Audio playback stuttering/skipping iOS11.4

Try this: switch off “refresh in background”. Than test. If that works and you need refresh in background switch refresh in background on an by trial and error find the app that causes the issue by switching on off individually.

I had been experiencing the same problem too on my iPhone 7, for the past couple of months. As well as stuttering, the audio regularly cut out for a few seconds, usually very soon after locking the screen. Interestingly, during these few seconds the screen was always blank and lock/home buttons unresponsive -- further indication that this is a software issue.

Anyway, I just updated to iOS 11.4.1, and the problem seems to be solved. At least, it hasn't occurred in the first few hours since updating.

(Apple won't allow the link to be posted here, so you'll have to Google it.)

Hey guys! I contacted Apple support on twt yesterday and they had advised me to uninstall the Apple Music apps, restart iPhone and install back the apps after. And it works! For now. Have to monitor this problem still if it’s gonna happens again in the future

Oh and don’t worry. The downloaded music will be there when you install it back.

Hope it works for you too!

Hello, there seems to be several issues here, some affecting listening via Bluetooth and one affecting listening to audio via headphones. I have been having the audio via headphone stuttering issue for a couple of months now. I have never had the issue whilst listening via Bluetooth though.

I agree with earlier posts that the stuttering when listening via headphones seems to be related to the power management that happens when the screen switches off.

I have an iPhone 7 on iOS 11.4.1 and I listen via the adaptor to some non-Apple headphones. I can listen to video podcasts all day with no issue, but if I am listening to audio only, everything is initially fine but then a minute or so after the screen goes black the audio cuts out for a second and then a few seconds later I get the stuttering audio issue.

One thing I have discovered is that when the stuttering occurs, if I pull out the headphone adaptor and then plug it in again and press play on the audio the problem seems to resolve itself for a while.

I probably listened to audio for 5 or 6 hours today and between keeping the screen awake and pulling out the headphone adaptor on 3 or 4 occasions I managed to not be too impacted by the issue. It was still annoying though.

It is quite rubbish from Apple’s side though that this issue seems to be affecting so many users and hasn’t been fixed in any of the last few updates.

Hi Guys,

not sure, if this is really it, BUT when I completely disconnected wired headphones, problem is GONE. As soon as I plugged them in, problem is BACK. And it seems, that it has something to do with volume. It seems like short circuiting or interfering with some functions of the phone, that can be controlled by smart headphones. To me, it seems, that in Apple they forgot about users with wired headphones, since they are now focused only on those bluetooth ones, and somebody messed up the iOS code. I was going to clean the headphone jack, but that seem NOT be the case. I will try it with other jacked headphones soon. Please, try if the problem disappears this way and let us know! Thank you!

Howdy all. I have been doing a lot of testing over the weekend and have found the following which was demonstrated and is true for iPhone X, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S.

The audio skipping in my particular scenario (Bluetooth to external speaker devices, except headphones) was completely absent when the iPhones were charged anywhere between 90 and100%. In that range, all the phones performed perfectly. The issue is very prevalent when the phones are around medium charge. I am still yet to do significant testing below 90% charge and determine the "acceptable threshold", but will let you know my findings.

The obvious disclaimer is that I'm not an Apple developer so the correlation could be a false positive and/or it is possible there could be other influences, however, thought I would let you know in case you wanted to test for yourselves and perhaps have some relief.

I have found a workaround to the audio stutter on my iPad Air that I have to use again now that the problem is back in 11.4.1 . 😟 When the stuttering starts ... stop the podcast playing, unplug the headphones, re-plug in the headphones, then restart the podcast playing. The audio stutter does not come back unless another podcast is selected without quitting the app.

The problem:

Podcasts start to stutter, which sounds similar to fast forwarding, when going to a different podcast from the one first played when the Podcast app was started. The stutter problem appeared when iOS 11 was installed 😟, went away with the update to iOS 11.4 🙂, and reappeared with iOS 11.4.1. 😟

FIX without rebooting: I had this issue since the software upgrade in April. I bought a new phone and STILL had the issue, even with phone calls But since I've made sure too many apps were not running in the background, this is pretty much been fixed (unless I have too many apps running in the background and forget). So just double click the home button and swipe up to ensure there are not many apps running. Curious to hear if this resolves your issues too.

I’ve been following along with this thread via E-Mail notifications for a bit now, it’s not an issue limited to a specific type of headphone or connection. It has happened to me and many others on both Bluetooth (wireless) headsets and wired headphones (even my original set that came with the phone did this).

That being said, again, Apple does not read these community forums for support; they are a place for us to communicate but they don’t pull their ticketed issues from here. I would encourage everyone to put a support ticket in and explain in as much detail as possible the issue; part of me thinks it’s either related to a specific audio codec/decoder they’re using in software, or is occurring due to processor throttling (I’ve noticed my phone won’t turn the lock screen on when it’s skipping, as if it doesn’t have the ability to process the action) which may or may not be related to battery degradation or poor OS optimizations.

Either way, *please* report your issue so we can escalate this and resolve it as quickly as possible.

WORKAROUND: It appears to be isolated to how iOS 11.4 Software interacts with the combo audio/Power jack. My iPhone 6 stutters when listening through earbuds. I tested same iTunes playlist connected to anything via Bluetooth (ie: external speakers) & hours of iTunes music played flawlessly.

Connecting to Bluetooth Earbuds or speakers seems to be the current workaround to avoid those nerve-jarring music stutters & skips.

(Phone must be rebooted if you hear a skip, before connecting via Bluetooth)

Late in the game here, but confirmed on an iPhone 7 Plus (11.4.1). Doesn't matter what audio-based app is running (including Phone, using a headset), or whether wired headphones (either Apple-provided Lightning earbuds or using the 3.5mm adapter) or Bluetooth headphones, audio will silence and/or garble once the lockscreen becomes active.

However, after a couple of months of carefully observing this (rather than continuing to curse about it), it seems that this glitch surfaces when audio is played with the lockscreen engaged following the removal of supplied power through the Lightning port.

In other words - phone had been charging, now disconnected from charger, audio plays, lockscreen engages (either manually or through a screen display timeout)... audio glitch follows. After the 15-45 seconds (average) of silence when the BT headphones receive the audio again, or when wired headphones' audio becomes garbled (an unlock with a manual pause and play sometimes fixes, otherwise disconnect and reconnect headphones), the glitch becomes much less frequent. (I didn't say "nonexistent"; it has reappeared... but less prevalent under 11.4.1 compared to earlier updates)

Once connected to power again, the glitch will come back the next time audio plays through the lockscreen after the device is disconnected.

If trying to listen (using BT headphones) while simultaneously charging (e.g. while on a phone call), the glitch will occur repetitively.

What makes this strange is the fact that if this is indeed a software issue (involving the OS's interaction with the Lightning port), why are devices which still have the 3.5mm headphone jack (iPhone 6/6S) experiencing this?

My iPod Touch 6G (which has 3.5mm jack) is also on 11.4.1 - not a sign of this issue whatsoever, neither with wired nor wireless headphones.

After struggling with these issues for two months, I had a genius bar appt two days ago and the kid who helped me suggested a new pair of headphones for my iphone 7. I was highly skeptical, but I haven't had any problem with dropped calls or stoped and started or skipped podcasts in two days. I'll update if anything changes, but so far so good. This is after I reset my iphone to factory settings with absolutely no change. My phone was unusable. If this happens to you with headphones and on the move, this might be a solution.

Just got back from a genius bar appointment. iPhone 7, trouble began after 11.4 update. All audio affected across all functions.

Short story is this. They admit there is a widespread software problem and the guy knew exactly what it was (he ran diagnostics and ran physical tests anyway). They will not help fix or replace if you are not under warranty. I'm furious, as there were no signs of hardware issues. I got royally screwed. Looking forward to a non Apple future. I can't believe they gave zero leeway.

One thing the guy said was when you factory reset and reconfigure, do it while physically connected to iTunes, not a self reset inside the phone. Didn't work for me, but he said it works for many people.

A reason for the skipping - not a solution, but a reason!!!!!

Hi all. Just had a call with Apple following on from doing a full wipe and restore and still not having any joy in changing this issue. I'm on iOS 12.1 now btw, and am seeing this issue mostly with Audible and Podcasts, but that's probably because that's what I use most.

I basically worked this out for him while he was telling me it was an issue with Audible...

Bluetooth / Airplay are your enemies... Audible connected to my Sony headphones = skipping. Not connected = no skipping.

I have a really good pair of Sony MDR-1RBT headphones that I can no longer use. Apple really need to look at this.

I deleted all my Airplay connections too. I did this by being nowhere near my current Airplay connections, then playing a Youtube video, clicking on the Mirror icon, selecting an Airplay connection that I knew would not connect, and then it gets rid of it? I think? If anyone has any better suggestions that would be great. I really think this is the underlying issue.

Anyway, looks like I am tied to headphone cables now. No good for you users of anything past a 7, but thought it would help alleviate some frustration to know it is essentially a Bluetooth / Airplay conflict

Try to delete all apps in background. Test. If the problem stiy exists shut down refresh in background. That worked for me. What is kind of ackward: mu iphone SE max memory does not have that issue. Could be that the problem is just one or a few apps in background. You may want to test by trial and error stopping alla in refresh one by one