Connect a Sonos Speaker to a Wired Network

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Sonos speakers are specially made to compliment not only your favorite music, but your home entertainment. With your Sonos speakers already hooked up, you can do a little something extra with it.

Having trouble with audio drop outs, annoyed that you can't seem to game, stream, or listen to music at the same time? You may need to consider a "hidden" option for your Sonos speakers. You can create a special wireless network dedicated just to your Sonos devices by connecting one speaker to your router with the supplied Ethernet cable. This is known as a wired set up.

In a wired setup, the device connected to your router will broadcast a dedicated wireless network for Sonos to operate on.

Tools You'll Need:

• A paperclip
• iPhone charging cable
• Access to a computer with iTunes installed
• Any other non-consumable tools needed
• Comment out tools section if no tools are necessary

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Supplies You'll Need:

• Zip ties
• Any other consumable supplies
• Comment out supplies section if no supplies are necessary

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Before You Begin:

• You must have already set up your Sonos system or be in the process of setting it up.

Setup Your Sonos System

• How to Set Up and Connect Sonos to WiFi

2. What's the Difference Between Wired and Wireless?

How a Wireless Setup Works

With a Wireless Setup, your Sonos products connect to your home’s WiFi network, just like any other wireless devices in your home (such as cell phones and computers) by connecting to your router. Your WiFi signal is broadcast by your wireless router, which can only handle so much traffic at any given time.

If the other wireless devices in your home are very slow to load web pages or stream video, your Sonos products will be competing for attention from your already busy router, and you may experience dropouts or audio interruptions unless you have a good quality router. You can avoid these issues by buying a powerful router and investing in the higher speed tiers of your ISP.

How a Wired Setup Works

To overcome the limitations of a wireless network and perhaps save a bit of money, you can keep one of your Sonos products physically connected to your router with an Ethernet cable. This will put your system in a Wired Setup. The wired device will create a dedicated wireless network specifically for your Sonos system, so it will not compete with the other wireless devices in your home for the router’s attention.

Additionally, your Sonos products will be able to pass the wireless signal to other Sonos products, which means it’s possible for Sonos to operate in a room that is beyond the reach of your WiFi because they can act a bit as a repeater.

Which Should I Use?

If you find yourself increasingly fighting for bandwidth on your wireless network, for example, streaming movies or gaming is choppy or slow and it isn't the fault of your ISP, you'll want to use the Wired Setup option.

If You're Unsure of Whether You're on Wired or Wireless

• How to Check if Sonos is in Wireless or Wired Setup

3. Connect the Ethernet Cable

There's only a couple steps to connecting your Sonos device to your wired network. All Sonos devices except for the Move speaker, come with Ethernet ports on the back of the device.

1. First, locate the ethernet port on the back of your speaker. This is the back of a Sonos One showing the location of the Ethernet port.
   

1. 
   The Play:5 has a bigger body and a different positioning for the Ethernet port.
   

1. 
   Unlike other Sonos devices, the subwoofer's Ethernet port is underneath the device.
   

1. Then plug the Ethernet cable into the back of your Sonos speaker.
2. Take the other end of the cable and plug it into your router's Ethernet port.
   

1. Give it a few minutes as your Sonos Controller is now going to create a private wireless network just for your Sonos devices.
2. After the Ethernet cable is connected, your Sonos products may disappear temporarily from the Sonos app while the Sonos dedicated wireless network is being created.

4. Remove the WiFi Password

Once your system is successfully configured in a wired setup, it is recommended that you remove the WiFi password from your Sonos system. This will prevent attempts by your Sonos system to reconnect to the previous network, which would ultimately cause a conflict in your system.

1. Open the Sonos Controller App.
   

1. Tap More to open the options menu.
   

1. Select Settings.
   

1. Tap Advanced Settings.
   

1. Tap Wireless Setup.
   

1. Tap Reset.
2. Then tap Done.