iOS 16.2 Gapless Playback

iOS 16.3 has been released and the problem seems to be gone again.

I‘ve updated from 16.2 with the gapless playback issue to 16.3 on my iPhone 13 Mini. I hope Apple will keep this fix in mind for future updates…

It's better but it's not completely fixed. I can still tell when it is changing tracks. Nothing like before at all, but much better. I am going to try deleting all the music from my phone and then adding it back.

It's better but it's not completely fixed. I can still tell when it is changing tracks. Nothing like before at all, but much better. I am going to try deleting all the music from my phone and then adding it back.

Reply Helpful

I had this issue before back on iOS 15 and had a phone call with the Apple Support. He told me to disable Dolby Atmos in Settings>Music>Audio because with Bluetooth the Apple Music App tries to check Dolby Atmos support for every title played. Since my bluetoth devices do not support Dolby Atmos, I’ve disabled it. The gaps have been better after that, and they were gone completely after the next iOS update.

So now with iOS 16.3 they are gone again, and I keep Dolby Atmos disabled 😉 I have no gaps anymore since updating to iOS 16.3 yesterday.

Maybe you could give it a try.

I upgraded to iOS 16.3 yesterday and I can confirm that it seems fixed now when I use my EarPods (via Lightning).

I haven’t tried any Bluetooth device yet (e.g. my FreeBuds 4i which I was already using with my old phone) but I’m confident. 😁

I’ll try disabling Dolby Atmos if needed, thanks for the suggestion.

This is the third time this has happened in 3.5 years. In fall of 2019, the issue seemed to be with the actual gapless technology, but when the problem reappeared in spring of 2021 (I think?), it was only with the playback on Bluetooth devices. I think the most recent bug in IOS 12.2 was a repeat of the 2021 bug because there were no problems with my iPhone plugged into my car like a iPod. There were only gaps when I played music through my Bluetooth devices. It was as if the tracks were somehow having to buffer for a second before playing. Thanks to all who recommended downloading IOS 12.3 because Apple fixed the problem in the update.

This is such a frustrating issue! Listening to classical music with gaps between tracks that didn’t issue until phone updated to 16.3 last night is so absurd. It ruins the experience. Apple needs to fix this!!

Nice Dead reference. I am here for similar reasons as I don’t like jams being disrupted with a second or 2 gap.

did you resolve this?

I was listening to a ‘73 DS into EOTW and it was terrible for the gap to be there.

It's especially soul-crushing for deadheads, isn't it? I was listening to that sublime playing>ujb>dew>ujb>playing from 11/17/73, and Apple Music inserted a gap between each transition. I am on iOS 16.3.1. Keeping it Weir from Kolkata, India.

You live in Kolkata? I live in Pune! Haven’t met many Dead Heads here in India! That sounds like a lovely 2nd set with PITB -> UJB -> Dew -> UJB so I’ll need to look up that show. ‘73 is my favourite year.

I’ll be in Kolkata in April but not sure if I can share my number here but my WA is 84119 63240.

Gapless playback should be a high priority feature. The lack of it is a serious defect. It is embarrassing to the whole platforms that gapless playback is gone. I know people have left iPhone platform because “Apple’s hubris in UI is exemplified by Apple Music’s lack of gapless playback, and many other things that are offered on the other platform.” I have offered to purchase a new iPhone for my family member, but they have refused it for this reason.

6 months a year this option is disabled because they keep using the same wrong code with every software update. It’s so bloody simple but they made the mistake like 4 times so far in my experience. It will be fixed, but i do wonder why the manager of this part of their software had not been fired ! Apple Music sucks as a music app and Apple should be strong in music given all the hardware they offer for music experience. Will pay on Twitter and Facebook as well and would be good if other people do that as well. Thx for nothing mr. Cook

I don’t know in what situation you are having this issue but in my personal use from 16.3 until 16.4.1 for me works perfectly.

The way I use it I make tracks that they don have any introduction or ending so when I play them and they’re change one after the next track it’s sounds so smooth that who it’s lessening can’t tell that they are different tracks.

Even the last update 16.4.1 works perfectly, one advice close the app from the background.

Firsts, tanks for notify that 16.5 was available.

second, I let you know that there’s nothing more important on iPad for me that there’s no gaps on music app between songs. 16.5 It works perfectly for me.

Unfortunately I’m experiencing partially this gapless again

I haven’t figured that out yet when and what exactly the cause this issue gets back and what exactly fix it. Turning off the Bluetooth was one of them, closing the app from the background was another one that helped to fix it but definitely 16.5 it’s not working 100%, hope the next upgrade fix it