airpods cut in and out when phone is pocket

This also happens to me. I don’t have a solution, but wanted to add more context in case somebody stumbles upon this thread later and knows a fix.

For me, it’s not so much the fabric as just being covered up: When my iPhone is in my back pocket and the AirPods cut out, if I take out my phone and hold it the problem goes away. While still holding it, if I cover the front of the phone with my hand then the audio will cut out again.

Also, this rarely (never?) happens at home. It’s almost always while walking to/from work, especially in intersections and when crossing city streets. Could power lines or underground cables create electromagnetic interference, compounded somehow by some sensor on the phone?

Weird stuff, and doesn’t make much sense. I haven’t tried getting an Apple Store appointment yet since I bet it wouldn’t be reproducible there in person.

I experience this as well. Very annoying!

iPhone7+ in jeans pocket, outdoors will cut in/out. Indoors all good. Reason I got them was to be unlettered. Ugh. Wish there was a solution or fix.

I'm also having problems. I don't know if there is a cause effect relationship, but last night I charged my case with an iPad charger. Perhaps this messed it up. If that's the case Apple is going to have to win me back.

I have only had this problem after my iPhone7Plus was replaced (at the Genius Bar). In the 3 months prior to that I never once had this issue.

This makes me think that the problem is AT LEAST PARTLY an issue with my iPhone.

I too have noticed that this only happens while outdoors. Inside my house it a coffee shop I can walk around with my iPhone in my pocket and the AirPods do not cut out. But while walking outside they do. Would love to know if there is a solution coming. Could this have to do with not being on a wifi network? Does wifi support the AirPod connection?

I too am experiencing this, and I noticed that it cuts out more often when outdoors. I believe this is because when you are indoors the bluetooth wireless signal bounces off walls and ceilings etc to get to your airpods, but when you are outdoors there is not as many items for the signal to bounce off so your airpods have to be line of site with your phone and if anything is in between it attenuates the signal. Just my two cents, it is annoying I know.

Same deal here. Seems to only happen when I am outside cutting the lawn. I live in the suburbs, so it's not like there are large buildings or even any nearby traffic lights. Just power lines, telephone lines, and television/cable lines. I suppose some of my neighbors have satellite television too (I don't), I haven't noticed which ones might have it so I'm not sure how close in proximity the satellites may be, but these are the only types of things I can think of that might interfere with the AirPods.

Just FYI (I have the same problem when mowing the lawn, btw), but satellites don't work that way. Consumer satellite dishes for TV reception don't broadcast anything, they're purely receivers. You're getting just as many radio waves from the satellites in space when you're miles away from any terrestrial dishes as you are when you're sitting next to one.

I have the exact same problem. It started on my old IPhone 6s Plus. They checked my phone for errors and it was clear. We actually even replaced the phone just in case. It's still a problem on the second IPhone 6s Plus.

Yes! Junctions trigger it for me. Perhaps new cell towers come into line of sight? So infuriating. Apple have replaced one set but still fails. Multiple phones, multiple watches, no watch, same thing.

Works well from my watch, or with just one AirPod.

Bluetooth operates on the 2.4 GHz spectrum, the same one that microwave ovens use for heating food. What is going on is your own bodies water is interfering with the signal. Happens it’s other Bluetooth headphones as well. Water absorbs 2.4GHz signal well, hence the use in microwave ovens.

Some of us are more watery than others? Still doesn’t explain why they work at home but not outside.

In the end though, Apple and I have realized that they simple don’t work for me. My JBLs do, but they’re much larger with presumably a better antenna. Got my money back after trying 4 different pairs.

Of note, location does seem to be significant. At one Apple store I could not reproduce the issue. At another (Grand Central) it was reproducible throughout the store, to the degree that Apple staff were able to hear the issue, after which they were simply amazing in trying to find a solution, but it ended up being that sadly they’d have to refund me.

I’ll wait for version 2.

I run into the issue too. outdoor no sound, inside is ok.

I had this really bad on my recently purchased Airpods. It was practically unlistenable.

This fixed it for me - https://tidbits.com/article/16965

Me too .I presume they can be returned and Apple will refund as they are not fit for purpose .