How to Fix Bluetooth Stuttering Issues on iPhone 11 Pro Max

Do you get Bluetooth stuttering issues when connected with your iPhone 11 Pro Max?

If you have this issue, then you are not alone. There have been tons of reports from iPhone 11 owners that they have been experiencing issues during calls where audio is routed to their car speaker or even when the calls are picked up by their Bluetooth devices. Others have also reported issues during video streaming using their Bluetooth-enabled earphones.

In this guide, we will guide you on how to fix the Bluetooth stuttering issues that you’ve been getting on your iPhone 11 Pro Max device. Now before we proceed, we recommend that you also check our previous post on how to fix the iPhone 11 having an inconsistent Bluetooth connection. Although the post has similar solutions to that of what has been shared below, we hope the solutions shared by readers there can make it an additional helpful resource. 🙂

This post will be a little different in that we will specifically address the iPhone 11 Pro Max variant. Hopefully, by the end of this post, you’re able to use your iPhone to make calls and listen to audio without any issues.

Let’s dive right in!

 

1. Disable Application Conflict.

There is a simple workaround that has worked for several users. It turns out that when you disable the ‘Hey Siri’ feature, the problem goes away.
But this could only work for those who don’t use the feature. If you need the feature, you can skip this method.

Here’s how you can disable the ‘Hey Siri’ feature on your iPhone:

  1. Go ahead and open the Settings of your iPhone 11 Pro Max.
  2. Then, search and tap on the Siri & Search option.
  3. Now, check the Listen for “Hey Siri” button if it is enabled or disabled. If the button is enabled (indicated as green), then toggle the button to disable the feature.

Bluetooth Stuttering Issues on iPhone 11 Pro Max

 

 

2. Avoid Signal Conflict.

Wi-Fi signals use the same frequency as your Bluetooth signal.

If a lot of wireless devices are broadcasting around you, it may be possible that your iPhone is trying to scan for them. This will cause frequency interference and can interrupt your Bluetooth connection. Hence, if you are not using the Wi-Fi currently, you can choose to disable the Wi-Fi icon from your iPhone’s Control Center.

 

Bluetooth Stuttering Issues on iPhone 11 Pro Max

 

This is also true for other Bluetooth-enabled devices. You may be using multiple Bluetooth-enabled speakers or earphones. If you are not using it with your iPhone, turn off the other Bluetooth-enabled device, then try testing your iPhone once again to see if you’re getting any stuttering issues.

A few users have also suggested placing the iPhone 1 to 2 meters away from the paired Bluetooth-enabled device. It’s also worth mentioning that if your iPhone is too far away from your Bluetooth device, the connection will get weak and the stuttering issues can occur. Try to move around and see if the quality of the connection gets any better.

 

 

3. Switch Audio Output in AirPlay.

If you are still experiencing the same issue, there is a workaround you can do that might work!

You can quickly change the audio device to the built-in speaker and then back to the Bluetooth-enabled device.

Here’s how you can switch the audio output on your iPhone:

  1. Go ahead and launch the Control Center on your iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Bluetooth Stuttering Issues on iPhone 11 Pro Max

 

  1. Next, long-press on the to the Audio Playback (music player) widget which displays the audio you are currently playing.
  2. Now, tap on the Speaker option, and you should hear the audio changed to your phone’s speaker.

 

Bluetooth Stuttering Issues on iPhone 11 Pro Max

 

  1. Finally, tap the name of your Bluetooth-enabled device on the list.

Upon doing this, your audio will come out of the Bluetooth device and will be no longer stuttering. If you’re continuing to experience the Bluetooth stuttering issues, then keep reading.

 

 

4. Update iOS to the Latest Version.

It is normal for any system to have bugs and glitches, and your iPhone 11 Pro Max is no exception.

Since the iPhone 11 Pro Max is still a relatively new addition to the iPhone lineup, it’s common that it may experience issues with Bluetooth, network settings, and even at times the battery which is normally addressed with a series of iOS updates that get rolled out after the iPhone launch.

Hence, it’s worth keeping an eye now, and then if an update is being released as it’s likely the Bluetooth issues are widespread to all users and the updates will patch those up.

Here’s how you can check and update your iPhone 11 Pro Max to the latest iOS version:

  1. First, make sure that you backup your iPhone’s data.
  2. Then, plug your iPhone to a stable power source and connect it to the internet via Wi-Fi.
  3. Now, open the Settings app on your iPhone and then tap on the General option.

 

iOS Software Update

 

  1. Finally, tap on the Software Update. If there is an iOS update this is pending, you will be asked to Download and Install the update. Proceed with the on-screen instructions.

Bluetooth Stuttering Issues on iPhone 11 Pro Max

 

Another helpful resource to keep track of the latest iOS updates and their changelogs is to refer to the About iOS Updates page provided by Apple.

 

 

5. Forget Device and Pair Again.

When it comes to Bluetooth-enabled devices, it is possible that the connection profiles with the iPhone may have gotten corrupted.

One common cause of this is the abrupt termination of the Bluetooth connection without properly un-syncing the devices. We’ve previously experienced this when we were using the Sony WH-1000XM3/WH-1000XM4 headphones, and after abruptly turning off the headphones midway through the update, the headphones got bricked, and the Bluetooth connection profile managed to get corrupted as well.

So no matter if you’re using your car’s Bluetooth speakers, headphones, external stereo speakers, etc. it’s worth trying to re-pair the iPhone with it to rebuild the Bluetooth connection profile.

The steps below will show you how to unpair and pair your Bluetooth device with your iPhone:

  1. Go ahead and launch the Settings of your iPhone 11 Pro Max.
  2. Then, tap on the Bluetooth option and search for your Bluetooth-enabled device on the list.
  3. Next, tap the ( i ) icon next to the device you want to remove.
  4. Now, tap the Forget This Device option and Confirm the process.

Bluetooth Stuttering Issues on iPhone 11 Pro Max

 

  1. After that, restart your iPhone 11 Pro Max.
  2. Finally, pair your Bluetooth-enabled device with your iPhone 11 Pro Max again and test the audio.

Although we didn’t write this as a separate solution, we recommend that you also try the Bluetooth speakers with another device such as your iPad, Mac or Windows PC to see if the issues are still recurring.

If the issue remains, then the issue may be with the Bluetooth device itself rather than your iPhone 11 Pro Max.

 

 

6. Reset the Network Settings.

Having corrupted network settings can also affect the Bluetooth connection with the iPhone 11 Pro Max, which can cause it to keep breaking off.
Luckily, you can rebuild your iPhone’s network settings by resetting them. It’s worth mentioning that, by doing this, all of your network profiles on your phone will be deleted. Your data, contacts, app data will not be removed, however.

Here’s how to reset the network settings on your iPhone:

  1. First, open the Settings of your iPhone 11 Pro Max, and then tap the General option.
  2. Then, tap on the Reset option, and then tap the Reset Network Settings.

Reset Network Settings

 

  1. Now, you will be prompted to enter your device passcode. Make sure to enter the right passcode to proceed.
  2. Finally, confirm the process and restart your iPhone 11 Pro Max.

After doing the process, try to again pair your Bluetooth-enabled device with your iPhone 11 Pro Max. Play a music file and test if the audio is still inconsistent.

As we’ve mentioned above, you will need to set up all your Wi-Fi connection profiles again since resetting the network settings will remove the network profiles and configurations on your device.

 

 

7. Restore iPhone to Factory Settings.

If none of the above methods have worked to fix the issue, and you’ve even addressed that the issue is not with your Bluetooth device, then it’s best to restore the iPhone to its factory state (just like how you first got it out of the store).

Before you go ahead and jump into doing this, you need to have a computer where you can connect your iPhone. We will also like to highlight that restoring your iPhone to its factory state will delete all of the data that you have stored on the iPhone. If you’re uncomfortable doing so, then please make a backup before proceeding any further.

The steps below will show you how to restore your iPhone to its factory settings using your computer:

  1. Go ahead and connect your iPhone 11 Pro max to your computer using the lightning USB Cable.
  2. Then, open the Finder app on your Mac running on macOS Catalina or iTunes app on macOS Mojave or earlier or Windows 10.
  3. Next, follow the onscreen steps. Provide the passcode or click on Trust This Computer if applicable.

Trust This Computer

 

  1. Now, find your iPhone 11 Pro Max on the computer’s app and select it.
  2. After that, click the Restore [Device] option. You may need to sign-out if you can’t access the option.

Bluetooth Stuttering Issues on iPhone 11 Pro Max

 

  1. Click on the Restore button to confirm the process.

Bluetooth Stuttering Issues on iPhone 11 Pro Max

 

  1. Wait for the computer to erase your iPhone 11 Pro Max and install the latest iOS software.
  2. Finally, your iPhone 11 Pro Max will restart after the restore process, and you can set it up as new.

Set up the Bluetooth connections and test to see if the issues have been fixed. By now, you should be able to use the iPhone with your Bluetooth device without any problems.

 

 

8. Have Apple Check your iPhone.

If you’re unable to do the last method by yourself, then you may need an Apple-certified technician to do it for you. They will need to make sure that corrupted iOS on your iPhone 11 Pro Max is not the cause of this issue. After that, if the problem persists, they may need to check the hardware on your phone. All of these services are available at your nearest Apple Store.

 

Apple Repair Support

 

You may be offered a replacement for your unit, so make sure you know your iPhone’s warranty coverage.

Also just to be sure, test the new unit before leaving the store. If possible, bring your Bluetooth-enabled device for the testing process.

And as we bring this article to a close, we would like to thank you for continuously supporting our site. We hope that you were able to fix your Bluetooth stuttering issues on your iPhone 11 Pro Max. If you have other questions related to this article, please feel free to leave a comment below.

 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

 

Author

  • Jake Kovoor

    Jake is the Editor-in-Chief of Saint and an independent software developer, with a Bachelors in Computer Science from Lancaster University, UK. He loves trying out various tech from the Flipper Zero to coding Raspberry Pis for automation. He started Saint back in 2016, having written over 100 posts, with the sole purpose of creating guides for software that had yet to exist back then to help users navigate around their technical problems.

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