How to fix choppy audio on MacBook Pro with Bluetooth devices?

Hi all! I thought I was the only one having issues until I tried searching the web. I had the same issue like everyone else when plugging a BT mouse and airpods or whatever BT headset.

I only noticed this when I was wirelessly connected to my network, for the longest time, I was docked in with an ethernet cable as I trust more with cables than wifi.

I was on the verge of buying another BT dongle but I remembered docking my MBP again and alas! no stuttering. It's frustrating though but at least I get both wired internet and BT audio.

Chiming in for future posterity - I had the same issue, but the only thing that helped me (in addition to all the proposed solutions) was to remove all my bluetooth devices and re-pair from scratch. I left my headphones for last, and that appears to have worked. For now.

THANK YOU!

sudo pkill bluetoothd worked just fine!

I'm seeing what jtstreamer experienced in that it's tied to the number of bluetooth devices. Unfortunately for me, it's limited to bluetooth connection.

Apple Keyboard & Apple Mouse + bluetooth headset (oddly, for all but 1 of my headsets) - stuttering.

Turn off Keyboard - still stutters.

Turn off Mouse also - no stutters.

Turn back on Mouse - instant stutters.

This is not an "extreme" configuration, so hopefully they fix it soon. I'm on Ventura.

I have experienced this since upgrading to Ventura 13.6.3 on an M1 MBP. The only bluetooth devices I have connected other than 1 set of headphones are the magic trackpad and magic keyboard.

The bluetooth headphones aren't Apple but I have had it with two different mainstream brands.

But I did discover something that seems to fix it, albeit temporarily. If I go into the sound settings with input selected it fixes it. I don't change anything at all, just literally loading that menu for some reason.

This is the reason why the 3.5 jack is back.

Last mac on my end. This has been an issue for years and apple has still not done anything about this issue.

Over 400 users has raised their hands for (me too).. Imagine how many has this issue without entering this post. And this is also just one post..

When ever i watch or listen to anything, i have to turn of my keeboard or mouse.

Same here. Logitech MX keyboard and mouse connected via BT, once I turn off the mouse the stuttering stops. Upon turning it back on again the choppy audio immediately returns. I too feel like this shouldn't be an issue with an expensive machine such as this one. Please fix it somehow.

Forgeting unused devices in the bluetooth list seems to have solved the issue, for now at least. Still not sure whether this is something you should have to deal with at a pricepoint like this.

Chiming in for future posterity - I had the same issue, but the only thing that helped me (in addition to all the proposed solutions) was to remove all my bluetooth devices and re-pair from scratch. I left my headphones for last, and that appears to have worked. For now.

Me too and it drives me absolutely crazy. I can't work without music, and due to this I am forced to wear my cans all day (which thankfully have their own dongle).

From what I am reading I think the issue is clearly when people are using mouse, keyboard, and speaker/headset via bluetooth.

It seems like its the combo two or more devices (when one of those devices is BT Audio) causes it.

Using the command: "sudo pkill bluetoothd" does provide some relief but not entirely, it always comes back.

I switched back to using both dongles for mouse and keyboard but I have so many usb devices that causes other issues. I read someone to turn off the airplay receiver in the settings, I did that and it didnt help. Since others have had hardware replaced and it didn't fix it, its clearly a software issue Apple needs to fix at a driver level or in the bluetoothd process.

I am using a MBP 14 2021 M1 Max 32GB Ram on 13.3, totally unacceptable.

I also have this problem. I am using macOS Sonoma Version 14.2.1. I can't have a keyboard, mouse, and headphones connected simultaneously. If I disconnect one of them, it works fine.

Please fix this issue. This is annoying.

Temp fix:

If you use Teams or Zoom or other communication app change your microphone to use your iPhone's microphone.

After that no choppy audio.

I've had this problem since day one of using the 14" M1 MacBook. The problem never got solved throughout all macOS software updates. Different audio output devices doesn't seems to affect the issue. I've tried bluetooth headphone/AirPods/USB Audio interface/wired headphone, all have the same stutter issue. Also different apps doesn't affect the issue, tried Apple Music/Youtube through Chrome, even FCPX/Logic Pro seem to have the same issue. My friend who is on a 16" M1 MacBook, however, doesn't encounter the same issue as I do. Not 100% sure but the problem also seems to related to cpu/ram usage spike, since it (sometimes) get worse when I am running demanding software or when I click something on a webpage that require heavy load.

Apple, please fix

So, I earlier confirmed that the issue occurred with 3 bluetooth devices connected - my wireless mouse, keyboard (both being Mac devices), and my Plantronics bluetooth headset. Without fail, if I attached these 3, the stuttering happened, and also did with several of my bluetooth headsets, including my airpods.

HOWEVER! I have found a bluetooth headset where I can have all 3 connected without stuttering!!! Logitech Zone Wireless, the sound is great, even with the other devices connected. I've been using them for the last month or so, nervous that the stutter would come back, and it hasn't!