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

I bought this M1 16GB MacBook Air 4 months ago, this is the biggest reason I don't use this device most of the time. I always use my headphones when watching or writing something and this issue makes me crazy as it's constantly stuttering and then disconnecting my Bluetooth headphones. I tried my headphones with multiple other devices and they work flawlessly. Even I tried some other Bluetooth headphones with this device, and it's the same story. At the start, it works well but after 3-5 minutes, it starts to stutter and after a few minutes, it's disconnecting and reconnecting. I tried every possible fix and got tired of searching for solutions.

Also struggling with this.

It's the worst when I'm on a video call such as Zoom and then a notification comes in from another application. The audio stutters and pops and seems to take a while to catch up and come back in sync/flow. Happens when on stock M1 iMac speakers or headphones. Did not happen until more recent OS updates.

No issues with 3.5mm jack, nothing but problems with the Beats, although I haven't tried AirPods Pro yet. Its ok when listening to music, but the minute I use an X-Box Controller and Beats together... It's really choppy. Why have @Apple still not sorted this?

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.

I was facing this issue with my JBL Flip 5 bluetooth speaker and my Mac Mini M2 (running Sonoma) setup. I have a Logitech Flip mouse and a Logitech keyboard, both bluetooth, connected to my Mac.

I could barely play anything on my speaker before it started stuttering and disconnected. Disconnecting either my mouse or keyboard definitely helped but that wasn't a solution for me. Instead I switched my Wifi to a 5g band from the usual 2.4 GHz and it seemed to have solved the issue. Now I have three devices connected over bluetooth, and all of them are working flawlessly without any issues. Kindly see if it works for you.

Cheers

I have the exact same problem with Sonoma 14.3.1 on MacBook Air 15! One time it has frozen my video conference application during a meeting. I had to switch devices... I disabled all bluetooth devices other than keyboard and mouse. It worked kinda but still I hear stuttering.

"Good news, everyone!"

After weeks of struggle and hate towards Apple, I managed to fix this issue on my M1 Air. And it wasn't Apple's fault.

I was so angry that I contemplated buying a Linux laptop.

I ditched my Bluetooth headphones and worked on Mac speakers for some time.

Fortunately, after that transition, Zoom, being as stupid an app as it is, still keeps changing my audio device to "Apowersoft Audio Device," leftover from the Apowersoft Audio Recorder I installed and removed on my Intel Mac Pro a few years ago.

Digging deeper, I found it in the "Output & Input" section in Preferences >Sound and further in System Information > Applications listed as Kind: Intel and in System Information > Disabled Software.

If you can replicate the above (It can be a different device, anything that's not your mikes and speakers), you are on a path to success.

I will describe how it works with Apowersoft Audio Recorder, but your case can be similar.

What you need to do is find ALL files with "Apowersoft" and delete them (also remove them from the trash).

The Finder can only find some of them. You must use the terminal or this soft -> https://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/ (if you can't use a terminal, that app helps you, and you earn more than 6$ an hour, you should consider buying a license. It saves you much more time ;)

If you use the "FindAnyFile" app, you will be required to grant it admin permission, and after it deletes all it can, a few files will still be shown. Thats OK. You can restart your Mac, and you are good to go.

Please let me know if it works on your devices. Good luck.

I think I found the issue on my end. Someone else in my office had (accidentally - what??) paired my headphones (ATH-M20xBT). He was not connected to them, but his phone was in the room. After he removed ("forgot") them, the stuttering stopped - for now at least.

I guess that this is the same as some other people were writing about removing their headphones on all other devices. But in my case, it was a headphone hijack :) :)

I hope this helps anyone :)

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.

I have an Apple M2 Pro 16-inch Macbook with an Apple Keyboard & Apple Mouse + Bluetooth headset.

when I connect Bluetooth headphones to a Macbook sound will stutter in headphones. if turning off the mouse device it works, but it's not a solution when I buy expensive products from you.

Please, solve this issue ASAP.

Hi Guys,

my previous solution worked for a week, and then the problem returned.

This time, I gave myself 3 weeks, and so far, everything works just fine.

Check 2.4GHz networks in your neighborhood.

The problem was the old 2.4GHz router in the garage.

I read on another forum that 2.4GHz WiFi can interfere with Bluetooth cards in M1 Macs.

On that old TpLink, the "Transmit Power" was set to "High". The moment I changed that setting to Middle, everything started working just fine.

I was very rarely connected to that network as I usually use 5GHz in my office.

I still have access to that 2.4 network from my office (two concrete walls away), but the Bluetooth issues have stopped.

So, for those of you whose router caused the trouble, there is a simple fix.

For those that the issue is created by your neighbor's WiFi in residential buildings - Good Luck - I hope you have understanding and tech savvy neighbors.

This is disappointing to say the least. Also tried all of the "fixes" and nothing works except not connecting more than two devices. Headphones, mouse, keyboard = stuttering audio in Music app. Disconnect keyboard, audio is fine. MacBook Pro M1 2021, latest Sonoma.

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.

I was having the same issue.

I only partially solved the problem by connecting my bluetooth speaker to only my m2 mini.

I have a bluetooth keyboard and mouse connected to my computer also. My speaker is a bose soundlink flex. Strangely this doesn't happen with my windows laptop or when connecting two smartphones to my speaker.

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.