Spotify stops randomly on my Sonos

[Zwergius]

Been through the related threads on Sonos support and I have tried to reset my controller, remove Spotify etc. as pointed out in another thread. However Spotify still drops out randomly… I have now tested with another Music Service. Spotify is having a problem, NOT Sonos - I can listen to radio and another music service for hours without any problems, but Spotify drops the stream randomly. One note though, after my system reset, remove / add Spotify and so on, less dropouts occurs. So some effect but still not good enough. 
Question- this has lasted for a while, like several months on both my systems. It’s now nailed to Spotify having the problem. Question is if you also have the solution?!

[Tassie1]

I have had the same issue for well over a year now. Have Sonos 5 first generation that drops out fairly regularly when streaming from Spotify, but no issues ever when using tune in radio. We also have two newer Sonos 1 units on the network and when playing same stream on all 3 units, the Sonos 1 units will continue playing but the Sonos 5 stops audio and then takes up on the same song in tune with the other speakers, so it is not playing on from where it stopped, but from where the song gets to by the time audio starts again.

Several months ago I had a long conversation with Sonos support about the issue and basically was told that they knew about the issue but won't do anything about it due to age of hardware. Was referred to trade in discount if buying a new unit.

We probably had the Sonos 5 for at least 5 years before problem started and we are streaming through Spotify premium so have no adds.

Don't have the issue if playing music from Nas or from files on my phone.

Overall very frustrating and wish they could at least try to fix this issue as many seem to have the same problems.

[1113171547]

This seems to be the case. In the end I put the old Play 5 on one side and only use it on its own when I can connect it by ethernet cable. In reality that is a very rare occasion. I bought the Sonos amp when they were offering 40% discount to replace it in my study and brought my old hifi speakers out of storage. Blasting 120 watts through them is a world apart from a Play 5.

[Zwergius]

Hi all

Apparently no fix will be available to this bug. Thanks for all your support anyway 👍

To sum up:

• Replacing Spotify with another streaming service will 'solve' the issue ...
• Maybe hardwire your Sonos device with Ethernet cable helps ... but don't be surprised if the issue persists
• Regularly clearing the playlist and not adding new songs to the current playlist while playing, does help, but it doesn't solve the issue
• Last resort - well, ... Upgrade your hardware for gen1 or simply replace Sonos with something else 😆

Have a nice 2024 

😊

[SethGeoghegan]

I'm chiming in with the same experience with my Sonos Play 5. Other services (Pandora, for example) can stream for hours on end with no issues.  But Sonos consistently drops out after a few songs and I need to use the app to re-start the stream (i.e. select a new song).

[Ivelina]

Thank you all for posting in this thread! 

If you're still experiencing this issue, so we can investigate further it'd be great if you could provide us with the following details if you haven't already:

• Device this is happening on, as well as its operating system.
• What Sonos speaker model you're using.
• Spotify version.
• What troubleshooting steps you've tried so far.

Thanks and we'll be on the lookout 🙂

[Jagerman64]

We have the same issues for months and have replaced five (5) Sonos connects with five (5)  Sonos amps. All amps are hardwired with ethernet. There is also a Sonos Play 5, a Sonos Beam and a Sonos Arc on another TV.  We have the newest Spotify software release running an iPad.  We also upgraded from S1 to S2 App and obviously reinstalled the Spotify app.  It worked fine for two weeks and now Spotify stops playing once or twice a day.   It does not skip songs anymore, we have a good ISP connection, All speakers were playing when Spotify stops working.   I am wondering if it is the Play5 that is creating the problem ???    I have spoken to level 3 support at Sonos and we have made all the adjustments and their view point is play Apple Music or a local playlist and see what happens.   They work seamlessly.   My next test is to use the ID and PW to a new account which Spotify provided when. was chatting with them for 45 mins.  If I still have the issue I will play all speakers minus the Play 5.  Does anyone else have any other thoughts ???

[dbpolk]

It is happening to everyone. With sonos s1 and spotify podcasts and audiobooks also.]

It worked fine for years. now it doesn't. Spotify update is the problem.

[dbpolk]

They will force us to use the S2 app, one way or another

[gnomenthusiast]

I have the same problem now, and it's just started in the last week or so. 

If I play music on my Sonos system, there are no problems. I used to listen to 4-5 podcasts a day, also with no problems.

Now, with any podcast played via Spotify, playback will work for 5+ minutes, then go silent. If I pause-resume, another 5 minutes will play then silence again. It has nothing to do with router or ISP. It has nothing to do with which device you launch the podcast from (have tried several). It has nothing to do with the SONOS system, as it plays the same podcasts through other providers without any issues. It's a Spotify problem. The podcasts play fine on Spotify locally on a phone or PC, just not when played using the SONOS. We have several accounts but these are likely to be terminated, if this issue is not acknowledged and corrected soon.

[00weissert]

Same issue for me. Spotify premium, playing via Sonos gen 1, random stopping every 5-10 mins, already switched networks. Given the comments above I might simply switch to another streaming provider. 

[Malty]

Yep. Has been happening to me too for 12 months or more. Only Spotify and only on Play:5 speaker.

[Glaca]

The same problem Here. Poland. Sonos S1 app, Play: 5 first gen. Spotify premium.
Wifi, ethernet - doesn't matter. Music "stops" playing randomly. In fact - it don't stop playing but it plays silence for few seconds.

[koko767]

I agree….my Play 5 doesn’t drop off with any other music app…Amazon Music works perfectly, and in fact the Sonos radio stations work as well. I deleted the app and reloaded it again, firmware is up to date…this is solely a Spotify issue. 

My next solution will be to cancel Spotify…seems the 25% increase isn’t being used to help customers use the service with high end equipment. 

[MStevensGA]

I'm using a pair of Play:3 connected with WiFi using both the Spotify app and using Spotify on the S2 app. I am experiencing random song cut-off/switching on my Sonos speakers but not having any issues with my phone using a Bluetooth speaker bar, my phone, or headset. My network signal is strong, and speed is Gbit (I have 2 TV's, 2 phones, an occasional work laptop, plus these speakers as the only devices on my router, and I'm on a fiber to the curb connection, please spare me the bandwidth suggestions), so that is not the issue. I'm going to be trying Pandora and Tidal to compare response and sound quality. I am also a network engineer by trade, so please don't give me the standard "try this" basic users get. All of that is why I'm running the S2 app now. and yes, my Play:3's work just fine with it.

[1113171547]

I'm not sure anyone has got to the bottom of it. Amazon music doesn't have the problem with the older Play speakers nor do any of the more modern speakers with Spotify.
I ditched mine for more modern speakers in the end.

[gnomenthusiast]

An update  :

Sometime after I replied to this thread, the problem magically resolved itself (Spotify has never admitted to the problem or said they had implemented a fix). It's been working fine for months. Then, The problem then re-appeared in the last couple of weeks. As an example, I listen to a podcast called "The Journal" by the New York Times. I had got back into the habit of listening every morning to this, they are usually around 10 minute long episodes.

I've just tried to listen to yesterdays episode "Walmart vs Amazon" and the podcast plays perfectly, on my whole sonos setup (6 devices), until it reaches 7mins, 20seconds, then falls silent. The podcast continues to play, just with no audio playing. This does not happen with music, even songs longer than 7mins will play with no problem. It only happens with podcasts, and only from Spotify. At this point I'm just considering cancelling my account, after using Spotify for about 10 years.

[Vasil]

Hey folks!

Thank you for all the reports 🙂 This issue is now being looked into backstage.
For anyone new and for anyone who hasn't done so already, please share with us the following details:
 

• Does the podcast fully pause or continue playing without sound?
• Does the same behaviour occur regardless of the initial playback device?
• Your Sonos speaker model - Play 3, Play 5 etc.
• The Sonos app you're facing issues with - Sonos S1/ S2.

Much appreciated! We'll keep you posted as soon as there's anything new to share 🙌🏼 

[gnomenthusiast]

Vasil, thanks for the reply. See my answers to your questions below :

• Does the podcast fully pause or continue playing without sound?

The podcast continues to play, but there is no sound from the speakers. If you press pause, and then play, the audio resumes.

• Does the same behaviour occur regardless of the initial playback device?

Yes, this happens if you start the playback on Android or PC in my case.

• Your Sonos speaker model - Play 3, Play 5 etc.

My system has 2x Play 1 (Original), 1x Play 3 (Original), 1x Play 5(original) 2x Play Connect. It doesn't matter which speaker you are trying to play to, the podcast muting occurs.

• The Sonos app you're facing issues with - Sonos S1/ S2.

The problem occurs when using the S1 Sonos app, some of the speakers I have are not supported on S2, so I can't upgrade. It was definitely happening, repeatably, when I made my previous post (the one before yours).

I tried to record a video today to demonstrate the problem, but it did not happen with the episodes I played today. Next time it happens I will make a recording and upload it.

[gnomenthusiast]

https://youtu.be/36-EUwtj69Y

[gnomenthusiast]

@Vasil

I posted a youtube video directly above, detailing the problem (from today). Todays episode of "The Journal". At 10:41 (podcast time), 22 seconds in (video time), the audio goes silent, but the podcast continues to play. If I pause, then play, the audio restarts. This was the second silence in this podcast, it had previously happened around 5 minutes in.

The same thing happened when I tried to listen to the most recent "The Tim Dillon Show" podcast.