Sonos makes good speakers, but unfortunately does not yet have its own app for the Apple Watch.
This application makes perfect sense: you often just want to change the volume or skip to the next track and don’t want to pick up your phone again.
Fortunately, the Apple Watch app Lyd, which is available for €2.99 in the App Store, fills the gap. The good thing about it is that it is a one-off purchase and not a subscription.
Lyd: Sonos basics for the Apple Watch
Lyd is an app developed specifically for the Apple Watch that allows users to control their Sonos speakers directly from their wrist.
Of course, the Lyd app does not offer the full range of functions as in the original Sonos app, but the basic functions for controlling Sonos speakers are available.
This includes the ability to play or pause music, skip backwards and forwards through tracks and, of course, adjust the volume. The latter is done via the so-called crown of the Apple Watch – the small wheel on the outside right.
Grouping speakers
I personally use one function particularly often: grouping the different speakers.
If music is playing in the kitchen, you might also want to listen to it in the bathroom or bedroom.
This works perfectly via the Apple Watch app and is even surprisingly clear on the small display.
Quick installation
Setting up Lyd on the Apple Watch requires downloading it from the App Store and then connecting it to the Sonos speakers in the network.
The setup processes are straightforward and require no technical knowledge.
Lyd: Regular updates and features
What I particularly like about the Apple Watch app Lyd for Sonos is that the developer makes regular updates and ensures that new speaker functions can also be controlled via the watch.
The battery status for portable speakers such as Sonos Move and Sonos Roam is now also displayed.
Announcements to Sonos speakers
What was previously only possible via the Sonos app is now also possible via the Apple Watch: voice announcements to one or more speakers in the home.
This is particularly practical in larger apartments or houses if you want to inform family members or roommates that dinner is ready or that you are about to leave for school.
Sleep timer with Apple Watch
A small but important function for me: the snooze timer on the Sonos speakers.
This is particularly practical if you want to fall asleep while listening to music or a podcast in bed.
This function has long been available in the Sonos app, but now also directly on the Apple Watch.
Conclusion on the Sonos app for the Apple Watch
Lyd for Apple Watch offers a convenient way to perform basic control functions for Sonos directly on your wrist.
What Sonos has failed to achieve after many years is now available from an alternative app developer at a one-off price of €2.99.
For users looking for quick and easy control of their Sonos devices, Lyd on the Apple Watch can be a practical addition.
I particularly like the fact that many small additional functions have been integrated, including the battery status for portable speakers, the snooze function and voice announcements.
The control and connection are stable and trouble-free. If there are any connection problems, these are probably not due to the Apple Watch but to the general structure of the Sonos system and the corresponding dropouts, which can usually be resolved quickly.
Lars Grudzinski has been working as a sound and lighting technician since the 90s, was a DJ for electronic music, has a large collection of vintage speakers, and has been working for various radio stations in Germany for 20 years. At home, he enjoys high-quality home theater products such as soundbars and projectors and has installed an extensive Sonos system in his own home.