A portable speaker plays one sound source from a single enclosure, so one-sided sound is nearly always a stereo pair. Sonos says the Move, Move 2, Roam and Roam 2 support stereo pairing, and only same-model speakers can pair; a Move 2 with a Move cannot. Roams can pair with an SL version, and two Roams in a pair play Bluetooth audio only when on WiFi; away from WiFi, stereo pairing is not available.
To make a pair, open Settings, My System, select one speaker and choose Set Up Stereo Pair, spacing them 8 to 10 feet apart with the listening spot 8 to 12 feet away. A Move in Bluetooth mode cannot be part of a stereo pair. If one speaker of the pair is off, asleep or out of range, the pair can show as not configured or play from one; charge both, reboot both and check they are on the same Sonos setup. A portable that joined a different Sonos setup will not group until it is reset and re-added.
Differential
Likely causes of “Sonos portable speakers plays from only one side or channel”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
One speaker of the pair is off or flat
What separates it Only one side plays because one speaker of the pair is off or flat
How to confirm Charge both and check the app shows both online
- 2
A Move in Bluetooth mode
What separates it There is no stereo pair because a Move is in Bluetooth mode
How to confirm Switch the Move back to wifi mode, and check the pair again
- 3
Different models were paired
What separates it One side is missing because different models were paired
How to confirm Pair only two Move 2s or two Roam 2s
- 4
A portable on another Sonos setup
What separates it The pair breaks after travel because a portable is on another Sonos setup
How to confirm Reset the portable, and add it to this Sonos setup again
- 5
The pair is out of range on WiFi
What separates it The sound drops on one side because the pair is out of range on wifi
How to confirm Move both speakers closer to the router, and check the sound again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The models and whether both are the same
- Battery levels and whether both are on the same Sonos setup
- Whether either is in Bluetooth mode
- Where they are relative to the router
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCharge both
ReversibleCharge both speakers, and make sure that each one has charge, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check the mode
ReversibleCheck the mode, and return any Move that is in Bluetooth mode to wifi, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check the pair in the app
ReversibleCheck the pair in the app, where both should be listed under one room, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Reboot both
ReversibleReboot both speakers, by holding the power button on each, and restarting them, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check speaker membership
ReversibleCheck speaker membership, and make sure that both speakers belong to this Sonos setup, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Re-pair
ReversibleRe pair the speakers, by separating them and setting up the pair again, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Contact Sonos
ReversibleContact Sonos Support if one side stays silent, giving them the models, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Pairing by model
- Sonos's list of stereo-pair speakers includes the Move, Move 2, Roam and Roam 2.
- Away from WiFi
- Sonos says a pair of Roams cannot be stereo paired away from a WiFi network.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Roam 2 speaker.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a charged pair on the same Sonos setup still plays from one side after rebooting both, contact Sonos Support
- !If one speaker is dead, contact Sonos, and give them the model
- !If the pair shows not configured, contact Sonos
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Same-model rule, supported speakers and placement.
Two Roams in a stereo pair on WiFi.
Stereo pairing is unavailable in Bluetooth mode.
A portable on another Sonos setup.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Can I pair a Move 2 with a Roam 2?+
No, you cannot pair a Move 2 with a Roam 2, since only same model speakers pair.
Can portables pair away from WiFi?+
No, Sonos says stereo pairing is unavailable when away from a WiFi network.
How far apart should they be?+
8 to 10 feet apart, 8 to 12 feet from the listening spot.
Why is only one speaker playing?+
The other may be off, flat, out of range or on a different Sonos setup.
Does a Move in Bluetooth mode pair?+
No, stereo pairing is unavailable in Bluetooth mode.
Can a Roam pair with a Roam SL?+
Sonos says mic products can pair with SL versions of their model.
How do I pair them?+
Settings, My System, Set Up Stereo Pair.
Do both play Bluetooth?+
Two Roams on WiFi in a pair can.
How long does a battery last before replacing?+
About three years or 900 charges, per Sonos.