Sonos speakers have grown in popularity over the years. This is mainly because of their compatibility with popular music services and ease of use. The quality of the speakers and cost-effectiveness are also some of the reasons.
But that isn’t to say you’ll not run into any technical problems. Here are some common problems you’re likely to face with Sonos speakers and how to go about fixing them.
See more: What is Sonos? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About the Wireless Sound System
How Sonos Works? – A Brief Overview
Before we start with problems, it’s wise to start at the absolute basics, that is, how do Sonos work? Sonos is the speakers that are interconnected via the Wi-Fi network. You can install one Sonos speaker in every room of your house and connect it to a power system.
When you play music on a speaker located in the kitchen and move into the bathroom, then the music follows, and it starts playing in the bathroom as well. You control the music through the Sonos app, which is connected to the Sonos speakers’ central system.
So if you run into a problem with playing music on Sonos speakers, the problem most probably lies in one of the following things:
- Sonos speakers
- WiFi connection
- Bluetooth connection (If Wi-Fi isn’t available, Sonos switches to Bluetooth)
- Sonos app
- Power source
Troubleshooting Common Sonos Problems
It’s a fact that not everyone using the Sonos speaker system is a techie. And it’s also a fact that you’ll be stuck with a problem with the speakers at some point in time. Users usually go the tech blogs or forums, posting their problems and waiting for the solution from an experienced user.
Well, we’ve compiled the most common issues related to the Sonos speakers. Along with that, we offer solutions so you can troubleshoot them on your own.
Cannot Connect To Wi-Fi Router
After you’ve purchased a Sonos speaker for either your office or home, you need to connect it to your home Wi-Fi network. While most users do have trouble with this, others are not that fortunate. And this is also quite frustrating since you’ve just bought and found out it is not working as it was intended to.
Therefore, we’ve ranked it the most frustrating problem. But troubleshooting this doesn’t require a tech degree.
Solution
To fix the “Cannot connect to the Wi-Fi router” issue, you need to make sure that your router and speaker are working harmoniously. Here are the things you need to check for:
- Whether or not the Wi-Fi network is on the same network as the speaker’s
- Speed of the Wi-Fi network
- For any unsupported setup and devices
If you’re looking for a quick fix, then you can connect your Sonos speaker to a router using an Ethernet cable. This often solves the problem but is not a permanent solution.
You should check if the Wi-Fi and the speaker are on the same network. This is mostly the case if your speaker isn’t connecting to the Wi-Fi network. Next, you should check network strength and speed. If Sonos speaker cannot communicate fast enough, then it’ll result in timeouts and break the connection.
For hardware requirements and compatibility, you can check the device manually and view the list of supported hardware.
More of a Technical Problem
If the above-suggested solutions don’t work out, then probably you have to put on the techie hat. Don’t worry; we’ll guide you through. When Sonos connects to your Wi-Fi connection, the router assigns a unique IP address to your Sonos speaker. But at times, it notoriously doesn’t – unless it is manually directed to do so.
To troubleshoot this, you need to open the router settings. Then find the speaker’s MAC address, which is listed on the bottom of the speaker. It will be present in the form of a serial number. Grab it and add to the speaker’s MAC address list in your router setting. The process of adding the address will differ from router to router, but the concept remains the same. If you face errors with this, then you should get in touch with your internet service provider or seek assistance from Sonos.
Unable To Connect To Sonos Speaker
The next common problem Sonos users face is they aren’t able to connect to their Sonos speakers from their app. This can be because of a myriad of reasons.
Solution
To diagnose this problem, here are the things you need to look for:
- The power to the Sonos speaker
- Whether or not you’re connected to the right Wi-Fi network
- If you’re using a VPN connection
- Status of the Ethernet cable (if it’s wired)
The first reason thing is quite simple to solve: simply plug into the power source if it isn’t already. Next, like most common problems, you need to ensure that the Wi-Fi and Sonos speakers share the same network.
If everything seems okay, then unplug your router once and plug it back in. This connects to everything from scratch. If you’ve changed router settings recently, this should also solve the “unable to connect to Sonos speaker” problem.
If you’re playing using an ethernet cable, then you can check its running condition.
Can’t Add New Sonos Devices
Many users who buy a Sonos speaker end up buying more down the road. This is because Sonos works best when you have one speaker in every room. In doing so, few users can’t add new Sonos devices to the network. This is another common issue, and it is quite easy to solve.
Solution
- Switch off and restart your phone or the device where the Sonos app is installed. Sometimes the system app or a downloaded app interferes with the functionality.
- Unplug your router and plug-in after 10-20 seconds. This resets many behind-the-scenes settings.
- Check if you have wired your speakers to the router. If so, unplug and plug it back in after 10-20 seconds.
Furthermore, you can check the network you’re connecting the devices to. If it’s an office network, you might need additional privileges.
Can’t Connect Sonos With Spotify
Sonos and Spotify are seemingly made for each other and pair very well – except for some times. This problem also arises when you already have Spotify integrated with Sonos, but suddenly they aren’t working together anymore.
Solution
To fix this issue, you might need to update both the apps and then add Spotify to your Sonos app. If you already have it installed, then remove it and add it back after 10-15 minutes. This should fix the issue.
See more: Can You Play Spotify Through Sonos?
Audio Keep Skipping Or Stopping
Another common problem Sonos users face is the songs or audio mysteriously changes automatically. Either it pauses in the middle, or the next track is played.
Solution
This is most probably the fault of network interference in the room. If you have other wireless devices, then you should disable it and check if the problem is solved. In case that’s not possible, you can adjust the wireless channel of your router from “Auto” to either 1, 6, or 11. Save and restart to apply the changes. This should eliminate the interference.
Sound Quality Is Poor
At times, you may experience a problem with audio quality. It might be a bit offbeat, cranky, or dull than usual.
Solution
If that’s the case, then most probably, you’re on a weak Wi-Fi network. Check the Wi-Fi signal strength and adjust accordingly. This should fix the problem.
Problems Updating Your Sonos
Sonos require regular software updates. Whenever it requires an update, it’ll ask for permission. At times, your attempt to update will fail. If left unchecked, then this can spurt a series of problems.
Solution
The first thing you need to do is retry after a few minutes and then again after a few minutes. A slow network might be causing the update error. If the problem persists, reboot your router and all the Sonos products. Finally, reduce the router distance and try again.
LED Lights Not Working
LED lights in the speakers inform you about the proper functioning of the Sonos devices. Different colors of light signal different things. You may find them not lighting up as usual.
Solution
If you’re having a problem with LED lights, then most probably they got outdated. You need to walk into the service center and get it replaced. Before that, you can restart your Sonos devices just to confirm.
Sonos Speakers Not Playing In Stereo
If you have two speakers in a room, then you can set them up so that they plan on the stereo. But it’s not uncommon for them to work together to form the left-right combination.
Solution
Open the Sonos Controller app and head over the Settings> Room Settings. Check if the two speakers you’re looking to pair are actually paired. If not, select the “Create Stereo Pair” option and pair them up. Also, ensure you’re pairing two identical speakers and have placed them at approximately the same opposite location.
Audio And Video Not In Sync
If you’re using the Sonos speakers to play audio and watch videos on either mobile or TV, then you may find them to be out of sync. This is common for LG OLED and Sony XBR TV owners. There’s a quick fix to it.
Solution
Launch the Sonos app and go to settings. Look for the “Audio Delay” option. You’ll find a slider that delays the audio if audio is ahead.
If the audio is behind the video, then reboot your connected devices like Blu-ray player, cable set-top box. Sonos, unfortunately, cannot deal with the “audio is behind” issue.
All of the solutions mentioned should fix all of the major issues related to Sonos speakers. In case you weren’t able to troubleshoot them, it’s recommended that you get in touch with the Sonos customer support at the earliest.