Sonos has top-of-the-range audio products, and users can always rely on them for executive audio in their homes. I particularly love their range of portable speakers, especially the Sonos Move, because of its long-lasting battery and versatile connectivity (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi).
My Sonos Move has been working fine until recently when it refused to power on, and the battery LED was stuck on flashing orange. A quick online search revealed that the issue could be the battery, but there was no conclusive method of getting the speaker to work.
Fortunately, I came across a method that got my Move working and helped me get rid of the orange light. Below are all the solutions I used and solutions suggested by other Sonos Move users that will solve the flashing orange LED issue.
Key Takeaways
- Sonos Move speakers have three sets of LEDs – the Status LED, Battery LED, and Mic LED.
- The status LED turns solid orange when the speaker encounters a problem during the setup. The LED will also turn solid orange to show that the speaker is overheating.
- When the status LED flashes orange instead of lighting solid orange, it indicates that the speaker is establishing a connection to a wireless network during setup. It will also flash orange when you press the Play/Pause button, but there is no next song queued on the Sonos app.
- The status LED flashes orange and white to show that a system update is in progress or that the speaker is resetting.
- The flashing red and orange status LEDs can also mean the speaker has a problem, and you should contact SONOS support.
- The speaker’s status LED will flash red, white, orange, and green to show it is in a hardware diagnostic mode. You can press the Join button to get out of this mode.
- The battery LED glows solid orange for ten seconds when the speaker is connected to a charger to show it is charging.
- The battery LED also flashes orange when the battery is below fifteen percent.
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SONOS Move LEDs
The Sonos Move portable speaker has three sets of LEDs – the status LED, the battery LED, and the microphone LED.
The microphone LED is on the top, next to the microphone icon. When this LED is white, it means the microphone is on, and when it is off, it means the mic is disabled, and you won’t be able to use features like Trueplay and your voice assistant.
SONOS Move – Microphone LED.
The status LED is on the top of the speaker, just like the mic LED. Specifically, it is above the Play/Pause button.
The LED communicates different messages to the user – it will tell you when the speaker is connected to a device and indicate the connection type (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi).
For instance, when it’s solid white, it means the speaker is powered on and functioning properly, while flashing blue means the speaker is in Bluetooth pairing mode and is ready to pair to a compatible Bluetooth device.
The battery LED is on the front of the speaker, just near its base, and is almost invisible unless it lights up. It communicates the speaker’s battery status. For example, it will flash orange when the battery is below fifteen percent. It will be solid orange when the speaker is connected to a charger.
When you see the battery LED flash red, it means the speaker has a problem, and you should contact support for assistance.
You can check the Sonos LED status page to learn more about the speaker’s LED behavior since I will be focusing on what the LEDs mean when they are orange.
The Meaning of Each LED Color/Behavior on Your SONOS Speaker
Why Is the Status LED Orange?
The status and battery LEDs communicate different messages when they light orange, thus we need to look at them separately.
The status LED can light orange during the setup. This happens when the speaker encounters a problem that can be resolved by restarting it.
The solid orange LED can also mean the speaker is overheating, thus it cannot operate normally. You should move the speaker to a different location when this happens.
When setting up the speaker, you might notice the LED flashing orange, which means it is establishing a connection to your wireless network, and the LED will stop blinking once the connection is successful.
If you press the Play/Pause button and the LED starts flashing orange, it means there is no song in the playlist, and you should queue more songs with the Sonos App.
The status LED also flashes white and orange when the speaker’s firmware is updating or when the speaker is factory resetting.
When the LED flashes red, white, orange, and green, it indicates the speaker is in a hardware diagnostic mode, and you can get out of it by pressing the Join button.
SONOS Move – Orange Status LED (Source – SONOS)
Why Is the Battery LED Orange?
The battery LED communicates the speaker’s battery status and the speaker’s status.
The LED will start flashing orange when the battery is running low and is below fifteen percent. In such a case, you should connect the speaker to a power source through the charging cradle or the USB charger.
The battery LED will turn solid orange for ten seconds and then go off to show that the speaker is charging.
This LED also flashes red to show the speaker has a problem, and you should contact Sonos customer in such instances.
SONOS Move – Battery LED Behavior (Source – SONOS)
What to Do When the LED is Orange?
The LEDs can turn orange and not go off or turn to another color, even after trying the basic solutions suggested in the manual, indicating a problem with the speaker.
There are other solutions you could try to solve this problem, and I will list them all.
Restart the Speaker
The battery LED could be flashing orange even after connecting the speaker to a charger to indicate that the speaker is not charging as expected.
Additionally, the status LED could be stuck on orange because the speaker encountered a problem when you were setting it.
The initial solution to both these problems is to restart the Sonos Move so that it closes all system processes and restarts them. That will allow the speaker to get rid of any bugs that could have been hindering its normal operation.
You can reboot your Sonos Move by following the steps below:
- Disconnect the speaker from the charger, whether it’s the charging base or a USB charger.
- Press and hold the power button until the speaker’s status LED turns off. The power button is on the back of the speaker above the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi button.
Press the POWER button until you hear the power-off chime, and the status LED goes off.
- Wait for ten to fifteen seconds, then reconnect the speaker to a charger or press the power button to turn it on.
Once the speaker powers on, check whether the LEDs are still orange. You can also force the speaker to reboot if it is stuck and unresponsive. You can do this by following the steps below:
- Disconnect your SONOS Move from the charger, then press and hold the power button for fifteen to thirty seconds.
- Reconnect the speaker to its charger and check if it powers on without issues.
Alternatively, you can:
- Press the power button for fifteen to twenty seconds when the speaker is connected to a charger.
- Then, disconnect it from the charger, wait ten seconds, and try powering it on.
Consider trying the above procedures more than once in case it does not work the first time.
Check the Charger and Power Outlets
We have established that the battery LED flashes orange when the speaker’s battery is below fifteen percent. However, the light might keep flashing orange even after it is connected to a charger. This is a sign there is a fault with the charging system.
We can troubleshoot this by checking that the charger and power outlets connected to the speaker are in good condition.
Ensure the USB cable is not broken and the power outlets are not damaged.
You can use a different power source, USB adapter, and/or cable to charge the speaker and see if the orange LED disappears.
Do not charge the speaker via a USB port from a PC or any device as they might not have sufficient power for the speaker’s battery.
You Can Only Charge Your SONOS Move with a Compatible USB-C PD Charger
Also, leave the speaker charging for two hours before disconnecting it from the charger since the battery could have been extremely drained, affecting how the LEDs operate.
The battery might be extremely drained. Charge your SONOS Move for at least 2 hours before turning it on.
Also, ensure that the charging port on the speaker and charging contacts on the charging base and speaker are clean since debris or moisture can hinder regular charging.
If the charging port or the charging contacts are dirty, wet, or corroded, the speaker may refuse to charge. That might result in the battery LED flashing orange.
Use the Sonos app to check the speaker’s battery percentage if the LED keeps blinking orange, even after the battery should have been fully charged. The app will help you determine whether the problem is in the LED itself, or the battery.
Use the SONOS S2 app to check your SONOS Move battery level.
Use a Different Charging Method
Sonos Move speakers can be charged using two methods: a USB cable with a charging adapter or the SONOS charging cradle.
This is an advantage since we can switch between the two to check if one is defective.
Try switching between the charging base and charging adapter to rule out your charging equipment as the source of the problem.
Therefore, use a USB charger if you were using the charging base and use the USB charger if you were initially using the USB charger.
If one charging method stops the battery LED from flashing orange and the other does not, you can conclude that your charging equipment is faulty, or your speaker has a charging issue. You should contact Sonos, and they will guide you on how to get the issue fixed.
Try a Different Charger
Another issue that can cause the battery LED to keep flashing orange is that the power coming from the USB charger is not sufficient because of an incompatible charging adapter.
Sonos Move speakers use an advanced USB-C charging system known as USB-C PD (Power Delivery) that delivers more power at a faster speed.
The charging system requires a compatible adapter that can deliver the recommended 45W.
So, check that the adapter you have meets the recommended rating. On top of that, you should know that some adapters can be advertised as 45W adapters, yet only one port on the adapter supplies that much power.
In other instances, the 45W rating on the adapter is a sum of all the power outlets on the adapter. Ensure the 45W rating is for each port on the adapter.
The USB cable you choose to use does not really matter as long as it is a quality USB cable that is in good condition.
You should not use a third-party charging base as most Move users state that they do not work, and you risk voiding your warranty. The best option is to get an original and compatible charging base from the Sonos store.
You should only use the original SONOS Move charging base to charge your speaker. Don’t use third-party bases and chargers.
Relocate the Sonos Move
If the Sonos speaker had already been set up and was working as expected, but the status LED randomly turns solid orange, it could be that the speaker is overheating.
The speaker should always be placed in a cool and dry place that has temperatures of between 32° to 104° F (0° to 40° C).
SONOS Move – Recommended Ambient Temperature Limits
If this limit is exceeded, the speaker will malfunction, and it can result in the battery being permanently damaged.
Fortunately, you can resolve the overheating issue by moving the speaker to a different place away from direct sunlight or any other heat sources. You should do this immediately after you notice the status LED turn solid orange, as prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures might cause irreparable damage.
Once the speaker is relocated and the temperature has stabilized, power it on and check if the status LED is still orange.
Factory Reset the Speaker
Factory resetting the Sonos Move will clear all settings from the speaker and return it to the original state when you purchased it.
A reset is handy when the speaker is severely malfunctioning, and other solutions do not seem to work. The reset will erase all secondary settings and, in the process, clear any bugs that could be causing the status or battery LEDs to flash orange.
Reset the Sonos Move by following the steps below:
- Ensure the speaker is disconnected from the charger. Whether it is the USB charger or the charging base.
- Press the power button until you hear a tone from the speaker, and the LEDs go off. This will take approximately five seconds to happen.
- Press and hold the Join button on the back of the speaker as it powers on. The join button is marked with an infinity symbol, and it is below the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth button.
- While holding the button, put the speaker back on the charging base. Don’t release it.
- Keep holding the Join button until the status LED flashes white and orange.
Release the Join button when the LED flashes orange and white alternately.
- You will know the reset is complete once the status LED starts flashing green.
After blinking orange and white for a few seconds, the status LED should be blinking green. That’s an indication that your speaker is ready to be set up.
Repeat the reset procedure three to five times if the first few times do not fix the orange LED or if the status LED does not start flashing green after the reset.
How to Reset Your SONOS Move?
Get a New Battery
If your battery is damaged and cannot retain power after being charged, the battery LED will be flashing orange frequently. Luckily, Sonos provides a battery replacement kit that comes with the battery and instructions on how you can replace the Sonos battery.
If your battery is damaged or dead, try replacing it. The replacement battery is sold by SONOS – do not buy third-party batteries.
The steps to replace the battery are as follows:
- Disconnect the speaker from the charger and press the power button for five seconds.
- Place the speaker upside down on a stable flat surface, and use the pick that comes in the kit to remove the rubber strip that’s on the speaker’s underside to reveal screws holding the battery in place. You do not remove the whole strip, just the left and right ends that keep the screws hidden.
- Remove the two screws using the hex tool that comes with the battery.
- Then, lift the ends that had the screws gently to remove the old battery.
- Place the new battery in the speaker the same way the old one was placed.
- Lift the ends of the rubber strip on the new battery, and use the hex tool to screw in the battery so it is firmly attached to the speaker.
- Finally, connect the speaker to a charger for two hours. Then, check if the orange LED has disappeared.
Replacing SONOS Move Battery – Step-by-Step Guide
Alternatively, you can visit the Sonos community forum where fellow Sonos users post similar problems and receive assistance from other users. You can also find previous posts describing the same problem you are facing and the solutions.
You Can Disable the Status LED
If the speaker’s status LED is stuck on orange, and there seems to be no problem with the speaker, you can disable the status LED and use the speaker without it.
Here is how to turn off the status LED of the Sonos Move:
- Ensure the speaker is on and connected to Wi-Fi. Then, open the Sonos S2 app.
- Select the Settings tab, then go to System.
- Finally, go to Hardware and turn the Status light off.
If the status LED is flashing orange, but there’s no problem with the speaker, and everything is working fine, the problem could be the LED itself. Some firmware glitch might be causing the flashing orange light. If resetting the speaker doesn’t make the light go away, try disabling it in your SONOS S2 app.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: How do I reset my Sonos Move?
- Answer: You can reset the Sonos Move by following the instructions below:
- Disconnect the speaker from the charger.
- Press and hold the power button for five seconds to power the speaker off.
- Press and hold the JOIN button and, while holding the button, put the speaker on its charging base. Do not release the JOIN button.
- Release the JOIN button once the LED flashes white and orange.
- Question: How do I know my Sonos Move is charging?
- Answer: The battery LED on the front of the speaker will light solid orange and then go off after ten seconds when you connect the speaker to a charger.
When you put your SONOS Move on the charging base or connect it to a charger, the battery LED will turn on and be solid orange for about 10 seconds.
- Question: Why does my Sonos keep blinking?
- Answer: The LEDs on the Sonos speaker blink when there is a problem with the speaker, when the speaker is updating/resetting, and when the battery is low.
- Check the Sonos LED status guide to find out what each color means and what you should do.
Conclusion
The LEDs on a Sonos Move are essential since they let the user know the speaker’s status. Whenever there is a malfunction, you will be notified by the speaker via the color-coded LEDs.
Hopefully, this article helped you figure out why your SONOS Move’s LEDs were stuck on flashing orange and how to make it go away.
Take proper care of the speaker to avoid unnecessary damage and ensure your warranty stays intact.
