How to Set up Your Sonos Speaker or Device
Before linking to Google Assistant or Google Home, you need to make sure your Sonos device is up and running with the latest update. You’ll also need an internet connection with a Wi-Fi router.
How to Add Google Assistant to Sonos One and Beam
If you add Google Assistant to a Sonos One or Beam, you can use either as a Google Home device. You don’t need a separate Google Home smart speaker to control music playback or other smart home devices.
Here is how to add Google Assistant directly to the Sonos One or Sonos Beam.
Open the Sonos app on your smartphone. Select More > Voice Services. Tap Google Assistant in the next screen. Select Add to Sonos on the Google Assistant screen. You’ll then see a list of compatible speakers by location. Choose a speaker and then select Add Google Assistant. Select Go to Google Assistant app. When prompted, tap Next and add your Sonos account information to connect Google Assistant to your Sonos device.
Google Assistant detects your Sonos One or Beam, requests permission to access and control it, asks what room it’s in, and adds the music services you want to use.
If you have multiple Sonos One speakers or a Sonos One and Sonos Beam, you need to set up each one separately. For each Sonos One or Beam selected, you are walked through the same steps to add Google Assistant. You are asked to:
Name the room the device is used inProvide your address for location-based servicesAdd music services and choose your default music serviceMake sure the music services you added in Google Assistant have been added in the Sonos app.
Sonos May Not Support All Google Home Features
You can use a Sonos One or Beam to control both music playback and smart home devices in a similar manner as a Google Home device. This includes:
Setting alarms Controlling thermostats and lights Answering questions Playing content on the TV through a Chromecast or chromecast audio or playing content on a TV with Chromecast built-in. Sonos Beam can also turn the TV on and off.
However, there are some limitations:
Sonos One/Beam with Google Assistant included doesn’t support voice commands from multiple users. Additionally, unlike a Google Home, tailored answers for multiple users is not possible. It’s expected that Sonos and Google will enable voice match in the future. You can’t make phone calls, send text messages, or make purchases with Google Assistant via the Sonos One or Beam.
How to Set up Google Assistant With Other Sonos Speakers and Products
Using a Google Home-enabled device (including the Sonos One and Beam after Google Assistant is installed), you can control music playback on other Sonos speakers and products (such as the Play:1 or Play:5) that you can’t install Google Assistant directly into.
This means a Google Home device can handle all the advanced smart home control features, but you can also tell it to play music through your other Sonos speakers and products.
Open the Sonos app on your mobile device. Select More > Voice Services > Select Google Assistant. Open the Google Assistant app and select Add to Sonos. Tap Continue and enter your Sonos account information. You receive a message stating Google Assistant is ready to work with Sonos. Link all the available music services supported by Google Assistant with Sonos listed previously and choose a default service for music playback.
Google Assistant, Sonos, and IFTTT
Another way you can link Google Assistant and Sonos devices together for select functions is through IFTTT (If This Then That).
You receive a message stating Google Assistant is ready to work with Sonos.
IFTTT allows for the creation of unique commands, but if you have a Sonos One/Beam or Google Home Device, you get a more comprehensive control experience than going piecemeal through IFTTT.
Using a computer or mobile device, establish an IFTTT account. Open the IFTTT app and select Google Assistant and Sonos from the services category. You are prompted to allow IFTTT to work with Google Assistant and Sonos products for the commands you select. Select Okay. Proceed through each category and select some commands for Google Assistant that control a Sonos device. Examples include: Set the volume between 1 and 10 Set the volume between 1 and 100Pause SonosResume SonosPlay a favorite on Sonos To use the IFTTT commands, go to the On/Off button and click it to say On, then browse to add any additional prompts. You can’t use both the volume 1-10 and 1-100 commands at the same time, as they conflict with one another. If you turn both of them on, only one will work, most likely the 1-100 scale. If you don’t see a command you’d like to use, you can create a new “applet” command by following the instructions provided by IFTTT.
Music Services Supported by Google Assistant and Sonos
Pandora (U. S. only)Spotify (Paid service only)YouTube MusicDeezer (Paid service only in the U. S, U. K. , Canada, France, Italy, Australia, and Germany)
You can also play music from the following services, though they aren’t listed in the Google Assistant app.
Set the volume between 1 and 10 Set the volume between 1 and 100Pause SonosResume SonosPlay a favorite on Sonos
To use the IFTTT commands, go to the On/Off button and click it to say On, then browse to add any additional prompts.
If you don’t see a command you’d like to use, you can create a new “applet” command by following the instructions provided by IFTTT.
iHeartRadio TuneIn Radio TIDAL
Advantages of Connecting Sonos to Google Assistant
The Sonos speaker or sound system determines how Google Assistant or Google Home can be used with it. Sonos supports two types of Google Assistant control.
Adding Google Assistant directly to the Sonos One or Sonos Beam effectively turns these units into Google Home devices. They not only play and control music, but other smart home devices as well, with some limitations. You can use Google Assistant via a Google Home (and other branded Google Home-enabled smart speakers and smart displays), Sonos One, or Beam to control music playback on other Sonos speakers, such as the Play:1 and Play:5. This doesn’t turn the speakers into a Google Home device, but it allows a Google Home device to control music playback on them.
Google Assistant or Alexa?
Sonos provides the option of either Google Assistant or Alexa voice control, allowing you to use the one that works best for you.
