Sonos gives a reboot and a factory reset and says not to use the reset as a troubleshooting step. To reboot most Sonos speakers and components unplug the power cord, wait 10 seconds, reconnect and allow one minute to boot. To factory reset an Arc Ultra, Beam Ultra, Era 100, Era 100 Pro, Era 100 SL or Era 300: unplug the power cord, press and hold the Bluetooth button while reconnecting it, and keep holding until the light flashes orange and white; it flashes green when the reset is complete and the product is ready to be set up.
Other products use the Join button, or the Play/Pause or Mute button if there is no Join button, held while reconnecting power. A reset deletes registration information, My Sonos content and content services from the product, is commonly done before transferring ownership, and must be repeated on each product; resetting all products deletes the system's data permanently. Older products take longer, and a flashing white light after a reset may need an ethernet cable to finish. Re-add the product afterwards in the Sonos app.
Differential
Likely causes of “Sonos home speakers and soundbars needs a safe reset or will not reset”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The app cannot find the product
What separates it You see No products found because the app cannot find the product
How to confirm Reboot first, reset only if the app recommends it
- 2
You are giving the product away
What separates it The next owner needs a clean product because you are giving it away
How to confirm Factory reset and remove it from your account
- 3
A failed setup
What separates it Setup loops because a failed setup has left the product half configured
How to confirm Reset the product, and then set it up again from the start
- 4
A frozen product
What separates it The light is stuck because the product has frozen
How to confirm Reboot the product, and reset it if it stays stuck
- 5
An interrupted reset
What separates it A continuous flashing white light shows because the reset was interrupted
How to confirm Connect an ethernet cable, to complete the interrupted reset
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The product name and serial number
- Why you are resetting: a fault, a sale or an app request
- What the light on the product is doing at the moment
- Whether the product has an ethernet port
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedReboot first
ReversibleReboot first, by unplugging the power cord, waiting ten seconds, reconnecting and waiting a minute.
Note what will be lost
ReversibleNote what will be lost, since the registration, My Sonos content and services are deleted.
Start the reset
ReversibleStart the reset, by unplugging the power cord from the product, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Hold the button
ReversibleHold the Bluetooth button (Arc Ultra, Beam Ultra, Era) or Join button while reconnecting power.
Wait for the lights
ReversibleWait for the lights, holding the button until orange and white flash, and then green.
Set up again
ReversibleSet up again, by adding the product in the Sonos app, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Contact Sonos
ReversibleContact Sonos Support if it will not finish, giving them the model, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Note the other speakers first
ReversibleWrite down which Sonos Sub or surround speakers are linked to the Arc Ultra so that you can add them again after the reset.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Reset by model
- Sonos: Arc Ultra, Beam Ultra, Era 100, Era 100 Pro, Era 100 SL and Era 300 use the Bluetooth button; Play and portable products have their own steps; all other products use the Join or Play/Pause or Mute button.
- Older products
- Sonos says Boost, Connect, Connect:Amp, Play:1, Play:3, Sub (Gen 1) and Sub (Gen 2) take more time and may need ethernet to finish a reset.
- Before you reset the soundbar
- The Arc Ultra sits at the center of a home theatre, so note whether you use it with a Sonos Sub or surround speakers. A full factory reset removes it from the system and erases the room name, the Wi-Fi details and the Trueplay tuning, but your Sonos account and streaming services are not touched, so plan to add the other pieces back in the app and run Trueplay again.
- If a reset does not cure the fault
- A soundbar that still loses its connection after a reset points at the network or the HDMI cable, not the software. Test with the soundbar on a wired connection through an Ethernet cable, and try a different eARC cable before contacting Sonos.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models Arc soundbar, Beam (Gen 2), Ray soundbar, Era 100 speaker, Sub (Gen 3), Sub Mini.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a reset never reaches the green light, contact Sonos Support
- !If the product flashes white after resetting, use an ethernet cable
- !If the product is not yours to reset, contact the owner
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Reset steps by model, what is deleted and the flashing white light.
Reboot steps by model.
Checks before resetting.
Re-adding a product after reset.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I factory reset an Era 300?+
Unplug it, hold the Bluetooth button while reconnecting power until the light flashes orange and white, then green.
How do I reboot a Sonos?+
Unplug the power cord, wait 10 seconds, reconnect and wait a minute.
Does a reset delete my music?+
It deletes registration, My Sonos content and services from the product.
Do I reset each product?+
Yes, to erase multiple products you reset each one.
What is a flashing white light?+
Older products may need an ethernet cable to finish a reset.
Can I restore my system after a full reset?+
No, resetting all products deletes the system's data permanently.
How do I add the product back?+
Use Add a new product to an existing Sonos system in the app.
Do the Arc and Beam reset the same way?+
The Arc Ultra and Beam Ultra do; other products use the Join button.
Does a factory reset delete my Sonos account?+
No. It clears the soundbar's own settings and Wi-Fi details, while your account and services stay in the app.
Do I need to tune the Arc Ultra again after a reset?+
Yes, run Trueplay again, because the tuning is stored on the soundbar and is erased.