iOS 15 - Issue with Bluetooth/AirPlay and Sonos App
Since upgrading my iPhone 8 to iOS 15 I've encountered an issue with controlling the volume with the side buttons of my Sonos Roam speaker and Bluetooth. I've worked extensively with Sonos support but they believe the issue is at the OS level and not the application level.
I can use the side buttons of my phone to control the volume of two different Sonos products (Play:1 and Roam) when playing music through the app. If I connect my phone to the Roam via Bluetooth and play something (ie: YouTube) over Bluetooth to the Roam I can also control the volume with the side buttons on the phone. The problem happens when I launch the Sonos app AFTER connecting it to Bluetooth and try to play audio from the app to the Roam. After doing that I can no longer control the audio playing in the Sonos app with the side buttons.
If I bring up the Control Center, the AirPlay icon is flashing blue and the status is "Not Playing"
I can work around this issue by tapping the AirPlay button and deselecting the Roam speaker and selecting my iPhone audio instead. This drops the AirPlay connection and the audio continues to play, and I can now use the side buttons to control the volume within the app.
Here's an excerpt of the chat transcript with Sonos support if it helps (unnecessary lines removed)
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null (9/24/2021, 9:05:53 AM): i think the issue I was having was in the Sonos app though. I was playing audio through the Roam last night from the app and trying to control the volume but it wasn't working. It was like it was trying to use bluetooth connection from within the app and it wasn't working
null (9/24/2021, 9:06:06 AM): let me test from inside the app
null (9/24/2021, 9:07:13 AM): yeah.. it's not controlling the volume now when playing a spotify playlist to the Roam from within the app
null (9/24/2021, 9:07:38 AM): you know what fixed it?
null (9/24/2021, 9:08:04 AM): bringing up the iOS Control Center and tapping the airplay button and turning off the Roam and setting it back to just the iPhone audio.
null (9/24/2021, 9:08:16 AM): now it's still playing through the Roam and I can control the volume with the side buttons
null (9/24/2021, 9:08:32 AM): It seems the bluetooth/AirPlay connection is getting stuck on or something and not releasing.
Rares M (9/24/2021, 9:08:44 AM): I see.
null (9/24/2021, 9:08:47 AM): Not sure if this is a Sonos issue or Apple at this point. Maybe your developers can research further?
Rares M (9/24/2021, 9:09:03 AM): I will make a note of this and inquire about it.
null (9/24/2021, 9:09:13 AM): Perfect. At least I found a workaround now
Rares M (9/24/2021, 9:10:38 AM): Allow me to provide the reference number 03275793 for this case. A chat transcript will also be made available to download once the session ends.
Rares M (9/24/2021, 9:12:24 AM): The issue might be a bug from Apple, considering it's the first build of iOS 15
null (9/24/2021, 9:12:45 AM): I agree, but it could also be an issue that can be fixed in an updated version of the S2 app
Rares M (9/24/2021, 9:13:00 AM): Sonos can't make changes on the way in which the iPhone works.
Rares M (9/24/2021, 9:13:15 AM): So it's something that Apple will have to look into and fix.
null (9/24/2021, 9:13:32 AM): Please escalate to your developers to be 100% certain of that statement
Rares M (9/24/2021, 9:14:02 AM): I have made an inquiry just as I promised. I have provided you with the answer I have received.