Choppy/Stuttering Bluetooth Audio on MacBook using Safari while watching videos

I am having bluetooth stuttering audio whenever viewing videos on Safari. I have done every logical thing that a middle aged person who has been on the Internet for a long time would do. Reset bluetooth, disconnected bluetooth and re-enabled, etc, etc. Nothing has worked. I have tried different browser. No luck. Different bluetooth headsets, no luck.


Looking around Google, this seems to be a problem for some people. I have lived with this for over 2 years and I am finally resorting to Apple discussions to resolve it. I haven't been here in over 20 years because Apple has been so great. Any help is appreciated. I am at my wits end and I feel like tossing this computer in the nearest river.


MacBook Air, M2, using Tahoe 26.2.

Posted on Jan 9, 2026 5:51 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 9, 2026 10:47 PM

"Choppy/Stuttering Bluetooth Audio on MacBook using Safari while watching videos: I am having bluetooth stuttering audio whenever viewing videos on Safari.[...]"

-------


Troubleshooting Mac Bluetooth Speakers in Safari:

It might be a bug in Safari. So, it might comedown to reinstalling the macOS. Nothing would be deleted, but any damaged system files or missing files will me replaced or relocated, respectively. See the last bullied item.

"Reset the Bluetooth Module":

See my User Tip: Use "Reset the Bluetooth module" to Fix Constant Bluetooth Disconnections - User Tip. Looking at my first comment on it, recommended to Apple that they bring this option back. They canned Reset the Bluetooth Module in Monterey's release. So, using this command in Terminal, as I provided in my User Tip:

sudo pkill bluetoothd


What else to do:

Try the following, in the order provided...

  • Boot in Safe Mode:

[Hold Down: shift key, upon boot], In Safe ModeLogin Items do not run at login, certain preferences are set aside, and damaged system files are then reset. So, once booted in to Safe Mode, wait for 30 seconds, and then boot up normally, attempting another sync.


  • Try a New Admin User:

What happens when you create a new administrator user, and log in to it? Do you still get this error? If not, then it is likely an error with the current user. If so, then it is likely an error with your macOS.


as a last resort...


  • Reinstall the macOS:

Go Here: How to Reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support

Important: First, Back Up your Mac:

Create a Time Machine backup of your Mac, so that you can have something to restore your Mac from, should anything go wrong with the reinstall. Take this as a learning experience, knowing to always create a backup of your Mac, prior to making any major changes to it (i.e. update installation)

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 9, 2026 10:47 PM in response to glb

"Choppy/Stuttering Bluetooth Audio on MacBook using Safari while watching videos: I am having bluetooth stuttering audio whenever viewing videos on Safari.[...]"

-------


Troubleshooting Mac Bluetooth Speakers in Safari:

It might be a bug in Safari. So, it might comedown to reinstalling the macOS. Nothing would be deleted, but any damaged system files or missing files will me replaced or relocated, respectively. See the last bullied item.

"Reset the Bluetooth Module":

See my User Tip: Use "Reset the Bluetooth module" to Fix Constant Bluetooth Disconnections - User Tip. Looking at my first comment on it, recommended to Apple that they bring this option back. They canned Reset the Bluetooth Module in Monterey's release. So, using this command in Terminal, as I provided in my User Tip:

sudo pkill bluetoothd


What else to do:

Try the following, in the order provided...

  • Boot in Safe Mode:

[Hold Down: shift key, upon boot], In Safe ModeLogin Items do not run at login, certain preferences are set aside, and damaged system files are then reset. So, once booted in to Safe Mode, wait for 30 seconds, and then boot up normally, attempting another sync.


  • Try a New Admin User:

What happens when you create a new administrator user, and log in to it? Do you still get this error? If not, then it is likely an error with the current user. If so, then it is likely an error with your macOS.


as a last resort...


  • Reinstall the macOS:

Go Here: How to Reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support

Important: First, Back Up your Mac:

Create a Time Machine backup of your Mac, so that you can have something to restore your Mac from, should anything go wrong with the reinstall. Take this as a learning experience, knowing to always create a backup of your Mac, prior to making any major changes to it (i.e. update installation)

Choppy/Stuttering Bluetooth Audio on MacBook using Safari while watching videos

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.