Bluetooth audio problems Catalina

I called the French Apple Care 4 times and each time they proposed a useless solution:

• "back-up your Mac Sir and make tests while adding one application at a time" (as if they really think we'll do their debugging job??!)
• "Your problem is Hardware related, we invite you to visit your apple store"
• "Please note down the exact times when the bug happens and we'll pull up your bug reports and forward them to our engineers" (for which they didn't even call back, and I've been waiting for 2 weeks now...)

This bug haven't been addressed in anyway whatsoever in 10.15.2

It's just DISGUSTING!

At first, I really though you was kidding.

I strongly invite you to read how hard we tried to find a viable solution to end this matter.

I’m happy your bug appeared related to one app. Well for us, it’s not the same.

FYI: I tried quitting all apps but iTunes to eliminate a similar reason.

So no need to burst in and suggest that complex (restart your device) solution.

I literally work all day long on my mac and need to use my headphones. And this kind of bug is just unacceptable.

I have also tried to delete all bluetooth related files and the one you mentioned. I had one from 2012.

I haven’t fixed this issue. I just have to work around the problem.

I believe the problem is also related to the «stronger» 2,4 Ghz connection that Music has in Catalina in some way compared to iTunes in Mojave. I don’t know exactly, but I experience more stability. The problem can also be wireless related, not necessiraly the wireless connection, but instability and disturbances. I experience much less disturbances from other sources (such as a smart phone). Then, perhaps, it cuts out when there is no connection at all. You cannot know when this occurs. You can check the variability on the wireless through an app. I wonder if 5G can solve the problem in the long run.

Can't speak for everyone but I didn't paid extra for WIRELESS connectivity to fall back to wires and pretend for months now that it's OK. Also in my job reboots are not an option: I have several network connections that need to be up as close to 24/7 as possible AND I need to be able to communicate 24/7. A "workaround" that impacts my productivity and availability is not really a workaround. Catalina and it's BT issues make macOS feel like 1999 linux 2.2.* on a very expensive hardware. I switched to mac precisely to enjoy stable desktop environment that I can trust. And for years Apple delivered, until now which is very disappointing.

Same problems here with my Sony WH-CH500. Listening to audio is working but using it with Microsoft Teams or Gotomeeting ist not working because the headphones disconnects by switching to them as an input device.

I can reproduce this behavior if i go to AudioSettings -> Input and switch devices. Headphone gets disconnected!

Apple: "With great power comes great capability"...

And no Bluetooth audio? And no solution yet?

Apple engineering can't make its users to stream BT audio. A super basic nowadays.

I'm sorry for you Apple, truly.

Thanks for sharing the info @appleadventure,

How's it going with 10.15.3, did you get the issue ever-since?

IDK if you have any info about that but do you know when should we expect that update? (as non-beta)

Thanks

Thank you for sharing your finding but it's hard to believe that it's the root cause. If lack of memory affect BT audio would mean that you system is at the point of the ********* performance ever. This is a bug not related to performance. And is a really sad one since BT audio is got **** a basic end user feature these days. And believe me, not a complex one technically, unless Apple doesn't has the knowledge?

It seems to happen for me when I’m editing phones or video. Which is you know... The only thing I do on my iMac!

Ive been tweeting them every week for two months and no response.

This is absolute ********.

I'm starting to get used to this bug, which annoys me at least a dozen times a day...

The next OS update won't fix it, which means it'll be at least a couple of months until there is a fix.

What can we do to let apple know?

How come only a few users are affected (even after a clean install)?

It is ridiculous that this bug hasn't been addressed or fixed it.

Luckily I was able to dig up an old wired headset/mic so I can continue using my Mac for Google Meet and GTM. Not ideal, but I've basically have accepted that using Bluetooth is no longer an option.

Upgrading to Mojave was a huge mistake...

You should seriously consider this on your next upgrade :). You paid $$$$ to get this ".. status quo.." of MacBook not supporting BT audio. Or even worse, Apple not being accountable with their customers by doing nothing.

I haven’t experienced any bluetooth audio problems with Catalina in four weeks. Haven’t updated or changed anything in over a month. I haven’t done anything that worked. It’s tampering with my mind. Is there a bug? Will it return tomorrow already? I am not joking, although it’s tempting. It dropped out as often as two times a minute.

Hi guys. Did this discussion space ever had any attention or feedback from an Apple representative?

We are basically alone here. There's no point of keeping sharing our frustrating customer experience here.

The only thing I realized watching this discussion is that I would be s.tupid as s.hit if I go with Apple on my next buy.

While I agree with your basic sentiment, the point of sharing our frustrating experience is to generate as much traffic/views/replies/attention to this issue as possible. Unless you are content with this bug being permanent, we have to ring the bell until Apple wakes the f*** up.

I'm a little concerned about the randomness of this issue. It happens on all kinds of models (Air,Mid2012 in my case) with all kinds of headphones/speakers; even on fresh installs. But still only a few people seem to have problems. Maybe too few for Apple to care...