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Airpods unusable — connecting/disconnecting
- Thread starter Rorosbutt
- Start date
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Ok update, my last ditch attempt to swap out the E-Sim to a physical has NOT worked. I know @motionworld had already tried this but I wanted to try in UK with O2.
Im gonna make the switch to EE its double annoying coz I get discounted rates for my Virgin broadband due to my O2 account.
Im gonna make the switch to EE its double annoying coz I get discounted rates for my Virgin broadband due to my O2 account.
Hey, got the similar problem, looks like it is the same.
I have 14 pro max with AirPods Pro 2. My wife has 13 pro with AP Pro 2 too.
We also have Apple TV (last gen, 128+ethernet) - connected to my icloud.
We're having issues with audio share from Apple TV:
1) I'm connecting my pair to aptv via menu
2) My wife connects her pair to her iPhone - the connection message appears
3) I'm opening audio share window in the aptv
4) My wife's iPhone is getting notification to connect to aptv - we're setting agreement
5) In the aptv I'm setting "temporary connection" to her pair
6) While aptv tries to connect to her pair - her iPhone shows the connection message (as in p.2) again and again between maybe 30-40 seconds. All this time the iPhone stays IDLE in the main menu, no media is playing.
So I wouldn't want to say it is disconnection and connection again, it looks like changing connection between iPhone and iPad e.g.
Also all of devices stays in the same position - so it's definitely not an interference problem.
It's also not a carrier problem - we've got the same carrier.
Last time I've got interference issue was about ~6-7 years ago with first AirPods and iPhone 6 and it looked like disconnection and then connection. After switching to XR there were no issues at all.
I've updated my wife's iPhone to the latest iOS, checked her AirPods firmware - it's the same as mine.
Also resetted the AirPods's case (long rear button press until the orange light appears), it was fixed the problem for maybe 2 or 3 days.
Changed different settings, closed all of the apps - no fix.
I've got second iPhone (11 pro), iPad and old 1st model of AirPods Pro for home usage.
She's got only the Apple Watch.
I have no information about her experience with calls, but she's never complained about any problems with calls.
So it looks like the iPhone "looses" the connection while the AirPods trying to connect to aptv and tries to restore it, so aptv doesn't have time to pick up the connection and the iPhone doesn't know about connection to another device and thinks the connection is loosed 😀
I have 14 pro max with AirPods Pro 2. My wife has 13 pro with AP Pro 2 too.
We also have Apple TV (last gen, 128+ethernet) - connected to my icloud.
We're having issues with audio share from Apple TV:
1) I'm connecting my pair to aptv via menu
2) My wife connects her pair to her iPhone - the connection message appears
3) I'm opening audio share window in the aptv
4) My wife's iPhone is getting notification to connect to aptv - we're setting agreement
5) In the aptv I'm setting "temporary connection" to her pair
6) While aptv tries to connect to her pair - her iPhone shows the connection message (as in p.2) again and again between maybe 30-40 seconds. All this time the iPhone stays IDLE in the main menu, no media is playing.
So I wouldn't want to say it is disconnection and connection again, it looks like changing connection between iPhone and iPad e.g.
Also all of devices stays in the same position - so it's definitely not an interference problem.
It's also not a carrier problem - we've got the same carrier.
Last time I've got interference issue was about ~6-7 years ago with first AirPods and iPhone 6 and it looked like disconnection and then connection. After switching to XR there were no issues at all.
I've updated my wife's iPhone to the latest iOS, checked her AirPods firmware - it's the same as mine.
Also resetted the AirPods's case (long rear button press until the orange light appears), it was fixed the problem for maybe 2 or 3 days.
Changed different settings, closed all of the apps - no fix.
I've got second iPhone (11 pro), iPad and old 1st model of AirPods Pro for home usage.
She's got only the Apple Watch.
I have no information about her experience with calls, but she's never complained about any problems with calls.
So it looks like the iPhone "looses" the connection while the AirPods trying to connect to aptv and tries to restore it, so aptv doesn't have time to pick up the connection and the iPhone doesn't know about connection to another device and thinks the connection is loosed 😀
Hi. 7 weeks without AirPods disconnections after changing carrier. Updated to iOS 18.6 a week ago. No disconnections.
Update from me, I went to Apple store to get some help with a laptop. On the off chance I asked the Genius dude if knew anything about our disconnection cycling and before i'd finished describing the symptoms he asked "are you with o2 carrier network" he said its a known problem of "carrier interference" and that Apple corporate have asked o2 about it. I smell a court case coming!
Hello.
In Ukraine, only Kyivstar uses LTE 2300-TDD (Band 40) technology. And only when using Kyivstar will headphones disconnect during a call.
In England, only O2 uses LTE 2300-TDD (Band 40) technology.
LTE 2300-TDD frequency band (Band 40) = 2300...2400 MHz
Bluetooth operates at 2400MHz (2400–2483.5MHz). That's all the interference.
Why are there no disconnections on Android? That's a question for Apple, as it concerns how they transmit the microphone via Bluetooth.
If I am right, then you can contact your operator to request that they prohibit the use of TDD on your number. This will ensure that your phone only uses FDD, which are the lower channels that will not interfere with Bluetooth.
In Ukraine, only Kyivstar uses LTE 2300-TDD (Band 40) technology. And only when using Kyivstar will headphones disconnect during a call.
In England, only O2 uses LTE 2300-TDD (Band 40) technology.
LTE 2300-TDD frequency band (Band 40) = 2300...2400 MHz
Bluetooth operates at 2400MHz (2400–2483.5MHz). That's all the interference.
Why are there no disconnections on Android? That's a question for Apple, as it concerns how they transmit the microphone via Bluetooth.
If I am right, then you can contact your operator to request that they prohibit the use of TDD on your number. This will ensure that your phone only uses FDD, which are the lower channels that will not interfere with Bluetooth.
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I AM holding my breath but since updating to iOS 26 i've not yet had a drop off 🤞
Good afternoon. So, is there a shutdown on iOS 26 and the new AirPods firmware?
Airpods Disconnecting and reconnecting issue / bug
so i have had the same issue with old pair of Airpods 2nd gen and with the recently bought Airpods 4 . as everyone suggested tried everything and since it failed i did a another experiment. ive been using a FITbit Versa watch paired with my phone all this time and just to experiment i complete unpaired it with the phone and start using my old analogue watches.. guess what 4 days now not a single airpods disconnection/connecting issue in all apps, cellular calling, whatsapp, google meet everything works fine. i even toggled ear detection and head gestures on and perfect. all incoming and outgng calls working on airpods no disconnection at all. so apple has some bug with watches or something..maybe other brand watches i guess. since call notification goes to the watch i guess somehow its interfering airpods connection. i can live without a smartwatch! will keep observing this find and update again of anything chages. so far its sorted for me.
so i have had the same issue with old pair of Airpods 2nd gen and with the recently bought Airpods 4 . as everyone suggested tried everything and since it failed i did a another experiment. ive been using a FITbit Versa watch paired with my phone all this time and just to experiment i complete unpaired it with the phone and start using my old analogue watches.. guess what 4 days now not a single airpods disconnection/connecting issue in all apps, cellular calling, whatsapp, google meet everything works fine. i even toggled ear detection and head gestures on and perfect. all incoming and outgng calls working on airpods no disconnection at all. so apple has some bug with watches or something..maybe other brand watches i guess. since call notification goes to the watch i guess somehow its interfering airpods connection. i can live without a smartwatch! will keep observing this find and update again of anything chages. so far its sorted for me.
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er-minio
macrumors member
Update from me. Still iPhone 13, updated to 26.
Situation is back to square one. Airpods ok for music, unusable for voice calls.
If I even try to record an audio message via whatsapp they will disconnect a few seconds after the recording starts.
Only (temporary) solution is to restart the phone, but that will allow for just a few minutes of “stable” mic usage.
Situation is back to square one. Airpods ok for music, unusable for voice calls.
If I even try to record an audio message via whatsapp they will disconnect a few seconds after the recording starts.
Only (temporary) solution is to restart the phone, but that will allow for just a few minutes of “stable” mic usage.
are you using a smartwatch or some other device thats getting notification relays from the phone. for me its been 6 days since i completely disconnected my fitbit watch and so far airpods are working flawlessly with all options ticked like ear detection and head gestures etc. just now also i did work call on whatsapp using the pods worked so well. earlier it was impossible.
Ah man @er-minio yeah problem is back latest iOS 26.0.1! While on a call arriving home on bicycle it triggers the disconnect loop every single time in that scenario.
Defo get more disconnect loops while in range of my house in general but its still not exclusive.
No Apple watches connected / owned either, nothing else bluetooth paired with my phone either apart from Airpods.
Still on o2 carrier though so there is still the switching network that I haven't tried yet @motionworld seemed to get it fixed like that
Defo get more disconnect loops while in range of my house in general but its still not exclusive.
No Apple watches connected / owned either, nothing else bluetooth paired with my phone either apart from Airpods.
Still on o2 carrier though so there is still the switching network that I haven't tried yet @motionworld seemed to get it fixed like that
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er-minio
macrumors member
Same. I was cycling home from work the other day, trying to take a call and it was a nightmare. Wanted to smash the iPhone on the floor out of frustration (didn't 😀 ).
Still planning to get the 17, I'll wait before xmas, but I'm 99% sure the problem will persist.
It is unreal that Apple is not acknowledging this.
Same Issue With Me.. Iphone 16 with New Airpods Pro 3. Works perfectly while listening to Music, Playing Games, Watching Movies etc. But when it comes to making calls (whatsapp,FaceTime, or Even Normal Calls) the Airpods Keeps on Like Disconnecting and Reconnecting making the Call Impossible. Tried resetting the airpods countless times, turned off all the recommended settings but the issue still persisted. On a Good Day it Works Fine for a quite long session not too long but at the end the same problem occurs. I do not own any mac or apple watch or even a smartwatch.. I live in India (J&K) and my carrier is Airtel.. I can’t explain that how annoying can this problem get and Apple is not even doing anything about it despite soo many complaints…. Still Someone Got Any Update on This…
Hello.
Airtel in India also uses LTE 2300-TDD (Band 40) (according to Chat GPT). Kyivstar in Ukraine and O2 in England also use LTE 2300-TDD (Band 40).
The upper frequency of LTE 2300-TDD (Band 40) = 2400 MHz, which is the Bluetooth frequency. That's the problem. Change your carrier to one that does not use LTE 2300-TDD (Band 40).
I changed my carrier (Kyivstar) more than 4 months ago. After changing carrier, my headphones stopped disconnecting from my iPhone.