Sonos has rolled out a new update to its iOS application that enables Live Activities support, allowing iPhone users to access playback controls directly from their device’s lockscreen. The company described the addition as a highly anticipated capability that users have been requesting for some time, with the announcement shared through a Reddit post that was subsequently reported by 9to5Mac.
The Live Activities feature provides essential playback information and controls for music and podcast streaming through Sonos systems, eliminating the need to unlock your iPhone and launch the full application. However, certain features such as album artwork display are not currently included with the rollout.
The functionality was previously teased by Sonos CEO Tom Conrad during a Bloomberg interview in February. Following criticism surrounding a substantial app redesign in 2024, the Live Activities feature launches in a disabled state and requires users to activate it through both the Sonos app preferences and iOS settings. Once enabled, the Live Activity appears on the lockscreen after playback begins and automatically vanishes 15 minutes after music stops playing.
While the feature works on Apple Watch and CarPlay displays, interactive controls are not yet functional on those platforms. Sonos has indicated its development team continues refining the feature and is exploring alternative methods to enhance the lockscreen experience, particularly regarding album art integration.
Originally reported by Theverge →
About the Author
