iPadOS 14.5 Audio Skipping and Glitching

Hi - I am having the same exact issue. I have tried 2 Apple USB C to 3.5mm dongles and tried 3 different pairs of headphones (including one with an in-line mic). It seems multi-tasking with any apps that have audio/video triggers this audio skipping issue for me and then won't stop skipping until I unplug/reinsert headphones or restart the iPad. Once this issue starts, all apps are impacted (YouTube, Apple Music, Safari, etc).

I bought my iPad less then 1 week ago and the audio was fine the first few days and then the same audio issue started happening. Updated to 14.5.1 last night hoping it would fix the audio problem but still persists. I am under AppleCare and contacted Apple yesterday, they told me to go to Best Buy (where I purchased it) and meet with their Apple authorized technician. The technician could not figure it out either but said they were seeing other people with this issue. The technician did a Reset All Settings but as he suspected it's an OS issue, he couldn't do much else. I ended up exchanging the iPad for a new one and currently waiting for everything to re-download. I'll try and give you an update tomorrow.

This happened last year too. Glitchy audio. This time I even ordered a new set of Apple headphones - 3.5mm, and used a new 3.5mm to USB C. It is exactly the same issue and was eventually resolved with OS update. If you remove USB C and connect again it momentarily relieves the issue. Apple really don’t care. I have no issue with AirPods MAX, so it is hardwired only.

I face this issue on my iPad Air 4 with the original Apple type c to 3.5mm dongle with EarPods.

However as some users pointed out, plugging in and out either the dongle or EarPods will “re-sync” the audio.

Another way that worked for me is opening the Apple TV app and play any video. This will also help re-sync the audio and then jumping back in to apps like YouTube etc will be fine again.

But the above are temporary fixes only and this is surely an OS level bug. I expect more from Apple than this.

Agree - only when direct routing from USB-C to computer does the audio glitch manifest. I have found a workaround by using a USB-C hub which has audio and HDMI out... This allows me to get "no glitch" audio from the iPad Air-4 USB-C output through the hub. This was an expensive workaround... really wish Apple would fix this... has been going on now for more than six months! - since iOS14.6.

I have 3rd Gen iPad Pro 12.9”. iPad OS 14.6 fixed the issue for me.

The latest update to 14.7 fixed it for me (iPad Air 4).

I think iPadOS 14.7.1 has solved the problem for me(iPad M1). From last 24 hrs no audio glitch in YouTube, Netflix etc.

I can’t seem to edit my original post.

Unfortunately, I can now confirm this audio issue is happening again with a second iPad Air replacement I got in exchange for the first one with these same audio issues.

This has to be an OS bug and looks like will have to reach out to Apple again. Pretty frustrated at saving and dropping close to $1,000 on a device can’t play movies or music without sounding like a scratched cd skipping in an Sony Walkman. I was intending to use it for some work activities and don’t feel confident at all entering a Zoom call with these audio issues.

I had to reboot my iPad earlier so I could resume watching a YouTube video as the unplugging/replugging method only carried me through the first few minutes of a 10 minute video.

Yes - I have the identical issue - tried multiple USB-C to audio adapters, multiple pairs of headphones. Had Jump+ reinstall the iOS and then even gave me a replacement iPad Air 4 as a phase 2 troubleshooting effort. I did not restore from any previous iPad backup...just kept it "plain" as possible. Issue continues. Upgraded to iOS 14.6 but that did not help either - in fact it seems more pervasive an issue now, under 14.6. I opened a second support chat with Apple last night and provided all previous efforts and info. Remote diagnostics does not show any hardware issues. I asked/hoped they can pass on this info to their Tier 2 apple support. As others have said, it's quite clearly an audio driver issue that was introduced from 14.5 onwards. Hopefully 14.7 or some 14.6.x release solves this issue. It's highly annoying!

I have the M1 iPad Pro 2021 12.9” and I’m having this issue. I have the USB-C to 3.5mm adapter. It only happens when I pause YouTube then resume. I get the dodgy audio like it’s skipping.

If I detach the adapter and reattach it, it will then be fine again. Very annoying and definitely needs fixing!

Must be OS related given that it’s happening on different devices.

Hello,

Just jumping in to say that I have encountered similar problems.

As most people in this thread I am convinced that it must be an iPadOS problem since it for most people started after version 14.5. Now I am on iPadOS 14.6.

The way I detected it was that all the different guitar amp simulators that I use for recording on my iPad Mini (5th gen) started to behave strange with weak and delayed sound, crackling and unwanted distortion. First I thought it might be app-related as I focused on the ones I use most frequently but I soon discovered that all have the same problem

The amp sims that I use are Bias AMP 2, Bias FX 2, AmpliTube, Overloud THU, GE Labs, Mobile POD and the one integrated in GarageBand for iOS and I have tried them all

First I thought it was a sound card or a lightning port problem. I tried the two different sound cards that I have (an Apogee Jam and a PreSonus AudioBox iOne) and with basically the same result. Even if it is possible I do not hold it likely that both will break down at the same time.

I did a quick test and recorded a Voice memo with my old Apple earphones. That seems to work. The built-in microphones on the iPad Mini is also working as expected.

Best regards

Anders

It is 100% OS-related. Enough of us here have expressed that this wasn’t an issue before the 14.5 update that it should be obvious by now the fault is in iPadOS.

Try telling that to Apple though. I’ve had several conversations with advisers recently to try and get them to escalate the issue but its a serious effort to convince them that I don’t want my iPad servicing/replacing.

hello, I have the problem on the iPad Pro 12.9 2021 M1 too. the problem only occurs with me in connection with the usb c to 3.5 adapter and wired headphones. when the music source starts for the first time, things go well for the time being. if I stop the music and wait about 15 seconds and then jump to the beginning of the track, then the error is reproduced 100%. about every three seconds there is a noise as if a record has a crack. I contacted the support. settings and content were then deleted and restored. the problem persisted. on all sources: apple music app, Spotify, YouTube, Safari browser / websites, Amazon music…. then I loaded the music on Spotify and didn't stream it. as a result, the disturbance was no longer phased but continuous and the music was distorted beyond recognition. After an appointment at the Apple Store, I was able to reproduce the error (in phases, every 3 seconds approximately). Headphones, adapters exchanged ... nothing helped. the iPad Pro 12.9 2021 has been replaced. then the same on the new device. Since I am a musician and cannot use the iPad Pro for my purposes, I finally returned it. Then I bought an iPad Air 4 and I am "amused" that the problem also exists here. only then did I discover this discussion on the internet. I now very much hope that the problem can soon be fixed by the software. Since I have sound recordings of the fault (recorded in the headphones), I am happy to offer this to Apple to support you in resolving the problem on request. especially the continuous distortion of the sound could perhaps be interesting. I only had this error once (iPad Pro). the intermittent disturbance (about every 3 seconds) can be reliably reproduced as described on probably many different iPad models with usb c. Sorry about the possibly incorrect Google translation. best regards.

I worked with an Apple authorized shop a while ago when I first encountered this audio issue. First step they did a full reinstall of the OS on my iPad Air 4. No change.

second step is they traded me for a brand new iPad Air 4….same problem.

As many have said this is an OS or driver level bug….nothing to do with hardware.

[Edited by Moderator]