Why does my Sonos Move 2 disappear from the app?

The short answer

Grouping needs the other speakers visible. The gadget is usually still online. What's broken is your phone's ability to see it, and that is a network setting rather than a fault with the device.

What's happening underneath

Critical. This is the single biggest cause of speakers disappearing.

Source: Manufacturer documentation

Try these, in this order

• • Switch it to Bluetooth in the garden rather than fighting the Wi-Fi edge.
• • Keep one Wi-Fi name across the house so it rejoins cleanly.
• • Bring it back indoors and power-cycle it once before regrouping.
• • Check the signal where the gadget actually lives, not where you're standing.
• • Move the router off the floor and out of any cupboard before buying anything.
• • Put the gadget and your phone on the same Wi-Fi name.
• • Restart the gadget before the router — it is quicker and it fixes more.

Setting it up again properly

• • Stand next to your router while you set it up, then move the gadget to where it lives.
• • Put your phone on the 2.4 GHz network name for the setup, or use one name for both bands so the phone can follow.
• • If your router splits bands into two names, turn the 5 GHz one off for five minutes rather than fighting it.
• • Turn mobile data off on your phone during setup — some apps quietly use it and never find the gadget.

When it's worth spending money

An outdoor-facing access point only if you genuinely use the garden every week.