Ways to play your computer's audio on Sonos, compared
There are four common ways to get sound from a computer to Sonos. Which one fits depends on your speakers, your computer, and whether you want your desk speakers playing too.
| Method | Works with | All computer sound? | Desk speakers in sync? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line-in cable | Only Sonos models with a line-in jack | Yes | No |
| AirPlay from a Mac | AirPlay-capable Sonos models, Mac only | Yes | No |
| Sonos app | Any Sonos | No, music services only | Not applicable |
| PC2Sonos | Any Sonos, Windows or Mac | Yes, or chosen apps on Windows | Yes |
Line-in cable
Some Sonos models have an audio input. Run a cable from your computer's headphone jack and select line-in in the Sonos app. It's reliable, but the speaker has to be near the computer, and most Sonos speakers have no input at all.
AirPlay from a Mac
If your Sonos supports AirPlay, a Mac can send its sound to it from the Sound menu. It doesn't work from Windows, and your Mac's own speakers can't play alongside without echo.
The Sonos app
The Sonos app plays Spotify, radio and other services directly on the speaker, which is great for music. It can't play your computer's own sound: games, browser tabs, video calls or desktop apps.
PC2Sonos
PC2Sonos streams everything your computer plays to any Sonos on your network, over Wi-Fi, with no cable. It delays your desk speakers to match so both can play at once, and it's free with no account.
Windows 10 or newer, macOS 12 or newer. No account needed.