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]

View in context

429 replies

Xtine82

Level 1

4 points

Mar 14, 2019 3:20 PM in response to fromer_13

I had this issue with my last 6s phone. Recently purchased iPhone 7. Have had this issue as well with the new phone. The Apple podcast app - podcast started speaking really fast, then just starting from the beginning, then mid podcast episode skipping to another episode. I deleted the Apple podcast app and downloaded overcast app for podcasts. Was working fine and then EXACT same problem happened. I started listening to Spotify which has been working fine and then boom. Songs skipping and starting over and jumping all over the place. FIX THIS ASAP!! Apparently it’s been going on since 2014 from many of the threads I’ve been reading! Over 3000 said they are having the same issue as the original poster here on this thread. When is Apple going to acknowledge this? My phone literally DOESNT. WORK.

Mar 24, 2019 4:27 AM in response to samprecept

I have experienced the VERY annoying skipping of podcasts and music for the past 12 months. I have been with Apple since my first IIe... I even bought a Newton back in the day, but if this skipping crap on the iPhone isn't fixed, I am walking and never coming back!

EWMini

Level 1

69 points

Apr 1, 2019 6:45 PM in response to MikeG_NY

My iPhone 5s used to work perfectly with my 2012 Toyota Camry via. bluetooth. I upgraded to a XR and I wish I didn't. The stuttering and skipping is maddening and since this thread is almost a year old I guess there is no hope. :(

mhairi97

Level 1

4 points

May 22, 2019 8:17 AM in response to fromer_13

I have this issue too (though the music on the iPod is distorted as well). I took the iPod into the Apple store a couple of weeks ago and the guy basically looked at me like I had two heads when I told him about the issue and said it was the first time he'd ever heard of this being an issue. There is literally pages of similar complaints on Google and I don't understand why nothing has been done to resolve the issue. The guy said to phone Apple support but with the comments here and "support" through the homepage, doesn't look like they're doing anything to resolve the issue.

Jun 6, 2018 8:48 AM in response to ChristosAZ

I did 🙂

And yes, Apple's response to this has been so under-the-radar. I am literally shopping now to get a new phone because OF THIS ISSUE!!!

Jun 6, 2018 8:51 AM in response to kimmycfresh

Most of us would feel at least some comfort if Apple would just step forward, acknowledge the issue and promise to address it.

Nope.

TMiPhone

Level 1

4 points

Jun 8, 2018 2:12 AM in response to fromer_13

I have this problem as well - thought it would be solved in 11.4 but still the same issue. PLEASE put out a patch....

Jun 8, 2018 7:48 AM in response to samprecept

This just started for me this week. Thank you for posting this.

Jun 10, 2018 9:59 AM in response to fromer_13

Anybody else notice the “Me Too” tally jump from nearly 1000 back to a little over a hundred? Wow. Damage Control.

Jun 10, 2018 10:54 AM in response to ChristosAZ

Unbelievable!!!

Jun 11, 2018 5:03 AM in response to fromer_13

Same audio issues here, I have an iphone 6s Plus that was performing just fine until the 11.3 release. Super frustrating since the majority of use is for audio.

Jun 11, 2018 6:57 PM in response to ChristosAZ

I agree... I haven’t been keeping track exactly how long this has been happening, however it brought me this far. I will absolutely be chdcking out Androids next time around.

Jun 12, 2018 5:51 AM in response to fromer_13

Having exactly the same with my 7 plus, most annoyingly with phone calls, disgraceful that it's gone on this long

askbarnabas

Level 10

104,214 points

Jun 12, 2018 5:53 AM in response to Boywatson

When you tried these steps already with the other iOS builds, did you restore from backup every time?

askbarnabas

Level 10

104,214 points

Jun 12, 2018 4:48 PM in response to RichG2112

Did you do any other troubleshooting steps you could list that did not work? It sounds like a buffering issue the way you described it.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Audio playback stuttering/skipping iOS11.4