AirPods Pro 2 Users Report Issues With Connection Randomly Dropping

[robertpetry]

If I'm sitting there with my phone on my desk locked, and start a video on my iPad that's right in front of me, I would expect them to recognize that and connect to that instead of the locked phone that's just laying there. Similar, if I have connected them to my iPad and I am in the middle of watching a video, I would not expect them to disconnect from that and reconnect to my locked phone.

Agreed. these are not complicated use cases.

 

[76haz]

haha same! i was like what’s happening with my ears, its not the head tracking though

For me it sounds like one of the AirPods is about a millisecond or 2 behind the other which sounds awful, regardless of ANC or not, but weirdly only on certain apps (YouTube, Netflix and prime video being 3 key). Typically skipping forward/back on whatever you're watching temporarily fixes it for me, but I expected more from £249 headphones.

 

[srbNYC]

I had some bluetooth crackle my first hour of listening but I turned BT on and off and now all is fine (knock wood) and I have to say the soundstage and clarity are wonderful. I'm picking out instrument details I didn't notice before, and there seems to be more nuance everywhere.

 

[jicon]

Might explain why when I was nearby someone else who was playing music from what I can only assume was their iPhone (speakers) while I was listening to an audio book through my APP 2s via my AppleWatch suddenly my book ceased and I was hearing music through my AirPods. I know it was that persons's music as when I took my AirPods out putting them into case I could hear that person's music and it was the same.

I don't know why... but I read this like there's discussion about the vaccine, shedding, and bluetooth. Anyway, any chance your APP 2s were paired with the other person's phone at one point?

 

[lairdo]

This isn’t just the Pros. The AirPods 3 love to randomly switch to my other device if I take one out of my ear, even though I was listening to something on the original device and wasn’t even using the other one. 🥵

Apple really need to sort out how AirPods handle connection switching, it’s been broken for ages now and is getting beyond a joke.

I know! Really frustrating.

I finally just turned every device into the "When Last Connected to This <device name>" setting. This needs to be done on each device. I don't have a Watch so not sure how to change that there. On the iPad, iOS and MacOS, you connect the APPs to the device, then go to bluetooth settings and swap connection from automatically to when last connected. Not quite as magical as Apple thinks it should be, but far less random and less frustrating (at least to me).

Update: Apple has a page with instructions:

Switch your AirPods to another device - Apple Support

You can switch from listening to one device with your AirPods to listening to another.

support.apple.com

 

[badlydrawnboy]

Just got my AirPods Pro 2 and set them up. I'm having the issue where sound stops playing through them even when they are still connected to my computer or phone.

For example, I just watched a YouTube video on my MacBook Pro, and they were working fine. About 5 min later, I went to watch another video, and no sound was coming through. I opened Bluetooth Preferences, and the AirPods Pro were still listed as connected.

Is this the issue all of you are having? And is the solution to turn off automatic switching as described in this article?

 

[LeeZero]

My AirPods Pro Gen 2 seem to be having an issue where they sound like they’re equalizing the audio somehow. Sounds almost like it’s going up and down not in volume level but like it’s moving closer and farther away. I’ve tried playing with ANC & Transparency modes it’s only really noticeable in transparency mode, it does it with one or both of them in. Also tried playing with spatial audio the issue happens when it’s off. I’m running the newest firmware 5A377 and I’m using an iPhone 14 Pro Max running iOS 16.0.2 (20A380). This didn’t happen with my 2019 AirPods Pro Sorry if my description of the issue is confusing 😅

 

[gluckett]

I don't know what caused this, but I was listening to Apple Music on my iPhone running 16.0.2 with my APP2s, and all of a sudden the music just stopped playing and the phone went into SOS Only mode. I had to restart the phone to get it back to normal. The signal was fine at the time, so I don't know what happened - that's the first time I've ever had it happen to me. I still wonder if a mix of iPadOS 15.7 on my iPad Pro and iOS 16.0.2 on my iPhone (13 Pro Max) is causing random weirdness. Hopefully some of these things work themselves out when iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1 are released, and maybe further firmware updates.

 

[Colpeas]

The past couple of years of Apple launches have taught me that the best time to get any of their new products (HW or SW) is about 6 months after the release. Sorry, I just don't like being a guinea pig, let alone pay for the 'privilege'.

These things didn't happen so ofter back in the day. I agree that technology is much more complex now, but maybe it's time to consider biennial product updates?

 

[CCnNYC]

haha same! i was like what’s happening with my ears, its not the head tracking though

Yes this is driving me crazy. If I listen to a suite of audio news stories and the next one queues up, or the next podcast queues up, this awful reverb sound from Left/Right asynchrony starts that is uncomfortable to listen to. Changing NC/transparency or spatial audio settings has no effect. Only turning off blue tooth and reconnecting--or recently I tried putting one AirPod back in the case and then back in my ear restores the synchrony between L/R AirPods.

 

[chinesedr]

Not just AirPods Pro 2.

I use AirPods Pro 1 and also Sony WF-1000XM4 on iOS 15.7 (and 15.6 before) on iPhone 12 Pro Max also have this issue since around 2 months ago, even at the seat in office with close proximity, right ear sometimes drops the connection. More like Bluetooth issue to me.

 

[CCnNYC]

So sorry to read about the issues folks are having. May I recommend people always include their HW and software versions. (I know some people do this, but it would be great if everyone did which will help others with similar set ups know what to possibly expect.) Mine are working fine with limited testing.

My HW:
iPhone 11 Pro (16.0.2)
AirPods Pro 2nd Gne (Firmare: 5A377)

Status: Working as expected. Somewhat noticeable wind breakthrough in ANC when running (not as bad as 1st gen issues). Total listening time: About 2 hours including 90 mins running and some static (e.g. not running) movie viewing and music listening. No calls yet.

The new AirPods Pro are the only new product I have bought in this cycle so far. They arrived Friday but I did not have time to set them up until yesterday afternoon. First pothole was that my iPhone 11 Pro (on 15.6 at the time) needed upgrading to take advantage of all the features. I aborted the set up.

I then decided to go straight to 16.0.2. (I am guessing 15.7 would have sufficed for the features.) An hour later, I came back to pairing the new APPs. That all worked fine, and I then experimented with the personalized spatial audio set up. I found it very difficult to actually hold the phone the right distance without looking at it to scan the ears from each side. I am sure I looked ridiculous. (Note to Apple: Add voice prompts instead of a variety of mostly indistinguishable beeps and chimes.)

Next I played some recent movies to hear how those sounded. I tried Dune (2021) (fine but not actually in Atmos on the phone) and the director's cut of Star Trek The Motion Picture which did have Atmos. That 2nd film sounded great with effects and music but I did not love the way the voices sounded. I left the APPs in fixed spatial audio mode.

Next up was a variety of musical tracks. Those mostly sounded great. ANC was perfect inside.

Today I went for a 90 min run with the APPs. Listened to an audible audiobook for part and music for the rest. Both sounded great. I did notice some wind noise which reminded me of the original APPs trying to deal with my rapidly changing position vs the wind and not keeping up with the cancellation. Not terrible nor as bad as 3 years ago, but not perfect. The rest of ANC was great. In fact, maybe a bit too good for outdoor running near cars. I will form a solid opinion on that in a few days. (My pace today was 10 min/mile, and there was a light breeze.)

As to this thread's subject, no drops at all (so far!) in my audio with the iPhone. I have not tried them on my 13" iPad Pro (2021) or 16" MacBook Pro (mid-2019) yet.

I did notice that the firmware has already updated but I don't know if that happened before my run today or not. I guess it must have between my movie/music watching and before I ran since they charged overnight and have not been charged since my run.

Lastly, I opted for personal engraving. No cute emoji but rather my initials and year which will help me distinguish them from my 1st generation pair and likely the additional 2nd set I will buy in 2023. (I run marathons, and even with my 4 hour running time, supposedly below the life of the device, they always lose power before I finish. And this happened 2 weeks ago on my recently replaced 1st gen ones due to the dreaded crackle - glad that is still covered.) I absolutely love that the engraving (and not just emojis) show up in the iOS interface. Such a simple thing, but that did give me joy and also provides actual function.

Best of luck to everyone else and hope for clear, uninterrupted audio ahead for all.

What a lovely post--breath of fresh air. Thank you!

 

[CCnNYC]

For me it sounds like one of the AirPods is about a millisecond or 2 behind the other which sounds awful, regardless of ANC or not, but weirdly only on certain apps (YouTube, Netflix and prime video being 3 key). Typically skipping forward/back on whatever you're watching temporarily fixes it for me, but I expected more from £249 headphones.

Someone reported beta update for OS 16 fixed this. Hope it's true--I have to disconnect/reconnect to stop it.

 

[76haz]

Someone reported beta update for OS 16 fixed this. Hope it's true--I have to disconnect/reconnect to stop it.

Looks like I'm downloading the beta to test that, then. I'll let you know whether it fixes the issue. If not, I'm heading to an apple store!

**Update: iOS 16.1 beta 2 doesn't fix the issue sadly. Looks like I'm going to the apple store.

 

[Wemmy]

Looks like I'm downloading the beta to test that, then. I'll let you know whether it fixes the issue. If not, I'm heading to an apple store!

**Update: iOS 16.1 beta 2 doesn't fix the issue sadly. Looks like I'm going to the apple store.

if you’re planning to replace them, i’d say wait until another firmware update, as most of these seem software related. if you plan to get them refunded then go for it. if you do end up getting them replaced, tell us if the problems persist, as i was also considering getting mine replaced.

 

[SactoGuy18]

Apple could push out another software fix to the AirPods Pro directly and see if that helps.

 

[sdf]

I had the same problem with my original AirPods.

 

[Nautilus007]

Apple charges consumers money to beta test their products, the idea is genius.

 

[The Game 161]

Did mine but only once…

 

[Aerialist]

Who put Kim K as the new QA head? 😂

 

[Izzard]

I’m having most / all of these issues. Frustrating, as the main reason I upgraded from 1st gen AirPod Pros was in the hope they would behave better.

However, I’m using then for probably 6-8 hours a day on iPhone, Mac and Android. Many of those people with “no issues” are probably using them quite a bit less.

I still love the AirPods but the frequency of unexpected behaviour is depressingly high.

 

[gluckett]

My AirPods Pro used to make a sound when I put them in and they have connected to a device. They are no longer doing this - has anyone else experienced this? Maybe I just need to forget them from my devices and start over again.

Edit: Forgetting the device, resetting it to factory, and then re-pairing seems to have fixed at least this particular issue.

 

[Steve121178]

I’m sure firmware updates will fix the issues & trash the ANC’s effectiveness like it did with the first gen Pro’s

If you buy cheap junk like this then it’s just not a surprise anymore. All the <$300 earphones/buds are absolute dog sh*t.

 

[jimshaderzc]

Some users of the second-generation AirPods Pro are reporting ongoing issues with their brand-new earbuds randomly disconnecting from their devices as they listen to music or watch videos.

The reports can be found in the MacRumors forum as well as from readers of MacRumors who have reached out to us directly. Symptoms can also include an iPhone or iPad showing the AirPods Pro as connected, but no audio actually being played. Reports suggest the bugs are sporadic and apparently not caused by anything specific, with no clear fix.Such problems are not entirely unique to the second-generation AirPods Pro, as customers of the original AirPods Pro that launched in 2019 have reported similar issues in the past. The new AirPods Pro, having launched three years after the original, have caused some users to be frustrated that bugs related to connectivity are seemingly not yet addressed.

The new AirPods Pro began arriving to customers on Friday, so it's still unclear just how widespread the bug is. Users facing similar issues with their new AirPods Pro are encouraged to make sure the AirPods and their iPhones are updated to the latest firmware and iOS version. The latest firmware for the second-generation AirPods Pro is 5A377.

Article Link: AirPods Pro 2 Users Report Issues With Connection Randomly Dropping

Having the same issue, I have had my airpods disconnect about 2-3 times a day at least.

 

[mszilard]

I received my APP 2 today, so far i had one disconnect, one episode of distorted sound. What i noticed, that at the beginning of every song there is a very short hiccup, than the song resumes.