Amazon Alexa does work with Sonos. You can set up your Sonos System to work with Alexa and other voice controls to give you easy access and control over your speakers. Some Sonos speakers have built-in microphones to help facilitate this.
I’m Donovan, and I spend most of my days playing, recording, and producing music. I also have a lot of experience working with home stereo and theater systems and have first-hand knowledge of setting up Sonos speakers.
This post will explain if Amazon Alexa works with Sonos. I’ll provide everything you need to know about using Alexa with Sonos and highlight some important related details. My goal is to help you make the most out of your Sonos system.
Let’s get rolling.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Alexa does work with Sonos. Some Sonos speakers have built-in microphones that can work with Alexa—others you can set up to work with Alexa-powered devices.
- Utilizing Alexa or other voice-control features can help you take advantage of Sonos’s convenience.
- You can use Alexa to connect to many smart devices in your home, whether that’s Sonos or anything else you like to use often.
- You can’t use all of Alexa’s features through Sonos, but you can take advantage of many of them.
Does Amazon Alexa Work with Sonos?
Amazon Alexa does work with Sonos. All Sonos speakers can work with Alexa-enabled devices, and some have built-in microphones to work with this popular voice control app. Using the two together is a great way to take advantage of the features each has to offer.
If you have an older Sonos speaker, you must connect it to an Amazon Alexa device, like the Echo or Echo Dot. If you have a newer Sonos speaker with a built-in microphone, you can set up Alexa directly on that device.
This is something to remember if you are looking into getting Sonos for the first time. If you know you want to use Alexa often, it’s worth purchasing a Sonos speaker that has compatibility built-in rather than buying a separate Alexa-enabled device.
In the section below, I’ll walk you through the steps of connecting Alexa with Sonos. It’s pretty easy, and you don’t need special skills or tech to pull it off. But getting the Alexa feature built-in is pretty nice if you are starting from scratch.
The following Sonos devices come with Alexa built-in:
- Sonos Arc
- Sonos Beam
- Sonos One
- Sonos Move
- Sonos Roam
If you have any other Sonos product, you can still use Alexa, but you’ll need to get an Alexa device to do so. If you already have an Alexa device, you can use that to control Sonos and don’t need to buy a separate one.
Another thing to keep in mind is that even though all Sonos speakers can technically work with Alexa, Amazon currently only supports Alexa in some places. If you live in the US, you’ll have no problems. But if you live elsewhere, double-check that Alexa is available there.
But as long as you have Alexa available in your area, then you’ll be able to use it with Sonos one way or another.
How to Connect Amazon Alexa with Sonos
As I mentioned in the section above, there are two ways to connect Amazon Alexa to Sonos. You can either connect using an Alexa-enabled device or by using one of the Sonos products that have the Alexa feature built in.
Follow these steps to connect Amazon Alex with Sonos using an Alex-enabled device:
1. Download the Alexa app if you haven’t done so already. You should also have the Sonos app ready to go on your phone or computer.
2. Open the Sonos app on your device.
3. Open the Setting tab.
4. Tap Services & Voices.
5. Tap Add a Service.
6. Tap Amazon Alexa.
7. Tap Add Amazon Alexa.
8. You should now be automatically bounced to the Alexa app. Tap Enable from the screen to log in to your Sonos account and turn on the Sonos skill.
9. Now, you’ll be directed to discover devices in the Alexa app. This will take a minute or so and allows Alexa to find all the Sonos speakers and devices you have set up and turned on.
10. You can now use Alexa to control your Sonos system. Attempt to play some audio or video using the service to ensure everything functions as it should.
Follow these steps to set up Amazon Alexa with a Sonos speaker that has a built-in microphone:
1. Set up your Sonos speaker and ensure it is working properly and added to your system first. You want to ensure that your speaker is functional and working correctly before attempting to set up voice commands.
2. Download the Sonos app if you haven’t done so already.
3. Open the Sonos app.
4. Go to Settings.
5. Tap Voice.
6. Tap Services & Voice.
7. Tap Add a Voice Assistant.
8. Tap Add a Service.
9. Tap Amazon Alexa.
10. Sign into your Sonos account when prompted to do so.
11. Select Add to Sonos.
12. Choose the speakers, rooms, or groups you want to be set up with Alexa.
13. Tap Add Amazon Alexa to any of the speakers you have or want to work with the service.
14. Tap Sign in to Amazon.
15. Sign in to Amazon if necessary and follow the instructions for enabling your Sonos speaker.
16. Add any music services you want to use with Alexa and make sure they are also added to your Sonos app.
14. Test that Alexa is working correctly with your Sonos speakers.
Why Won’t Alexa Play Through Sonos?
If you are having issues setting up Alexa to play through Sonos, there are a few ways you can troubleshoot things. Remember these tips even if you aren’t currently having issues because they can be a valuable resource when needed.
One common issue that has a very quick fix is ensuring that your microphone is turned on on your Sonos speaker. If you don’t have that on, you won’t be able to control or use Alexa, even if you have everything set up correctly.
Some Sonos speakers have a switch for the microphone that you need to turn on. If you don’t see a light above the microphone or voice status icons on your speaker, tap the button to turn these on so you can use them.
If you are currently playing music or other audio from your Sonos speakers, the microphone might have difficulty hearing you when you want Alexa to control something. Instead of yelling, just press pause and then instruct Alexa.
You also might need to move your speakers away from a wall if there is a lot of noise reflection. This is something to think of when you are setting your system up. Also, if you have a lot of background noise from neighbors or traffic, that might cause issues.
Another critical thing to keep in mind is that you can only use a single Amazon account for one Sonos system. If you have another Sonos system at another house or location, you won’t be able to link that with the same Amazon account to control Alexa.
Sometimes, things can get messed up with your settings within Alexa, and the app can forget you enabled Sonos. You can quickly reset this by going into the Alexa app and enabling the Sonos Skill.
Tap More in the bottom right of the Alexa app screen to get started. Then tap Skills & Games, Your Skills, Sonos, and Disable Skill. Wait a few seconds and then tap Enable Skill. This should reset things, and Alexa will start working again.
Also, remember that you need to link all of your streaming music services to work with Sonos. If you have Alexa set up with Sonos and ask the voice assistant to play Spotify, it won’t do so unless you have Spotify linked in the first place.
You need to link all of the music services you want to use with Sonos before any of them will work with Alexa. You can handle this easily within the Alexa app and just follow the on-screen instructions.
There are also a few advanced fixes you can check out from Sonos. These should be able to get everything working properly, and you’ll likely need to contact customer service if you are still experiencing issues after that.
Tips for Using Alexa with Sonos
Using Alexa with Sonos is a great way to boost productivity and convenience around your house. There isn’t a right or wrong way to go about using it, but I wanted to offer some tips here if you’ve never used these two services/devices together before.
First off, having hands-free control of your audio system can be really sweet when you are listening to music and doing other tasks at the same time. Instead of physically making changes, you can ask Alexa to change songs or increase the volume.
You can also ask Alexa to play a genre of music or a specific artist. Just keep in mind that you need to link your streaming services to your Sonos system to take advantage of all this.
And although listening to music will likely be the most commonly used purpose for Alexa and Sonos, there is plenty of other stuff Alexa can do. You can ask it to set timers while you cook, search for news and stories, or even order takeout.
If you have experience working with Alexa, you’ll love how easy it is to throw Sonos in the mix. You can easily set the mood on your way home from work by adjusting the thermostat, playing a favorite song, and adjusting the lights.
Those are just a few examples of everything that Alexa can do. When you pair it with Sonos, you’ll be quickly on the way to expanding your listening horizons and making life easier and more convenient.
FAQs
Here are a few quick answers to some of the most commonly asked questions related to if Amazon Alexa works with Sonos.
How do I get Alexa and Sonos to play together?
You can get Alexa and Sonos to play together using the Alexa app. Go to the Devices tab in the Alexa app and choose any or all of your Sonos speakers that you want to control when using Alexa.
Can Alexa play music from my Sonos library?
You cannot play music from your Sonos library using Amazon Alexa. Alexa will allow you to make basic controls, such as play, pause, and volume adjustment. But it won’t allow you to access any of the content in your library.
How do I get Alexa to play Spotify on Sonos?
You can set up Spotify as your preferred streaming service in the Alexa app and then use your Sonos system to play it from there. This is the only current way to control Spotify on Sonos using Amazon Alexa, although that might change in the future.
Does Sonos 5 have Alexa?
The Sonos:Play 5 is fully compatible with Amazon Alexa. You need to connect your Alexa-enabled device to the same network as your Sonos system for the two to communicate with one another successfully.
Final Thoughts
Amazon Alexa and Sonos work very well with one another, and using both of these services together can boost your listening experience. Just be sure to get the Alexa and Sonos app on your phone before attempting to set things up.
Every Sonos speaker can be set up with Alexa by using an Alexa-enabled device like the Amazon Echo. But you can also purchase a Sonos speaker with a built-in microphone and add Alexa as a service. Either way, you can take advantage of everything Alexa has to offer.
Have you ever set up voice controls with your Sonos system? Did you run into any issues along the way? Let me know in the comments below.
