Sonos brings speaker controls back to the iPhone lock screen

Sonos has rolled out an app update that restores the ability to control its speakers directly from the iPhone lock screen. The new feature relies on Apple's Live Activities notification system, and the company describes it as "much requested, anticipated and needed."

How it works

Once enabled, the lock screen will show users what's currently playing. Volume adjustments and song changes will only be possible after the phone has been unlocked with Face ID or a passcode. When playback stops, the live activity will disappear from the lock screen after 15 minutes.

There are a few limitations. The app currently cannot display album art on the lock screen, though Sonos says it is exploring alternative ways to enhance the experience. The feature will also work with CarPlay and Apple Watch, but controls aren't supported there yet — users will only be able to see what's playing, not adjust it.

A feature that's making a comeback

Sonos previously offered lock screen controls starting in 2016, but the feature disappeared in 2023 after the company's integration method no longer matched Apple's updated design framework. Shortly afterward, Sonos launched a troubled app redesign that was missing several key features, pushing lock screen support down the priority list behind fixes like restoring reliable volume controls and addressing connection failures.

Since then, Sonos has released a series of updates addressing nearly all of the complaints that followed the 2024 redesign, including improved queue management and a more reliable local library. The company has now finally restored lock screen controls as well.