Sonos restores Android lock screen controls in latest app update
Sonos has reintroduced Android lock screen controls for its app.
- Sonos has just released an update for its Android app.
- This restores notifications and lock screen playback controls.
- The update is rolling out slowly. Sonos claims iOS functionality will follow soon.
Sonos has restored notification and lock screen playback controls to its Android app, allowing users to manage music without opening the app. The update arrives alongside software support for new Sonos hardware, including the Sonos Play and Sonos Era 100 SL speakers. Android version 82.00.45 and iOS version 82.00.39 have been rolling out gradually since February 28, 2026. However, they have since been updated with versions 82.01.9 (Android) and 82.01.12 (iOS).
The latest Sonos app update once again revives support for Android’s media playback controls. Previously, users had to open the Sonos app itself to control playback and volume. The change restores a convenience that many users relied on before the company pulled the feature two years ago. However, while some Redditors report the update works as expected, others remain unable to download it. Some have pointed out that the feature’s return took longer than expected. Redditor soup_mode summed up the sentiment bluntly: “It’s 2026, what took them so long?”
The functionality has not yet launched on iOS.
If you’re using a smartwatch running Wear OS, you can also manage playback from your wrist. This lets you pause, skip tracks, or adjust volume without reaching for your phone, giving Sonos users quicker access to their system controls. Unfortunately, the same functionality hasn’t yet returned on iOS. Currently, the Sonos app doesn’t offer playback widgets on the iPhone lock screen or integrate with Apple’s Dynamic Island. Reports suggest the company is working to restore this capability in a future update. If you’re on Android and haven’t received the update yet, Sonos says the rollout may take up to two weeks to reach all users.
The company’s latest installment arrives amid a broader effort by Sonos to repair its reputation following the troubled launch of its redesigned app. In interviews with TechRadar, Sonos CEO Tom Conrad acknowledged that the company made mistakes in both software and hardware development, and said the team is focused on fixing them. With lock screen controls returning on Android, Sonos appears to be restoring one of the small but meaningful features users missed most.
