iPad Roon App: No option to change server or enter server IP address? [Ticket In]

[otinkyad]

What’s happening?

· Something else

How can we help?

· None of the above

Other options

· Other

Describe the issue

At work, I have often had trouble connecting my iPad Roon Remote app to the Roon server (which runs on my Mac: (2020 M1 Mac Mini, Sonoma 14.6.1, Roon Server 2.0 build 1462).

Until recently I have been able to solve this by (on the iPad app) either changing the Roon server, and/or entering the IP address of the Mac.

Since the most recent update to the iPad app, I am unable to find any option (in the iPad app) to enter an IP address or to change server. Am I missing something?

Describe your network setup

Not relevant, thanks, this is about a missing option in the iPad Roon app.

Note: It was suggested in the following thread that this may be a bug in the iPad app:

iPad Roon App: No option to change server or enter server IP address?

At work, I have often had trouble connecting my iPad Roon Remote app to the Roon server (which runs on my Mac: (2020 M1 Mac Mini, Sonoma 14.6.1, Roon Server 2.0 build 1462). Until recently I have been able to solve this by (on the iPad app) either changing the Roon server, and/or entering the IP address of the Mac. Since the most recent update to the iPad app, I am unable to find any option (in the iPad app) to enter an IP address or to change server. Am I missing something? Any information …

[benjamin]

Hey @otinkyad,

Thanks for writing in! I just pulled up my iPad and don’t see the issue you’ve posted about. Could you please share a screenshot to better describe what you’re missing?

Also on a side note, it looks like your ROCK is running on a severely outdated version of Roon (you’re on build 1311 while current production is 1462.) Your Mac could use an update as well - let me know if this helps!

[otinkyad]

Hello @benjamin –

Thanks for looking into this!

A couple of clarifications.

First, the very old Roon installs you are seeing are from machines that I no longer use (eg a NUC running ROCK). And all the Macs that I currently use have either the latest Roon or were one update behind.

Second, I think that the issue with the iPad would not show up when viewing the iPad app, if it is finding a server to connect to. It is only when the iPad app cannot find a server to connect to that the issue I’m asking about arises. The issue is that there is no “Help” link that allows entry of an IP address. And actually, now that I’ve tested it some more, this is an issue with the iOS app also.

This is a problem for me because in my work environment, I have often had trouble connecting my iPad Roon Remote app to the Roon server (which runs on my work Mac: 2020 M1 Mac Mini, Sonoma 14.6.1, Roon Server 2.0 build 1462 – note, this is the latest Roon build, as indicated in my OP).

I know that this is because of network issues: The Mac is on wired ethernet, the iPad is on enterprise wifi. BUT until recently I have been able to solve this by (on the iPad app) entering the IP address of the Mac.

Since the most recent update to the iPad app, I am unable to find any option (in the iPad app) to enter an IP address.

*** This option still exists on the Mac app ***

I’ve tested this as follows. Note that this is at home, but it illustrates the issue.

• Machine running Roon server, at home: M2 Mac Mini, OS Ventura 13.6. Roon server v 2.0 build 1462.

• Machine running Roon remote, at home: M2 Mac Studio, MacOS Ventura 13.6.7. Roon Remote v 2.0 build 1462.

• If Roon Remote on Mac Studio can find the server (which it normally can), the connection works fine.

• If Roon Remote on Mac Studio cannot find the server, then:

• a “Help” link appears, as follows:

• clicking this “Help” link leads to a dialog that enables entering the IP address of the server, as follows:

This “Help” link and subsequent IP address dialog **** used to appear on iPadOS and iOS. But now it does not****

What happens now on iPadOS and iOS, if Roon Remote on the tablet/phone has trouble finding the server is that the Remote app just hangs. No help link appears:

App hanging, on IpadOS (latest version of app):

App hanging, on iOS (latest version of app):

Can the iPadOS and iOS apps please be updated to bring back the “Help” link which then allows entry of the IP address? Having those links has helped me innumerable times.

Thanks in advance!

[daniel]

Hi @otinkyad,

@otinkyad

I know that this is because of network issues: The Mac is on wired ethernet, the iPad is on enterprise wifi.

@otinkyad

If Roon Remote on Mac Studio can find the server (which it normally can), the connection works fine.

If it usually works at home then it’s possible that your work network has some new policies breaking Roon’s ability to announce itself on the network.

@otinkyad

Can the iPadOS and iOS apps please be updated to bring back the “Help” link which then allows entry of the IP address?

We have a Feature Suggestions section where you can post this suggestion. Other users can vote on it there and if it gets enough support our product team will consider it.

[otinkyad]

Thanks for this, @daniel

One query here, please:

First, I am not exactly requesting a new feature. I am wondering why this feature been removed from IpadOS and iOS. It still does exist on MacOS. Any information would be helpful!

[Also, the relevant change does not appear to be anything on my work network. I was able to connect by entering IP address. I updated Roon. Immediately, I could not connect because I can’t enter the IP address. I know the network issue is a can of worms for Roon, so not asking for any ideas here, just pointing out that it was Roon that changed, not the network…]

Thanks for any information –

[noris]

Hey @otinkyad ,

Thanks for clarifying that this was removed for iOS but is still visible on MacOS. We’ll check with the team to see if we can find out more info.

[otinkyad]

OK, thank you @noris – much appreciate your replying and looking into this!

[benjamin]

Hey @otinkyad,

There aren’t any additional details needed at this time, and thanks again for your report, and thank you in advance for your patience as the ticket progresses through the development queue for review.

[otinkyad]

Hello @benjamin @noris @daniel –

Just wanted to add that I have verified the following, with respect to connecting to the Roon server running on Mac Mini at my work location:

• I am able to connect to that Roon Server from Roon Remote running on a Mac laptop that is connected to enterprise wifi.

• At the exact same time, I am unable to connect to that Roon Server from Roon Remote running on an iPad that is connected to the same enterprise wifi, and also unable to connect from Roon on an iPhone that is connected to the same enterprise wifi.

I mention this because it rules out the possibility suggested by @daniel that a change in the work network policies may be preventing Roon server from broadcasting. If that were the case, then Roon Remote on the laptop would not be able to connect to Roon server.

This in turn further indicates that the issue is the change that has occurred in the iPadOS and iOS versions of the Roon app.

Just wanted to pass along this information – thanks –

[connor]

Hi @otinkyad,

There’s a ticket in with development to fix this issue. Thank you again for the report. We’ll post here when the fix merges into the Early Access branch for testing.