How to Fix Bluetooth Audio Stuttering
Bluetooth technology is an integral part of our lives and an essential tool in fighting clutter on wires. It is also notoriously finicky. And when your laptop, phone, or other device is connected via Bluetooth to a wireless speaker or pair of headphones and audio starts to intermittently, it can be annoying.
Anyone who has ever viciously tinkered with their audio settings can tell you that while Bluetooth is supposed to allow sound to pass smoothly from one point to another, there can be a wide variety of issues causing Bluetooth stuttering.
This is often due to a partial disconnection or interruption of the signal between two wireless points. For example, problems can arise from changes in the operating systems of your computer or mobile device, updates to computer software or mobile applications, firmware changes on mobile or other devices, or problems or errors in your car stereo. In some cases, stuttering can be the result of an object physically blocking the connection.
Most of our technology relies on Bluetooth, and troubleshooting steps on one type of device may not resolve the issue on another. For starters, it’s best to turn Bluetooth off and on again. You can also try unpairing and restoring devices, and limit the number of apps or devices that can be connected via Bluetooth at the same time.
If that doesn’t work, we’ve listed some of the more well-known culprits on several different devices and how to fix them:
Computers
Whether you have a PC or Mac, there are a number of issues that can cause audio stuttering. One of them is signal interference. Various electronic devices, including cordless phones, baby monitors, and microwave ovens, can cause this interference because many household devices operate in the same frequency range .
One way to fix this problem is to try changing the channel on your wireless network. (Resetting the router may induce it to use the 2.4 and 5 GHz channels with the least interference.)
To change the channel on your router, log into the router’s web interface in your web browser. Then go to the Wi-Fi settings page, look for the Wi-Fi Channel drop-down list or similar option, and select a new channel. Also consider minimizing the number of active Bluetooth devices connected to your computer.
Some Mac users have also found increased audio stuttering when turning on Handoff. This feature ensures continuity between your Mac, iOS device, and Apple Watch – you can start an email on your iPhone and finish typing it on your Mac. To turn off Handoff on a Mac, choose System Preferences> General. Then uncheck the box next to “Allow handover between this Mac and your iCloud devices.” On your iOS device, go to Settings> General> Transfer and tap to turn off this feature.
The rest of the problems can be solved by carefully checking all the sound settings in the device manager of your computer. For example, stuttering can occur if your computer recognizes a Bluetooth speaker as both a speaker and a wireless headset. Deselect the headset and select it as your wireless speaker.
Mobile devices and cars
Mobile devices may stutter when paired with a car audio system. You will need to do a little research to determine the problem with your specific phone and car, but a possible solution is to look for the “clear cache” (on Android) or “forget this device” option in your phone settings. Cached files can become corrupted over time due to minor changes in the OS of your mobile device that can prevent a successful Bluetooth connection. Therefore, when you delete these problematic files by clearing the cache, the corresponding files are recreated, allowing you to connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth.
If you’re looking for permission for a specific phone to pair with a specific vehicle, a great place to look is the online forums for your phone brand or your carrier. Reddit is also a good resource for troubleshooting other users who have encountered similar issues.
Wireless headphones
Since most wireless earbuds connect to a variety of devices via Bluetooth, there are times when a mobile app associated with a specific pair of earbuds is a problem. If you are using wireless headphones with your mobile device, always make sure it has the latest operating system and that you have the latest version of the headphone app.
In-ear headphones, by their nature, can cause more stuttering problems than other wireless models, such as a broken connection between the two headphones, problems with syncing correctly, or interrupted calls . If you experience stuttering, it can be difficult to fix as your head itself can interfere with the signal.
Some headphone makers have found that updating the firmware slightly improves sync and other issues, but it’s not always a panacea. However, it’s worth taking a look at the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting guides as well as firmware updates – and make sure you’ve downloaded the latest version.
This story was originally published on 9/19/17 and updated on 9/25/19 to provide more complete and up-to-date information.