The Sonos Roam Ultimate Troubleshooting Guide
Sonos makes an entire lineup of innovative, feature-rich speakers, but still, they aren’t without their issues. Like all other tech, there are bound to be a few issues that you can run into, including problems getting audio feedback, problems connecting to the internet, and a whole list of other issues. Some are easy to fix; some aren’t.
How do you troubleshoot a Sonos Roam?
Most issues with your Sonos Roam can be solved by double-checking the power supply to the Roam and also your audio source. Ensure you have a good Bluetooth connection, too. If that doesn’t work, you can do some more in-depth troubleshooting steps on the Roam.
You’ll find a complete troubleshooting guide here. Below, you will find several common issues and the easiest way to fix them. You might even learn how to fix an issue or two you haven’t run into yet. Specifically, we’ll be discussing issues pertaining to the Sonos Roam. You’ll learn about Sonos Roam internet connectivity issues, Sonos Roam power issues, and much more.
Continue reading to learn all about the Sonos Roam and how to correct some of its most common issues.
Why Does My Sonos Roam Not Work?
Those unfamiliar with Sonos products might have some trouble getting them to work at first. Unlike other wireless speakers, Sonos products have to be connected to Wi-Fi for at least the first time set up.
Some Sonos products, like the Move and Roam, have Bluetooth functionality after they have been initially setup.
If you can’t get your Sonos Roam to work right out of the box, you have to download the Sonos app and pair the speaker to Wi-Fi. This can be done by navigating inside the app and selecting set up a new system. You’ll now be prompted to create a Sonos account. After that, tap add and follow the steps on the app to complete the initial setup.
Once setup is complete, your Sonos Roam will work like any other wireless speaker.
Why Does My Sonos Roam Keep Going Offline?
You might find that your Sonos Roam appears offline in your app. This can be due to a few different things. Either it is turned off, it is asleep, or it’s out of range of the Wi-Fi network.
This message prompt doesn’t stop you from using your Roam though. The app can label it as offline simply because it isn’t currently connected to Wi-Fi.
It will still play music via Bluetooth connection.
Follow these steps to connect a device to a Sonos Roam via Bluetooth:
- Hold down the power button on the Roam for two seconds
- When you release it the device will make a pairing tone and an LED will flash
- Goto your personal device’s Bluetooth settings menu
- Select Roam from the list of connections
- Another tone will come from your Roam to notify you of a successful connection
- The blue LED will also signify it has worked
Remember, your Roam needs to be first set up with a Wi-Fi connection before you can use its Bluetooth features.
Why Does My Sonos Roam Turn On By Itself?
This is actually a feature. The Sonos Roam and Move both go into a low power mode instead of turning off. When the Sonos app is detected in the foreground of a device, the speaker powers back on.
Your device is likely turning itself on because you’re briefly bringing the app up on your home screen. Ensure the Sonos app is completely closed down if you aren’t using your speakers.
There is a way to turn the Roam off completely though. Just hold the power button on the back down for longer than five seconds to completely shut down the speaker. On the other hand, pressing the button briefly merely puts it to sleep.
Why Does My Sonos Roam Keep Cutting Out?
Trying to pinpoint the reason your Sonos Roam keeps cutting out can be difficult, especially after you’ve ruled out easy-to-fix issues like moving your devices closer together. The Sonos Roam can cut in and out due to wireless interference, issues with your streaming service, or your network as a whole.
First, we’ll check for network issues. Make sure your wireless router is emitting a 2.4 GHz signal. The Sonos Roam can only use this type of band, and many routers default to only broadcast a 5.0 GHz signal.
Don’t worry though, many routers allow dual band broadcasting, allowing you to output both the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands. You’ll have to consult your router’s manual to learn how to enable both bands.
Wi-Fi extenders can also interfere with the connection between your speakers and your network. Make sure you turn off all Wi-Fi extenders if you are experiencing network issues with your Roam.
A difficult to pinpoint issue that might be preventing your music from playing is account restrictions. Many streaming accounts limit their subscriptions to just one device at a time.
Make sure the device that is connected to your Roam is the only device that’s currently trying to stream Spotify, Pandora, and other streaming services.
If none of this works, it’s time to reset your Sonos Roam speaker. Unlike most of the other Sonos products, the Roam doesn’t have a designated reset button.
Instead, you’ll have to first turn the speaker completely off by holding down the power button for five seconds. Next, hold down the Play-Pause button and press then release the power button on the back.
While still holding down on the Play-Pause button, wait for a light to flash orange and white. Finally, the light will flash green. This means the Sonos Roam is ready to initialize setup from factory default.
You can also try resetting your Sonos app if none of this has worked for you. Just navigate to the Settings menu within the app, tap App Preferences, scroll to the bottom, and click Reset App.
Now just reopen the app and set everything up from scratch.
After all of this, it might be as simple as your Wi-Fi router is malfunctioning. If you’ve tried everything above, it might be time to replace your router.
At the very least, you’ll want to try resetting it to default. Perhaps some settings have been changed that prevent the Roam from properly connecting.
No matter what, it might be able to be fixed by simply resetting the router to factory default.