Level 1

53 points

Catalina bluetooth issues - audio output switches intermittently

After upgrading to Catalina, my Macbook Air has audio output issues when the Bluetooth is connected to Sony WH-1000MX2 headphones. Suddenly, the audio connection switches to the internal speakers and the output can't be changed. The immediate solution is to turn off/on the bluetooth on the Macbook and reconnect the headphones. But after a while the problem reoccurs.

I have tried to problem solve by the following processes:

Accessing the debug function (click the the bluetooth icon in the menu bar whilst pressing alt+shift). Remove bluetooth devices. Reset the Bluetooth module. Delete the bluetooth plist files in the library (/Library/Preferences + ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost ). Restart Macbook. Reconnect the device.
Reinstalling Mac OS Catalina

The actions mentioned above does not solve the problem.

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

MacBook Air

Posted on Oct 14, 2019 6:47 AM

Top-ranking reply

jaswin90

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Nov 25, 2019 3:14 AM

Since the apple engineers won't do anything about this issue anytime soon, I found this trick helped me. I went to https://developer.apple.com/download/more and searched for additional tools on the search bar, and downloaded the latest xcode 10.2. In the folder Hardware look for bluetooth explorer and open it, it opens in the background so you need to search for it. Then open the Tools/Audio options tab, and select "Force use of aptx" box. Then I found the bluetooth doesn't drop after couple of mins.

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156 replies

Vlad_Mac

Level 1

4 points

Nov 26, 2019 11:15 AM in response to d_fuser

Still the same for, did everything suggested, nothing worked. Maybe better to downgrade as bluetooth audio is 100% on for me... :(

amr732

Level 1

4 points

Dec 9, 2019 4:15 AM in response to AskAgain

Hi Everyone, the issue is still on, nothing changed here even with all ideas presented here...

Dec 11, 2019 11:29 PM in response to AskAgain

I having the exact same issue with audio technica S200BT, macos 10.15.2 (19C57). This problem didn't occurs in previous macos mojave.

d_fuser

Level 1

4 points

Dec 12, 2019 3:11 AM in response to garrisop

My issue has not been fixed with the 10.15.2 update either.

Dec 12, 2019 11:17 AM in response to d_fuser

Updated to 10.15.2. as well, still unsuccessful connecting my bluetooth headset.

APPLE TEAM PLEASE ADDRESS THIS AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION!!!!

Dec 16, 2019 11:37 PM in response to AskAgain

Hello,

Problem persists on 10.15.2

@Apple this issue should have higher priority as people use wireless audio devices at work/travel etc.

Best,

Jimmy

strim

Level 1

4 points

Dec 17, 2019 9:21 PM in response to jimmymajed

Same here,

Sony wh-1000xm3 + MacBook Pro 15" 2019, Catalina 10.15.2

Sound disappears while the headphones are shown as connected over bluetooth

Pretty shameful.

d_fuser

Level 1

4 points

Dec 20, 2019 9:56 AM in response to tim_prox

BT Dongle won't work either..

jesper24

Level 1

4 points

Jan 10, 2020 5:19 AM in response to AskAgain

I have the exact same issue but with my Bose QuietComfort 35. Any help with this would be much appreciated.

Jan 14, 2020 12:25 PM in response to AskAgain

Hello, I have this problem too.

And besides that the audio is also crashing, and I have to disconnect and connect the headset to work properly

I use a JBL t500bt headphone

Jan 16, 2020 6:28 AM in response to AskAgain

I am also facing the same issues on 10.15.2 where static is there on my bluetooth and it gets disconnected in a few minutes

jesper24

Level 1

4 points

Jan 21, 2020 12:46 AM in response to _xSter

@apple this needs to be fixes immediately! This is unacceptable, extremely annoying when at work. Give us some kind of statement.

Jan 22, 2020 3:53 AM in response to _xSter

I got another 2018s Macbook Pro. The config are the same, except the CPU.

This MacBook have the same issue even if my personal one don't have it.

Harbard

Level 1

4 points

Jan 27, 2020 5:00 AM in response to AskAgain

This bug hasn't been fixed in 3 months ... Why is Catalina so full of bugs ?

Jan 27, 2020 5:16 AM in response to balazskaman

Hi balazskaman, I did. And no, it sadly didn't solved the problem for me. I think we need to wait for another update.

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Catalina bluetooth issues - audio output switches intermittently