iPhone 15 Pro Max makes a repeated sound when charging

I think I've figured out the issue—it's an AirDrop bug. For me ... it's my Apple Watch Ultra v1 trying to AirDrop something to my iPhone 15 Pro Max. I have also recreated the issue with both devices not even on a multi charger. And I can replicate it multiple times.

After restarting my iPhone I was getting a message to bring "the devices" closer together to "complete the AirDrop". Though I'm not sure the message may have flashed in my Dynamic Island. And I could only reproduce it when restarting my iPhone and putting it back on the charger next to my watch.

So if I went into AirDrop settings and turned off " START SHARING BY : Bringing devices together" the "Rainbow Wave & Stars" stopped it happening on the charger. If I turned the setting back on while both devices were next to each other the wave & sound happened immediately.

I could also get the wave to happen even if both the watch & phone were off the charger and right next to one another. Very odd.

At one point I did something & the Rainbow and Stars wave was happening on the watch and not on the iPhone. WHAT???

This is definitely an Apple AirDrop issue. If you don't use AirDrop just uncheck "Bringing device's together." That will stop the bizarre problem until Apple can fix it.

And for the guy who turned his iPhone to landscape, stopping the phone wave ... that makes total sense. The phone & watch are far enough away from each other to stop the bug.

And it is a bug. I'll be calling Apple to report it tomorrow.

Funny thing is ... normally when I charge my watch & iPhone for the night I put the phone in Airplane mode so I don't get calls in the middle of the night. For whatever reason, tonight I forgot to put it into Airplane mode & the wave happened.

Pretty wild! And a bit scary too.

So y'all aren't hallucinating!

Ive been an Apple/Mac consultant for 20+ years. I do know how to troubleshoot. Took a bit to figure it out, but at least I got it to stop. 👍

First & foremost: The wave animation has NOTHING to do with charing or charging docks at all.

Called Apple last night spend over an hour showing the agent what was happening via screen sharing. He had no clue what it was or what it could be. He did set up another call for today (11/14 @ 3:00 PM) so he could do more research—which we just finished.

The "wave & sound" are part of the newly introduced feature "NameDrop". The agent did find references to it in other customers reporting the issue to Apple, & engineering reports he had access to outlining the feature.

Though this might be an answer to what it is—it's not an answer to why it automatically happens without authorization by the device owner, nor why it doesn't happen to EVERYONE on iOS 17.1.X & watchOS 10.1.X There is also NO indication of what—if anything—was just sent.

So what might have been a strange animation might now be a security issue. I don't want to sound reactionary or some sky is falling doomster ... but if data is exchanging each time the animation occurs—exactly what data is being sent?

When you send something via AirDrop between devices, the sender had to initiate the item sent & the receiver has to accept it. But if NameDrop initiates by just bringing 2 Apple devices together with no indication of what is being sent—that's a problem.

The Apple agent had no answer for any of these concerns other than saying I need to go to the Apple Feedback Page and "voice my concerns there. Gee thanks!

So no need to change your charger. All you need to do is go to Settings>General>AirDrop>START SHARING BY>Bringing Devices Together & toggle the feature off. That will fix the issue from happening when your own watch & iPhone are too close together on or off the charger. As I indicated in my previous comment, I could reproduce the wave between my watch & iPhone even off the charger. At one point the wave stopped happening on my phone & watch at the same time & only happened on my watch. Why? No clue! Nor did the Apple agent.

I have also set AirDrop receiving to off as well. I rarely use AirDrop.

For all those still experiencing the Wave & Sound please go to the Apple Feedback page & report what happens & if this is a new feature—it's poorly implemented, confusing, and a possible security risk. That's what I'll be doing as soon as I post this.

And for those who say it's not happening to me: this is the nature of a "bug" they can be indiscriminate & or intermittent. And if that bug turns out to be a misguided and poorly implemented feature—Apple needs to hear from as many people as possible for anything to change. I will also be sending eMails to 9to5 Mac, Cult of Mac, et. al., to let them know this is happening. Then they can research it too. Because if it is a feature—I haven't seen anyone cover it yet. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Good luck to all!

Hey pjglad I just had the same issue and it was resolved by turning off airdrop settings. I thought it was a "pulse" related to charging but it was actually recognizing my docking station as a another phone.

Settings > General > Airdrop > Turn OFF "Bringing Devices Together".

So I have a stand charger for phone and watch. When the orb thing started seems like after I updated the iOS 17 so I started investigating. If both devices are charging, and the watch buttons are facing the backside of the phone the orb wave starts. If I turn the watch around so that the buttons on the watch is facing away from the phone it stops. The only time I have the orb issue is when it’s charging.

It very well could be your charging station that’s causing the issue. That is an unknown brand (to me). You also initially said you were wired charging not that you were wireless or using a non-Apple accessory to charge. Not all accessories work as expected or work well with every device so it wouldn’t be surprising if for whatever reason yours may be playing a part in the situation. Even with wireless charging I can’t replicate this but my wireless charger is a “Made for iPhone” charging station (by Belkin) so it’s certified to meet Apple’s performance standards. So the question becomes…if you use your Apple charging cable that came with your phone and a charging adapter/Block….do you have the same issue? Do you have a wireless charging pad or station that is labeled “Made for iPhone” or even one that isn’t but is a different brand than the one you’re having this issue with? Does the same issue happen when using any of those other options? If not then it lets you know the issue is not your device but is your station.

This isn’t an issue that appears to be affecting a lot of users but it’s possible the other person that stated they were experiencing it too might also be using a product that may actually be causing the issue.

This is exactly what the problem is! I turned off the “”bringing devices together” feature on air drop and put it back on the charging station and that annoying wave/buzz stopped!

I fixed it. Very simple just turn off “share when bringing devices together” in the AirDrop section of your settings.

All you need to do is go to Settings>General>AirDrop>START SHARING BY>Bringing Devices Together & toggle the feature off. That will fix the issue from happening when your own watch & iPhone are too close together on or off the charger.

Thank you so much. Turning air drop off as you stated solved the wave and noise issue when charging on my wireless charge pad.

I have found that if I put my phone on the charger but turn the screen off it doesn’t do it. If I have the phone unlocked and put it on the charger near my watch, it does the wave. By turning the screen off/locking the phone when I charge it next to my watch it doesn’t do it anymore. Problem easily handled.

MKinSD wrote:

Happening to me too on an iPhone14. Definitely started after most recent update. Only occurs if both watch and phone are on charging station at the same time. It even happens when the charging station isn’t plugged in! It’s very annoying - the wave and the “beam me up” sound.

Seems like if it was a charging station issue, we’d all have to have the same charging station. Highly unlikely!

Or it's a charging station issue with charging stations that employ similar circuitry. I have iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max and two MagSafe 3-in-1 charging stations. They both output 15 watts to the iPhone via a MagSafe charging magnet. And we charge both iPhones and Apple Watches, plus earbuds at the same time, with no issue whatsoever.

If this was an update issue or an iPhone issue, it would effect everyone who uses a charging station. But it doesn't effect everyone who uses one.

What people need to consider is that not ALL charging stations are MFi (Made for iPhone) certified. Both of mine are.

My 13 Pro Max is doing this also but only after my watch updated and both are on the Magbak charger simultaneously. If I take the watch off the charger the problem ceases

Yes same here. Removed watch from the wireless charger and the wave with sound stop .

I can’t replicate that at all. Have you restated your device? Could just be a glitch after the update. And although it may seem like a silly question…you’re positive it isn’t a repeating alert for something? If you stop charging for 10 mins is the sound repeated?

Ok so it’s not related to charging. Contact Apple Support directly or if an Apple Store is in your area take it in to be inspected. It’s not a replicable issue unfortunately and unless someone else chimes in experiencing the same thing it’s not a known bug from the update. It’s honestly not a normal bug from any iOS update so that is extremely odd. Also….did you ever reboot/restart your device to see if it continues?