USB audio issues after iOS 12 update

I was able to resolve this last night!

The fix was to add music to my iDevice. I copied an album onto my device and snyc'd it. Next time I plugged the phone into the lightning/USB port the music I had loaded auto-played. From there it was as simple as changing over to my 3rd party audio app (Audible/OverDrive) and the sound continued to work.

Hope this helps someone else get past this super frustrating issue.

Try going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and turn “USB Accessories” on. When it is off, the device will quit responding to USB devices one hour after the device was last unlocked.

I did all of the things Apple suggests at: If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod doesn't connect to or work in your car - Apple Support for USB connections EXCEPT change the lightning to USB cable (step 3). Keep in mind the same 5s iPhone and Apple lightning connector had been working flawlessly in my 2010 Camry until I upgraded to iOS 12.1.

I had tried other things listed in this forum to no avail, such as resetting and restoring the 5s from iTunes on my Mac Mini, adding some new songs to my iTunes Library, and re-syncing. Nothing seemed to solve the problem. Yes, the 5s touch ID and passcode setting for USB accessories was set to on. Each time it seemed to initially work, but then started to produce error messages on the Camry display the next time I drove the car, and would no longer play iTunes music from the 5s (encoded as Apple lossless--ALAC).

On a whim, I swapped out the lightning-to-USB cable with another one that I had been leaving constantly connected to my Mini (cable also from Apple). Plugged the swapped cable into the same and only USB port in the Camry. Now it not only started working as it should for music playback, but it has worked like it should for several weeks now without any error messages. BTW the swapped-out cable originally in the car still works as it should when connected to my Mini. Go figure.

And updating to 12.0.1 fixed it for me.

I have exactly the same issue as the OP, with a 2011 BMW 328 series (no Navigation). It used to work fine when phone plugged into the USB port on stereo. I upgraded to iOS 12, and ever since when putting phone into USB import via the lightning cable, it starts playing - but though the iPhone speakers. If I plug it in through an AUX input using a stereo cable, then it plays properly throughout the car speakers (but this is a huge pain). This is clearly an iOS 12 bug.

I have the exact same issue on my 2012 Renault Scenic. Other devices that do not have iOS 12 installed work with USB audio just fine. My iPhone works via Bluetooth but not USB. The latest update 12.0.1 did not help. I doubt Renault will release firmware for my radio.

I have 2 iPhone 7’s; a 7 and a 7s. The iPhone 7 automatically updated to ios12 a few days ago. This phone no longer plays music through the usb in my Infiniti. It shows its comnected and charging and my Infiniti with recognize the music on my phone but will only play through the speaker on my phone. I’ve purposely avoided the update to ios12 on my 7s and this phone still works perfectly. Apple definitely created another problem that needs to be fixed. I have music stored on my phone so that isn’t a fix. It shouldn’t be this painful every time there is an iOS update. Apple needs to get their **** together and stop this customer abuse. I shouldn’t have to spend so much time troubleshooting how to fix iOS caused problems every time there is any update. Fix the **** problems properly before forcing an update. And stop passing the blame.

I found this problem yesterday in my car and found this thread today.

I've just tried my phone by adding an album on to it, shutting it down, then connecting to my car's USB (Volvo V40 CC 2015). The phone started up as you would expect (I'd already started the iPod connection in the car) and the album started to play automatically.

I then went to third party app, in this case the new BBC Sounds app and played something from that without any problems. Before this I'd used the same app and others and wasn't getting any sound at all, so this has cleared it up for me, hope this helps someone else.

BTW I'm using a 6S Plus with IOS 12.1.

The BMW issues with USB are still there after 12.0.1. The apple store were zero help here. And Bluetooth still glitches a lot.

I’m the same - music is a big part of my life. If apple don’t care enough I’m the same - off to Android

I just installed the latest update. All good now.

Apple isn't here. Call AppleCare and tell them about your issue and get a case number.

Same issue but it is with the 12.1 update for the iPod touch and a 2015 Honda fit. Charges but the stereo dose not recognize the iPod anymore

If everyone from this discussion group could log an issue here, hopefully we could get heard!

https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

I have a XS Max, I had no issues when I updated to iOS 12. I decided to skip 12.0.1, but then regrettably updated to 12.1 and the audio issue began. My headphones won’t work, it plays the sound though the phone speakers. My car doesn’t have Bluetooth so I use an adapter and now I cannot listen to music through the car speakers either. This is so frustrating 😡. I really hope they fix this issue ASAP.

I’m run 12.1 on an Xr and connecting to a 2013 Toyota Prius V through USB. With Waze keeping the phone from locking, I really was hoping that the “USB Accessory” setting would keep the music playing past 1 hour. It didn’t.

So I tried locking and unlocking the phone 50 minutes into a long drive. Music still stopped at 60 minutes.

After stopping at a rest stop and turning the car off, the music resumed when we restarted the car. This time at the 50 minute mark, I turned off the radio, unplugged the USB cable, and locked the phone. Waiting about 10 seconds, reconnected the USB cable, and unlocked the phone. The music continued well past the 60 minute mark from the rest stop. Repeated again at the next 50 minute mark and made it all the way home with music.

It’s annoying, but at least a temporary work around for long trips. But once the music stops, the only thing I found to resume playing is to stop, turn off the car, and then start again.