Powerbeats 3 keep disconnecting during workout

I was finally able to figure out how to fix my Powerbeats3 from constantly disconnecting from my phone. It was incredibly frustrating to see it disconnecting every 5-10 minutes or so. This is what worked for me...

1. Connect your Powerbeats3 to your computer and use the Beats Updater app to see if there's a firmware upgrade available. (Mine already were up to date)

2. Go to Settings > Bluetooth > Powerbeats 3 > Forget Device

3. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings (this will reset your wifi passwords too but it's the only thing I could do to make it work)

4. Reset your iPhone

5. Reset your Powerbeats (Hold the power button + Volume down button at the same time until the red light flashes)

6. Repair your Powerbeats to your iPhone

I've gone through 3 pairs of warranty replacement Powerbeats 3 over the last 10 months for the same reason, shutting off or malfunctioning during workouts. When I called last week to work out what to do, I was eventually put through to Beats technical support. They admitted they have lots of calls/issues as I was experiencing. I was offered a 'new from stock' set of Powerbeats 3 with a 12 month warranty reset, but was also told that I would likely see the same issues I've been experiencing. So they basically offered me any other beats headphones as a replacement product. I should be getting my Beats Studio 3 wireless headphones this week.

I am an Apple Specialist, and I just got off the phone with a Senior Advisor in the Beats dept. We were worried that some people might get the suggestion that the Powerbeats have a "function" or mechanism that activates when sweat is introduced and shuts off the Powerbeats. This is not really the case, as they are not smart enough to do that, being without a computer chip. The Powerbeats shut off when exposed to too much sweat simply because they are electrical devices.

Make sure you are taking off your ear pieces after your workout and storing your earbuds in a well ventilated area (not in a gym bag, for example). Resetting the earbuds can also help with the issue here.

I was just told by an Apple support member that the Powerbeats 3 headphones have a function that causes them to turn off if the device if gets wet. Despite the fact Apple claims the headphones to be "sweat resistant," the apple support member began to explain to me how different people sweat more or less than others, and that the headphones are not "sweat proof." So, apparently, if you sweet too much over the course of your work out - let's say while training for a marathon like I am - they will naturally get wet from your sweat, and then they will turn off like they are suppose to in some sort of defense. After I experienced mine turning off less than two miles into my run this morning, it took a few hours before I could get them to turn on and connect again. In the time in which I could not get them connect, I would see the white led light flash three times and that was it.

How absolutely frustrating!!! I guess these headphones are really made for your active couch potato, and maybe even requires that the active couch potato sit in air conditioning.

I've had the same problem as you. It's clear that the PowerBeats are not meant for serious exercise. Maybe for a neighborhood walk, but if there is any chance of sweat getting on these phones, you're out of luck. Incredibly poor design, but the marketing of these as active headphones comes close to false advertising in my opinion. I had several other branks, including Plantronics, that I logged well over 3000 miles of running with over 2 years and had no issue.

I've been having the same issue... have had my PB3 since Christmas 2017. Getting pretty annoyed with them disconnecting frequently. I don't get them wet, so that's not the issue for me. One thing I have noticed when I'm having issues that I have to 'forget' the pairing and then re-pair. Seems to help, especially after charging them. But with that said... I'm not going to put up with an inferior product. These headphones don't come cheap and for what I paid.... I expect a superior product....

regretfully, the beats are an inferior product.

Wish it werent so, considering the money I paid for them. Have had a total of 5 repair request, and guess what. Just got a pair back not so long ago. They have, as of today, failed; with less than 10 uses. Apple has dropped the ball so terribly bad here. These are not meant for athletics whatsoever. In your case, even worse because they do not get wet, yet still having issues.

All the time. I'm on my 3rd pair in one year (all been replaced under warranty). I think they're just a really bad quality product. They're now giving me the run around trying to get a replacement again for the 4th time

I actually bought my PowerBeats3 the day of your post (9.17). Ever since my beats do this, specifically. Upon reaching mid to end workout (when sweating peas) the beats shut off and will not immediately repair. If this "defense mechanism" is keeping them from permanently breaking, great; but my case with Apple has been open for weeks on end, with several attempts at communicating a resolution, or any worthwhile info, and they have failed to mention once this is a feature of the product. Incredibly frustrating as 90% of their function for me is during workouts!

Fortunately, I haven’t had any issues since the weather warmed up. Starting to think it’s a temperature issue. I only had issues when it was very cold.

Same here. Sometimes about 20 minutes into workouts (and sometimes after longer periods) they'll just disconnect. I've tried to reset them(holding down the power button and volume down for 10 seconds) and reconnect but had no luck. But later on I'm able to reset them and they're back working. The only thing is I know I'll keeping having this problem. I've had mine for 4 months.

I have said this before, but I really think we might be barking up the wrong tree here with the sweat issue. I am not a runner; I am a walker. Although in the summer I do sweat while walking, during the winter I rarely have that problem. I received my Beats for Christmas, and this winter has been cold and snowy in my neck of Ohio. On most days I have absolutely no issues with the Beats, but occasionally they do shut off. I have never been sweating. In fact, it has happened several times when the temperature was in the single digits. Usually, if they shut off, it might be once or maybe twice in about 90 minutes. Yesterday, when the temperature was in the low 30s, and I was not sweating, the Beats shut off a good 10 times during my 70 minute walk. Today, I walked for a good 90 minutes during wet snow with nary an issue.

When I finish my walks, I plug in the Beats for several hours to charge. I keep them in a wooden armoire that is dry and has plenty of air room. I make sure they are fully charged at the beginning of each walk.

Is it possible it is a network problem? I know they run on a battery, but I use them with my phone on my walks. Could they be shutting off as my phone tries to connect to different networks I pass by? I walked a different route yesterday. Just wondering if that had anything to do with it. On previous walks, they seem to shut off at the exact same places.

That’s probably a ridiculous suggestion. Please share more plausible explanations and provide suggestions for anything I can do to prevent the shut offs from appening in the future.

I'm having the same issue with 2 different pairs of Powerbeats 3. Just been using the online apple chat and they refuse to confirm if that feature exists or not and won't escalate the issue to engineering. They want to send my Powerbeats in for repair. Very frustrating.

Hello.

First of all, happy new year.

Well, even if it’s a “defense mechanism”,as you mentioned, it should’ve been better designed since it’s advertised as a product for people who workout.

I didn’t have any problems contacting the support, in fact they were very helpful and in less than 4 days I had mine exchanged.

Hope they do solve your problem soon