Sonos iOS app adds Live Activities lockscreen playback controls, disabled by default

Sonos shipped an iOS app update that adds Live Activities support, placing basic playback controls on the iPhone lockscreen. The feature appears after a user initiates playback and closes the app, showing the name of the group or room where audio was last playing and the title of the current track. After playback stops, the Live Activity automatically disappears after 15 minutes. Sonos described the addition as a "much requested, anticipated, and needed feature" in a Reddit post spotted by 9to5Mac.

The feature is disabled by default, requiring users to navigate to both the Sonos app's preferences and the Sonos section of iOS settings to turn it on. This opt-in approach follows backlash to a major Sonos app update in 2024, suggesting the company is erring on the side of caution with new functionality. The Android version of the Sonos app already offered lockscreen controls, making this a parity catch-up rather than a novel capability.

Several limitations are worth noting. Album art is not displayed, though Sonos says it is exploring "alternative ways to enhance the lock screen experience." Apple Watch and CarPlay are included in the update, but while the Live Activity is visible on those surfaces, playback controls are not supported there. Sonos has not indicated whether or when those controls will arrive.

Only one feed carried this story, so corroboration is limited. The Verge's coverage is detailed but stands alone, meaning some claims, such as the 15-minute auto-dismiss timer and the dual-settings toggle requirement, are unverified by a second source. Engineers or IT teams evaluating whether to communicate this update to users should account for the manual enablement steps and the missing features when setting expectations.