SONOS Move Won’t Turn ON (Fixing Guide)

I have been using a Sonos Move speaker for some time now. The gadget is great, and the advanced features installed on the system make me love it even more. My favorite aspect about the Move is the Trueplay feature that actively ensures the speaker has the best audio regardless of my environment. 

Unfortunately, my love for the Sonos Move was almost quashed when, one day, the speaker would not turn on. I was close to tossing it in the trash until I came across a suggestion of a peculiar method of rebooting the speaker. 

I also noticed several Move users had problems turning on their speakers. So, I compiled all the solutions that worked for me and other Sonos users to help you overcome the predicament if your speaker would not turn on. 

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Key Takeaways

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Recommended Reading :

Why Is My Sonos Move Not Turning On?

Various factors can prevent the Sonos Move from turning on. Some of these factors are related, while others are entirely random. 

They include:

What Should I Do?

Now that you know why the Sonos Move is not turning on, it is easier to troubleshoot the speaker. 

Below are solutions that will help you overcome the challenge by fixing the speaker or determining whether it is damaged beyond repair.  

Try Rebooting the Speaker

Some users who have had their Sonos Move speakers die on them have rebooted them back to life.

However, they did not follow the Sonos recommended reboot procedure; instead, they followed a slightly different one. The steps they followed are below:

Apart from the user-suggested reboot procedure, Sonos also has a reboot procedure they recommend. It is similar to the one suggested by users but with fewer steps. 

They are:

A reboot has the potential to clear any system errors that could be causing the speaker not to turn on, hence why it should be among the first solutions you try. 

Leave It Charging for a While

Sometimes, the speaker’s battery could be really drained; thus, it does not even have the power to turn on the battery LED when you connect it to the charger.

This happens rarely since the speaker will go to standby mode or power off whenever idle. Both instances are meant to conserve the battery and prevent such scenarios, but the speaker firmware can malfunction. 

So, connect the speaker to a working charger and power outlet and leave it charging for twelve to twenty-four hours. Periodically check if there are any changes on the battery LED.

This will allow the speaker to take in some power that it can use to communicate its status through the LEDs.

If this solves your issue, always manually power off the speaker whenever it is not in use. Also, consider leaving it docked in the charging cradle to limit the discharge rate. 

The battery will not overcharge as it has a battery management system that will stop it from charging once it reaches maximum capacity. 

Observe the Speaker’s LEDs

The speaker might not be turning on, but the LEDs may. This rarely happens, but if it does, you can use the LED’s color to determine what is wrong with the speaker. 

Sonos Move speakers have a status and battery LED. The status LED is on the top of the speaker above the Play/pause control, while the battery LED is on the bottom front.

The status LED is usually solid white when the speaker is powered on and functioning properly. So, if it is on, the speaker is most likely on, and you are experiencing a different problem.

The LED flashes white to show the speaker is powered on or is waiting to connect to a network.

A solid orange LED usually communicates one of two errors. Either the speaker did not complete the setup, or it is overheating. You can restart the speaker first, and if the light persists, relocate the Move to a room temperature environment and give it time before turning it on.

A flashing orange LED means the speaker is establishing a connection and will begin working in no time. It can also mean the speaker has nothing lined up in the playback queue, and you should use the Sonos app to set up a playlist.

The LED flashes white and orange whenever the speaker updates the firmware or is factory resetting. Although this LED behavior can also mean the speaker has an issue, contact Sonos if it persists. 

Use a Different Charger and Power Outlet

The Sonos Move uses a USB-C PD charger with a 45W, 20V/2.25A rating. A lower-rated charger will either not charge the speaker or charge it excruciatingly slowly, thus affecting when the speaker can turn on.

The PD means it should be a power delivery charger, which is a more advanced category of USB-C chargers.

PD chargers deliver power to the speaker in different wattages. It works by using the incorporated chips on the charger and the speaker.

They communicate and continuously determine the optimum power delivery rating as requested by the speaker.

So ensure the charger is a PD one, especially if it is a third-party charger. This also goes for the USB cable because there are different versions of the cables, and some might not sustain the power supply required to charge the speaker. Therefore, consider getting a cable advertised as capable of working with USB-C PD.

You can also alternate between the wireless and wired chargers in case one is defective. Change the power outlet you are using to charge the Move because some outlets output power at lower rates than the recommended standard. The current outlet could also be damaged.

You can get a replacement wireless charging cradle for the Move in case yours is damaged and does not work with the speaker. 

Give the speaker an hour or two after switching outlets and chargers, then check whether it turns on. 

If it does not, the issues could be something else, so continue troubleshooting. 

The Importance of Getting a Compatible Charger for Your SONOS Move

Check the Move’s Charging Port

Apart from the charger, the charging port on the speaker could also be the issue. When the port is dirty, its charging pins are covered with debris, so they cannot transfer power to the speaker. 

A wet charging port will also not work and can damage the speaker’s circuitry. 

Therefore, use a compressed air can or a soft-bristled brush to clean the port, then try charging the speaker and see if it powers on after a while. 

Also, clean the contact pins on the back of the speaker that connects to the wireless charger. 

You can use a microfiber cloth and isopropyl alcohol to remove stubborn stains. Check that the contact pins are in good condition as you clean them.

Once the port is clean, connect the speaker to a charger and see if there is any change.

Move the Speaker to a Different Location

The Sonos Move works best at a temperature range of 32° to 113° F (0° to 45° C) and should be stored in environments that have a -13° to 158° F (-25° to 70° C) temperature range.

Exceeding these ranges will cause the speaker to malfunction and most likely not turn on. 

So ensure the speaker is in an ideal environment and relocate it if it is too hot or cold. 

Move the speaker to a cooler environment if it is too hot in the current one, and let it stabilize before powering it on. Do not use a refrigerator or a fan to cool down the speaker; just let its temperature naturally drop.

If it is too cold, move it to a warmer environment and let the temperature rise until it is in the acceptable range. Do not heat the speaker with a hairdryer, microwave oven, or things of the sort because this will cause additional damage.

The battery on the Move can explode if overheated, so always ensure the speaker is not exposed to too much heat. 

Attempt a Factory Reset

Sonos advises against factory resetting as a troubleshooting measure. This is because a reset will erase all the information on the speaker, forcing you to set it up afresh. 

Do not worry; if you are lucky, the speaker could have some juice left, and the reset will go through. You should also follow the reset procedure even though the speaker shows no sign of life. 

You can reset the Sonos Move by following the steps below:

Resetting SONOS Move to Factory Default Settings

Replace the Speaker’s Battery

Sonos sells a battery replacement kit for the Sonos Move that you can get and replace at home.

The kit is useful, especially if the speaker’s warranty is expired and you are sure the speaker’s battery is the problem. The kit has the necessary tools, an instruction manual, and a battery. 

Only use this kit if the speaker’s warranty is expired; otherwise, it will be null and void if the warranty is active. 

Ensure you connect the speaker to a charger to see if the replacement works. They check if the speaker is powered on.

SONOS Move Battery Replacement

Contact Sonos Customer Support

Sonos has a customer support team like any other major brand. Support’s job is to answer the client’s questions and help them solve their issues.

So contact them and tell them about the measure you have already tried, and they might suggest alternative solutions. 

Ask to return the speaker and get a replacement if their solutions do not work. Have the audacity to ask for a replacement even if the warranty is expired. 

Some users have gotten replacements this way, and you can, too, or they may give you a discount for the next purchase. 

You can even post your issue on the community forum, and other users will suggest what worked for them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Conclusion 

Numerous Sonos Move users have experienced the issue when the speaker randomly refuses to turn on. Luckily, you have all the fixes and troubleshooting tips that worked for other users listed in this guide. Try them, and you will eventually make your SONOS Move turn on again.