Bluetooth Interference - Apple Watch and iPhone 6

I also had Bluetooth interference issues with the Apple Watch but with a Logitech DiNovo Edge Keyboard, I bought a cheap Logitech keyboard and mouse to replace it and it suffered issues as well, but only when my Apple Watch was in the vicinity.

I experienced quite a similar behaviour as dino_russ. Moreover, I found that when I had completely restored my iPhone via iTunes, everything worked as intended and I didn't have to switch my Apple Watch to flight mode, no BT interferences then - but only for a few days/weeks. At some point, the trouble started over again with more and more Watch interferences coming up, audio streaming became jerky again, phone calls were messed up soundwise. I somehow have the impression that this is some sort of a weird memory leak. But then again, it doesn't really help to simply reboot the iPhone, that only helps for a couple of hours - if at all.

So I again have no choice as to put my Apple Watch into flight mode before entering my car. That's the only working method to avoid those BT interferences, at least for the time being.

Also, I noted that contacts syncing between my iPhone and my car entertainment system (Kenwood DNX4280BT, by the way) took a lot longer with the Watch enabled compared to when I put the Watch in flight mode before. Seems to be the same reason.

Best

gerofromronnenberg wrote:

I experienced quite a similar behaviour as dino_russ. Moreover, I found that when I had completely restored my iPhone via iTunes, everything worked as intended and I didn't have to switch my Apple Watch to flight mode, no BT interferences then - but only for a few days/weeks. At some point, the trouble started over again with more and more Watch interferences coming up, audio streaming became jerky again, phone calls were messed up soundwise. I somehow have the impression that this is some sort of a weird memory leak. But then again, it doesn't really help to simply reboot the iPhone, that only helps for a couple of hours - if at all.

So I again have no choice as to put my Apple Watch into flight mode before entering my car. That's the only working method to avoid those BT interferences, at least for the time being.

Also, I noted that contacts syncing between my iPhone and my car entertainment system (Kenwood DNX4280BT, by the way) took a lot longer with the Watch enabled compared to when I put the Watch in flight mode before. Seems to be the same reason.

Best

Yes you have described my symptoms exactly. The other day when symptoms came back after a week or two without needing to go airplane mode while starting the loading of contacts and syncing of the phone part not only slowed down like they do with the watch interference as you note but they failed and then it would not sync even with watch in airplane. It forced me to completely unpair the iPhone from the car, and do a new pairing before they would again load. I am not sure what the bluetooth issues with the watch are but it is more than annoying. The habit is simple to do but occasionally I am in hurry and forget. so it needs to be fixed apple. I have done feedback to apple on this..

Today, the new iOS 9.2 and (maybe even more important) the new watchOS 2.1 (Apple Watch) were released. Who knows - maybe Apple managed to solve the Apple Watch BT interference problem with either of those two firmware updates... I have already installed both here while being at work and will check it out later on my 30 minutes drive home. Will report in the next couple of days - keep your fingers (not your Bluetooth signals!) crossed!

Best

Today, I updated to iOS 9.2 and watchOS 2.1. While there was a major improvement as far as the interference problem, I still experienced some - but definitely not as much as previously. I only did one test for 30 mins (my 3.5 mile daily run). Will conduct another test tomorrow and post my findings.

ive installed iOS 9.2 and watchOS 2.1 and have noticed no difference in the interference problems I have been having whe using both devices with my 2015 Honda FIT. I wasn't expecting there to be an improvement, however, since the version notes for the phone upgrade and the watch upgrade made no mention of attempting to correct the problem. Personally, I believe they'll solve it in a later update, assuming the problem can be corrected at all.

I can confirm what Matthew Carter wrote. There is definitely no change in the interference problems at all. Last night I thought there was because I didn't have a single interference in about 30 minutes (my way home from work). But this morning (when driving to work), playback got jerky after approx. 1 min playing time.

So yes - let's hope that Apple will fix this in a later update. Until then, flight mode is your only friend.

Best

gerofromronnenberg wrote:

I can confirm what Matthew Carter wrote. There is definitely no change in the interference problems at all. Last night I thought there was because I didn't have a single interference in about 30 minutes (my way home from work). But this morning (when driving to work), playback got jerky after approx. 1 min playing time.

So yes - let's hope that Apple will fix this in a later update. Until then, flight mode is your only friend.

Best

Yes agree same problems. It is three days after the update and for 3 days no interference with my Mazda Connect. Today thought big time, dropping and connecting my ipone -- both audio and the cell part and contacts list. Would connect, then loose connection, connect loose connection, actually worse than with 9.1 and watchOS 2.01. So like my experience with the later OS's the interference comes and goes (I would have a week where no airplane mode needed for watch then back and needed). But the phone part (for calling and all) always had no problems before these updates just the bluetooth audio for me with Mazda Connect. Now both are having issues this is regression rather than improvement. My $700 wrist tech is causing issues with my new $25K Mazda, a real pain apple!

...ok, so it's been a while, happy new year to everybody....

Do we have any new insights to our problem...? It still bugs me A LOT....

Best

I purchased an Apple Watch today. Running most current software on both the watch and my iPhone 6. Everything was working great...until I got into my 2012 Jeep Wrangler with UConnect. If I make a call off the watch it pairs through the phone to the car BUT there is no audio. The call was connected but I couldn't hear who I called and she couldn't hear me. Second...when I play music off the watch it plays on the phone but the music is not transferred to the car stereo. Both of these problems are quite annoying and defeat the purpose of being "hands free". I haven't had time to find a work around as of yet and I'm not sure there is one.

I managed to fix my Apple Watch/iphone6/bluetooth car problems. Someone on here advised this and it solved everything. On UConnect I unpaired my iPhone 6 and on phone I deleted UConnect device. I then powered off/powered on phone and repaired the two. I now have full functionality both with calls and playing music through watch.

I don't know why Apple has so much issues with Bluetooth interference, but it's pretty annoying. I just bought the 9.7" iPad Pro and what do you know it has the exact same issues as the iPhone and Apple Watch. I use an app to control my DSLR camera via WiFi but if I use my phone I have to disable Bluetooth and disconnect my watch or the WiFi performance is horrible, the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil have the same issue, so if I use the iPad to control the camera I have to disable Bluetooth on the iPad and disconnect the pencil, or I get the same horrible WiFi performance due to interference.

It wouldn't be so bad if they sorted the software for the Apple Watch so that you can set default WiFi networks separately from the phone, as it causes serious issues with routers that support both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz, if my phone is connected to 5Ghz as it should be then the watch can't connect via WiFi, also to get the Watch to connect to 2.4Ghz then my phone has to already be able to connect to the 2.4Ghz side of my router, but this means it tends to connect to that first instead of the much faster 5Ghz. This is a silly limitation that needs to be fixed.

Wingman S wrote:

.. It wouldn't be so bad if they sorted the software for the Apple Watch so that you can set default WiFi networks separately from the phone .. This is a silly limitation that needs to be fixed.

Hi

If you would like to suggest that Apple considers adding that feature, you can do so here:

https://www.apple.com/feedback/watch.html

Thanks,

I just sent them a feature suggestion to allow the watch to select a WiFi network separately from the phone, but having never sent a suggestion I'm not sure of the likelihood of it actually ever happening. But I live in hope.

I realised that the quality of the music in the car using Spotify from my phone started to be bad.

Actually there was continuos interference and sound scratches like having a bad connection, similar to playing music on a bad vinyl album.

That happened since I had my brand new apple watch.

By turning off the watch the problem disappears, and comes back when I turn it on.

These are my devices and car:

- iPhone 5s with 9.3.1 sw version

- Apple watch with 2.2 sw version

- Ford C-MAX

I realise there is no solution so far, apart from setting the watch to airplane mode ... Did I understand properly ?

Thanks

Regards