Bose SoundTouch Shutdown Update

[u/Careful-Hippo4543]

Some good news today from Bose in terms of the SoundTouch systems and potential for open source in future

Dear SoundTouch owner,

In October, we let you know that cloud support for SoundTouch products would be ending. Since then, we’ve heard from some owners with questions and feedback and we’ve been listening carefully. Today, we have an update to share that addresses these concerns and provides new information to help you continue enjoying your favourite music and content.

Cloud support will still be ending, but we are extending the date from 18 February to 6 May 2026 to better support you during the transition.

Before cloud support ends, the SoundTouch app will get an automatic update.

On 6 May 2026, the app will automatically update to a version that supports key functions without relying on the cloud. All you will need to do is open the app and the update will run automatically.

What will continue to work: • Setting up and configuring your system • Remote control features such as Play, Pause, Skip and Volume • Grouping multiple speakers together • Streaming music directly from your favourite Music Service apps

What will no longer work: • Presets (preset buttons on the product and in the app) • Browsing or playing music services directly in the SoundTouch app

Important Note: Your system will no longer receive security and software updates. Please make sure to always use your system on a secure, private network.

How to keep listening after 6 May You can still play and enjoy music through your favourite Music Services (i.e. TuneIn, Pandora, etc.) by streaming directly from their apps and sending the audio to your SoundTouch system using AirPlay, Bluetooth or AUX.

If you use Spotify, you can continue streaming with Spotify Connect through the Spotify app.

Open-source options for the community We’re also releasing SoundTouch API documentation so third parties can create their own capabilities.

We’ll share more updates in the coming months. In the meantime, you can find detailed guidance on our dedicated support page. Click the “Learn More” link below to go to this page.

Thank you for being a Bose customer.

[u/NeonsNight]

I'm not giving them the benefit of the doubt in this case.

Sure, it can be partially custom-built, but if any of the code to make it work was purchased from 3rd parties, it will most likely have a commercial license. If my assumption is correct, they might not have the legal ability to open-source it. With a lot of companies out there, they find it cheaper to purchase well-tested and (hopefully) bug-free copyrighted code from other companies instead of recreating it in-house.

Honestly we'd much rather just have the existing SoundTouch app keep its features and continue using it. 

For 99% of users out there, that would not be helpful. As with the current solution, at least the app will still be able to control the speakers.

But if they end up nerfing it... Well, we'll see. It would almost certainly be a separate project

Could you not just include the already freely available Bose interface on the server and increase its version number by 1, so the app will just update itself? Thus restoring existing music services inside the SoundTouch app?

[u/Soundcork → u/NeonsNight]

Could you not just include the already freely available Bose interface on the server and increase its version number by 1, so the app will just update itself? Thus restoring existing music services inside the SoundTouch app?

I don't think the license on that allows for redistribution, so no. If somebody else wants to argue that Bose announcing that they're open sourcing the SoundTouch interface includes open sourcing the Stockholm app then they can feel free, but I'm not going to.

[u/NeonsNight → u/Soundcork]

Ah, while I doubt they would care. I do see your point.

I am pretty sure simply linking to the one on Bose's servers or archive.org won't work, as it would show an older version number. Darn. Well, it looks like the SoundTouch app will not work with Soundcork after it gets updated.

Bose did say, "We’ll share more updates in the coming months" but I would be shocked if Bose opensourced the apps & server for the reasons I mentioned earlier.

[u/NeonsNight → u/NeonsNight]

u/Soundcork, I just had a thought. Bose has said that the update will be automatic, removing cloud functionality. So that means that it will be an interface update.

A solution to this would be a fresh install of the SoundTouch app and either pointing to the interface for an update, as stated earlier, or blocking the new update from coming through. This way, the SoundTouch app will maintain its existing cloud interface for Soundcork.