There are several reasons why Sonos won’t connect, including a minor bug, WiFi issues, or problems with your router. Most of these have an easy fix that will get your Sonos system up and running again quickly.
My name is Donovan, and I love everything audio related. I work as a musician and producer but I also have a lot of experience setting up home stereo and theater systems. I have first-hand experience working with Sonos systems and know how to troubleshoot issues with them.
This post will provide you with all of the common reasons why Sonos won’t connect. I’ll give you a good explanation of what’s going on and also give you a quick fix for each problem. My goal is to help you get your Sonos system operating correctly.
Let’s dig in.
Key Takeaways
- One of the most common reasons why Sonos won’t connect is WiFi issues because Sonos systems rely on this to operate correctly.
- Resetting your Sonos speakers and/or WiFi router is a good first step for troubleshooting when things won’t connect.
- You need to ensure that your Sonos speakers are within range of the WiFi signal, or else they won’t be able to connect.
- Using a VPN will also affect the Sonos connection, so you’ll need to turn that off if you use one while using Sonos.
8 Reasons Why Sonos Won’t Connect and How to Fix It
There are a number of potential reasons why Sonos won’t connect. Most of these are straightforward and easy to deal with, while others might require outside assistance. In a worst-case scenario, you might have a bad speaker.
But before assuming the worst, I’ll walk you through the most common causes for connection issues with a Sonos system. I’ve dealt with this problem enough to know these causes and why it’s best to start with the simple fixes.
Run through the list of causes to see which will help you resolve the issue. I put them in order from the most common (with a simple fix) to the less common (with a not-so-simple fix) to help you troubleshoot effectively.
Reason #1: No Power
We will start things off with the most basic reasons why Sonos won’t connect. If you don’t have your speakers powered on, you won’t get very far with having your system work as it is supposed to.
This one might sound like a no-brainer, but I’ve jumped to conclusions in thinking that something was majorly wrong with my setup when all I needed to do was turn the speakers on. No power equals no connection and no sound – it’s as simple as that.
How to Fix It:
Turn all of your speakers on before attempting to use your Sonos system. All Sonos speakers will have a power light that indicates the speaker is plugged in and operational. The speakers aren’t turned on if you don’t see that light.
There is always a chance that the outlet your speakers are plugged into is broken or without power. You might need to change or repair the outlet if you don’t get the power light when the speakers are plugged in.
You can also plug a different appliance or electronic device into the outlet to see if it’s working.
Reason #2: Minor Issue with Speaker or Router
A minor issue with your Sonos speaker or WiFi router can also cause connection problems. I refer to these as a bug or glitch, which implies something is wrong, but there isn’t an obvious reason.
Random issues with either your speaker or router can cause connection problems. These can appear out of nowhere, even if your setup has been working properly recently. They can occur at basically any time as well.
How to Fix It:
A quick reset of your speaker and/or router should resolve the issue. If you have a multiple Sonos speaker setup, you might need to reset all of them for things to work correctly again.
You can easily reset your speakers by unplugging them from the power source, waiting for about ten seconds, and then plugging them back in. Most WiFi routers can be reset the same way.
Just remember that you will need to wait a few minutes for your router to reset fully and won’t have internet service until then.
Reason #3: Other WiFi Issues
Sonos systems require a WiFi connection to work. So without WiFi, you are going to run into problems when trying to play audio. If the connection goes out or you lose power to your router, you won’t be able to connect.
Clumping everything into a “WiFi issue” is pretty broad, but what I mean here is that if you have internet problems, you likely won’t be able to connect your Sonos system until things get fixed.
It could be a system-wide issue with your internet provider or a problem with the equipment you have.
How to Fix It:
Resolving WiFi issues is pretty straightforward, and sometimes a router reset is all you need to do to get things running. You can also check to see if you have working internet on another device to ensure things are running properly.
If it’s a system-wide issue with your local WiFi provider, you’ll need to wait for the company to fix things. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days, but typically won’t take that long. But there is nothing you can do directly to help fix things if the system is down.
Reason #4: Speakers Too Far from Router
Your Sonos speakers need to be within a close enough distance from your wireless router to get an adequate WiFi signal. If they are too far away, you won’t be able to connect because the speakers don’t have enough connection to operate as they should.
This can also occur if you have thick walls or your Sonos set up in a basement. Even if you aren’t that far from the router, the building materials and walls can cause interference that prevents the speakers from connecting.
How to Fix It:
You might need to rethink or rearrange your listening room setup to fix this problem. You can also potentially move your router to a new location closer to your speakers. Having your speakers and router in the same room will eliminate this issue altogether.
You can get a wireless signal testing app on your phone to check how strong the signal is near your speakers. This will give you an idea of which speakers you might need to move or how you can establish a better overall connection.
Reason #5: New Router or Settings
If you get a new WiFi router or change your settings on an existing router, your Sonos speakers won’t automatically connect because they have not been set up with the new device or settings. This can also happen if you factory reset a Sonos speaker.
Every Sonos speaker you use in your setup needs to be connected to your WiFi router. This doesn’t happen automatically and usually occurs when you first set up the system. So getting a new router leads to essentially the same thing, and you need to start from the top.
How to Fix It:
You’ll need to go through the setup process for all your speakers to fix this issue. You can do this from the Sonos app. Make sure your speakers are turned on and launch the app. The app will scan for your speakers, and you can complete the setup process from there.
The Sonos app will walk you through the entire connection process. You basically just need to enter your network name and password, and then the speakers can automatically connect every time you turn them on.
Reason #6: VPN Use
Using a VPN will also affect how your Sonos system is able to connect. You cannot connect with a VPN turned on most of the time, as Sonos recognizes that this is in place and doesn’t allow VPN use.
If you are a VPN user, you most likely want to use it as often as possible for its security and privacy benefits. But you won’t be able to use your Sonos system as long as it’s turned on.
How to Fix It:
Turning off your VPN is the quick and easy solution here. Most VPNs can be controlled with an app that has an on/off button. Each VPN provider app is slightly different, but it should be really simple to figure out how to turn it off.
Reason #7: Bad Ethernet Cable (Wired Setups Only)
If you use a hard-wired Sonos setup, the ethernet cable between your router and speakers can go bad. Like any other cable, it can break when it gets bent, stepped on, or used too much over time.
Sometimes it’s easy to tell if a cable is bad because you can see breaks or tears in the protective cover. Other times, the cable might look brand new but is still bad. But a bad cable can’t be repaired, so it’s time for a new one.
How to Fix It:
Replacing the cable is the only way to fix a bad one. Make sure you get the same type of cable (an ethernet cable) and one that is long enough to cover the distance from your router to the speakers.
You can pick up a replacement cable online or from most electronics stores. Ethernet cables are still relatively standard and relatively easy to find.
Reason #8: Bad or Broken Speaker
The worst-case scenario for Sonos not connecting is that you have a bad or broken speaker. This doesn’t happen very often, but it definitely does occur. Speakers can get damaged if you drop them or spill liquid on them.
Speakers can also just go bad after they’ve been heavily used. And sometimes, manufacturer’s defects result in faulty speakers that will go bad even if they are relatively new.
How to Fix It:
You will most likely need a replacement speaker if this is the cause of your connection problem. But rather than buying a new one right away, be sure to contact Sonos customer service to see if a warranty is in place.
If the bad speaker is under warranty, you can get a new one for free. You’ll probably need to spend money on a new one if it’s not under warranty. There aren’t too many options for speaker repair, and it’s often around the same price to just get a new one.
FAQs
Here are a few short answers to some of the most commonly asked questions related to the reasons why Sonos won’t connect and how to fix it.
Why is my Sonos unable to connect?
The most common reason for Sonos not connecting is issues with the WiFi signal. You might need to reset your router or speaker to resolve this. You should also ensure your speakers are within range of the router to get a good signal.
How do I get my Sonos to work again?
If you are having problems connecting your Sonos system or dealing with other issues, a quick reset of the speakers can fix the problem. Just unplug the speaker from the power source, wait around ten seconds, and plug it back in.
How do I reset and reconnect my Sonos?
To factory reset your Sonos speakers, disconnect them from the power source. Then press the Bluetooth button while powering the speaker back on. Continue to hold the button until the lights flash green, and then reconnect to your WiFi network using the Sonos app.
Why won’t my Sonos connect to new WiFi?
You must reestablish the WiFi connection whenever you use a new router or network with your Sonos system. You can do this right in the Sonos app, which will walk you through the process of entering new login information to get connected.
Sonos speakers and other devices do not have a dedicated reset button. You can do a quick reset by unplugging the speakers, waiting around ten seconds, and plugging them back in. You might also need to do a factory reset by holding the Bluetooth button during startup.
Final Thoughts
Running into a connection issue with your Sonos system is pretty common, and usually it’s no big deal. Go through all the potential reasons and fixes in this post to help you get your Sonos running great again. It usually only takes a few minutes to resolve the problem.
Remember that you should always start with the minor fixes before attempting anything drastic like buying a new speaker or changing your entire setup. Most of the time, a quick reset of your speaker and/or wireless router will resolve connection problems.
Have you ever had connection problems with your Sonos system? How did you fix them? Let me know in the comments below.
