Bluetooth Connection Problems in macOS Monterey

You may try this thing - go to Settings --> Sharing and uncheck AirPlay Receiver (this is the feature that allows iOS devices to display photos and videos on a Mac that has this feature on - https://support.apple.com/en-za/guide/mac-help/mchleee00ec8/mac).

It's a cool feature that Apple introduced recently but unfortunately, it creates a mess with Bluetooth connectivity as well (at least that has been the case with my iMac '27 2019, with which I've been having this issue since last August and finally figured out because of this thread that this setting can be the culprit)

Solution found for me- will not help many, but may help some.

Deselecting "AirPlay Receiver" from "Sharing" in "System Preferences" was the fix for my system, an iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020). That option did not appear under "Sharing" prior to my last update to macOS Monterey so I assume it is some added feature that is made active by default. Hopefully this feature is not something I will ever want to use since I know already that it will cause this problem.

The devices with which I was previously having trouble, a Soundcore Life Q30 headset and Tozo T12 earbuds, no longer cut out as they had before.

I know from following this thread that this will likely only help people on the same or similar systems as mine, as others have reported no such option to deselect.

I must say that I am quite disappointed in Apple Support here. They had me jump through many hoops to no avail and seemed poised only to have me jump through those same hoops again after some pestering on my part. This trouble seems pretty well documented at this point as is evident here. Apple Support should have been able to identify the trouble easily for me (as I learned this from a couple others on this thread) and really should know that this is clearly a bug introduced by the OS upgrade which should be driving an expedited mitigation process for all of those still suffering.

I had just returned to the world of Apple after about 20 years away, longing for the stability I had remembered from back then. Sadly, this experience will probably drive me back to Windows-based machines.

I hope this information may help some at least and to the rest of you good luck!

I have the same issue here with Soundcore Life Q30 headphones and TOZO-T12 earbuds. I have an open case with Apple Support and have tried many fix actions- resets, reinstalls, etc. My last test with Apple Support had me roll back to a Catalina image with no additional programs installed which are not part of that Apple Catalina install. Bluetooth was fine at this point. I installed all Catalina updates, was still fine, then upgraded to Monterey and the troubles came back. So I've now again rolled back to Catalina with its most current updates and Bluetooth is working fine. Unfortunately I now can't run other apps I'd like to run due to Apple Store wanting me to be on Monterey. I'm yet awaiting word from Apple Support.

THANK YOU dot-fig! I would never have thought to look at AirPlay Sharing but turning that off (I don't remember turning it on, BTW) seems to have cleared up the audio blinks for me with AirPods Pro and any audio source on the Mac. I'd done a complete erase and install Monterey 12.1 to try and fix this issue, and gone through the whole 'Capture Data' app with Apple Support and that (dumb) little checkbox in System Preferences cleared it all up.

So after the first call I had last night, that it dropped 15 minutes into - I called back myself an hour later and was able to get someone.

The person I dealt with had me try a few things.

Frist we went into a 2nd profile, in my case my wife's profile on my Mac mini. There I was able to show that both my soundbar and Google nest were not able to be connected to.

Next we shutdown and did a power up in "Safe Mode" where we were unable to connect there too - we dropped both item from the BT menu and preferences, did a repairing of both items. Both items were able to pair and seemed to be working.

Restarting out of "Safe Mode" and going back into my profile, both items were still in the BT menu and both in the sound menu, I was able to get audio through both items no issues - all seemed to be fixed.

I then clicked on the soundbar to let the mini know I did not want sound going to it. then I found it dropped the item from the options in the sound menu. When I went to click back on the item again to let the mini know I wanted that as my speaker, it showed the icon for the bar to be blue BUT in the sound menu nothing was there and in the BT preference window the sound bar was not showing up, yet the BT menu for items I can pick from shows it there and connected.

The Google nest seems to be hold strong so far with connection.

The person I was dealing with gave me a link where I can directly contact her with updates and follow ups if needed.

My suggestion is to call them at this point. Clearly they are not looking or willing to suggest anything on here. Both people I talked to seemed totally unaware of the issue, so either we are the only ones effected by it, or the only ones bringing it up.

I will say, there were a few times with both support staff it felt like I was going to get the suggestion of going out and buying a HomePod when I informed them I have no Apple items that are BT that I could connect to see - got that feeling of them wanting me to go out and get something just to be done with the issue. Not going to go full "tin foil hat" with the conspiracy that Apple is making 3rd part BT stuff now work in favor, or pushing buyers, to get Apple stuff. But it felt like it at times.

But I think calling them and let them know verbally at this point is the only way this issue is going to be brought up and possible looked into and fixed.

I was in contact with Support team from Apple, and they have suggested the following:

1. Reset NVRAM (https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204063) -> it didn't do anything, no improvement
2.  First Aid (https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT210898) didn't try it out yet, it looks more complicated, will try over the weekend

Last resort if the first 2 won't work:

3.Reinstall OS (https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204904) i hope i don't end up doing this, as it is a hassle for a non tech person to go through all that.

I have updated yesterday to Monterey OS Version: 12.2 (21D49), it did not solve the issue, i was hoping that maybe a fix will come with this new version, but no.

As a workaround, I am now using the built in microphone from the laptop, rather than the one from the headphones.

Settings -> Sounds -> Input -> select Built in mic. This is the only workaround that is not highly disruptive for my calls. It does not affect the sound, it does not drop/stutter during the calls. But it's not ideal. i am glued to the MacBook during the calls, cause i need to be close to the built in microphone. So i might as well get back to the wired headphones. Frustrating.

Update on what is going on with my BT issues.

I have been working with Apple Support over the phone and last night they had me doing packet captures when the speakers drop connections and I try to connect again.

The data packets are going to Apple engineers to look over. Not sure how long, or how many times I need to do the packet capture, but hopefully not to long or many.

I was able to borrow a HomePod from a friend, and found that also has issues not only pairing, but keeping a connection along with having a delay in audio/video sync and a delay in pausing audio/video on the Pod and when the Mac would acutely pause and play.

So this is not just a 3rd party issues.

I was able to get video that I sent to the person from support that I am working with and those links for my videos are being passed on, I do suggest that if you are going through support for a fix that you do that same thing - make a video showing the issue.

Try to go to System Preferences > Sound > Output. Select your headphones and confirm that the balance is not all the way to one side. If it is, just move the slider back to the middle and you should get sound on both ears again. I saw this in another post as being a common behavior after the upgrade to Monterey for some M1 Macs.

Yea I experienced the same issues. The only work around I found was forcing the aptx codec on the bluetooth configuration. (You will find commands in a previous post)

Apple still have not accepted that the problem exists and there is no fix.

I have found the only site fix is a downgrade back to Big Sur

Instead of (or perhaps in addition to) posting on the forum, has anybody thought to call or chat Apple support? Since they clearly are not paying attention here, maybe if people start blowing up their comms, they’ll start.

I have downgraded the OS back to Big Sur and my issues are now resolved. I wont be upgrading until i know these issues are resolved.

Also bumping this.

Running an early 2015 13" Macbook Pro, OS Monterey 12.1

• Coworkers telling me that my audio (I alternate between airpods pro and Bose QC35) keeps cutting in and out after like 10-15 minutes on the call.

• My Bose QC35 only carry audio thru one side when connected to my Macbook - but they work fine on my iPhone

It seems that this is a Monterey issue, so like others I'll just wait for an update - but please Apple let's go. This is making working from home pretty annoying lol sos

A mitigation I've found for my mic cutting out randomly on Zoom is to disable Zoom from adjusting the volume. It's a checkbox in the audio settings. This, along with the disabling airplay in sharing thing has helped with meetings, as long as I don't do anything that affects sounds, like activate Siri.

still same issue w/ Bose NC 700. It works only on the right side when connected to the MacBook Pro while it works perfectly with other devices (e.g. iPhone).

What I’ve noticed though is that during the same session (no restarts in between) the headset works well (on both ears) when connecting through the zoom client, but it doesn’t work properly with FaceTime.

Connection problem got fixed(or less frequent) after smc reset but only one side TWS is working. I can pause and play from both side but. facing this problem after upgrading to macOS Monterey.