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Bose SoundTouch 20 smart speaker.
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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Bose SoundTouch devices will soon reach their end of life.
- Once that happens, the devices will no longer be updated.
- There are options that could keep your device functioning.
Bose SoundTouch was first launched in 2013, with prices ranging from $399-$1,500. During the initial launch, it was announced that support for the devices would last for 13 years.
That time has come.
Bose SoundTouch announced in October 2025 (via an email) that all SoundTouch speakers would become "dumb" speakers on Feb. 18, 2026. Once that date hits, the speakers will stop receiving updates (including those for security), and the only way they will work will be via HDMI, Aux, or Bluetooth connections.
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That didn't sit well with long-term customers, as was on display in this Reddit thread in r/audio.
Of course, this has become common with consumer technology, where companies only support devices for a set period of time, and once that period is over, the device either no longer works or does so with reduced functionality.
There's a solution for that, and Bose decided it was the right way to go: Open source.
The company has made the SoundTouch API open-source. This gives developers the opportunity to create their own tools and applications and even add new features. There are three caveats to this:
- How long will it take for an open-source developer (or team of developers) to pick it up and run with it?
- Bose open-sourced the API by way of the PDF linked above. I have yet to find a repository that actually houses the source code.
- There's a fairly lengthy Terms of Use to be read at the end of the document.
What can you do now?
Hopefully, we'll see some open-source SoundTouch apps appear soon. Until then, what do you do with those SoundTouch speakers when they reach EOL?
First of all, as mentioned by Bose in the email to SoundTouch customers, you will still be able to play music from services like AirPlay and Spotify Connect, and devices that support AirPlay 2 will also continue functioning.
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As well, a stripped-down version of the SoundTouch app will also continue. That stripped down app will still be able to:
- Set up and configuring your system
- Serve as a remote for Play, Pause, Skip, and Volume.
- Group multiple speakers together
For those who own a streaming amp, like the WiiM Amp Ultra, you can connect the speaker to that device and continue enjoying an enhanced experience (via improved audio codecs and more features).
If you don't own such an amp, your best bet for now is to connect your speaker to whatever Bluetooth-compatible device you have. For some SoundTouch speakers, that means using the app to put the device into pairing mode. For other SoundTouch speakers (such as the Series III), there's a physical Bluetooth button you can use to place the device into pairing mode.
Of course, the other option would be to switch to a completely different product line, such as those from Yamaha, Sonos, Apple, or Amazon. Even then, you never know when a product's EOL will arrive, and you find yourself in the same situation.
Another word of advice: find and keep your SoundTouch remote. Even though the app will work with basic functionality, the physical remote will be good to have, on the off-chance Bose decides to kill the app completely. If you've lost your remote, consider purchasing a new one asap. If you hop over to Amazon, you'll find plenty of remotes for different SoundTouch devices, such as this one for the SoundTouch CineMate 520, 220, 130, and 120.
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Ultimately, however, the long-term solution will depend on someone picking up the open-sourced SoundTouch API and creating something that will satisfy the consumers who've invested their money into the Bose system.
From my point of view, whenever a product reaches the end of its life (which they all eventually do), the company producing the product should open-source what it can to prevent the product from being discarded and ending up in landfills. Sure, those companies might not want to hand over the secret sauce that made their products so special, but if you weigh that against more and more tech waste, the choice seems obvious.
Here's hoping more companies pick up on this and make it a trend.
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