- SoundTouch speakers will lose cloud services in May 2026
- Bose has released an API for third-party app developers
- Spotify Connect and AirPlay will continue to work
Bose’s SoundTouch speakers are positively ancient in technical terms: they were introduced in 2013, and after a successful 13-year operation, Bose has decided to turn off the cloud services: “we are no longer able to maintain the development and support of the cloud infrastructure that powers this older generation of products.”
Rather than “brick” existing customers’ speakers, which is what tends to happen when cloud stuff is turned off, Bose has provided extensive information on how to keep using them with Bluetooth and AirPlay—and they’ve released an API so third-party app developers can add SoundTouch capabilities to their apps.
Just take a look at the Bose SoundTouch 20 above. Now imagine that it is outdated and useless. Isn’t it great that if you bought one of these wireless multi-room speakers (at around $399 / £350 / AU$549, at their release at least) that doesn’t have to happen?
A smarter way to deal with obsolescence of smart speakers
As Bose explains, the speakers themselves will remain perfectly functional – so standalone SoundTouch speakers with Bluetooth and Aux connections will continue to work, and home theater products will continue to connect over HDMI or optical connections. Features such as SoundTouch streaming will disappear, but “AirPlay and Spotify Connect should continue to work.”
Bose gives customers plenty of notice here. It first announced the server shutdown in October 2025, and in this new January update, it has pushed the changes back to May 2026. From then, the app will update “to a version that supports key features without relying on the cloud.”
What does this mean in practice? Bose says:
“With this version of the app, you’ll be able to control any system that’s on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone. You’ll still be able to set up, configure, remotely control, and group systems through the app. Browsing music services and initiating content from the SoundTouch app no longer works. Instead, you can download your favorite music service apps (TuneIn, SoundTouch) and send via Air, Sound, Pandora, etc. AUX If you’re a Spotify user, you can stream content to your SoundTouch system using Spotify Connect from the Spotify app.”
I am really impressed with this. All technology should probably come with a memento mori on it to remind you that connected services won’t be available forever, but it’s how shutdowns and recommended upgrades are handled that sends a message to customers – so, for example, Sonos upset a lot of people in 2019 when it initially required customers to “brick” their existing speakers to qualify for a full upgrade upgrade, and the car shutdown. 2024 also ruffled some feathers.
As I wrote at the time, “be very careful about buying devices tied to a single service or proprietary platform. As Car Thing demonstrates, some devices are here for a good while, not a long time.” But what Bose says is the opposite.
What Bose is doing here isn’t just sending a message to existing SoundTouch owners. It sends a broader message about its values to potential smart speaker buyers. And it’s actually very smart.
The best Bluetooth speakers for all budgets
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, video unboxings, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
