Sonos portable speakers need the Sonos app and a WiFi network before Bluetooth works. A Move must be set up with the app on WiFi before it can switch to Bluetooth, and while in Bluetooth mode it disappears from the Sonos app and speaker grouping, voice assistants and stereo pairing are unavailable. Press the Bluetooth button on the back of a Move once to switch to Bluetooth (a chime and a blue LED), then press and hold it to enter pairing mode (flashing blue), select Move in your device's Bluetooth list and wait for a solid blue LED and a chime.
A Move remembers up to its last 6 devices and connects to the most recent by default; after a factory reset you must forget it on your device before pairing again. A Roam pairs by pressing and holding the power button for two seconds until it chimes and flashes blue; it enters pairing mode automatically if it cannot find a known device, disconnects when it sleeps and returns to WiFi mode when woken. Two Roams in a stereo pair can play Bluetooth only on WiFi. To use WiFi again press the Move's Bluetooth button.
Differential
Likely causes of “Sonos portable speakers (Move 2 and Roam 2) will not pair or connect”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The speaker is not in pairing mode
What separates it The speaker does not appear in the Bluetooth list because it is not in pairing mode
How to confirm Hold the Bluetooth button (Move) or power button (Roam) until it flashes blue
- 2
A stale phone entry after a reset
What separates it The speaker connects to nothing because of a stale phone entry after a reset
How to confirm Forget the speaker in the phone's Bluetooth settings, and pair it again
- 3
It never got set up on WiFi
What separates it Bluetooth mode will not start because the speaker was never set up on wifi
How to confirm Set it up in the Sonos app first
- 4
It is connected to another device
What separates it The speaker will not offer pairing because it is connected to another device
How to confirm Disconnect the other device or hold to re-enter pairing
- 5
It is asleep
What separates it The Roam ignores the phone because it is asleep
How to confirm Wake the speaker, and then pair it again from the start
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The product: Move 2 or Roam 2
- What the LED does: blue, flashing blue or white
- The phone and its Bluetooth list
- Whether it was factory reset or moved to a new system
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedSet up on WiFi first
ReversibleSet up on wifi first, and make sure that the speaker was set up in the Sonos app.
Enter Bluetooth mode
ReversiblePress the Bluetooth button on a Move once, or hold the Roam power button two seconds.
Enter pairing mode
ReversibleEnter pairing mode, by holding the Move's Bluetooth button until the light flashes blue, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Pair
ReversiblePair by selecting the speaker in your device's Bluetooth settings, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Forget old entries
ReversibleForget old entries, and if the speaker was reset, forget it on the phone and pair again.
Reboot
ReversibleReboot the speaker, and then try the pairing again from the start, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Contact Sonos
ReversibleContact Sonos Support if it never pairs, giving them the model, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Bluetooth by model
- The Move 2 and Roam 2 both support Bluetooth; Sonos's Use Bluetooth list includes the Move, Move 2, Roam and Roam 2 among others.
- Move controls
- Sonos says the Bluetooth button on the back of a Move sits between the Power and Join buttons.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Roam 2 speaker.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If it never flashes blue in pairing mode after a reboot, contact Sonos Support
- !If the phone cannot see any Bluetooth device, fix the phone first
- !If pairing works only after a reset, contact Sonos
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Bluetooth mode, pairing mode, six remembered devices and switching back.
Pairing, a different device, disconnecting and stereo pair limits.
Which products support Bluetooth.
Portable reset steps.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I pair a Sonos Move?+
Press the Bluetooth button once, then hold it until the LED flashes blue, then choose Move in your device's Bluetooth settings.
How do I pair a Roam?+
Hold the power button for two seconds until it chimes and flashes blue.
How many devices does a Move remember?+
Up to the last 6, per Sonos.
Why is my Move missing from the app?+
While in Bluetooth mode it is not displayed in the Sonos app.
What is unavailable in Bluetooth mode?+
Grouping, voice assistants and stereo pairing on a Move.
How do I go back to WiFi?+
Press the Bluetooth button on the Move; the LED goes from blue to flashing then solid white.
Can two Roams pair over Bluetooth?+
They can play Bluetooth in a stereo pair when on WiFi.
Does a Roam disconnect by itself?+
When it goes to sleep or powers off.
What if it will not connect after a reset?+
Forget it on your device first.
Which speakers can stereo pair?+
Speakers of the same model can, including the Move and Move 2, according to Sonos's list.