You can now get a 'game changer' of an app update for Sonos on Android — and it brings back a key feature

• Sonos brings back notification and lock screen controls on Android
• Work is still ongoing to support these controls on iOS
• You can also access these options from your wrist via Wear OS

After some well-publicized tribulations over the last couple of years, Sonos is on the comeback trail. Not only did the company launch new speakers earlier this week, it's also now 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 shade and the lock screen has returned. Previously, users had to go into the actual Sonos app for these controls.

Understandably, users are pretty happy with the return of the more convenient widget controls — one user describes the fix as a "game changer" while also welcoming the returning support for scrobbling on the Last.fm service.

There's also a sense of annoyance over the amount of time that it's taken for Sonos to get around to bringing back this functionality. "It's 2026, what took them so long," reads one comment in the Reddit thread.

We can fix it

Finally, Android notification for playback from r/sonos

The playback controls are also going to be available if you're using a Wear OS smartwatch, as demonstrated by u/wizewiz on Reddit. However, as yet there's no such widget control on iOS from the lock screen or the Dynamic Island — though it's believed to be on the way.

As per the official Sonos update, the app may take up to two weeks to reach everyone, so don't panic if you're not seeing it immediately. You're looking for version 82.01.9 on Android and version 82.01.12 on iOS in your app store of choice.

The refreshed app is part of an ongoing effort by Sonos to win back user trust. Speaking to TechRadar, Sonos CEO Tom Conrad has admitted mistakes have been made in software and hardware development, but that he's also now busy righting the ship.

There are also now two new Sonos speakers to enjoy, the first from the company since 2024: there's a new and portable version of the Sonos Play (for $299 / £299 / AU$499), amd the Sonos Era 100 SL ($189 / £169 / AU$289).

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