AirPods connection issues after iOS 18 Update

Thanks a lot such a relief 🥲. Turning off the vocal shortcuts solved the issue for me. Even my car play music issue got sorted with this.

thanks a lot

I have another issue with my AirPods after iOS 18 update! Both AirPod are able to connect through Bluetooth and show battery but cannot play sound together when I try to listen to a call or music, only one AirPod is able to play sound at any time: if I take either side out, the other side will work if I replay the music, but once I put the AirPod back into my ear, they cannot work together. I’ve already tried resetting the AirPod connection. (The #1 AirPod is now renamed to be #3 on my device list). What else can I try?

I have had the same issue and Apple tech support is suggesting a $330 fix for a headphone that was purchased for $550! Apple should examine how Bose treat their customers when they encounter similar issue!

I’ve been having this issue with my airpod maxes on my iPad ever since I updated it to 18.0.1. My airpods won’t duel connect with my iPad and any of my other devices, its bluetooth is always freaking out, and my ipad overall has been extremely glitchy; enough to the point where I am considering getting rid of it. I am so sick of these problems ever major update and as a student I don’t have time for them

Really getting fed up now. Since the 18 upgrade my AirPod pros loose Bluetooth with my phone. Have to reset and Now not even connecting. They work fine on iPad and iMac but just not my phone! Clearly software issue. Really annoyed!

I share your sentiment of disappointment. After nine years

of using Samsung, I recently switched back to Apple, but I'm not experiencing

the luxury, user-friendliness, or innovative solutions I expected. Instead,

I've encountered poor software design and outdated hardware.

It's crucial to thoroughly test updates to prevent

disconnection issues. While features like gesture control are interesting, they

don't outweigh the problems caused by disconnections. If discontinuing such

options resolves these issues, I believe it would be worth considering.

I’ve been dealing with this same issue multiple times through out the day. Music takes up a pretty large part of my time and it’s super inconvenient when that’s made complicated and stressful. I’ve noticed it happens more so when the AirPods are at high volume, somewhere above 50% I’d say?

Ever since update, left AirPod pro won’t charge and case doesn’t connect to IOS through pairing with the button on the back of the charging case.

for anyone who’s wondering what is going on, there is a war being waged between tech giants and apple is clearly a target.

razer has some earbuds that spank the AirPod pros in performance.

they recently had a malware issue where the case wouldn’t charge the left earbud.

a few months go by and apple has the same exact issue.

how much money have we all spent on this product only to see it’s such a failure.

ill never buy apple earbuds ever again in this life. They make okay phones, but anything else by apple is just pure junk with a junk price.

how many of us spent so much money only to be led here, with others who spent the same kind of money only to wish we had gone somewhere else.

galaxy budds and razer are so much better than these things.

I am so glad that I am not the only one with all this going on. VERY similar issues with my Airpods Max. They will only connect to my 16 Pro if I forget them, and hard reset them, to pair them all over again. To have a software update bork this many pairs of headphones is wild, but it seems that they really need to act to solve this matter. Again, none of this was an issue until the latest update which I performed last week. The weird thing is that whatever OS version was on the phone when I picked it up a few weeks ago was just fine. Think I am going to turn off auto updates going forward, and when this stabilizes, leave it there until the bugs are worked out in successive updates. Spoke with support today and they are aware something is amiss, and it isn't hardware, but they did not tip their hat towards any particular update, so I suppose we must all tread water until then. Wasting your time if you take them in for "repairs" now, as the fix is on them to issue an update. Might be a good time to dig out that lightning/USB-C to 3.5mm cord that does not come in the box *insert upside down smiley face here*

Another odd thing is now occurring. Rather than sleep and disconnect from my iPhone/Macbook/AppleTV when placed in their case, now my Airpods Max maintain their active connection(s) to my devices. I had recently replaced my original worn out case over the summer with a brand new one, so again, something seems WAY wrong with the latest iOS update. I am just baffled that it would somehow bork $600 headphones that only very rarely receive updates themselves.

Yesterday I finally decided to upgrade my iPhone to iOS 18 and what a disaster these past 24 hours have been. My AirPods Max are encountering the same problems described by all the users on this thread, it is really annoying, I am supposed to get some work done but it is hard when I have to spend 5/10min reconnecting them whenever I take them off to talk to colleagues or grab a cup of coffee. What is even more incredible is that it's december 4th and people are still having this issue? Unbelievable, I will definitely stay away from Apple headphones next time

Ever since my phone forced the iOS18.1 update, my AirPod Pros have been entirely bricked. Had absolutely no issue with them prior to the update and they have been well cared for. Now my phone and computer no longer recognize them and are unable to successfully pair. I did all of the troubleshooting recommended directly by Apple--no success. Ended up taking them to the Genius Bar, where they immediately insisted my AirPods likely were damaged by moisture. When I insisted this was not the case, they took them back to their lab to further investigate, with the report concluding that there was in fact NO physical damage done to the devices. To ensure MY phone was not the issue, the tech tried to pair my airPods to his employee iPad--same problem. To this the tech said "We're not sure what's wrong with them, but because they're out of warranty, you'll need to buy new ones." They were working PERFECTLY before the update. If this isn't resolved with a software patch, I will be leaving the Apple Ecosystem altogether.

Can’t connect with airpod

Same thing happened to me! Fortunately, it just fixed itself one day and never came back. Are your AirPods updated?

Ditto, mine are almost unusable at the minute with the interference and cutouts.