I am a big fan of Google Play Music, the subscription services gives you access to a large range of music and there is offline playback as well. The only issue I have had with it is integrating it with my home entertainment systems and Sonos system. Out of the box the Android app will only send to a Chromecast dongle which I don’t have and wouldn’t work with my Sonos anyway.

While looking at what I thought would be some complex setup that I would have to create I found a simple Android app that enables Google Play Music to play with other systems. The app Cast To UPnP/DLNA from GMusic by Bubblesoft works by adding a Chromecast icon to the Google Music App.

Once installed you run the app and then from the Google Play Music app you can select a DNLA target from the ChromeCast icon, after picking a target you can control the playback of music from Google Play Music on the DLNA device including a Sonos system. With a Sonos system you can pick the zone you want to send it to and control the volume. You don’t even have to have the app running on the device with Google Music on it, you can run it on any Android device on your home network. I tested it with Sonos, my Samsung TV, bluray plater and VLC player. It should work with any DLNA/UPnP player including the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One when it’s released. The only issue I had was playback dropouts via a Nexus 4 which is due to Wifi issues particular to the Nexus and it worked fine on my Nexus 7 and Galaxy Note.

So now I can browse Google Play Music’s full catalogue and send it to any DLNA device on my home network including the Sonos Play:1 speakers I am currently reviewing.

The app itself is free but it limits you to 20 minutes of audio playback, £1.69 gets you the full version. Get the app from the Google Play Store.

Start the Cast to UPnP/DLNA app
Connect to a DLNA server
Pick a track, album, artists or playlist
Listen to Dark Side of the Moon on a Sonos via Google Play Music
3 thoughts on “How to use Google Play Music with Sonos and UPnP/DLNA systems”
  1. As of the recent update to Google Play Music, this no longer works. Google only want you to use a Chromecast device.

    1. yup that suck big time. we just want to listen to music we paid for. streaming with bluetooth is ok but nooooooot on my receiver so i can listen through my high-end speaker… really annoying

  2. well the app Bubble UPnP does that, same developer. BUT how to achieve this with chrome on a PC? waaaah

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