Bluetooth audio problems Catalina

The same thing happens to me. I'm using:

• MacBook Pro 2017 with TB 13", running on Catalina v10.15.1
• Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones
• Marshall Stanmore II
• Apple AirPods 1st gen

It happens very rarely on the airpods, but it still happens from time to time.

The same thing happened on Mojave but maybe once or twice a month. On Catalina it happens every few minutes which makes bluetooth audio completely unusable.

Bluetooth problems with Sony WH-CH500 bluetooth headset after Catalina update. I've taken all the actions outlined by the OP and no joy. I am using a 2018 MacBook Pro.

Exact scenario:

1. I turn on the headset
2. Bluetooth automatically connects (Macbook Pro and Headset)
3. 15 seconds later Bluetooth disconnects. If I try playing media in this 15 seconds it just waits and will them play through laptop speakers after the disconnection.
4. After this if I manually connect from the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar the connection works and doesn't disconnect after this.

So the problem appears to only occur when with the initial automatic connection. Everything is okay after the subsequent manual connection.

I contacted Apple Support 4 times, they were friendly at first to make me go through their troubleshooting.

But when unsuccessful:

• One of them said that my problem was a hardware problem
• Another said that I should backup the mac and start testing it by downloading one app at a time (which I obviously didn't do because my job isn't to debug for Apple!)
• Then they transferred me to a "Manager" and that's were things got... ...interesting
  • He said that if I get the bug in SAFE MODE, this issue is then system related.

So he asked me to write down the exact times when the bug happened so he can pull a report and forward it to their engineering department.

• • I mailed him twice ever-since and well... he didn't even bother to call back in 5 days!

I'm SICK of this.

I haven't been able to put on my headphones and work properly if I'm having people around because the sound stupidly switches to internal speakers and I have to disconnect/reconnect (twice a minute sometimes) to get it working again.

Having all these restrictions on Mac to insure a smooth experience is a big SCAM, I guess Windows isn't that bad after all.

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!

I have previously posted on this topic and while it appeared my issue was resolved, it came back but was able to finally resolve it. Plus, there's a lot of people who know waaayy more than me, so I'm not gonna try sound smart but will suggest mileage may vary.

My setup at the time:

MacBook Pro (15-inc, 2019)

macOS Catalina (10.15.1)

LMP Dock (connecting to 2 Dell UltraSharp 25 monitors)

Bose QCII 35 Bluetooth headphone

Logitech keyboard and mouse using the Unifying dongle, not Bluetooth

Followed these steps:

1. Made sure to update macOS Catalina
2. Identified firmware a firmware update for the Bose headphones and performed the update
3. Disconnected bluetooth and removed list of paired devices
4. Unplugged all devices (for me was the Dock and the Logitech Unifying dongle)
5. Restarted and performed NVRAM reset

After this the first thing I did (coz why not?) was reconnect the headphones to the MacBook and it has been working well ever since.

Since performing this I know there was a .2 release. I risked the upgrade and the issue did not come back.

I do hope that this helps someone.

Thanks, CreateCheckInvalidUserName

The only way to solve this problem is... just waiting haha...

Let me share some experience for a few days,

1. Airpod first generation with SBC codec is almost working well. But, if I do some task that requires too much memory, it disconnected again. I think it's a software fault of OS system.
2. Another bluetooth earphone (Samsung level U) has same disconnecting problem even with SBC codec.

I hope the new OS update comes soon and fix this problem.

I'm very disappointed with apple OS and their handling.

Unfortunately, CreateCheckInvalidUserName's solution is more of a walk around (no harm meant PhillB). I think that AAC codec is widely popular for obvious reasons and forcing it shut isn't a solution.

I have been having this issue for over 4 months now (and yes, before Catalina update!)

Coreaudiod is going crazy when RAM memory starts getting full. And that isn't rare with Mac since it allocates all available memory to opened apps to make use of it and improve UX.

One trick though to avoid that awkward blast of music on internal speakers at work:

• Mute internal speakers before connecting your audio device so when the bug happens, it goes back to mute ;)

I talked to someone at Apple Support and solved my problem by

1. Detaching all devices from Bluetooth
2. Doing a factory reset on my speaker

I have a MacBook Air (2012), Mac OS 10.15.5, a BOSE SoundLink Mini II.

Hi GF95,

That is correct. The SBC codec solution is indeed a work around for me. I did read in this list, someone else (en France) had the same computer and Katana setup as me and it also did not work. This work around will fix that.

That being said, AAC is definitely the preferred solution. There is no doubt it is better. I am confident Apple will eventually make it work.

Also my MacBook Pro has a lot of RAM so I have not seen the Coreaudiod issue. I use video conferencing extensively on a daily basis and it has never been a problem for me. Most of my work is however, carried out on a Linux workstation so the MacBook is usually lightly loaded and generally has plenty of free memory.

For the record.... I still love my MacBook Pro.

Hello,

My macbook pro is a 2019 model.

I Just updated to 10.15.4 with a hope to solve those issues but nothing.

I have an AirPods 2 and this works some times, if not, restarting macbook or making sudo killall -9 bluetoothaudiod coreaudiod some times works, some times not.

I have an JBL Xtreme 2 and this one not work any more, i can connect (the JBL makes the characteristic sound of connect) but after a few seconds the connection drops. I cannot even select the output sound to this device.

If i click on the bluetooth icon on the menu bar holding Option + Shift and go to JBL Xtreme 2 device appears with the option Active Codec: Not Active:

it's a very annoying problem.. ;(

Sergio.

Same Issue here. On my macbook pro, 2016 new body, since Catalina, I can connect to my Sounblaster Katana soundbar, but ZERO audio comes out. Of course i've selected the device in 'audio devices', tried unpairing, repairing, How did such a massive bug get through? This persists even through OSX 10.15.1

I've been having the same exact issue since updating to Catalina. Extremely annoying. I've been routinely checking various Reddit & Apple threads etc. every few days to see if anyone has found a fix for this. Apple has released a few different updates to Catalina but have not fixed this major issue, which is very surprising. I've seen some people say that downgrading to Mojave is the only solution, but I don't want to have to go through that whole process. I am hoping Apple can see these consistent complaints and address this issue.

I have the same problem since I updated my mac to Catalina. My MacBook Air is connected to Bose SoundTouch 10, but it switches to the internal speakers (while it is still connected to Bose speaker through Bluetooth) sometimes one or twice per minute and sometimes it is OK for, let say, one hour and again the problem is back.

MacBook Air (13" Early 2014)

MacOS Catalina Version 10.15.1 (19B88)

I'm experiencing the same issue.

Randomly, sound will transfer from bluetooth airpods (or any bluetooth headphones I have) to the internal speaker.

However, bluetooth menu still indicates that my bluetooth headset is still connected, but sound is coming from internal speaker not headphones.

I have to disconnect and reconnect, but again randomly it will disconnect.

I did try deleting the pst file, reboot, but made no difference at all.

Had this problem in the previous update too.

I have exactly the same thing on my MacBook Pro (13") and I've tried 3 different headsets including AirPods.

I thought it didn't happen to my KB or mouse, however I did notice today these disconnect occasionally as well but they will pretty quickly reconnect again. Audio doesn't reconnect. It shows as connected in the BT menu, but the speaker can't connect to it.