Call Audio Routing Garbage

Question

Call Audio Routing Garbage

Hello! Apple iPhone 12 and AirPods user here.

When I am in my vehicle and connected to my vehicle bluetooth and my AirPods at the same time, the iPhone gets confused about where to send phone call audio.

When I place a call it will ring on my AirPods, and if it does not, I have to select it by choosing AirPods from the "Audio" button when the call is in progress. Typically the options on the "Audio" button are - iPhone, Speaker, AirPods, and Vehicle. I am typically placing calls by using the Siri function and dictating who to call.

When the person I’m calling (or their voicemail) picks up, the call instantly transfers to the vehicle and I have to select AirPods again to change the audio output. I make calls for work and this both causes an awkward moment with the caller and defeats the purpose of "handsfree calling" because I have to yet again select the device to route the call to.

Call Audio Routing is set to “Bluetooth Headset” BUT the phone never remembers to keep the call on the AirPods. It always transfers the call back to the car when someone on the other end picks up.

What changes on the iPhone when SOMEONE ELSE picks up their phone? Why would that trigger a change in Bluetooth device?

This has happened on multiple vehicles, so I believe it to be an iPhone issue, and not necessarily a vehicle issue.

iPhone 12, iOS 14

Posted on Aug 9, 2021 7:06 PM

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Answer 1

Eric--F

Community Specialist

Aug 10, 2021 6:04 PM in response to coreyfromannapolis

Hello again coreyfromannapolis,

Thank you for the information!

At this time, there is not a priority list for bluetooth devices. That is also something you can leave Product Feedback on. That would be the next step, since there is currently not a way to change both of the settings.

Take care!

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Answer 2

sterling r

Community Specialist

Aug 10, 2021 1:34 PM in response to coreyfromannapolis

Hello coreyfromannapolis,

We would be happy to provide you with more information on phone calls.

What you are experiencing is expected behavior. Since both the car and AirPods are using the bluetooth connection, the call will route back to the car once the line is answered. However, if you make the call from the iPhone, it will automatically use the iPhone's built in speakers.

You can leave Product Feedback about the issue you are having. The engineers will have the information, and the could be used for future changes.

Have a great day!

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Answer 3

Aug 10, 2021 5:31 PM in response to sterling r

Thank you! I'm not the only person in the world who uses both their car stereo and their AirPods, but I'm the only one I know of that has to fumble to bring the call back to my AirPods when the person on the other end picks up the call I'm making. It's unprofessional and frustrating.

If a call is initiated by Siri Voice Command using AirPods, or by Siri Voice Command using the phone's side button (and then I manually select AirPods using the "audio" button)....

Why would the audio device switch when the person I'm calling picks up their phone? Nothing has changed on my end.

This tells me that the phone prefers the car bluetooth audio for some reason. How can I force it to prefer the AirPods? Is there a priority list that might do this?

The call audio routing menu options are insufficient to solve the problem.

I bought a new vehicle in no small part because of this issue. Now it's happening on a completely different vehicle interface platform as well.

Thanks,

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Call Audio Routing Garbage

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