Sonos app under fire for forcing ads through notifications without a clear opt-out

The Sonos app is under heavy criticism for pushing advertisements through notifications, leaving some users frustrated with the lack of a clear way to opt-out. Sonos users are reporting that ad notifications have started appearing on their devices, promoting holiday discounts and other marketing content.

These notifications come as a shock to many, especially since Sonos products are known for their high price tags. Users feel that having paid a premium for the hardware, they shouldn’t be subjected to in-app advertisements.

One user, venting on the Sonos community forums, sarcastically thanked the company for its “brave” decision to force ads on paying customers. Another called it a “complete failure to read the room.”

While some Sonos staff attempted to address the issue by suggesting ways to disable push notifications and pop-up messages, their responses only fueled more frustration. The OP pointed out that turning off notifications also disables useful alerts, such as those for new speaker setups or system updates. This puts users in a tough spot: either tolerate intrusive ads or lose access to genuinely helpful features.

Complaints about the problem have even popped up on Reddit, where one user labeled the ads as a blatant abuse of notification privileges. Some users are even reporting the issue to Apple, citing App Store guidelines that explicitly prohibit using push notifications for promotions unless users have opted in. These complaints could potentially lead to action from Apple if Sonos is found in violation of the rules, although, it’s highly unlikely.

For now, the only solution seems to be turning off all app notifications, which doesn’t sit well with users who rely on them for certain functionalities. With the holiday season approaching, Sonos may have hoped these ads would drive more sales. Instead, the move seems to be backfiring, alienating loyal customers and tarnishing the brand’s reputation.

If the problem gets enough attention, Sonos may actually consider providing a setting within the app to toggle off advertisements, like many other apps. We’ll just have to wait and see what comes of this outrage.