AirPods disconnects on calls

This is a follow up post. I originally posted on

Feb 21, 2017 2:21 PM Re: AirPods disconnects on callsin response to SebasKretz

My config is as follows:

• iPhone 6s running iOS 10.2.1.
• AppleWatch Series 0 running watchOS 3.1.3
• 2016 AirPods

Over the last 7 days I tried a number of the suggestions posted in this thread.

• First, I Reset All Settings. (Very annoying to set up all preferences again.) (Settings-> General-> Reset-> Reset All Settings)
• Second, I switched the microphone setting to 'Always Right' (Settings-> Bluetooth-> AirPods)
• Third, I put my AppleWatch into airplane mode prior to making any call from my iPhone. I had to change the setting in Watch -> General-> Airplane Mode-> Mirror iPhone-> Toggle 'OFF'.

Some Good News: This has improved but not fixed my problem.

Prior to these settings changes, my audio setting for the pods was dropping completely and I had to repair the AirPods to get them to work again. NOW, I hear the pair sound and the audio drops (source changes to iPhone), but immediately the pair tone sounds again and the audio source returns to AirPods and I can hear the conversation again. So, I am only dropping audio for one to two seconds now instead of completely loosing the AirPod connection and having to pick up the phone to continue the conversation.

As many users have expressed, this continues to be very frustrating. While this work around may be a minor improvement, it is certainly not the experience I expect in an all Apple environment.

I'm following this thread. If anyone who has previously posted has any updates or fixes, please continue to reply to this post. Thanks in advance.

Bonjour,

Depuis que j'ai un deuxième appareil à appairer en BT sur mon iPhone 6 je me suis aperçu que le deuxième a beaucoup de problème pour se connecter, voir impossible. Cela est toujours à la sortie du mode avion.

Les matériels sont : APPLE WATCH et Airpods sur un iPhone 6, IOS 10.2

Par contre si je reboot mon iPhone ou si je fais un simple reset... ça refonctionne.

Amicalement,

--

IPhone 6 iOS 10.2 dysf. Bluetooth

This happened to me using an iPhone 6s and iOS 10.2.1 even after the airpods updated to the most recent firmware (V3.5.1). However, when I downloaded iOS 10.3 beta 2 (from the public beta site https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/), and installed that on my iPhone, I haven't had a single drop when using both airpods for phone calls (some pretty lengthy calls). I haven't tried involving an Apple watch in the mix.

I just ran across this article:

https://www.macrumors.com/2017/01/23/apple-airpods-disconnect-during-calls/

Apple Investigating Issue With AirPods Randomly Disconnecting During Calls

Monday January 23, 2017 3:56 AM PST by Tim Hardwick

...Initial reports suggested the dropout issue only occurs if users also have an Apple Watch paired to their iPhone...

It's been three days since I wiped my iPhone 6s Plus clean and almost two days since I restored from my iTunes backup. Here's an update on the AirPods performance since then:

• Removed all other Bluetooth devices upon restoring from iTunes backup.
• Installed iOS 10.2.1 beta 4.
• Yesterday, the AirPods stop playing audio on podcasts twice. Podcasts went from showing the pause button to showing the play button. Audio did not transfer to the iPhone's speaker. I've had this happen before on my AirPods and other wireless headset. Pushing play button started up audio through the AirPods immediately. Otherwise, podcast and music playback has been fine.
• This morning, while making a phone call, the ringing and audio for both sides once connected was super slow (like talking slow motion). Never experienced that before.
• Was on a 50 minute call using Skype and did not experience any dropouts or connection problems
• Numerous phone calls with no problems.

I have yet to pair my Apple Watch (still connected over Wi-Fi). I have no idea if my latest Activity data will sync back to the phone when I re-pair the devices. I'll keep using the iPhone and AirPods like this for a few more days.

Same issue here.

• iPhone 6s Plus iOS 10.2
• AirPods
• Apple Watch Sport (Original) WatchOS 3.1

Seems to happen mostly when i'm using both AirPods on phone call. Once or twice with single AirPod. 99% of the time its during a call. Music/Video playback seems unaffected. Skype calls appear unaffected.

Steps taken:

• Reboot of iPhone
• Complete restore of iOS

  did not restore my data but rebuilt phone from the ground up incase it was a corruption in my data

• Complete restore of WatchOS

  again didn't restore watch data

• repaired AirPods

Using a single AirPod for calls right now just so I can function with them at work. Have had to remove AirPods several times and just grab the phone and use it the old way to me ear. I'm hoping this is an issue Apple can fix with software. Happy to try any other troubling shooting ideas if anyone has them.

Found another solution that worked for on iOS 10.2.1; iPhone 7 Plus:

• Delete all BT devices
• Log out of iCloud
• Reset network settings
• Log into iCloud
• Hold down AirPod Case button for 15 seconds until light flashed yellow. This complete resets the Airpods
• Repair

Phone calls now not be dropped or mis-connected.

I spoke with Apple Support again yesterday to reiterate that my issues were not resolved with the firmware update pushed to the AirPods. I was a bit surprised to hear the agent say that they had only taken calls from people that need help pairing their AirPods. The issues that we all have been indicating seem to be missing, for at least that agents experience. I continue to speculate that the issues that have been reported are maybe a combination of Apple Watch, Cellular Carrier, WIFI Calling Feature. Something along those lines.

Issues I still have intermittently:

• Distorted voice, I hear the caller as a slow evil sounding voice, the caller hears a super fast alien voice
• Call indicates that will be AirPods but the call is coming through the audio on the iPhone
• "Call Failed" on screen - When taking or making calls

I have:

• iPhone 7Plus - 10.2.1
• Apple Watch Series 0 - 3.1.3
• AirPods Firmware 3.5.1

I am also experiencing the same issues - iphone 6s, original apple watch, only disconnecting during phone calls, not during audio use.

I finally figured out the cause for me! My airpods would disconnect during phone calls only, and at random times, and it had nothing to do with signal quality. Like others, it was better with only one airpod during the call. The genius bar was of course "try resetting and restoring, etc."

Reset network settings was useless for me. Finally did a full restore that fixed the issue, and slowly started adding back in features. The problems started again right after I paired my Apple Watch and using the airpods while the watch was shutdown. Unpairing it on the phone fixed it immediately, not even a restart required. Still looking into workarounds and why the watch is interfering.

I submitted a bug report to apple, hopefully if they get enough bug reports they'll look into it. So if anyone else has a developer account, it's probably worth submitting if you can reproduce it. There's also Apple "bug" feedback.

I can confirm a similar experience. Yesterday, I once again reset and restored my phone and Watch. However, this time I didn't rush to get my Watch connected.

While the Watch was still waiting to be paired, the AirPods worked perfectly. I wasn't able to reproduce a single issue I had been having.

Then, after I paired my Watch, all the issues came back... instantly.

I have to say, it would be nice for Apple to at least acknowledge the issue... even if it is just to say, "we are looking into it."

Similar problem also with some popping/clipping during audio playback.

Iphone 6s+ (10.2), Apple watch series 2 (3.1) and new Airpods.

Call audio drops to iphone with no audible indicator every 3.5 minutes or so during a call. No difference if I use only one airbud. After resetting the airpods and unpairing the watch I still get drops except now the drops have an audible woosh sound when the drop happens and now they automatically reconnect (also with a woosh sound). Also, after the calls dropped and I listened more carefully I noticed frequent clipping/popping during spotify playback.

I spent 2 hrs with apple support and they had no answer for me except to recommend replacement. The kicker is that apple online store tells me I need to wait up to 8 weeks for a replacement. Thanks Apple, what a way to treat an early adopter who ordered online as soon as the store started taking orders.

Same issue here, calls get disconnected after 6-8 minutes. Apparently it has to do with an interference with the iwatch and the inability to have them both connected through Bluetooth at the same time

Does anyone know how to report this to Apple?

After I put the AirPods on, I make one phone call with them but on the next phone call I hear nothing although they seem connected to the phone. But I can listen music after that unsuccessful phone call. I tried to unpair/forget the AirPods on my iphone and connect them again but the same problem persists. It is very annoying. I'm using iphone 7 Plus with iOS 10.2

I am having the same issue with my AirPods and iPhone 6s. I have Apple Watch.

I also ran into the issue with my MacBook while watching Netflix. I ended up just switching back to my EarPods. Today, I disabled the microphone on the MacBook (as suggested) and watched a couple hours of Netflix shows and did not experience the disconnect issue, so hopefully that has fixed the issue in the short-term.

I am going to try and switch the mic to just the left or right AirPod for the iPhone (as suggested) and see if that makes any difference with that. It sounds like for others it may have lessened the occurrence, but not eliminated it. I will let everyone know how it goes for me.