Bluetooth Stuttering Issues | iPhone 11 Pro Max | iOS 13

I replaced my iPhone 11 three times, and the problem was not fixed. This was after all of the various setting and software restore processes. On each of the 3 phones, the Bluetooth test passed. The test does not appear to be checking for "stuttering" types of audio problems that show up most in music streams. I also had at least 5 phone calls with Apple support and sent logs of the Bluetooth with time stamps of when the problem occured on two of the replacement phones. The last two iOS 13 software updates have changed the symptoms somewhat (slight improvement), but have not fixed the problem. I have asked for an update for more than 3 weeks now from the Apple support people that had worked with me, but have received no replies. Unfortunately this may be a hardware problem with the Bluetooth radio inside the phone, and that would almost surely require replacement of all phones.

I am now on the new phone that they sent me and so far I haven’t been able to replicate the stuttering. But I didn’t restore all

of my information from before this all happened and honestly I’m kinda scared to try it since I think apple care coverage only allows one replacement? Given that this issue has been capable to follow new devices, I’m almost wondering if there’s a compatibility issue in the latest update that didn’t keep the syncing fluid with old iCloud data and it effects the Bluetooth connection this way potentially. I just really hope this doesn’t arise in my phone again but it is only day 1 with the new phone.

Hi guys, recently i had serious issues with Bluetooth phone calls in Iphone 11 and Audi mmi (Audi a6 2012). I have the same issue with Volkswagen carplay rcd/rns

I searched for a fix like reset network settings, forget Bluetooth device and connect again. Nothing worked.

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I can honestly tell you that getting a new iPhone isn’t necessarily going to be the solution for this 100% of the time. We have two of the same iPhones 11 pro and we are experiencing the exact same issues. This is in my opinion not a hardware issue. I have said this before. It is a software issue and is in direct relation to notifications. we originally thought this was a Bluetooth headset issue. But then we tested at least 10 different headsets on both phones and continue to have the problems. We ended up stopping use of our Bluetooth headsets and we realized the problems still exist even without the headsets. Anytime we are using our phones even without Bluetooth and notifications come through the notifications make the calls Garbled for at least a minute after the notification comes through. If you get multiple notifications it’s an ongoing disturbance in you almost have To restart the call. This happens on regular calls, FaceTime calls, and zoom and other video conferences. There’s a direct correlation to notifications. And in fact, on my MacBook Pro, When notifications come in there is a noticeable glitch with mouse you/cursor as well as typing. It causes a temporary delay in response of Ness. My personal opinion after testing multiple devices including our iPads is that this is a notification problem. At some point, we are hoping that enough people will post that Apple will look into this issue and correct it.

I really hope more people post to this discussion thread to look into it deeper because I’m seeing a lot of different theories on how it’s effected. Like one person in the thread above posted a video of their issue and the audio was more of a garble rather than a stutter from what I heard. Some people fixed their problem with turning off notifications, turning off hey Siri, unpairing iwatches. Some others the problem followed them no matter how many new iPhone devices they got. I myself got a new iPhone and the problem went away but it’s only been day 3 and I don’t have nearly the same amount of apps that I originally had. I’m almost wondering if it’s a combo of hardware and software. Potentially any cross or near wiring of the Bluetooth chip after causes stress on the Bluetooth or connection and makes the audio garbled. Also with wireless charging the phone does get a little more warmth than it otherwise does in wired charging. Maybe the constant heat may have affect on Bluetooth chips or connections? Also potentially a combo of corrupted cloud accounts, for those whose issues followed them with all iPhone devices, which is a bug that happens in all devices even outside of apple. I heard somewhere that apple is discontinuing it’s contract with the Bluetooth chip supplier they currently have and are going for someone else. Hopefully we could see a difference in performance after the current models and after a few updates as well to accommodate the new Bluetooth chips?

I don’t recall us having this problem when we first got the phones. So I often wonder if it was a software update somewhere along the way that started the issue. I can’t tell you exactly when it started for us.

Adding my own experience into the thread as I've had the same issues on my iPhone 11. Bluetooth "stuttering" or being garbled on my AirPods, Audi MMI system, Sony XM3 headphones, etc. Doesn't matter the device. Now with working at home, I've been told that the audio is garbled on my microphone while on the AirPods as well, so I've had to run meetings with speakerphone instead of using any Bluetooth connected devices. I haven't had any issues with the iPhone mic or speaker at all, just Bluetooth devices. When it first started last Fall right after I got my iPhone 11, it was much more infrequent and I thought it had something to do with someone else's Bluetooh device "interfering" with mine's signal. I mostly only used my AirPods & headphones in the office where I was in close quarters with a lot of other Bluetooth signals. Then it started in my car and began happening more & more as I used my Bluetooth devices more this Spring.

I put a ticket in with Apple earlier this Spring after I started working from home more and the stuttering made my Bluetooth devices nearly unusable. They tried to have me update to the latest iOS (I already was) and went through their typical protocol until they ultimately just sent me a replacement via AppleCare+. The problem seemed to be fixed on the new iPhone 11 at first then started to (seemingly) gradually get worse.

I have posited that it has something to do with notifications or something with Background App Refresh, as others in this chain have noted. It has seemed to be tied to when I receive notifications but has also happened when no visible notification comes in. However, since I have so many notifications turned off, I have wondered if it's actually tied to an app refreshing in the background.

I've also rarely had the issue when using my XM3's on flights. I just had a couple several hour flights and the issue maybe happened once or twice if that. Of course, while I'm flying my Wi-Fi is on but my Cellular is turned off. Could that have something to do with it?

Either way, it's super frustrating. I've thought about selling the iPhone 11 and going back to an older phone, or going with the SE to see if that fixes it. Kudos to those of you who have reset their devices to Factory Settings, I haven't been that desperate...yet!

Just want to throw in with all this that I have horrible stuttering issues. I can connect the same headphones to any other device than my iPhone 11 Pro and have flawless playback. When I connect to the iPhone 11 Pro I cannot even stand to listen to music it is so bad. This problem started around 2-3 weeks ago and I feel it has progressively gotten worse.

I have:

reset network settings

removed and re-added Bluetooth devices

done a hard reset of the phone

I even updated to the beta iOS version (13.6)

Sometimes turning Bluetooth off and on again helps for maybe 15 minutes and then it is bad again. I’m going to try and get in touch with Apple support tomorrow. I don’t want to have to try the restore to factory settings, especially since people don’t find that that helps.

if anyone has come up with something, please post it so we can try the fix.

I have had stuttering issues since I got the 11 Pro last Sept, EVERY time I’m on the phone using Bluetooth ear buds. And I don’t talk on the phone without them. Plantronics, AirPod Pro, whatever the BT, it doesn’t matter. It is the most frustrating ever and so rude to people on the other end of my calls. My XS worked perfectly, and am so disappointed I upgraded. Apple has been no help, and the people at the store are abrupt, if not rude. The countless hours that everyone on this thread have wasted trying to fix an unfixable issue, and the rest of the world with the same problem is beyond ridiculous. Since Apple won’t listen or acknowledge the known issue, what’s next? Class Action Lawsuit? I’m ready to throw mine in the trash. So frustrating.

Update:

I have noticed that this problem really only occurs at my house. I have fully reset the phone with no success. I currently only have my Powerbeats Pros, Garmin watch, and Garmin bike computer paired with my phone. When I am away from my house, the Powerbeats Pro play just fine. When I am home, the iPhone stutters and skips when playing any music, media, and on phone calls. I can play from my iPad or any of my Windows computers or my Garmin watch perfectly. It is like the iPhone is experiencing interference that no other device is experiencing. This issue is new from about 13.5.1. I am wondering if the iPhone could, in some fashion, be trying to connect to other Bluetooth devices even though it is not paired with them. I did a scan of the local area for both WiFi and Bluetooth and both are quite busy. I played with my local WiFi setttings - changing the 2.4ghz channel, reducing 2.4ghz power, disabling/re-enabling 20/40mhz coexistence, etc.

This problem occurs whether I am playing downloaded or streaming content. The problem occurs regardless of my location in my home (3,100sq ft).

I have turned off all Bluetooth access in the privacy settings and that did not help the problem.

I have turned off WiFi and cellular data and neither helps the issue.

Given that every device besides the iPhone works perfectly over the same Bluetooth headsets and that the iPhone works perfectly away from my house, I really believe that this is a software/firmware issue with how the iPhone is handling Bluetooth traffic while in a busy environment.

Does anyone have any thoughts on fixes or are we beholden to Apple fixing this?

I have tried upgrading to 13.6 Beta 3 and that did not help either. From what I can tell, Bluetooth modem firmware remains 1.06.00 in 13.6 Beta 3, which is the same that was at 13.5.1.

Sadly, I think we are beholden to Apple to fix it. Replacing phones doesn’t work resetting to factory settings doesn’t work multiple devices don’t work. And there is definitely an issue with Bluetooth and also the stuttering happens when notifications come in when you’re on Bluetooth and otherwise. I think it’s a broader issue but I definitely think it’s a Sadly, I think we are beholden to Apple to fix it. Replacing phones doesn’t work resetting to factory settings doesn’t work multiple devices don’t work. And there is definitely an issue with Bluetooth and also the stuttering happens when notifications come in when you’re on Bluetooth and otherwise. I think it’s a broader issue and definitely a big glitch that needs an update. Just my opinion. We’ve been fighting with it for months. Makes it difficult to work and being that we are all working virtually, it’s a big problem! We need to continue to post to convince apple it’s on their side.

I am tired of companies not owning up to this stuff. Similar thing happened with my Garmin watch when I first got it. It would not hold connections to Bluetooth and ANT+ devices at the same time. Garmin even said it was just my watch and replaced it. Took a month to get a new one and by that time I saw forum posts saying, "Yup, firmware problem and they fixed it."

I wish Apple, who I spent quite a bit of time trying to get this issue resolved with, would simply say, "This is a known issue and our engineering team is working on it. X% of iPhone 11 users are experiencing this and it is a high priority for us." Instead they say, "Do all these steps that take forever and wastes your time."

I'm half-inclined to sign up for the Apple Developer Program and get iOS 14 Beta, but I have seen numerous reports of major bugs in the OS and I have no clue with the Beta comes with a firmware update for the Bluetooth chip. I also don't know if this is an OS issue or a firmware issue, so who knows where the solution lies? I did not realize how much I relied on my phone working properly with Bluetooth until this happened. Music - cannot listen to it, need to use a different device. Audiobooks - ain't going to happen. Phone calls - FML. Meditation app? Oh, it will test my patience or I have to play it over the speakers or hardwired headphones. No headphone jack - wasn't a problem until this happened, I have no clue where the lightning dongle is to adapt for a regular pair of headphones.

lefty175: Let us know if you have any success after updating to iOS14 Beta.

I agree that it seems that users like us have tried all we can with no success so it has to be on Apple to fix this. It's incredibly frustrating that they are so silent on what seems to be a growing and widespread issue.

Personally, I'm thinking about selling my iPhone 11 and moving back to the XS until this is all resolved. During the day when I am getting a lot of notifications/background app refreshes, it makes using my AirPods almost impossible to use.

Has anyone else successfully went back to an older iPhone model from the 11/11 Pro and had any success mitigating the Bluetooth stuttering?

i use my BT audio in sports mostly like my speaker for basketball, jogging and biking. When your in the zone and the stutter happens it sucks finding rhythm again. I haven't used much on the phone cuz of all the horror stories I've heard but in the BT department makes me feel as though i have an inferior product instead a top of the line. really hoping to beta updates firmware to fix these ongoing bugs.

Let me just start by saying this problem has plagued me for literal YEARS. I get the newest iPhone every year and eventually after a number of months this issue crops up and I find myself back on these forums participating in the latest threads on the same issue. I’ve had several phones replaced, bought new phones, you name it but this issue has followed me through 2 different homes in different cities. My wife’s phone and my iPad are unaffected.

What you are saying about it only happening at home is the key here because it is the exact same thing for me and it always has been. I’ve had a new iPhone 11 Pro Max since launch and only this week after like 8 or 9 months this issue has cropped up again and it won’t go away. It’s affecting Bluetooth on my AirPods, my SUV, Bluetooth speakers..everything. If I leave the driveway of my house the connection in my car will be fine but as soon as I drive back into the driveway the music will skip like a broken CD and eventually disconnect from the Bluetooth. I’ve put the phone on airplane mode and only keep Bluetooth enabled and it still happens so it’s isolated to the Bluetooth. I have so many different smart devices in my home using 2.4GHZ that it’s difficult trying to think what the issue is but the only thing I can think of at this point are Amazon echo speakers as most of the devices I bought after this issue first cropped up a few years ago.

I recently connected my phone to one of my echos in my house so I could use it as a Bluetooth speaker for the first time with this particular phone and I just tried to remove it from the device (an echo show) and it was hung and wouldn’t remove so I did a factory reset on the echo. I also noticed on my Alexa app on my phone my other echos had saved Bluetooth devices, phones that I used to own. Even if you forget the device on your phone, your device remains saved on the echo speakers so I wonder if the device is trying to keep connecting to your phone any time it’s in range. This is the only thing I can think of at this point and I hope it’s right. If it’s not the echos it’s definitely a device in my house that is causing this issue like it’s fighting for the connection while you are already to connected to a device but you don’t have the culprit device saved in your Bluetooth anymore but it’s a device that you were once connected to.