Catalina bluetooth issues - audio output switches intermittently

After 10.15.4 it seems it fixed finally for me (MacBook Air 2013). I used speaker (Bose SoundLink Mini II) and headset (Harman/Kardon BT) for a day without interruptions and switches. Nonetheless it's not 100% smooth:

1. When I listen cue of very short (< 1 sec) sound files (phrases in Duolingo made of separate words), sound output chokes and cannot reproduce the whole phrase. There's no such issue via wired connection.
2. The signal seems weaker than before. Interference starts when I go to another room, there was not such issues with the same devices before.

Important: I checked the connection after each Catalina update and unpaired devices after each fail. So after update I pair them again.

Hi guys,

I was also facing a similar issue with my Sony WH-1000MX2. After updating to Catalina OS, I noticed sound quality was weird. After checking MIDI audio configuration, I realized output switched automatically to one channel only. I was not able to switch it back to 2 channels until in audio preferences I selected internal microphone as input device. Now, I am able to select 2 channels and sound quality is as expected.

This is of course, just a workaround. I hope Apple or Sony will provide a permanent solution

10.15.2 (19C57) fixed the issue for me.. my issue was specific to my AirPods Pro..

Ok. I just updated to 10.15.3 today morning and after a whole work day I had not just a single disconnect. For me this seems to be fixed. Fingers crossed it stays stable.

I used Time Machine and went back to previous OS version Mojave and it fixed the problem (it's been all good for about 4 weeks now). I will not be updating my OS until I know this issue is fixed.

Hello guys,

Yes... I have to admit that after upgrading to the patch after a sleep mode I had back the same issue. My sony Headphones WH1000XM3 continue to connect/disconnect.  The only way to connect again my headphones and to have these ones fully working for a while is to remove the file /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist, reboot and reset PRAM.

Best regards

My issue has not been fixed with the update either. I will try disabling the "put computer to sleep" setting under the Energy Saver icon in System Preferences. That worked last time, though you do have to reboot afterwards. I had high hopes for this latest release. Oh well . . . .

This issue (bluetooth audio dropouts) disappeared for me after upgrading to 10.15.3.

At least so far so good after playing 3-4 YouTube videos whereas before I couldn't even get through a single one.

I'm using Logitech headset 800.

Bluetooth was updated entirely in 10.15.3, and the upgrade should have solved the problem for many. I had tried to reinstall if... the kernel cut out bluetooth while still connected, probably due to memory saving/cached memory usage. This update should solve it and bluetooth.plist is gone. If not, you should delete it right after the update is installed. And then hold ctrl+space+r+p when you turn the mac on.

If there are other issues which aren’t common... I don’t know. You have to define the problem using Terminal or Console.

Do you have minimum with RAM for Catalina and a nearly full hard disk? Tried remove some GB (10 percent free space) and reinstall from Time Machine/external hard disk?

What are the error messages in Console when it happens?

I have Catalina 10.15.5 and now it is working. What is the difference? Siri in my Mac Pro is disabled, not sure if this is reason of issue, but after reinstalling everything and turning off Siri, I didn't have the issue any more with the exact same devices used before when issue was happening. Hope this help

if you just want to enable aptx, execute this command in a terminal window:

```

sudo defaults write bluetoothaudio "Enable AptX codec" -bool true

````

No need to download Xcode just to enable this settings.

Don't close the tab of the Audio options. I realised that later, that when I close the tab, the output drops within a min or so.

I had the same issue.

For me the fix was to delete the file /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist and then reboot.

Hope it helps anyone.

Hey, gmrandazzo -- You are right! I tested your theory by going to System Preferences> Energy Saver> and clicking on the Power

Adapter tab. Then I set the Computer sleep time to "never." I was then able to use my Bose Soundlink II wireless headphones for as long as I wanted, just as long as I kept my laptop plugged in. Of course, this isn't a solution for those who want to depend on battery life. But I do hope some Mac engineers or coders or whatever are paying attention to this conversation!

Thanks!