Roon Labs has rolled out two major software updates — Roon 2.56 and Roon ARC 1.70 — both aimed at making the world’s most audiophile-oriented music platform faster, more stable, and easier to use across every device. The updates bring better network reliability, lower power consumption, and improved integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it easier than ever to take your Roon experience anywhere.
A stronger, smarter foundation for audiophiles
For years, Roon has been the gold standard for serious music lovers — offering deep metadata, seamless multiroom playback, and powerful streaming control. With the new 2.56 release, Roon Labs doubles down on stability and performance, ensuring smoother network communication and stronger connections in even the most complex home setups.
Automatic port forwarding through UPnP and NAT-PMP has been fine-tuned to handle multi-router and firewall configurations with less manual setup. That means fewer dropouts, quicker discovery of playback zones, and a generally more “set it and forget it” experience for Roon Core users.
The Roon platform has long been considered the benchmark for demanding music library management in the high-end segment.
Fixes and refinements across the board
Version 2.56 also addresses several lingering bugs from earlier releases. Users on macOS 26 “Tahoe” should see improved stability and fewer app crashes, while audio zones disappearing after updates — a frustration for some — has now been resolved.
Navigation on Android has also been streamlined: the familiar “swipe back” gesture finally works as expected.
ARC gets leaner, faster, and road-ready
Alongside the desktop improvements, Roon ARC 1.70 brings a host of mobile-focused enhancements. CPU and battery drain have been reduced, making it far more efficient for long listening sessions on the go. Scrolling performance has been smoothed out, and a shuffle mode has been added for playback through CarPlay and Android Auto — a welcome feature for anyone who prefers spontaneous mixes over curated playlists.
A visual bug that occasionally caused album art to render incorrectly in the “Now Playing” widget has also been squashed.
The Roon ARC 1.70 update, released simultaneously, focuses on efficiency and usability. In addition to significantly reduced CPU and battery usage, scrolling behavior in browser views has been optimized.
Available now for all users
As always, Roon updates are free for existing subscribers. Systems on the Roon product channel will update automatically, while fresh installers are available from Roon’s official download page.
Mobile app updates for iOS and Android are rolling out via their respective app stores.
Roon 2.56 and ARC 1.70 might not reinvent the wheel, but they polish nearly every corner of the Roon experience — faster, leaner, and more reliable whether you’re streaming at home or controlling playback from your car dashboard. It’s a reminder that Roon’s attention to detail doesn’t just apply to music metadata — it applies to the entire listening experience.
