Why does iPhone Bluetooth keep cutting out?

Bluetooth interference can potentially cause connectivity issues due to the disruption of the wireless communication between devices. Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency range, which is also used by various other devices such as Wi-Fi routers, microwaves, cordless phones, and even some baby monitors. When multiple devices are operating nearby and using the same frequency band, interference can occur.

Here's how Bluetooth interference can impact connectivity:

1. When you're streaming music via Apple Music or using Siri to play audio content, Bluetooth interference can disrupt the connection between your device (such as an iPhone) and the Bluetooth speaker or headphones. This interference can result in the audio stuttering, dropping out momentarily, or experiencing poor sound quality.
2. Bluetooth devices transmit data in packets. Interference can cause some of these packets to be lost or corrupted during transmission. As a result, the receiving device may have trouble decoding the audio or Siri commands correctly, leading to stuttering or delayed responses.
3. Bluetooth signals can be weakened by interference from other devices operating on the same frequency band. If the signal strength drops significantly, it can affect the stability of the connection between your device and the Bluetooth accessory. This can result in intermittent stuttering as the connection struggles to maintain a consistent data flow.
4. Bluetooth uses different channels within the 2.4 GHz frequency range to establish connections. When there are many Bluetooth devices nearby, multiple connections can create congestion on the available channels. This congestion can cause interference, leading to degraded performance for Apple Music streaming or Siri interactions.

To mitigate Bluetooth interference issues and reduce stuttering:

1. Minimize the number of active Bluetooth devices near each other. Switch off or move away devices that are not in use or causing interference.
2. Increase the distance between your Bluetooth devices (e.g., your iPhone and Bluetooth speaker/headphones) to reduce the impact of interference.
3. Keep your devices' firmware up to date, including your iPhone and any Bluetooth accessories. Manufacturers often release firmware updates that can improve the performance and stability of Bluetooth connections.
4. Objects like walls, furniture, or large metal surfaces can obstruct Bluetooth signals and contribute to interference. Ensure a clear line of sight between your devices to optimize signal strength.
5. Some Bluetooth devices allow you to manually switch to different channels within the 2.4 GHz range. Check the user manual or settings of your Bluetooth accessory to see if you can change channels to find a less congested one.
6. If your Wi-Fi router supports it, consider using the 5 GHz frequency band for Wi-Fi connections instead of 2.4 GHz. This can reduce potential interference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals.

By implementing these steps, you can help minimize Bluetooth interference and improve the overall performance while playing music.

OMG, I LOVE YOU!!! Stupid Alexa app, this totally fixed it for me. Thank you!!

LOL I made Tesla take apart my car and test everything with the Bluetooth module. I just tried it on my wife’s Tesla, and when it also kept cutting out on her car, and because it doesn’t do it with her iPhone or our kid’s iPad, it made me curious and search up the answer on Google. It definitely is an iPhone issue, and more specifically, the Alexa app. I almost considered swapping car manufacturers because of this. My bad.

Go to your iPhone Settings > Alexa > then turn off Bluetooth.

Possible solution: I think this issue started for me a few months ago when I bought 2 HomePods and 2 HomePod minis to listen to music and link to my AppleTV. I tried all of the solutions here and in other threads from Apple support. I thought about the timing of when the issue started and decided to try turning off all of the settings in AirPlay & Handoff in General settings. Since doing so, haven’t had the intermittent crackeling on my Bose or other Bluetooth devices connected to my iPhone 14 Pro Max. I can still manually select AirPlay speakers I have including the HomePods.

After going through and disabling all app access and only using core services I still had the issue. There was a recent update to ios 17.4.1 and that seems to have resolved my issue. I hope it helps others as well.

I think I found the solution to this issue. I haven't had any problems since making this change.

Try going into Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth

Turn off all of the apps and then restart your device. I did this and everything has been working fine ever since. I haven't gone through the apps to see which one is causing the problem.

I had to shut off every single app in the Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth to make audio stop glitching and skipping. I'm not sure which app is causing the problem, so I just shut them all off and it hasn't been an issue for 3 months now.

I took this Bluetooth detective work a step further, and went to Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth and turned off ALL Bluetooth access to apps that don't need any Bluetooth access (Compass Homes really?)

So far, after 1 hour no dropouts!

My issue was like: Music plays and suddenly one of the ears becomes silent then milliseconds later the second, then screeching, silence, and then one at a time or sometimes both start to play, from low volume to the level that was set.

I first though it was because it was in my pocket and my body blocks the signal but it also happened when I was using the phone directly in front of my face, in perfectly clean, unobstructed line of view. Removing the case (apple made case, the rubber one) also did not help. But going into settings>Privacy>Bluetooth and turning off access to the apps that I know won’t need it for the purposes I use them for - this definitely helped in my case.

if you have the similar experience, maybe it will help yours.

good luck!

Over the past year there are hundreds of posts on this site with the same issue. These solutions you gave are not related at all to 99.99% of those. The pattern is BT connections while mobile. Either walking with earphones and your phone on your body or in the car connected to the car’s audio.

For many it happens consistently at certain locations on a route. Non apple phones with the same audio devices don’t have an issue, only late model iPhone 13 and later.

The problems have been reported for over a year and any response I’ve seen has mirrored your unhelpful suggestions, while Apple has been silent.

There is a serious problem with iPhone Bluetooth function and no one is addressing it.

It's probably because of the vocal shortcuts or live speech being turned on, as the phone gives you a second to talk or command it. That might be the reason for the stutter. If you turn it off, it should be fine. That's what happened to me, and it's fixed now.!

Thank you. I checked and bluetooth was on for homepods etc and I don’t even have those. I turned it all off and my phone is now working in my car with bluetooth.

I’m curious as well.

My issue actually started on my iPhone 11 Pro Max about three years ago.

My Bluetooth audio would just sputter and/or go out completely for a few seconds at a time. This occurs randomly. I might have 15 minutes uninterrupted and then have 15 minutes of continuous interruption.

I was so hopeful when I upgraded to the iPhone 13 Pro Max when it came out. But, it carried over.

I started to realize that it happened any time I used Bluetooth. It goes both ways.. I would be talking on the phone and people kept telling me that I was cutting out but I didn’t have troubles on my end. Then my audio started cutting out a few seconds later.

This problem has completely rendered my ability to rely on Bluetooth with my phone. I can’t even switch phone calls over to my Mac and use my Mac to talk.. same problem.

I have AirPods 1 and 2, AirPods Pro 1 and 2, And AirPods Max. It’s the same story on everyone one of them with my iPhone.

However, they all work flawlessly with my Mac and three different Apple TVs.

The fact that this problem persisted from iPhone 11 to 13 has me holding out on upgrading. I’ve decided to wait until the iPhone 16.

I sincerely hope someone figures this out!!

I conducted a little experiment over the few days. I walk 8 miles daily. I do the same route each day.

one day 1 I connected my beats to my 15 pro. and on day 2 I connected my Apple AirPods. The results were the same. Over a 2 hour period they were affected 40-45 times by “interference “ on days 3 & 4 I only used my Apple Watch Ultra and didn’t take my phone with me. On these days I got absolutely no interference or interruption at all.

it’s also worth nothing that I live in the English countryside and my walks take me through cow & sheep fields and along a canal.

so the only conclusion I can come to is that the Bluetooth connection on the iPhone 1( pro is P*** poor.

I never had this issue when I had the 13 pro max.

I recently switched from Samsung/Android to a 15 Pro, mainly because I bought a MacBook Pro, not because of any issues with Android or Samsungs One UI.

There is a list of complaints I could make of what is IOS … it has fallen relatively far behind late Android but the abysmal Bluetooth connection is certainly rearing its ugly head.

Whereas I could walk away from my phone for ten or more (even obstructed) meters with my beloved ‘Samsung Buds Live’ (BT IEM’s) and a Galaxy S23 … I now can barely walk 3 meters into the kitchen without signal drop. Worse even, I tend to have one in ear when cycling/training with my phone in my back pocket. It doesn’t matter if I have the cycle computer switched on or off, the signal will drop after a short while.

I first thought Apple may be deliberately stunting the Bluetooth performance of non-Apple products … for obvious reasons, perhaps they do but I can see others have similar issues here.

What on earth are you doing Apple?!

Of course, the usual YouTube influencers/shills never mention this or an other myriad of shortcomings.

Apple, please get your act together. Thank you.