and is clunky compared to the old one.

After a month of hell, I switched to SonoPhone and haven't looked back. These days I only use the Sonos app to add a device, change settings and access a service that doesn't show up on SonoPhone.

That said, if the updated app is stable, has a better UI and offers lock screen controls, I'll consider returning to the fold.
 
Farquar said:
I never understood how a redesign of their app was such a calamity to users. Are we talking about the same products? I open the Sonos app maybe once a year. It is mostly for just setting up your speakers, which barely ever need to be touched again after being set up. Sure they have features in the app for playing audio sources but that's really just because feel obligated to have it. It isn't meant to be the primary way to play audio. 99% of the time the audio going through my various Sonos devices is coming from the TV. If I'm playing from my phone, I'm not using the Sonos app. I'll use my music app(s), and stream directly to the speakers.

So why exactly did the earth stop rotating over an update to the Sonos app?
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I have 10 rooms in my home with Sonos speakers, and listen to music every day in my home office. I have never used my system the way you describe and access the Sonos app multiple times per day. For users like me, the shortcomings of the current app are real and very annoying. One of their problems is they have devices controllable by voice, devices that interface with AirPlay, devices you can control with buttons, AND devices that are often hidden in closets and can't be accessed via AirPlay, voice or physical controls. So the app is absolutely necessary for many, and probably most Sonos users. It's awesome that you have a workflow that doesn't require it, but you're likely in the minority of Sonos users.
 
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Farquar said:
I never understood how a redesign of their app was such a calamity to users. Are we talking about the same products? I open the Sonos app maybe once a year. It is mostly for just setting up your speakers, which barely ever need to be touched again after being set up. Sure they have features in the app for playing audio sources but that's really just because feel obligated to have it. It isn't meant to be the primary way to play audio. 99% of the time the audio going through my various Sonos devices is coming from the TV. If I'm playing from my phone, I'm not using the Sonos app. I'll use my music app(s), and stream directly to the speakers.

So why exactly did the earth stop rotating over an update to the Sonos app?
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it sounds like all of your devices are newish -- some of their older (but not too old) devices don't support airplay and therefore can't be controlled (for multi-room playback) without their app.
 
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When I bought the soundbar, I was excited to be able to cast the Android app to the Soundbar and play from my phone. I was then disappointed that wasn't the case and the app became really limiting to the point where I barely use it. I want to cast from my phone and still have Last.fm pick it up. It shouldn't be that hard.
 
SwampYankee0! said:
Will I be able to use the volume buttons on my iPhone to control volume or will I still have to do it in the stupid app? I need the Sonos app to support iPhone volume buttons and then we can talk forgiveness.
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that wont be returning. It was always a hack.
 
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SwampYankee0! said:
Will I be able to use the volume buttons on my iPhone to control volume or will I still have to do it in the stupid app? I need the Sonos app to support iPhone volume buttons and then we can talk forgiveness.
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If you have an Apple TV and it’s connected via arc or airplay you can now. I have my Sonos Arc connected via eARC on my tv and that’s my primary way of controlling the volume. You can also use the Sonos assistant which is leagues better than Siri for tv related tasks and alarms and whatnot.
 
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I’m not a Sonos user so I have zero skin in the game. But: they literally lost some signficant market cap the last time they did this, and although anything is possible, I would bet they are going to be extremely careful with this next iteration of their app.
 
Apart from the deserved ribbing for "har har, great job last time guys", I support giving their largely new management team another go at it. At this point it would be hard to make the app any worse than it currently is.
 
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