Level 1

117 points

Audio playback stuttering/skipping iOS11.4

I have an issue with my iPhone 7 where during audio playback, whether that be podcast, music or while on the phone, audio will drop out for approximately 1 second. After the dropout, the audio will stutter, much like a CD skipping. This is with the display off, waking the phone will change the issue to where the sound becomes very distorted and will repeat sections of what was just played.

I, and many others, have seen this issue since iOS 11.3. iOS 11.3.1 has not corrected it, nor has the recent release of iOS 11.4. From other people with the issue, closing the app in question, rebooting the phone, nor resetting the phone corrects the issue.

Please correct this as soon as possible as having dealt with it for two months is unacceptable.

iPhone 7, iOS 11.4

Posted on May 30, 2018 1:30 PM

Top-ranking reply

dkentley

Level 1

24 points

Posted on Jul 23, 2018 5:48 AM

Just a general observation; I'll update if something changes.

A few days ago I turned off "background App Refresh" in Settings -> General -> Background App Refresh. This has serious drawbacks, no doubt. But so far I have not had the problem when this feature is disabled. This dovetails with what I had figured it was since it started happening: background tasks locking up the CPU (or the sound subsystem) such that it can't continue to feed the output buffer fast enough, so the DSP repeats the last buffer (since it would just run in a continuous fast loop).

I reported the problem - with OS logs - at developer.apple.com in the bug reporter. There are instructions on how to generate the log, do it as soon as possible after the problem occurs (press both volume buttons + lock, you should feel phone vibrate; don't hold or the phone will reboot). After 10-20 minutes, sync the phone with your computer and a diagnostics file will be copied to your hard drive:

On a Mac it's here: ~/Library/Logs/CrashReporter/MobileDevice/[Your_Device_Name]/sysdiagnose

On a PC it's here: C:\Users[Your_User_Name]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\Logs\CrashReporter\MobileDevice[Your_Device_Name]\

Seems like a good thing to know in general for any iOS bug you come across.

[Edit: switched the labels for Mac and PC locations, but that was probably obvious, lol]

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429 replies

Sep 24, 2018 8:26 AM in response to searlerc

Hope you haven't jinxed yourself, and not to be a Debbie Downer, but don't get too comfortable, the issue persists for me since updating to iOS 12.0... Please check back in with us for an update in another week! 🙂

Oct 6, 2018 1:38 PM in response to fromer_13

I’m really glad to see I’m not alone with these problems. I’m getting the stutter/pause/skip/speed-up with Apple Music and Podcast right when my screen idle. I saw someone else on here is getting the battery drain and heat-up too. Thank god! I thought this was all me. I’ve tried the wipe. No luck. So don’t waste your time with that. People at Apple acted like they were trying to figure it out. They said they were putting me on hold to connect me with someone else and hung up on me.😔 I don’t know what to do. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m thinking of going Android. 😱

Junkstar

Level 1

4 points

Oct 9, 2018 12:33 PM in response to moonflowervt

The Genius Bar guy who gave me the bad news that Apple was not going to help me with a 14 month-old phone with a software issue (that they imposed on it) literally said 'This is the new world we live in. Technology and software are more complicated than ever and these things are going to happen.'

For $1000k I expect to get more than 14 months of use from a phone.

Oct 10, 2018 7:35 AM in response to Junkstar

It's ridiculous, and there's no guarantee it won't happen on a brand new phone. There are people in this thread who are experiencing this issue with an XS. Incidentally, I tried deleting and reinstalling my music app, and the first track I listened to started stuttering. Infuriating!!

Oct 10, 2018 7:47 AM in response to Junkstar

What I’m not understanding is why they don’t want to fix it. It’s been happening since 11.something and we’re in the 12’s. I don’t even know why they’d release something new without such a serious problem fixed.

Junkstar

Level 1

4 points

Oct 10, 2018 8:01 AM in response to danefrompensacola

2 minutes with the Genius Bar guy and he knew exactly what was wrong with the phone. Like he is seeing this every day. It really is infuriating to me that they wanted me to pay $300+ for a replacement instead of just swapping the phone (not that that is helping everyone anyway). They have a serious issue they obviously have no idea how to combat. The Pixel 3 is looking pretty good right now.

Oct 10, 2018 7:43 PM in response to Buckeye_Knight2

I have a 6S Plus and no longer have a problem with my music or with Audible. I drove a 1600 mile round trip listening to Audible and not one problem. So maybe it is fixed in the older models but not the newer ones. I’m sure it’ll be addressed with the next tweak of the iOS.

Nov 7, 2018 6:55 AM in response to jackiefromtelford

So frustrating to see how common this problem is and Apple isn’t doing anything to fix it. Using iPhone X with 12.0.1 and my music skips around and podcasts change speeds. Doesn’t sound like the new iOS will fix it.

Nov 13, 2018 8:59 AM in response to Jerdelance

This is the best description I've read so far of the problem I'm experiencing! It's so validating to know that someone else is experiencing the EXACT same issue that I am. Clearly, this is a software issue and Apple really needs to fix it ASAP. I just want to understand our options. I have been a happy iPhone owner for over 6 years. In mid-August 2018 I upgraded to the iPhone 7 from the iPhone 6s. I had never had an issue before, but last week this started happening. I want to know if it's possible for me to return the iPhone since this ia a HUGE problem and I can't even make calls, listen to podcasts, or music. I have a 40 minute walk to and from work every day and I always listen to my podcasts. I can no longer do that. I am interested in returning this iPhone and getting an android. Any thoughts here?

Miss_maz

Level 1

13 points

Nov 22, 2018 3:09 AM in response to fromer_13

I have been doing my head in with this for months now and have tried everything that different forums have suggested but to no avail.

I have only just stumbled across this thread now and I’m so glad I’m not the only one.

So I’m assuming it isn’t resolved??

Has anyone has their issue fixed?

Miss_maz

Level 1

13 points

Nov 22, 2018 5:10 AM in response to Dchip1

Im curious to know if this sounds similar to anyone’s issues...

iPhone 6s plus

Finds and Connects to Bluetooth device sometimes without problem, other times Bluetooth needs to be toggled to off then back to on.

Plays music for a short period (1 minute - 5 minutes) then sounds like a skipping CD.

iffets60

Level 1

8 points

Jan 2, 2019 7:29 AM in response to fromer_13

Hey Apple, thousands of users with this issue and still no fix? Aren’t a lot of your revenue-generating services reliant on quality audio? I want to still love you but this buggy stuff is occurring too often. You used to be better than this.

Redmane

Level 1

4 points

Jan 31, 2019 4:33 PM in response to Video maniac

My daughter has an iPhone 6 and I have an iPhone 7...we are both experiencing this issue with sound skipping. It’s been happening to her way more than it has been for me...but it’s happening in Spotify, Podcasts, YouTube, etc. I’ve restarted the phones, closed background apps...nothing has helped.

Feb 1, 2019 8:15 AM in response to fromer_13

My speakers keep stuttering and echoing. When I press one letter on the keyboard, I will hear it repeat three more times. Music and everything else is the same, even the off button sound. I would really like a refund.

Feb 6, 2019 10:31 PM in response to fromer_13

just recently have started experiencing skipping most obviously on Spotify. It does seem motion related as it is apparent when I get up to leave the train. Tracks will play for a short while then skip to another random track in the playlist.

Some podcasts (using Podcasts app) seem to skip back to earlier point as well.

I have an iPhone XR running iOS 12.1.2

Spotify 8.4.91.903.

Podcasts 3.6 (1310.6)

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Audio playback stuttering/skipping iOS11.4