My AirPods work for my music fine, but if I want to receive a call or make a call no sound comes from them. I can see that the call connects, but no sound comes from the AirPods. They are 100% charged as well as the case. I can switch to play music and they operate normally.
AIRPODS, iOS 10.3.2
I've had an ongoing exchange with Apple engineering on this issue for about a month. I think the problem is between the AirPods, Apple Watch and other Bluetooth devices (in my case, specifically Tiles) the number of simultaneous Bluetooth connections supported by iPhone hardware is being exceeded. My reasoning is thus:
You can see how this adds up.
If I delete the Tile app the problem resolves. Likewise, if I put the watch into Airplane mode it resolves. Both of these actions reduce the number of BT connections. In addition to Apple engineering, I also spoke to Tile's support centre. They were the ones who first suggested this.
If I move away from my cluster of Tiles, the problem seems to go away.
I FINALLY figured out how to solve this issue...if you happen to also have an Apple Watch. I could not get my AirPods to work on a phone call. The call was obviously going through, but I did not have sound through the Air Pods. I read that you can turn your Apple Watch into airplane mode and the problem would be fixed, and it was true with me. BUT, I have all of this technology and I want to work together! I connected the AirPods to my Apple Watch and made a call. After I made one call using my Apple Watch, all was fixed. I also tested taking my Apple Watch off and making the call directly with my iPhone. The air pods worked again, and again. I guess you have to make sure they all talk to each other to get the kinks out. I hope this helps you, because I was at my wits end after spending the money for these things!
Ferdinandperry wrote:
Thank you for bringing this up, I have the same issues. Does anybody knows the max number of Bluetooth connection to iPhone ?
Good question. I would guess at 8 active connections (as opposed to paired and inactive), as it's a power of 2, and I'm sure it's not 16. I think the AirPods use 2 for audio and another 2 for Siri/phone audio. Watch uses 1. And I have 5 tiles in range sometimes. So I have 8 without Siri audio when Siri/phone fails. I don't know if Apple can change the limit in software; hopefully my open case with engineering will answer that.
Good advice.
Side note: Have you ever had a tile discovered by a crowdsource user? I was trying to find a piece of luggage this weekend and thought for sure someone would have walked passed it at some point. Nada...
KG from Jersey wrote:
Side note: Have you ever had a tile discovered by a crowdsource user? I was trying to find a piece of luggage this weekend and thought for sure someone would have walked passed it at some point. Nada...
Yes, recently. Yesterday, and the day before. I think if your Tile app knows where the lost Tile is you don't get notified. But since turning off Bluetooth I've gotten several.
Yup. It is now clear that there is a limit on the number of bluetooth connections that iPhone can handle.
I do agree with you. It could disconnect temporary other bluetooth connections to allow the AirPods to come through.
I wonder if the same problem occurs on iPhone 8 or iPhone X...
I'm afraid it is a limitation of the Bluetooth standard. A Bluetooth Master can have a maximum of 7 simultaneous "slave" connections. There appears to be no way around this limit, as it is built into the Bluetooth specification, and is not simply because it is an iPhone limitation.
What counts as a slave connection? In my case the only connected devices were:
- AirPods for music (is that 2?)
- Garmin Forerunner 35 watch
- One TrackR device
My uninformed count makes that seem like 4 assuming each AirPod has its own connection. Or does each AirPod make 2 connections and so the count is 6 and then each AirPod needs 1 more to handle a phone call making it 8?
I also use tiles and an apple watch- tiles are my saving grace Esp with my keys so is it impossible to use all at the same time?
I am having the same issue. Extremely annoying.
Thank you for bringing this up, I have the same issues. Does anybody knows the max number of Bluetooth connection to iPhone ?
Thanks; I have done that and so far it has worked.
I’m super annoyed by this issue. I also use tiles and have an Apple Watch. Is there a magic number ? I could probably pair down my tile usage to 2...
Thanks for the followup. I will give it a try.
I have an X. It has not been resolved.
AirPods are connected but cannot hear for phone calls.
