(Pocket-lint) – Sonos announced its own voice assistant in May 2022 called Sonos Voice Control. The voice assistant is designed to give users another easy way to control their Sonos speakers, rather than just the Sonos app, and it also offers specific functions.
While the Sonos Voice Control Assistant can’t turn off your smart lights or turn on your smart thermostat, it will be able to do things like group your Sonos speakers together.
You can read everything you need to know about Sonos Voice Control in our separate feature, including where it’s available, what speakers it works on, and some examples of what you might ask for, but here we’re focusing on the configure Sonos Voice Control. and how you use it on your Sonos speakers.
How to Set Up Sonos Voice Control
Setting up Sonos Voice Control is very simple. Follow the steps below to set up Sonos Voice Control on your compatible Sonos speakers. You’ll need at least one speaker with a built-in microphone, like the Sonos One or Sonos Roam.
It’s also worth noting that Sonos Voice Control is only officially available in the US at the moment, although UK accounts should still have access – this may not be perfect as it currently focuses on American English.
- Open the Sonos app
- Tap the Settings tab
- Tap Add voice assistant at the top
- You can also tap on “Services and voice” and select “Add voice assistant”
- Choose Sonos Voice Control from the options
- Press “Start”
- Accept the terms of service and press continue
- Choose the speaker you want to add Sonos Voice Control to
- Update your speaker if necessary
- Tap on ‘Continue’
- Try it or skip it
- Tap “Done” or tap “Add to another room” to add more compatible Sonos speakers
The Sonos Voice Control processes everything locally on the speaker itself, so privacy is paramount.
How to use Sonos Voice Control on your speaker
Once you’ve added Sonos Voice Control to your smart Sonos speakers, all you have to do is say “Hey Sonos,” followed by your request. The speaker will make a noise to confirm that it has heard you. You can also quickly follow up on similar requests without having to say “Hey Sonos” again.
It’s also worth remembering that Sonos Voice Control can control other speakers in your Sonos system through a smart speaker. For example, you can have Sonos Voice Control on your Sonos One in the kitchen play George Ezra on your Sonos Five in your living room. Keep in mind that while you can use Sonos Voice Control with Amazon Alexa, you can’t use it with Google Assistant.
Here are some actions you can perform with Sonos Voice Control:
- Hey Sonos, what’s playing?
- Hey Sonos, turn up the volume
- Hey Sonos, turn down the volume
- Hey Sonos, turn up the volume in the bedroom
- Hey Sonos, living room and bedroom group
- Hey Sonos, turn on speech enhancement in the TV room
- Hi Sonos, what is my battery level?
- Hey Sonos, play Cocktail Hour on the Move
- Hey Sonos, play something I like
- Hey Sonos, put on Apple Music radio 1
- Hi Sonos, jump
- Hey Sonos, louder… louder
- Hi Sonos, fast forward
- Hey Sonos, play a little quieter
- Hey Sonos, play here instead
- Hey Sonos, turn on the TV
- Hey Sonos, turn up volume in bedroom only
- Hey Sonos, play Ed Sheeran real soft
- Hey Sonos, stop playing in the kitchen and start playing in the living room instead
- Hey Sonos, what can you do?
Written by Britta O’Boyle.
