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AirPods lose signal with phone in pocket

J

jaredlipsitz

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 27, 2010
208
451
Picked up AirPods yesterday and while they work great indoors, they tend to lose signal quite a bit when my phone is in my pocket and I'm out for a walk...especially if my hand goes near my pocket.

Anyone else experienced this?
 
I have not. My Airpods have decent range when my iPhone is left from 15-20 feet. Perhaps your pocket is interfering with the Bluetooth signal in some way. I don't what else would be causing an interference if your iPhone is within such a short distance.
 
Relentless Power said:
I have not. My Airpods have decent range when my iPhone is left from 15-20 feet. Perhaps your pocket is interfering with the Bluetooth signal in some way. I don't what else would be causing an interference if your iPhone is within such a short distance.
Click to expand...

When out of my pocket I can walk between rooms and it's fine! Odd.
 
Experiment with different pants, of varying materials. Could be the fabric of your pants, or the jacket/shirt overlapping it (perhaps working together with a case you're using that may be just a little too thick)?

With your phone case (if you use one), is it a well known brand or cheapie?
 
I have had this sometimes and it's really quite frustrating. I take it out my pocket and the music is perfect. In my pocket and it cuts in and out. And not all the time, just randomly.

No case on the phone.
 
Literally same problem here, super annoying. Haven't been able to pin down other cases precisely, but left pocket almost always produces this.
 
I also have this problem, with my iPhone5s(iOS 10.3.2), the iPhone put in my pocket of my jeans and connecting AirPods, when I walk out on the street, playing music sometimes out or loose signal, this kind of problem can happen randomly. That's unbelievable and unacceptable!
 
I'm having the same problem with an IPhone 6s Plus. They tested the phone and it was fine. The phone replaced (just in case) and it still did it.

They replaced the air pods (on my 3rd set). Oddly the right one uses to always go out. Now over the last two days, it's the left that goes out. I have no clue what the problem is. I have tried having the phone on my pocket upside down and facing towards then away from me.
 
had same problem in my jeans (front left pocket, nothing else in there) with an se in a thin clear polycarbonate powersupport airjacket

ended up returning airpods after three days. great in all cases except walking around with my hands in my pockets, which i do often...couldnt believe apple didnt test this
 
Last edited:
These must be some bum sets. I use them all the time with iPhone in my pocket mostly the back pocket. I also use with my Apple TV and they never stutter or lose connection. I have even gone out of the room to the kitchen downstairs and they don’t stutter.
 
RadioGaGa1984 said:
These must be some bum sets. I use them all the time with iPhone in my pocket mostly the back pocket. I also use with my Apple TV and they never stutter or lose connection. I have even gone out of the room to the kitchen downstairs and they don’t stutter.
Click to expand...

Around the house, with my laptop, or with the Apple TV, mine also work great even into other rooms, but outdoors with my phone in a pocket they are really bad, just as others describe. Work fine from the Apple Watch though, but that’s not in a pocket.

On my second set, with no improvement. Have tried 3 phones (7, 7+, 8), completely reset phone, tried 2 different watches (Series 0, Series 3 LTE), worn no watch. It’s maddening. They’re pretty much worthless.

Apple told me it was simply interference and I was on my own (interference from what? My Apple Watch?!). I had to threaten to throw them away and just buy another set before they replaced them, but they started breaking up within 20 minutes walking outside. Seems some people got lucky after a few replacements, but I hate to stab in the dark like that when each replacement is hours out of my day…
 
This is disappointing to hear. I have my first pair being shipped to me. While I expect I'll use them more indoors, I frequently make phone calls while walking outdoors. I'm hoping I don't experience what others have reported. I've been through a few headsets trying to find a pair that does what I need. The AirPods should do it, theoretically. Time will tell.
 
GGJstudios said:
This is disappointing to hear. I have my first pair being shipped to me. While I expect I'll use them more indoors, I frequently make phone calls while walking outdoors. I'm hoping I don't experience what others have reported. I've been through a few headsets trying to find a pair that does what I need. The AirPods should do it, theoretically. Time will tell.
Click to expand...

I should point out that my wife’s work great for her. And when I’m using them for FaceTime or phone calls I haven’t had a problem.

I’ve also taken to stopping people in the street and asking if they have the same problem and they all claim no, they don’t.

So I’d suggest you be excited. They’re superbly good in every way, and I think I’m just unlucky. I’m not alone, but they generally seem to work well for people.
 
geeknixta said:
I should point out that my wife’s work great for her. And when I’m using them for FaceTime or phone calls I haven’t had a problem.

I’ve also taken to stopping people in the street and asking if they have the same problem and they all claim no, they don’t.

So I’d suggest you be excited. They’re superbly good in every way, and I think I’m just unlucky. I’m not alone, but they generally seem to work well for people.
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Thanks! I've had good experiences with all my Apple products over the years, so I'm cautiously expecting this to be another win.
 
Mine have been strange since I got my 8. And worse at my shop every time I pause them they could not work though hey were connected sometimes just choosing them would work sometimes I had to go to Bluetooth settings to get them working. Some days they are fine I have two pair and both do it. But as far as range they have a longer one then my WiFi in my shop that may be 60 feet were sometimes the AirPods would go much farther
 
puma1552 said:
had same problem in my jeans (front left pocket, nothing else in there) with an se in a thin clear polycarbonate powersupport airjacket

ended up returning airpods after three days. great in all cases except walking around with my hands in my pockets, which i do often...couldnt believe apple didnt test this
Click to expand...

quoting myself here - decided to sell my SE and convert the cash into another set of airpods to try with my new 8 which is in the apple silicone case. so far no issues with my hands in my pockets so i dont know if it was the SE, the clear case i had on it, or the airpods themselves but so far the new ones seem to be working well.
 
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jaredlipsitz said:
Picked up AirPods yesterday and while they work great indoors, they tend to lose signal quite a bit when my phone is in my pocket and I'm out for a walk...especially if my hand goes near my pocket.

Anyone else experienced this?[/QUOTE
jaredlipsitz said:
Picked up AirPods yesterday and while they work great indoors, they tend to lose signal quite a bit when my phone is in my pocket and I'm out for a walk...especially if my hand goes near my pocket.

Anyone else experienced this?
Click to expand...


Same here! Second pair of airpods, still the same problem. Cant believe it -.-
Click to expand...
 
GGJstudios said:
This is disappointing to hear. I have my first pair being shipped to me. While I expect I'll use them more indoors, I frequently make phone calls while walking outdoors. I'm hoping I don't experience what others have reported. I've been through a few headsets trying to find a pair that does what I need. The AirPods should do it, theoretically. Time will tell.
Click to expand...
Disappointing to hear, but keep in mind by definition this thread will draw users to it that have had the problem and omit the millions (yea, they’re that successful a product) of people that don’t experience it.

The only time I’ve had a similar issue is when I’ve been walking with a water bottle in my pocket or swinging in my hand over the pocket that has my phone. Physics is a fickle beast.
 
NT1440 said:
Disappointing to hear, but keep in mind by definition this thread will draw users to it that have had the problem and omit the millions (yea, they’re that successful a product) of people that don’t experience it.

The only time I’ve had a similar issue is when I’ve been walking with a water bottle in my pocket or swinging in my hand over the pocket that has my phone. Physics is a fickle beast.
Click to expand...
When I posted in this thread, I had not yet received my AirPods. After using them for several months, I'm pleased to report that I haven't had any problem using AirPods while my phone is in my pocket. My primary complaint is that when the phone rings, I open the AirPod case and put one in my ear, but it doesn't automatically connect to my iPhone. Too often I have to take the call on speakerphone while I go to Settings to connect the AirPods, even if they were connected 5 minutes earlier. Other than that issue, I've been extremely satisfied with them.
 
GGJstudios said:
When I posted in this thread, I had not yet received my AirPods. After using them for several months, I'm pleased to report that I haven't had any problem using AirPods while my phone is in my pocket. My primary complaint is that when the phone rings, I open the AirPod case and put one in my ear, but it doesn't automatically connect to my iPhone. Too often I have to take the call on speakerphone while I go to Settings to connect the AirPods, even if they were connected 5 minutes earlier. Other than that issue, I've been extremely satisfied with them.
Click to expand...
Yup, that’s been my experience as well. I’m sure Apple’s W2/W3 chip will definitely resolve this particular issue. I’m also on a 6s so there’s the very real possibility my generation of BT chip may be the hold up here, who knows?
 
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