Can You Pair Sonos Without Wifi?

Sonos Air Play 2 sitting on kitchen counter with smartphone.Sonos Air Play 2 sitting on kitchen counter with smartphone.

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Sonos are sleek speakers that provide clear and balanced sound wirelessly. How do you set up Sonos? Can you pair Sonos without WiFi? What should you do if you have an older model Sono speaker set? Read on for more information on how to completely set up for your Sonos speakers.

Some newer Sonos speakers can work without WiFi. The Sonos Move and Roam can be paired via Bluetooth, although most older models cannot. The initial set up will require WiFi to enable that setting, however. 

Read on to find out more about your options for using your Sonos speakers without WiFi.

The Sonos App

In order to set up your Sonos for the first time, you will need to download the Sonos app (previously called S1 or S2,) which is available for Apple and Android devices. The app will then provide step by step instructions for setting up.
The Sonos app is useful, but not required for setting up. If all your devices are on the same WiFi network, you can completely set up and use your Sonos products without the app.

You will be asked to create an account within the app. This will enable you to register your products, be notified of updates, and integrate smart home devices like Alexa.

Two Room Sonos One Speakers with Built-In Alexa

You may be asked to set your Sonos speaker into its charging base and plug it in. The Sonos Move requires this before setting up. For all Sonos speakers, make sure the device is charged or has good batteries in it, and that it is powered ON, before attempting to set up.

Sonos Move

After the initial set-up, you should take some time to explore the Sonos app. Features in this app include:

  • Individual room set up for each speaker set
  • Increased security to protect your data and privacy
  • Ability to access all your audio apps 
  • Sonos Radio, which is a free radio channel service

Now, let’s look at stereo.

Stereo
Two or more Sonos speakers of the same model can be bonded. While a single Sonos speaker provides great sound quality all on its own, multiple speakers enable a stereo or surround sound experience. 

Instructions for bonding and nonbonding a stereo pair are in the app:

  • Select Settings
  • Select System
  • Select Products
  • Choose the Sonos you wish to bond
  • Follow the instructions in the app

Bonding a pair of speakers so that they can be used in the same room for the same device, is different from pairing a set of speakers to your phone or other device with Bluetooth. Pairing your speakers with Bluetooth allows you to use the speaker to play audio from the device you paired it with. This is how people use their speakers to play a Spotify playlist, for example.

  1. Open the S2 app and make sure you have a good wifi connection
  2. Click on Settings
  3. Connect your phone or device to the speaker with an aux cable
  4. Click Rooms Settings
  5. Select Line-In Rooms Settings. This option will not appear if the device is not connected to the speaker via aux cable.
  6. Select the location you wish to use without wifi

Now, let’s look at bluetooth.

Bluetooth

To pair a Sonos speaker without wifi, the product must have Bluetooth. Currently, only the Sonos Move and Roam speakers have Bluetooth. 

To set up a Sonos Move or Roam:

  1. Make sure the device is charged and turned ON
  2. Make sure the device has been set up on the app. This step requires wifi.
  3. Press and hold the POWER button for 2 seconds. 
  4. Let go of the POWER button
  5. Listen for the pairing tone. The LED will flash blue
  6. Open Bluetooth Settings in your device
  7. Select your Sonos speaker (your Sonos speaker will not appear in this menu if it isn’t powered on)
  8. Listen for a tone
  9. Your Sonos speakers are paired when the LED is solid blue

There are aftermarket devices that you can use to adapt other Sonos speakers to use Bluetooth. Many people use these devices to give their older Sonos speakers flexibility and extend the useful life of the speakers.

Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter

Conclusion

Most Sonos speakers require wifi for all of their features. A few newer Sonos products have Auto Play, which allows the speakers to be used without wifi, but all Sonos products require wifi for setup.

If you would like to learn more about Sonos, take a look at our other article here.

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