2024 03 20

Vienna Beef neon light, as seen reflected in a shot glass, in my See You Soon studio. This neon is again broken for the third time in two years. September, 2023. © Clayton Hauck

Many times, I’ve had the idea of starting a website in which I would make a post anytime I (got immensely frustrated, considered leaving society and living out the remainder of my life in rural Montana but then took a deep breath, calmed down and) solved a problem or learned something important. Over years of accumulation, it would be a sort of gathering place of answers to questions people commonly have (and perhaps gain a considerable following via google searches which would maaaybe be modestly monetized). I’m not going to do this, however, I will honor the idea here today:

If you, like me, are having an issue connecting to your fancy high tech Sonos speakers because the software is unable to update and therefore you can no longer connect to your speakers, this is likely the solution:

Note: if you are using a Windows machine, I can’t help you.

If you are using MacOS, the issue is likely solved by allowing Sonos to update or delete other applications via App Management in System Settings (why the software doesn’t alert you of this fact when it repeatedly fails to update, I have no idea, but am starting to thing AI is running these tech companies and nobody actually uses their own product).

Stolen from Reddit (oh yeah, my website idea already exists [and is going public on the stock market this week!]):

Check to see if Sonos and/or Sonos Installer is listed under Settings > Privacy and Security > App Management

If not:
Close the Sonos app
Go to Applications
Right click on Sonos
Pick Show Package Contents
Go to Contents/Resources
Drag the Sonos Installer app to the window in System Settings -> Privacy & Security -> App Management (As a bonus, make sure that Sonos is on the App Management list too, otherwise add it!)
Start the Sonos app and Install Update

If you are using a not-current-to-this-posting version of MacOS, all of these specific directions may no longer exist, might have changed names, etc. Please proceed to toss your expensive speakers into the trash and light fire to it while cursing the digital gods who continually rule your life.

Also, please use my affiliate link to buy some nice new Sonos speakers!

Also, if anyone knows how to repair a neon light, hit me up.

…and now I’m off to buy some Reddit stock.

-Clayton