Sonos released an update to its mobile app that finally introduces support for iOS’ Live Activities, giving iPhone users quick access to playback controls on their lock screen. The added functionality is a “much requested, anticipated, and needed feature,” according to a post Sonos shared to Reddit today that was spotted by 9to5Mac.
While some features like displaying album art are not available, the Sonos Live Activity provides basic details and controls when listening to music or podcasts through a Sonos system without having to fully unlock your iPhone and open the app.
Support for Live Activities and lock screen controls similar to what’s already available in the Android version of the Sonos app was teased by the company’s CEO Tom Conrad during an interview with Bloomberg last February. And following backlash to a major Sonos app update in 2024, support for Live Activities is off by default but can be enabled by navigating to both the Sonos app’s preferences as well as the Sonos app section of iOS’ settings.
Once it’s turned on, the Live Activity will appear “after you initiate playback and then close the app” and displays the name of the group or room where audio was last playing from and the title of what you’re listening to. After playback stops, the Live Activity will automatically disappear from your lock screen after 15 minutes.
Support for the Apple Watch and CarPlay is included, but while the Live Activity will be displayed on your wrist or in your car, the controls aren’t supported there. It’s not known if or when those controls will ever work, but Sonos says its team is still working to improve the new feature, and when it comes to album art, the company is exploring “alternative ways to enhance the lock screen experience.”
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