Catalina bluetooth issues - audio output switches intermittently

Catalina 10.15.3 - same old story. Initially works with bluetooth speaker about an hour, then interrupts. The connection is kept, but sound doesn't go to speaker (Bose Soundlink Mini II) and sound output menu doesn't allow to switch it back from laptop.

Can confirm that the 10.15.2 update did NOT fix the problem on my MacBook Pro 2017. I use Bose QuietComfort 35, magic mouse and magic keyboard. The headset has the problem way more frequently, atleast 3-6 times a day. The way apple are handling this is UNACCEPTABLE.

Today installed the latest patch 10.15.3 and still the issue is there. Moreover for the time the Bluetooth headset is connected i keep getting a static noise every few minutes which is even more irritating.

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.

Not without disconnecting the bluetooth, reconnecting and having to do it again every 5~20 minutes, if I'm lucky it may stay connected for as long as an hour. Bluetooth still appears as connected but output switches to internal speakers and can't be switched back. Headset controls don't work either even though both devices seem to think they are connected.

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?

At first the upgrade to 10.15.3 fixed the issue for me. There were no sound/mouse disconnections for a couple of days. Later, while moving laptop between home and office and connecting it to different headsets/mice all the troubles came back and lead to unusable state. For example, this morning while trying to listen to music with Sony WH-1000XM3, the sound disappeared 5 times in a row after ~1 minute of playing. Had to reconnect the headset with on/off button again and again. Each time when dropped the headset was shown by Mac OS as connected and functional.

Nice work Apple! Lot of people with hardware for hundreds and thousands bucks are enjoying your software maturity.

Yes I meet the requirements with 4GB RAM, and I have 50 GB Available SSD Space. I'll have to check for those error messages later. I just did a full reinstall from macOS recovery by wiping the partition and installing Catalina around a week ago.

This should be listed as a known issue. I have tried 3 different bluetooth headphones on 2 brand new Macbook pro 16 inchers running the latest Catalina version 10.15.3 as well as a mid 2015 macbook pro 15 inch running the same OS all with problems of dropping connecting, no mic, no speaker etc. I thought this was my laptop so I took it in and they reinstalled the OS - same issue. It is now in the shop for the second time. My boss has similar issues using a bose headset on a brand new macbook air. Mysteriously - airpods seem to work fine. Is this a software bug or a ploy to get people to use apple equipment only? Either way it sucks and the fact that mac customer service agents won't even acknowledge there is a known issue is super annoying. There are dozens of threads about this issue. Why won't somebody at least admit there is a problem.

I don’t know. Have you read this post?. It depends on what there is to admit. There are many types of bluetooth disconnection issues. If anyone could figure out them all. Then, one can systemize the issues.

https://microsoftteams.uservoice.com/forums/555103-public/suggestions/31871593-bose-bluetooth-headphones-keeps-dropping-during-me

I understand it’s annoying.

Hey,

I have the same problem with Creative iRoar GO bluetooth speaker. It doesn't work correctly via bluetooth (it works via USB). I tried to delete files meant above and create aggregate device in MIDI configurator, but the sound was muffled, I think it was just from the subwoofer.

Looking forward to un-bug this problem.

Today has been the worst day in a very long time, so far, after 5 hours of work, the headphones have changed sound source 5 times (6 times now, they just stopped working while i was writing this), the magic mouse have dropped it's bluetooth connection 2 times and the magic keyboard 1 time. It is so extremely annoying. Im on 10.15.3.

Unbelievable that this is still broken.

Apple needs to fix this as ASAP as possible.

The 300$ Sony headphones I buyed to use for work are completely useless with this bug.

This is obviously a software issue that started popping up with Catalina. I don't see a reason why this couldn't be fixed.

This lack of reactivity from Apple on such a serious issue is absolutely UNACCEPTABLE!!

We use headphones for profesionnal TCs, to call our family, to watch movies..My Mac loses 50% of its value if I cannot stably connect my headphones!!

I have tried different Bose headphones and speakers, all connected via Bluetooth. The connection goes and come randomly! When I did the reset process it worked for a few hours and then the problem reoccured.

Ignoring this issue is a very low shot from Apple. I am super disappointed!