- Sonos brings back notification and lock screen controls on Android
- Work is still being done to support these controls on iOS.
- You can also access these options from your wrist through Wear OS
After some well-publicized tribulations in recent years, Sonos is on its way back. Not only did the company launch new speakers earlier this week, it also fixed a major source of frustration for users of its Android app.
As posted by u/edfosho1 on Reddit (via 9to5Google), the ability to control playback and volume from the Android notification tone and lock screen has returned. Previously, users had to access the actual Sonos app for these controls.
Users are understandably very happy with the return of more convenient widget controls: one user describes the solution as a “game changer” while also welcoming the return of scrobbling support in the Last.fm service.
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There’s also a sense of annoyance at the amount of time it took Sonos to get this functionality back. “It’s 2026, what took them so long,” reads a comment on the Reddit thread.
we can fix it
Finally, Android notification for playback from r/sonos
Playback controls will also be available if you’re using a Wear OS smartwatch, as demonstrated by u/wizewiz on Reddit. However, so far there is no such widget control on iOS from the lock screen or Dynamic Island, although it is believed to be on the way.
According to the official update from Sonos, it may take up to two weeks for the app to reach everyone, so don’t panic if you don’t see it right away. You are looking for version 82.01.9 on Android and version 82.01.12 on iOS in the app store of your choice.
The updated app is part of an ongoing effort by Sonos to regain users’ trust. Speaking to TechRadar, Sonos CEO Tom Conrad admitted that mistakes have been made in software and hardware development, but he’s also busy righting the ship now.
There are also now two new Sonos speakers to enjoy, the company’s first since 2024: there’s a new, portable version of the Sonos Play (for $299 / £299 / AU$499), and the Sonos Era 100 SL ($189 / £169 / AU$289).
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