CarPlay issue that keeps getting worse with each new iOS release

[mrbrown]

I am having a very strange CarPlay issue that I have repeatedly reported to Apple (through the Feedback app) over at least the last two years. The basic crux of the problem is this: no matter what car I use my device on (Volkswagen, Hyundai, Ford, Chevy, numerous rentals), or how its connected (wirelessly, wired), my phone, while playing music from any app, will switch from a normal "stereo"-type audio profile to a "Bluetooth phone call"-type of audio profile.

The music will continue playing and sound like an AM radio station. If I adjust the volume, it adjusts the car's "GPS navigation" or "voice control" volume setting. After anywhere from 3 seconds to a minute, the phone will switch back to normal audio, or will do so if I activate Siri.

At first, I thought it was maybe an app polling the device's microphone, but the microphone indicator doesn't come on. Additionally, I thought it might be a 3rd party mapping app that allows microphone access, such as Google Maps or Waze - I deleted both and still have the issue.

It has gotten worse with each iOS release. Now it happens multiple times a day, and usually associated with leaving my house or leaving the office. It almost always happens when I get outside a certain radius of each place, which makes me think its geofencing related, but I can't find anything that would trigger it.

Does anybody have any ideas or experienced a similar issue?

 

[dictoresno]

I’ve experienced this a few times when listening to a podcast in normal stereo, then getting a message with audio playing a sound or something else cutting into the current thing playing. Once this interrupts the audio, it goes into that “am radio” sounding audio (which I assume is over Bluetooth or something) as it sound mono or muffled. The sound however corrects itself soon after or after unplugging and reconnecting.

I’ve experienced it a few times, but not often at all. Not sure why it happens other than it’s almost always caused by some other type of audio interrupting the podcast or music.

 

[Remington Steel]

This has happened to me a few times. Few and far between to cause me any concern though.

 

[mrbrown]

This has happened to me a few times. Few and far between to cause me any concern though.

It is literally an everyday, multiple-time-a-day occurrence for me though. 😩😩

 

[NastyMatt]

Is it the same phone? If yes, then try another or reset your phone to factory default and install nothing, see if it works and then install an app at a time. Laborious I know but it is how to track down an issue.

TBH - you could try the factory reset and install no apps even if it has been different phones!

 

[mrbrown]

I finally found a fix! I reset my network settings and my privacy settings. Since then, I have not had this issue come up again… and I can probably figure out what app it is causing the issues once it starts reoccurring.

 

[todd2000]

I finally found a fix! I reset my network settings and my privacy settings. Since then, I have not had this issue come up again… and I can probably figure out what app it is causing the issues once it starts reoccurring.

I have been having this problem for a long time! It drives me crazy! I’m my case when the audio gets wonky, and I adjust the volume the car says it’s adjusting “voice” and the track control buttons don’t work. So it’s basically switching into a phone call mode.

It also did it with my last car over a wired connection, but I didn’t figure out that it was switching to “voice” mode until I got my new car.

I will try resetting my network and privacy settings, but I can’t imagine how that would fix anything…

 

[dswolfpack]

I also have this problem. Whenever I pull close to my house the music I’m playing switches from stereo to mono like music. I believe it has to do with certain apps trigger this with the use of the iPhone mic. One example is of an app is the Alexa app. I have force closed the app and the problem gets resolved but is not always just that app. Not sure 100% if the car console has anything to do with it. I drive a 2021 Jeep Wrangler with the 8.1” Unconnect system. The console updates on its own anytime there’s an update. Whenever I’m not able to fix the problem by force closing apps I switch from CarPlay to FM radio then back to CarPlay. It is annoying and Apple should look into it. By the way I have the iPhone 14 Pro Max running 16.1. I was having the same issue with my previous iPhone the 12 Pro.

 

[dswolfpack]

I am having a very strange CarPlay issue that I have repeatedly reported to Apple (through the Feedback app) over at least the last two years. The basic crux of the problem is this: no matter what car I use my device on (Volkswagen, Hyundai, Ford, Chevy, numerous rentals), or how its connected (wirelessly, wired), my phone, while playing music from any app, will switch from a normal "stereo"-type audio profile to a "Bluetooth phone call"-type of audio profile.

The music will continue playing and sound like an AM radio station. If I adjust the volume, it adjusts the car's "GPS navigation" or "voice control" volume setting. After anywhere from 3 seconds to a minute, the phone will switch back to normal audio, or will do so if I activate Siri.

At first, I thought it was maybe an app polling the device's microphone, but the microphone indicator doesn't come on. Additionally, I thought it might be a 3rd party mapping app that allows microphone access, such as Google Maps or Waze - I deleted both and still have the issue.

It has gotten worse with each iOS release. Now it happens multiple times a day, and usually associated with leaving my house or leaving the office. It almost always happens when I get outside a certain radius of each place, which makes me think its geofencing related, but I can't find anything that would trigger it.

Does anybody have any ideas or experienced a similar issue?

I wonder if it has to do with the phone reconnecting to Wi-Fi. In my case I have the issue happen most of the time when I drive home and come close range to mi Wi-Fi.

 

[ScottMullen78]

It seems to be related to the Alexa app. It was happening to me where I used to live. I moved and it stopped happening. I finally go around to setting up my Alexa location based automation and it started again. I disabled location and mic from Alexa and that resolved it.