From 7 May 2024, Sonos users across the globe will be getting a fully redesigned app, designed to make audio control simpler and the software experience cleaner. This new design will be available to both iOS and Android users for free.
Rather than categorising everything into five tabs, over 100 services will be available on a redesigned home screen. Features such as ‘Recently Played’, ‘Your Services’ and ‘Trending Now’ will all be available in one place.
Users can shuffle the order of features shown for a more personalised experience. They can also pin favourite playlists, artists and services to the home screen for quick and easy access. Plus, there’s also a brand-new dark mode for the app for those who prefer that style. Of course, the existing white version will still be an option.
The refresh comes four years after Sonos launched its S2 app. That came with some compatibility issues meaning it didn’t work with some older speakers and devices but there are no such worries with this version that we are aware of.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
The all-in-one search bar allows users to search for a song, artist, audiobook or podcast across all preferred streaming apps in one go. Users who set a preferred streaming service (such as Spotify) will have results in this platform appear at the top of their search.
Swiping up from the bottom of the home screen gives an overview of all the devices in your system, and what room they’re assigned to as well as info like battery life (if they are portable models like the Sonos Move 2).
You can use the app to select different tracks for various rooms, group speakers together or adjust the volume levels of each speaker.
Launching alongside the mobile app interface will be a brand-new web app, which will replace the existing one. This will include all the same features as you’ll find on your smartphone app, though all set-up for speakers will still have to be done from your handset.
The app preferences will be configured directly to devices, so different household members can have their own preferred experience with their shared Sonos ecosystem.
Patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos explains how the new apps will benefit users: “After thorough development and testing, we are confident this redesigned app is easier, faster and better. It once again raises the bar for the home music listening experience, and sets up our ability to expand into new categories and experiences.”
The S2 app update won’t come at any extra cost to users, and a spokesperson for Sonos has confirmed that users will have the choice to download if auto-updates are disabled on their phones. However, the company highly encourages downloading it to avoid any bugs.
The update also supports all the products that currently work with the S2 app, whilst the existing S1 app will remain the same.
Matt Bolton from Tech Radar asked the company if a new widget will be coming with the app update, but this is not something Sonos is considering at this time.
If you’re looking for a new product to add to your home, you can check out our chart of the best Sonos speakers.
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor's Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She's also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she's written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.