Sonos control via the Android lock screen, notification tray, hardware buttons and Now Playing widget

Sonos supports playback controls of your system via the Android lock screen, notification tray, hardware buttons, and Now Playing widget. This article will show you how to enable and use these control options for your Android device.

The Android notification will display the product selected in the Sonos app along with any content streamed to that product. Your Android device's hardware buttons can be used to control the volume of the active product or group displayed in the notification.


Enable Android lock screen, notification, and hardware button control



Sonos app icon, white Sonos wordmark on a black rounded square Sonos app for Android

  1. Open the Sonos app and tap the account icon.
  2. Tap App Preferences.
  3. Enable the Lock Screen Controls toggle.


Sonos S1 app icon, dark rounded square labeled SONOS S1 Sonos S1 Controller for Android

  1. From the Settings icon, a gear Settings tab, select App Preferences.
  2. Enable Show Notifications and Show Lock Screen Controls.


Add the Now Playing widget

  1. To add the Now Playing widget, either:
    1. Press and hold on the Sonos App
    2. Press and hold on the phone's home screen
  2. Select Widgets in the menu that appears.
  3. Find Sonos in the widgets menu by either:
    1. Searching for Sonos.
    2. Selecting the Browse tab and manually searching for Sonos.
  4. Select the Sonos Now Playing widget, then choose +Add.
  5. On the next screen that appears, choose the room to be displayed in the widget.
  6. If required, resize the newly created widget to the preferred size.
    1. Once created, tap and hold on the widget to display the options to resize the widget.

Widget size

Available control options

Small

Play
Pause
Next/Previous track

Large

Play
Pause
Next/Previous track
Volume


Additional details

  • The last room that you selected in the Sonos app will be displayed in the notification and on the lock screen. To change the room, select another room in the Sonos app and begin playing audio. If no audio is being played to the selected room, the notification and lock screen controls will not appear.


  • If your Android device disconnects from your wireless network or the Sonos app is force closed, you may need to relaunch the Sonos app in order for the notification and lock screen controls to appear.

  • If your Android device moves away from your WiFi network, the Now Playing widget will display the room as “Not Connected”.

Still need help?

Our technicians can help over the phone or with a live chat. You can also ask questions and find answers with other Sonos owners in our Sonos Community.