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

I'm having this issue with a brand new 2024 14" M3 Pro. I thought it was my new Sony earbuds and almost returned them. Spent an inordinate amount of time trying to fix them including hard resetting them from scratch. I too have a Logitech MX Mouse and Keyboard. Only thing that seems to work is to turn off 2 point connection (so can't use the phone and the Mac at the same time without interference) and it's still not perfect...the choppiness decreases but doesn't go away completely. Notably, I do not have this issue with my 9 year old MBP or my new iPad or iPhone 13 Pro Max. This is pretty silly for a $3000 laptop. Fix it.

This is not the place for inaccurate generalities. I can stream 4K movies to my Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones with Apple Magic Mouse and Magic extended keyboard connected without a trace of audio interference. That means I can be concurrently using the mouse and keyboard while watching a YouTube movie without an issue. This is true on Monterey 12.7.4, Ventura 13.6.6, and Sonoma 14.4.1 here on a 2020 Core i7 iMac, 2021 MacBook Pro M1 Pro, and 2023 M2 Mac mini Pro — respectively.

However, it also depends on the presence or absence of other devices causing Bluetooth radio interference and what Bluetooth profiles are provided and the quality of their implementation in the connected devices.

What this says to me (as an audio industry professional) is that Apple doesn't adhere to the Bluetooth interoperability standards for devices and that they try to keep the "walled garden" in place to block you from using non-Apple devices for a "seamless experience." I won't even start on the lack of aptX or LDAC support for bluetooth Hi-Res. Plus plenty of people in this thread are using Apple devices and having issues. Also, not an issue with my 2015 MBP, iPhone or iPad. Sony and Logitech are well known brands and their bluetooth implementation works perfectly (in my experience) outside of this MBP. It's well known that Silicon Macs have BT connection issues with both Apple and non-Apple product so let's deal with the reality in front of us. And to be frank, even if I was using Earpod Pros instead of WH-100MX5's I'd be having the same issue according to multiple posters and about 1000 posts on the Reddit, ASR, etc etc. I continue to support Apple and buy Apple products but that comes with certain levels of expectation that in this case aren't being met.

Currently experiencing this problem, which happens to me once a year it seems, then I fix it and forget how to fix it when it occurs again.

My setup:

MacBook Pro, 16-Inch, 2021

Chip Apple M1 Pro

Memory 16 GB

macOS Sonoma 14.3.1

I use a MX Master mouse and MX Keys Bluetooth keyboard. The MX Mouse is plagued by a hardware issue that can be fixed by opening the mouse and adjusting a tension screw… however if others are experiencing the problem with other devices, this may be OS related.

Recently, I noticed that the mic icon appears in my Finder tool bar, randomly, as if some process is firing off in the background that is interfering with Bluetooth. Randomly, my mouse cursor stutters and jumps around for seemingly no reason.

If I rediscover the solution, I will make a YouTube video on my channel (@wepiphany). Has anyone found a solution or cause?

The only true fix is to never use more than 2-3 Bluetooth devices with your Mac

Yes, very obvious advice. But hear me out:

I've spent several many hours researching this, and have found that no fix works for everyone.

A lot of articles online state that Apple has officially recommended to not have more than 3-4 Bluetooth devices transmitting to your Mac's built-in Bluetooth module at once. I can't locate the official statement from Apple.

From the complaints I have seen, Apple's recommendation mostly holds true. But, considering your unique environment and hardware setup , Wifi, house walls, etc., the number is not 3-4, but probably closer to 2-3 devices or 1-2.

In particular, it seems that Bluetooth mice, new or old, even Apple's own Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad, are the worst offenders causing Bluetooth lag loop.

You want to either use a wired mouse, or opt for a wireless mouse that's connected to your Mac using a USB "receiver dongle", like the ones you get with most Logitech products, like "Logi Bolt" or "Unifying Receiver".

Inserting this USB receiver dongle into a USB hub that's placed as far away from your Mac as possible may also be necessary for some. A USB extender cable with one female USB-A end can be used instead of a USB hub.

Personally, I experience zero lag when connecting one pair of AirPods, or other Bluetooth headphones, and one Logitech MX Master keyboard directly to my Mac's Bluetooth.

My MX Master 3S mouse is connected via a Logi Bolt USB dongle, not via my Mac's built-in Bluetooth.

I know this advice is very obvious and very lengthy. I just hope anyone reading this understands that Bluetooth on all Macs and MacBooks, even the all the newest, Apple Silicon ones, M1, M2, M3, has these limitations and that it won't get fixed in an update or by changing a setting, running a terminal commands, etc.

*Technically, you should be able to pair up to 7 Bluetooth devices to your Mac. Just note that you probably have to manually shut down or disable Bluetooth on all of them except the 2-3 devices that you are actively using with your Mac.

It's the same stuttering issue for me. Macbook Pro 2018, but also for all older Macbooks (first 2015) that I had. No difference if I use my Bose QC 35 or AirPods Pro. I have tried to fix this stuttering for years, with no success. No issues with my iPhone or iPad with the same earphones.

Thanks, Misterar! Resetting the bluetooth module solved a problem I had for weeks on my M2 mini, even though I only had two devices (keyboard and speaker) using bluetooth. The stutters in the audio reminded me of issues I have when the computer and a USB audio device are using different sample rates. So maybe resetting the bluetooth module allows a renegotiation of parameters or protocols, fixing any that for one reason or another ended up mismatched at initial pairing. (In fact, I'm pretty sure that I paired that speaker around the time I that was fighting with Garage Band, which kept resetting the system's sampling rate (I learned that GB is limited to 44.1kHz).)

Hi there! Same problem here. Mac OS 13.1 on an M1 MacBook Pro with AirPods Pro connected, playing audio from any source. The stuttering is maddening :(

I agree this is a driver/memory issue. Probably has to do with Apple cramming many different module onto their M1 chip and sharing memory among them. I hope it has a software fix.

Updated to Ventura 13.4, still a thing :^)

Ha ouais quand même j'espère que tu trouvera des solutions

Double entry sorry.