Bluetooth audio stream drop

A reply to all who have this problem!

I've contacted Apple Support and the Support Specialist helped me very kindly. We've runned some diagnostic tests on my mac. These reports have been sent to the developement department. He strongly recommended me to inform you all and if you experiencing this problem as wel, contact Apple Support. The more data they receive sooner the problem will be fixed.

So please report your problem to Apple Support and refer to this thread! I've also created a thread which can be found here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250793838

NVRAM reset + bluetooth pref delete + blutooth debug + disconnecting/unpairing & every other trick here does NOT work. I repeat this is a bug in MacOS Catalina. None of the solutions in this thread will work. You can only downgrade to Mojave, and/or contact Apple who will takes months to fix this.

Also start using this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250793838?page=4 as it has over 300 people with the issue.

Same thing here! I have tried:

• resetting bluetooth module
• Un-pairing / re-pairing bluetooth devices
• checking for bluetooth interferences
• deleting plists
• reseting PRAM
• now i'm investigating if this is related to Boom2Device (equalizer app)

I lose my audio stream from my soundbar and Airpods

Do you guys have any Audio equilizer app installed? (e.g. eqmac, Boom2 or Boom3D)

Hi again guys.

As a programmer, I'm trying to find the cause to that issue by eliminating ANY possible cause.

This helps us find and most importantly, reproduce that bug for faster solution.

If any of you tried the following solutions without success, can you let me know? :

• Does anyone have an Audio EQ app installed or previously installed? e.g. Boom, Boom2, Boom 3D, eqmac3

(by that I mean the virtual sound device that gets installed along those apps.)

• Did anyone try to turn off "hands-off" from his iPhone?

I know that might appear out of subject but a such services usually stream over bluetooth quite frequently.

which can be a source of interference... (for the record, I'm trying my BT soundbar with "hands-off"

turned off and will let you know guys if it's related in anyway.

However, if any of you guys have tried the steps above, please let me know.

PS: I've been having this issue since Mojave.

I am also experiencing this issue. After upgrading to Catalina, non audio bluetooth devices are connecting just fine (magic mouse, trackpad) but the audio devices are not:

• Jabra Move headphones
• JBL Charge 3 speaker

Before installing Catalina OS, bluetooth worked fine with any device. It seems that only the audio output is being affected.

I've deleted the bluetooth file from Library/Preferences, rebooted, shut down, toggled bluetooth on and off nothing works. The problem keeps coming back making it impossible to use my audio peripherals..

Exact same issue. Reset bluetooth module, unpaired and repaired the speakers (Klipsch PM2.1 BT). Bluetooth will show it connected and the sound control panel shows it as an available source but once it automatically switches to Internal speakers it will not change back.

Mac Pro (Late 2103)

same exact problem here after catalina update. tested with multiple devices. if i try to switch back to bluetooth via the Music app while streaming Apple Music, i get an error telling me the bluetooth device is already in use... following

Interesting, I've done a fair amount of searching for similar problems, but this is the first time I've come across someone who has the same equipment with the same problem (Sony wf-1000xm). I usually have to reboot to get the problem clear but that only works until the first time I pause music playback and lock it; if it goes to sleep it happens again. The only difference is I'm running on a 2018 MBP.

I updated to 10.15.1 last night and tested with my Bluetooth headset this morning - I was able to put it to sleep, walk away for an hour then come back and resume listening again!

I'm interested to know if this update fixes it for everyone else!

Also have been experiencing this issue after Catalina upgrade.

I've spoken to Support twice about this issue. I have done PRAM reset, didn't fix. However when booting in Safe Mode it appears that my sound output stays on Bluetooth. Support indicated that there may a third party software that is interfering with the sound output, since the problem only happens after I do a normal login with my user ID.

Have my Mac Pro in shop for something completely unrelated (I would think) so I couldn’t get back with them yet about audio/bluetooth issue. However, I do have a question. Are any of you (other than me) using Parallels or another application that would use it’s own audio drivers?

I noticed that the time when this happens most is when I’m using Parallel’s AND iTunes. Doesn’t do it when using say, Podcast.

When I get my computer back I’ll be able to follow up with Apple.

Just food for thought.

I tried that and still had the issue. I was grasping at straws on the the Parallels. I just happened to notice that when running parallels but only when running the Music app. Seemed to stop when Parallels was not open. Thanks for letting me know though. I was hoping I wasn't crazy but thanks to you... LOL

Might have found a solution that works for me. Can you check if you have a process running with activity monitor called helperamc or helperhamc? I removed this with https://www.etrecheck.com/ and no audio problems since...

I have never installed an audio program or virtual audio cable/device.

As for hands free, I only used my MB Air to play music via bluetooth because my iPhone was completely broken (powered off and not usable), so hands free is likely not the issue.

I understand your frustration asoidjasoij,

The thing is that we are all facing the same issue here :(

What I'm saying is that I had this issue on the Mojave OS as well and I was waiting Catalina to solve that bloody problem.

Lucky you it worked with a downgrade :(

I've been having this issue for 3 months now and tbh, it's driving me crazy!

reedit: and thanks for the link, I've posted there too...