If your home has a Nice (ELAN) automation system, your whole-home audio is likely powered by one of two platforms: Sonos or Autonomic. Each works a little differently, and knowing the difference can save you a support call. Here's a straightforward guide to using both.

Sonos requires two apps working together:
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​1. Open the Sonos app and start playing whatever music or content you want.
​2. Go to your ELAN / Nice touchscreen, Remote or app, turn on the zone (room) you want audio in, and select the Sonos music source.

Sonos handles what plays. ELAN / Nice handles where it plays and how loud. Both steps are needed.

This isn't a malfunction — it means nothing has been told to play yet. Open the Sonos app and start a song, playlist, or station. Once something is actively playing in the Sonos app, it will route through the zone you selected on your ELAN touchscreen.
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Here's the good news: once you've done this the first time, you don't have to keep going back to the Sonos app. From then on, you can simply press play or pause right on your ELAN touchscreen. One thing to know — if all the zones playing that Sonos source get turned off, Sonos will automatically go into a paused state. That's normal, not a problem. Just press play again on your ELAN touchscreen (or re-initiate from the Sonos app) to pick back up.

Your system needs a Sonos Port — it will not work correctly with the older, first-generation Sonos Connect. A quick way to tell them apart: the Port is black, the older Connect is white. You'll also want to make sure you're using the current Sonos 2.0 app, not an outdated version.​

The most common cause: your phone isn't connected to the home's own WiFi network. If your phone is on cellular data, or still connected to a different WiFi network from earlier, the Sonos app won't be able to see your in-home system at all. Double-check your phone's WiFi connection before assuming anything is broken.

Autonomic, with the (Nice Premium License), is a single, seamless app experience built directly into your ELAN system — there's no second app to open. You can select content, switch between streaming services, and control zones and volume all from the same interface, or right from a wall-mounted touchscreen without needing your phone at all.

Streaming services are added through the Autonomic app/player itself. Once a service is added, its icon appears in your interface — just tap the icon for the service you want, and it plays. No separate app to juggle.

Not out of the box. Apple Music support on Autonomic systems requires an add-on device called the Advanced Music Bridge (AMB-1), which connects to your existing Autonomic system and unlocks Apple Music (along with a few other features). If you're interested in Apple Music on an Autonomic system, ask us whether your setup already has this or needs it added.

For either platform, in order:

1. Confirm content is actually playing. For Sonos, check the Sonos app. For Autonomic, check that a service icon is selected and active.
2. Confirm your phone is on the home's WiFi, if you're using an app to control things.
3. Check the zone is turned on and the correct source is selected on your ELAN touchscreen.
4. If all else fails, power down or unplug the Sonos or Autonomic device for 5–10 seconds, then plug it back in.

​If you've tried all of the above and it's still not working, reach out — most remaining issues can be diagnosed and often resolved remotely, without needing to wait for a technician to come out.
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​If you're finding all of this more complicated than you'd like — especially the two-app juggling that comes with Sonos — that's usually a sign your system could be upgraded to something more seamless. We work with both platforms and are happy to talk through what an upgrade would look like for your home.

​Got other questions? Try chatting with the bot in the bottom left corner of this page. We're continually updating it with more tips, tricks, and troubleshooting info — the goal is to help you learn how to keep your own system running smoothly, and to make it easier to upgrade when you're ready.

Have a smart home system with multiple connected devices? It's normal for individual components to occasionally need attention — think of it less like a single device (like your phone) and more like a small network of specialized devices working together. Most issues are isolated to one part of the system, not the whole thing, and most are quick to resolve once identified.