A method of reconfiguring a playback system, the playback system comprising: a first playback device; a second playback device, wherein the second playback device and at least one additional playback device are in a zone group and are playing back a media item in synchrony; the method comprising: periodically updating, by the first playback device, a locally stored state variable that indicates a playback state of the second playback device; detecting movement of the first playback device; detecting that the first playback device is within a given proximity of the second playback device; after detecting movement of the first playback device, detecting a placement of the first playback device by detecting cessation of movement of the first playback device; in response to: (i) detecting that the first playback device is within the given proximity to the second playback device and (ii) detecting the placement of the first playback device, retrieving, by the first playback device, the locally stored state variable associated with the second playback device; determining, based on the retrieved locally stored state variable, that the second playback device is playing back the media item as part of the zone group; and based on the determination, reconfiguring the playback system by causing the first playback device to: join the zone group with the second playback device and the at least one additional playback device; and play the media item in synchrony with the second playback device and the at least one additional playback device of the zone group. a first playback device; a second playback device, wherein the second playback device and at least one additional playback device are in a zone group and are playing back a media item in synchrony; periodically updating, by the first playback device, a locally stored state variable that indicates a playback state of the second playback device; detecting movement of the first playback device; detecting that the first playback device is within a given proximity of the second playback device; after detecting movement of the first playback device, detecting a placement of the first playback device by detecting cessation of movement of the first playback device; in response to: (i) detecting that the first playback device is within the given proximity to the second playback device and (ii) detecting the placement of the first playback device, retrieving, by the first playback device, the locally stored state variable associated with the second playback device; determining, based on the retrieved locally stored state variable, that the second playback device is playing back the media item as part of the zone group; and based on the determination, reconfiguring the playback system by causing the first playback device to: join the zone group with the second playback device and the at least one additional playback device; and play the media item in synchrony with the second playback device and the at least one additional playback device of the zone group. join the zone group with the second playback device and the at least one additional playback device; and play the media item in synchrony with the second playback device and the at least one additional playback device of the zone group.