Why does my Bluetooth Speaker Keep Cutting Out?

In this article, we will talk about the most common reasons as to why a Bluetooth speaker cuts out and how to prevent it from happening.

Why Does My Bluetooth Speaker Keep Cutting Out?

The most common reason for Bluetooth speakers cutting out is that the speaker is not properly paired with the device it is connected to. 

Another reason why you may have Bluetooth audio issues is the speakers having a low battery. If your speaker is low on battery, it may cut out when you are using it. This, of course, can apply to the streaming device too.  

Additionally, if the Bluetooth signal is weak, this can also cause audio dropout issues.

These are just a few of the most common reasons why Bluetooth speakers may cut out. If you are experiencing this issue, try one of the solutions in our troubleshooting guide below.

Bluetooth Range Restrictions

When it comes to Bluetooth range, the most common issue often found is the Bluetooth version either in the speaker or the source device. With older Bluetooth technology, prior to Bluetooth 5.0 there were a lot of issues, as the ranges of these earlier versions were somewhat limited.

Not to mention other problems that used to come up such as signal mismatch, Bluetooth signals having interference and energy drain. Moreover, longer distances between the Bluetooth device and a wireless speaker would magnify the problem.

Thanks to many improvements since the release of newer Bluetooth technology, such as Bluetooth 5.0, most of these issues are no longer experienced by users.

Today, you can use a speaker up to 800 feet away from a Bluetooth streaming device and the Bluetooth connection between them will mostly stay stable as long as there are no other obstacles in the way.

When devices with Bluetooth 5.0 or higher used indoors, this same Bluetooth connection stays stable up to about 130 feet (ca. 40 m), which means Bluetooth devices have a much better range than previously.

So, bear in mind that having Bluetooth devices, Bluetooth headphones and earbuds, Bluetooth speakers or a Bluetooth headset with the latest Bluetooth installed is going to give you a much stronger and stable connection.

Perfect if you want sound quality coming from your Bluetooth speaker.

Internet Restrictions

Wireless playback quality can be hampered due to dropouts of connection or restricted bandwidth. An audio device will buffer when it attempts to play, which can cause audio stuttering or even a complete loss of sound all together.

Depending on where you are in the world, this can still be a serious problem when trying to stream any kind of audio via a connected Bluetooth device.

If you have this sort of problem, it is advisable to try a wired connection or downloading the video or audio first. Often a wired LAN connection will be stronger than Wi-Fi, giving you a more stable environment to play music.

Furthermore, if you’re streaming via a mobile, then mobile phone reception could play a role in connection dropouts too. Make sure you have a strong signal, so this doesn’t cause issues.

How do I stop Bluetooth from cutting out?

If you’re sure your audio stutter or poor sound quality is caused by Bluetooth, there are a few options to rectify this problem.

First off, try looking at your Bluetooth settings and restore them to factory settings, so you have a blank canvas to start with. More often than not this may rectify the issue, as paired devices sometime just get jammed up, causing poor audio quality. 

Another option, which should always be tried before anything else, is to just power both, the Bluetooth speaker and connected device, down. Then reboot them and power them up again, reconnect and see if your audio issues have been resolved.

If you have tried both of the above and are still having sound issues with your Bluetooth speaker, it’s time to look at other options. Bluetooth drivers may be corrupt and need to be reinstalled. To achieve that, you will require a computer or laptop. 

The last option would be to check versions and if you have a device or Bluetooth speaker with old drivers, that cannot be updated any longer, you might be due for an upgrade.

There are many other products out there using new Bluetooth hardware, so the options are endless. Even an Android phone or Apple iPhone have the latest Bluetooth technology in them, so a tech upgrade shouldn’t be too difficult.

More often than not, a new mobile device or new Bluetooth speaker will rectify connection issues, as they will have the latest versions of software.

Bluetooth Speaker Glitching and Stutter Issues

Audio stutter or glitching issues are often caused by one or more of the issues, which we have mentioned below. If you observe an audio stutter, then most likely one of these problems will be what you are having:

• Internet buffering due to slow connection
• Source device is losing connection
• Interference from other appliances
• Bluetooth audio stuttering due to distance

Any of these problems are relatively easy to fix to improve your sound quality. Resetting your audio source along with your portable speaker is often a good start.

If there is still a problem with Bluetooth playback after attempting a device and speaker reset, have a look at our troubleshooting steps for Bluetooth speakers that cut out.

Why does my Speaker Cut In and Out?

There are many causes why a Bluetooth speaker may cut in and out. Here are a few of the things that people have encountered in the past that are known to cause issues with Bluetooth and Bluetooth audio.

Cross-Body Interference

This kind of interference is usually experienced with cheaper Bluetooth headphones or earbuds. This happens when you are moving around, causing the Bluetooth headphones to lose connection with your audio source.

When it comes to Bluetooth speakers, as you would’ve probably guessed, this problem doesn’t really apply as the speaker and audio device are not worn on your body like Bluetooth headphones and earbuds are.

So, it would be quite unusual to have Cross-Body interference happen here. Although, if you keep your device in your pocket while streaming to a speaker, it may cause this to happen by interfering with the radio waves as they transmit.

There are things like stable connection mode that can help with these kinds of problems. For example, Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earbuds have stable connection mode in their audio settings to assist when needed.

Sony also have other headphones, which have features like sound quality mode as well, to help with a better Bluetooth connection.

These are just an example of a couple of helpful features from Sony, there are many other settings found in the products of other manufacturers, like sound quality mode and so on. Although, like we have already mentioned, this won’t be much of a help or needed where Bluetooth speakers are concerned.

Battery Problems

When it comes to the battery, the battery life could be an issue. If the battery is flat, it may cause Bluetooth audio stutter or dropouts.

Another thing that can happen, if the battery is old and may be not holding charge as well as it used to, is interference. You’d usually hear a buzzing noise and most often the battery would then fail not long after if the speakers safety mechanism is working correctly.

If the battery is worn out, then it would be best to purchase a new Bluetooth speaker. That way, you will have better playback quality as well as a quality Bluetooth connection with the latest Bluetooth version.

Interference from Household Appliances

Things like cordless phones or baby monitors could defiantly interfere with earlier versions of Bluetooth from the radio waves they emit.

Newer Bluetooth products have the latest technology installed, so they have a more stable connection which is less likely to suffer from this kind of interference.

That being said, other home appliances and Bluetooth devices may cause interference, if they are put too close together.

Another cause could be appliances or Bluetooth devices operating on the same frequency, causing a stable connection to become weak. So, be aware of your appliances and other Bluetooth devices that may be near or in the line of site to your Bluetooth speaker.

Wi-Fi interference

Playback quality can be affected by Wi-Fi interference. For example, if you have a Bluetooth speaker to close to a Wi-Fi router, you may hear annoying background sounds from the Wi-Fi sending and receiving radio waves.

Another problem as mentioned earlier can be the Internet, when having dropouts while streaming directly to your Bluetooth speaker.

A simple press and hold of the reset button can sometimes work wonders.

A good way to test whether or not it is the Wi-Fi signal strength that is causing a problem, is to plug your device in via wired LAN, which should give you a more stable connection. If the problem is still there, the Wi-Fi signal is not the cause.

Another thing to keep an eye on is the number of appliances that are using the 2.4 GHz connection of the router, as this can overload the router too. Check your Wi-Fi router’s specs for how many home appliances using this connection it can handle.

Compatibility Issues Between Devices

For a device’s Bluetooth function to operate correctly, there cannot be any compatibility issues between Bluetooth devices.

Bluetooth itself is backward compatible, so there shouldn’t be any issues that would cause a Bluetooth speaker to keep cutting out. However, if there is a compatibility issue, then one of the devices would need to be replaced with a new one with a compatible Bluetooth version.

Audio Apps

When a Bluetooth speaker is cutting out while using certain audio apps, it would be best to close the app, so you know it is not interfering with the playback quality. And, use another app to test to make sure the issue lies in the app used previously.

Too many apps running on your phone could also sometimes cause the Bluetooth speaker to cut out. Most likely, your phone may be running out of memory. So, close them all and reopen the app you want to play music or video from and see if the issue is resolved. 

Dual Speaker or Multi Speaker Connect

It’s always a good idea to reset wireless party chain or speaker multi-connect functions. There are many other names as well for a wireless party chain function to, but they may have lost their connection and just need a simple reset.

Troubleshooting Steps for a Bluetooth speaker that’s cutting out

All Bluetooth speakers can have little glitches from time to time.

Below is a list of the most common things to check when your Bluetooth speaker isn’t functioning properly, or you don’t have a stable connection.

Hopefully, this is one of the Bluetooth connection errors you are having, and we can get you back to a stable Bluetooth connection in no time.

Check all Batteries are Charged

This can be easily done, if your portable speaker has a power indicator, which most often is a line of power indicator lights that show the level of power left in the battery.

If the battery is nearly flat or dead, then charge it via a USB AC adapter or AC adapter via an AC outlet. Once it is fully charged via USB or wall outlet, you can try booting it up, hit the function pairing button and connect to see if the problem is gone.

Check the distance between the Device and Speaker 

While testing, bring the portable speaker and streaming device closer together. Not to close as this may also cause interference problems.

If this improves Bluetooth audio, you know it is either an old Bluetooth version on one of your devices, or you have something around that interferes with the signal.

Reset your Bluetooth Speaker

Press and hold the reset button. If this works, it means that the signal was just lost for some reason and now the speaker has realigned itself with the radio waves it receives.

If there is no way to reset the speaker, a simple powering off and on again may help.

Reset your Streaming Bluetooth Device

Check Bluetooth settings of your device. There may be a way to reset the Bluetooth signal, or just turn Bluetooth mode off and back on. The device could also be turned off and back on to reset the Bluetooth installed on it.

Streaming devices are all different, so you may have to figure this out from the manufacturer’s website or by contacting their customer service representatives.

Unpair and Reset your Devices Bluetooth Connection

Depending on the device of mobile phone operator settings, you should be able to unpair your speaker. Sometimes, it can be a good idea to clear all your paired devices too, as they may be outdated and no longer used.

If your Bluetooth speaker has indicator lights, you should see them begin to flash. If not, look for a Bluetooth button on the speaker and push it. The Bluetooth indicator flashes, meaning you should be able to repair the speaker.

This is done by hitting the function pairing button repeatedly, if you need to, or just once depending on your speaker.

Once the Bluetooth indicator flashes stop, the speaker should be connected and ready to use. If the Bluetooth indicator keeps flashing after this process has been done, there may be an issue with one of the devices.

You may have missed something, so go through the process again and see if the indicator flashes stop on a 2nd attempt. If they do, then the Bluetooth indicator is saying you should be good to go.

One more thing you can do here is restart your streaming device. In general, rebooting your mobile phone at least once a week helps it run more smoothly. 

Check for Interfering Devices

Always check the area in which you are using your speaker. It may be as simple as another appliance is in the way. It could even be another connected Bluetooth device interfering.

Other devices you may have overlooked and are still connected could be interfering too.

Turn Off Apps

This should go without saying. When you have a connection problem, try connecting without using any apps first.

Also, make sure you turn off apps on your phone that may not need to be running, so they don’t use up valuable memory.

Contact the Manufacturer

If your product is under warranty and even if not any longer, you can contact the manufacturer for assistance. They sometimes may know about the problem or can point you in the direction of the issue fix.

A firmware update could also be required and may help with a speaker that keeps cutting out.

Best Buying Practices for Bluetooth Speakers

• Buy new technology
• Look for the newest Bluetooth version
• A brand that is well known
• Avoid cheap speakers

Conclusion: Quality Bluetooth Speaker Sound

If you followed all the troubleshooting ideas we have provided, and it has solved your issue, then you’re welcome.

If not, then it might be time for an upgrade, so have a look around and grab a new quality portable speaker for some fantastic interference-free audio experience today.